Broadway shows attract many people who come to enjoy live entertainment in New York City. Some of these shows go down as the best shows of all time. A show can receive praise due to its amazing and talented cast that delivers a masterful performance or the incredible music that goes with it. Other shows receive recognition for their engaging storyline that most people can relate with or their incredible production value. From comedy shows to classical musicals, here are five of the best-rated shows on Broadway.
Hamilton
Hamilton is a global phenomenon that was a game-changer for Broadway and shattered various records. It premiered at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in August 2015 and rose to the mainstream pop culture to become Broadway?s number one smash hit. Hamilton was created and written by Lin-Manuel Miranda and performed with a special mix of rap and song.
The show went on to receive 16 nominations at the 70th Tony awards and took home 11 awards, including Best Musical. It has received multiple other awards, including eight Drama Desk Awards and the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The show also received a Grammy Award for best musical theater album.
The show follows the story of Alexander Hamilton and the Founding Fathers of America. It is full of a racially diverse cast who tell the story through a mix of RnB, Hip Hop, and jazz. The show has made a significant impact on politics, culture, and politics. It?s a story of the then America told by the present.
The Phantom of the Opera
The Phantom of the Opera tells the story of a young opera singer who is caught in a love triangle with her childhood sweetheart and a mysterious masked musical figure. The phantom lives under the Paris Opera House and claims to be sent by her dead father.
This classical show still holds the record for the most performances of a musical and longest-running musical. The Phantom of the Opera was written by Andrew Lloyd and premiered at the Majestic Theatre in January 1988. It has won seven Tony awards and has been revived in multiple countries worldwide.
Wicked
The wicked is a spectacle Broadway show that has been entertaining people since October 2003. The show is adapted from a book by Gregory Maguire. It tells the story of a green wicked witch Elphaba from the Wizard of Oz. The witch portrays a sympathetic figure and forms a friendship with Glinda.
The Broadway adaptation is composed by Winnie Holzman with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and opened at the Gershwin Theatre. The show is filled with plenty of Grammy award-winning musicals and a talented cast. It has won multiple awards, including three Drama Desk Awards and a Drama League Award for distinguished production.
Chicago
Chicago is one the longest-running Broadway shows, second only to the Phantom of the Opera. It tells the story of Velma Kelly and Roxy Hart, who are murderers on a quest to become celebrities. It originally premiered in November 1996 at the Great White Way. In January 2003, it found its present home at the Ambassador Theater.
This classical musical by John Kander is based on a play of the same title by Maurine Dallas Watkins. The lyrics are by Fred Ebb, and the story is a satire on the corruption in the criminal justice system. It won a Tony award in 1996 for best revival of a musical and a Laurence Olivier Award in 1997 for outstanding musical performance.
The Book of Mormon
The fantastic Broadway musical is heartfelt, funny, and promotes the positive power of love. It tells the story of two Mormon missionaries sent to Africa and forced to face their worst nightmare. The two missionaries try to preach their faith in Uganda in a village under the oppression of a warlord.
It is written by Robert Lopez, Trey Parker, and Matt stones. It opened in 2011 at the Eugene O?Neill Theatre. The show has won numerous awards, including multiple Tony awards, a Grammy for best musical theatre album, and other Drama Desk awards.
These are some of the best Broadway productions over the years that will be remembered for a long time. You can be sure to watch some of these all-time greats next time you are in New York.
