In case you’ve always wanted to watch a Broadway NYC production but didn’t know where to start, this list is for you. It contains critiques on each and every one of the most successful Broadway musicals in New York City, from Hamilton to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
Hamilton
Lin-Manuel Miranda composed the music, wrote the lyrics, and penned the book for the musical Hamilton, which is based on the life of the American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton. The book that served as the basis for the play was Ron Chernow’s biography of Alexander Hamilton, published in 2004. The musical debuted Off-Broadway at The Public Theater and remained there until May of that same year. The play had its Broadway premiere at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on July 11, 2015, and ran for a total of 27 performances. It received 11 Tony Awards in 2016, including Best Musical (tying The Producers for the most ever awarded to a musical), Best Original Score, and Best Book of a Musical (both also records held jointly with RENT).
The Book of Mormon
Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, and Matt Stone wrote the music, lyrics, and book for the musical The Book of Mormon. Two teenage Mormons are sent to Uganda on a mission and become the targets of the musical’s satirical tone. Upon arrival in Uganda, they realize there are significant cultural differences between themselves and the locals that their training may not have prepared them for. Consequently, they now follow the teachings of their religion rather than those of earlier missionaries. After previews at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in California and the Denver Center Theatre Company, the piece had its debut at Broadway’s Eugene O’Neill Theatre (then known as the Buell Theatre).
The show’s original run was suppose to end in October 2011, but owing to its success, it was extend to May 2012 and then again from December 2012 to April 2014, making it one of Broadway’s most financially successful musicals of all time.
Dear Evan Hansen:
The plot of Dear Evan Hansen centers on a high school senior called Evan, who has social anxiety and seeks to find his place in the world. His whole life changes when he is recruit to help fabricate an email purported from a juvenile suicide call Connor. Base on the 2017 film Dear Evan Hansen, which receive six Academy Award nominations (including Best Picture, Best Actor (for Ben Platt), and Best Director), this musical is a certain hit (by Michael Greif). It’s important to provide an idea of what to anticipate from this Broadway production, since it differs from the film version. Several things are worth noting.
- Since the majority of the action occurs in Ohio during the winter, that is where the setting will be.
- There will be two breaks throughout the performance, so be sure you hydrate well and pack some food in case you are hungry.
- You should be at least 13 years old to see it, as there is some explicit material in a few songs and scenes. * Several critics have praised the talented cast members, noting how powerful their voices sounded in each performance. * Ticket prices range from $70 to $150, depending on where you buy them online or from third-party sellers like Groupon and Goldstar, and on which day you choose to see them perform live at eit.
Wicked
The musical Wicked has a book by Winnie Holzman and music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. The musical was inspire by Gregory Maguire’s 1995 book Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, a retelling of the story first told in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. Wicked is not a prologue to L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, was published in 1900 for children. Elphaba (the future Nasty Witch) spends her childhood in Oz before encountering Dorothy Gale, and the plot of Wicked reveals how she develops a wicked personality and ways of thinking throughout that time.
Chicago
From the play that shares the same name comes the musical Chicago, set in the Windy City in the Roaring Twenties. In the musical, the protagonist, Roxie Hart, kills her boyfriend and then hires a defense attorney to help her avoid punishment. She is given a death sentence but is spared when a newspaper writer decides to write about her after she loses her appeal. In addition to gaining notoriety (and therefore being capable of paying off her blackmailers), Roxie also manages to sway public opinion in her favor; many people begin to support her case because they believe that justice and the media are treating her unjustly, despite the fact that she has broken the law.
The series concludes with Roxie’s release from jail and wedding (to another person). Because the program is set in Prohibition-era America, the song “All That Jazz” is often connected with it because it portrays some of the central characters swaying their way through life.
Come From Away
The citizens of Gander, Newfoundland, are the subjects of the Broadway musical Come From Away. Following 9/11, American airspace was blocked, stranding approximately 6,700 travelers from all over the globe. The locals opened their homes to these strangers.
With four Tony Award nominations (and two wins), including Best Musical, the musical is well on its way to becoming a legendary success on Broadway. It also took home awards for Best Book and Best Direction at the Oliviers in London this year. Whether or not you think that Come From Away is an example of America at its finest and most compassionate, it is still an inspiring narrative that anybody interested in witnessing what mankind can accomplish in the face of tragedy and disaster should see.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two:
This play is not to be missed by any Harry Potter enthusiast. It’s up there with Hamilton as one of the most significant events on Broadway. As the story begins, Harry and his offspring have grown up and have families of their own after the events of The Deathly Hallows (spoilers ahead).
Albus Severus Potter is the protagonist, and the novel follows him as he tries to live up to his father’s legacy while forging his own identity. Scorpius Malfoy, son of the antagonist-turned-ally Draco Malfoy and the ally-turned-villain Astoria Greengrass, is his closest buddy. They get into a lot of trouble together, and it ultimately leads them back to the battle against Voldemort. That’s correct. They’re going to battle Voldemort once again. Many more surprises await you, but I won’t spoil them here. Take my word for it; you should see this performance at some point in your life.
