New York is one of the best places to see a musical. It has gone down in history to produce the best performances and put the spotlight on top performing artists from all over the globe. If you want to get entertained, better get the front seats in Broadway. For your musical guide, here are the top shows you better watch out for.
10. Aladdin
Who wouldn’t love to see Aladdin on stage? This famed and well loved children’s story, that even made it to Disney’s silver screen, will be brought to life right before your eyes in Broadway. You will be delighted to see the original cast members performing in New York. This depicts the popular genie in a bottle fairy tale who grants three wishes to mischievous thief Aladdin and how he had won the heart of a lovely princess.
9. Long Day’s Journey Into the Night
This is one of the award-winning shows that you ought to watch in Broadway. Eugene O Neil got a Pulitzer Prize for this piece. It revolves around the journey of the Tyrone family. It is a great family story complete with all the ingredients that makes a winning musical drama including drug addiction, terminal diseases and the usual highs and lows of life. Oscar nominees John Gallagher and Michael Shannon are to watch out for in this play.
8. Blackbird
Blackbird is a new musical having its debut in Broadway starred by Jeff Daniels and Michelle Williams. The story centers on Una, a woman who seek Daniel, a man who she claimed he has a relationship with way back when she was only twelve years old. This takes the usual sex offender plot that involves lots of high emotions. The play was written by David Harrower and directed by Joe Mantello.
7. Cirque du Soleil Paramour
Most people think that musicals are only for singing and dancing, but you would definitely find amusement in Cirque de Soleil’s acrobatics and aerial stunts. This is one of the most popular shows globally because of the uniqueness in how the story is told. And it’s not every day that you see people flying in mid air. Paramour takes you back to the Golden Age of Hollywood and follows the love story of Ruby Lewis, an actress caught between the love of a director and a composer. Who will she choose? Watch the show to find out!
6. Shuffle Along
If you have a thing for jazz, Shuffle Along is a great show that will definitely get you entertained. This is a revival of the hit musical show of the year 1921 with a lot of improvement and an additional of an all-star cast. It follows the story of Sam and Steve, who both runs for a mayoral position of their city. The two vowed that whoever will win, the other will be appointed as the city’s chief of police. You would definitely watch this musical if not for the Tony Award winners Audra McDonald, Joshua Henry, Billy Porter and Brandon Victor Dixon.
5. Waitress
Waitress is a fun musical adapted from the 2007 movie starring Keri Russel. It follows the life of Jenna, who is a waitress and has a love of baking pies. She got pregnant and found herself in an unfulfilling marriage. She unloads her emotion and heartaches when creating his fabulous pies. This is a story of all us, in our challenges and triumphs, defeats and successes.
4. Kinky Boots
Kinky boots were made popular because of the 2005 movie of the same title starring Joel Edgerton and Chiwetel Ejiofor. Because it was such a hit, it was adapted on the Broadway stage with music and lyrics by the legendary Cyndi Lauper. The story takes you to Northern England, where a young heir is at lost on how to save his family’s shoemaking business shortly after his father died. It was a surprise and very unlikely that a drag performer, Lola, will be instrumental in helping the young man. If you want a night of sheer performance and lots of laughs, Kinky boots is surely going to be a great nightcap.
3. Les Miserables
Les Miserable has gained a lot of international following and was even made into a movie starring Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway. It has toured around the world in over 40 countries with a huge success every time. The story is set in the year 1815 in France where a prisoner is on the hunt by a heroic policeman. It also touches on the tragic stories of Eponine, Fantine and Cosette. It is a very potent and powerful story of a revolution and the men and women behind it.
2. Hamilton
If you are looking for a different kind of flavor, watch Hamilton. This show will take you down memory lane and visit American History. But with its rap and hip hop theme, I bet this show will not be as boring as your history class. It depicts the life of Alexander Hamilton and how he lived through his life during this era and outlive its political drama. The play is written by Tony Award recipient Lin-Manuel Miranda. Miranda even played the lead role too and actually wrote the music and lyrics- talk about multi-tasking. The story takes you back on how a lowly orphan rise to be George Washington’s right hand and eventually landed a government post as Treasury Secretary.
1. Wicked
Wicked may as well be one of the classic shows in Broadway. Even after a decade, it has a very large following. Wicked narrates the story behind the Wizard of Oz and showcases the witches of Oz lived even before Dorothy set foot in the Land of Oz. It puts the spotlight on Elphaba, tagged as the Wicked Witch of the West. This show will let remind you once again to never judge a book by its cover. You may even fall in love with this wicked witch and see her emerge as a hero. Learn a lesson or two from Glinda, the white witch, like how to do a hair toss- witch style!
Amber is passionate about health and lifestyle and loves to write and share her knowledge. Amber has a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and she loves to travel, read and watch movies.