The Lion King
It’s a musical adaptation of Disney’s The Lion King from 1994. Author Julie Taymor collaborated with musicians Elton John and Tim Rice on the score and lyrics. The story’s fundamental ideas of treachery, vengeance, and death are taken directly from William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. After 12 critically acclaimed years on Broadway, when it finally closed in 2007, the original play had earned over $1 billion globally. A new Broadway production starring Beyoncé as Nala and containing some original cast members, including Donald Glover, launched in 2017. Up until this year, he portrayed Simba/Young Simba in the live-action adaptation of The Lion King.
Aladdin
The story of Aladdin and his magic lamp from Arabian folklore inspired the musical Aladdin. The musical’s first performance was on May 27, 2014, at New York City’s New Amsterdam Theatre, presented by Disney Theatrical Productions. In 2014, Alan Menken’s music, Howard Ashman’s lyrics, Tim Rice’s book, and Tim Rice’s extra songs all premiered at the New Amsterdam Theatre on Broadway. Casey Nicholaw (who also played Genie) directed and choreographed the show, which featured Adam Jacobs as Aladdin, Courtney Reed as Jasmine, James Monroe Iglehart as Genie/Babkak/Sultan, Don Darryl Rivera as Kassim, Jonathan Freeman (who also played Jafar) as Abanazar, Clifton Davis as Jafar, Leslie Denniston as Princess Jasmine, and Trevor Dion Nicholas as the Sultan.
To Kill a Mockingbird
The book by Harper Lee, on which the film To Kill a Mockingbird was based. In this film, directed by Bartlett Sher, Jeff Daniels plays Atticus Finch, and Celia Keenan-Bolger plays Scout Finch. A lawyer in 1935 in Alabama (USA), when racism was at its worst, defends a black guy convicted of sexually assaulting a white girl on trial.
Mean Girls
The film that the play is model on is a spoof of adolescent movies from the 1980s, much like the play. After its release in 2004, the film had a meteoric success, becoming one of the few films that appealed to audiences of all ages. Today, allusions to Mean Girls can be found everywhere, from popular culture to political speeches (so keep an ear out this election season!).
Cady Heron, whose biologist parents sent her to Africa for an extended stay, comes home at the beginning of the play. She finds herself at North Shore High School when she interacts with her new pals Janis Ian and Damien and her old rival Regina George, who has maintained her high school circle despite maturing (or so it seems). Cady is torn between two communities—one in which she feels out of place and another in which she does not want to return after finally finding acceptance.
Beautiful – The Carole King Musical
The musical is based on the life and work of Carole King, who created hits for the likes of the Shimeles, the Monkeys, and Aretha Franklin. Marc Bruni is in charge of the film’s direction, while Gary Adler and Michael Gore also contribute to the soundtrack. As early as 1963, King was penning tunes for other artists to sing, and by 1971, with the release of Tapestry, he was enjoying success as a recording artist himself. Thanks to songs like “You’ve Got A Friend” (1971), “Natural Woman” (1971), and “I Feel The Earth Move” (1971), she became one of the best-selling female musicians of all time (1971).
Kinky Boots
Kinky Boot is an English manufacturer located in Northampton that specializes in producing footwear for drag queens. The son of the owner is homosexual, and he has invited his new partner to join the family firm. A total of six Tony Awards were given out for the production, include those for Best Musical, Best Score, Best Book, and Best Actor in a Musical. The protagonist of Kinky Boots, Charlie, is trying to prevent the closure of the shoe business his family formerly owned. After developing feelings for Lola, a flamboyant drag queen artist who resides next to him, he realizes he has to work on being more self-confident in addition to being a competent businessman.
Frozen – The Broadway Musical
The musical adaptation of the computer-animated feature film released in 2013 with the same name, Frozen, is called Frozen. The production debuted for the first time in August 2017 at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, and it made its debut on Broadway at the St. James Theatre in March 2018. Elsa and Anna, two sisters at the center of Disney’s Frozen, are force to relearn how to appreciate each other when Elsa’s power causes their home kingdom of Arndell to become permanently frozen. In addition to familiar faces like Olaf, Kristoff, and Sven, the episode also introduces new characters like Prince Hans and Oaken (the proprietor of Wandering Oakes’s Trading Post).
Conclusion
Because there are so many musicals to choose from on Broadway, it might be challenging to decide which one to go see. By consulting our list of the greatest shows in New York City, you should be able to choose which concert is appropriate for your family or friends. It would be a shame to miss out on this outstanding production. You simply have to browse through till you discover what you’re searching for, whether you’re looking for anything particular in terms of the kind of content or the topic matter.
