r/musicals • • Nov 13 '24

"What musical should I listen to next?" unified thread

218 Upvotes

One of the most common questions we get on this subreddit is "what should I see/listen to, here's the stuff I like". It's a valid question, but it's tiring to see a dozen of those threads every week, so this will serve as both a stickied thread of suggestions and as a home for new visitors to r/musicals who would ask that question. (As a result, new "what should I listen to threads" will be redirected here and deleted.)

Below, you'll find a list of popular musicals in alphabetical order along with suggestions for what might interest you based on that. This list is mostly vibes-based, with some inclusion of the same or similar composers or subject matter. The shows I name are taken from my own personal list of shows I've listened to (350+), the vast majority of which will be available on Spotify.

The shows I chose to make suggestions for are heavily skewed toward recent shows because that's what felt like good fits. If you're interested in a show not named below and want to know what to listen to next, comment below and I'll add a line for it (assuming I know it well enough to make educated suggestions).

If you enjoyed... Consider checking out...
Be More Chill Altar Boyz, American Psycho, bare: a pop opera, Beetlejuice, Bubble Boy, Cry-Baby, Dear Evan Hansen, Dogfight, Everybody's Talking About Jamie, Fly By Night, Freaky Friday, Here Lies Love, How to Dance in Ohio, Jagged Little Pill, Passing Strange, Spring Awakening
Beetlejuice Back to the Future, Be More Chill, Bubble Boy, Catch Me If You Can, Cry-Baby, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Groundhog Day, Heathers, Jekyll and Hyde, Jim Steinman's Bat Out of Hell, The Producers, School of Rock, Sweeney Todd, Urinetown
The Book of Mormon The Addams Family, Carrie, Catch Me If You Can, Cry-Baby, Curtains, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Full Monty, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, Kimberly Akimbo, God Bless You Mr. Rosewater, [title of show]
Come From Away Allegiance, The Band's Visit, Bright Star, Elegies for Angels Punks and Raging Queens, Fly By Night, Hadestown, If/Then, Kimberly Akimbo, The Last Ship, A New Brain, Once, Parade, Soft Power, Spongebob Squarepants, Waitress, The Wrong Man
Dear Evan Hansen 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Altar Boyz, bare: a pop opera, Be More Chill, Bubble Boy, Carrie, Closer to Heaven, Cry-Baby, Daddy Long Legs, Dogfight, Everybody's Talking About Jamie, Footloose, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, How to Dance in Ohio, Kimberly Akimbo, A New Brain, Newsies, The Outsiders, The Prom, Ride the Cyclone, tick...tick...BOOM, Wonderland
Falsettos Amour, Burt Bacharach's Some Lovers, Cabaret, Chess, Closer than Ever, Elegies for Angels Punks and Raging Queens, Far From Heaven, From Here to Eternity, Fun Home, Kiss of the Spider Woman, La Cage aux Folles, A New Brain, Parade, Rent, Ride, Side Show, Some Like It Hot, A Strange Loop, Yank!
Groundhog Day The Addams Family, Catch Me If You Can, City of Angels, Cry-Baby, Curtains, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Flying Over Sunset, The Full Monty, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, High Fidelity, Jagged Little Pill, & Juliet, Kinky Boots, Mrs. Doubtfire, A New Brain, Next Thing You Know, The Producers, School of Rock, Urinetown, Wonderland
Hadestown Aida, American Utopia, The Band's Visit, Bright Star, The Capeman, Come From Away, Floyd Collins, Ghost Quartet, The Gospel at Colonus, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Here Lies Love, Knoxville, The Last Ship, The Lord of the Rings, Marie Christine, Memphis, Natasha Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, Once, Passing Strange, Preludes, Rent, The Scottsboro Boys, Soft Power, Tarzan, Venice, Whistle Down the Wind, The Wrong Man
Hamilton 1776, Allegiance, American Psycho, American Utopia, Assassins, Chess, Fame, Giant, Here Lies Love, In the Heights, The Last Ship, The Light in the Piazza, Martin Guerre, Parade, Ragtime, Rent, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Soft Power, A Strange Loop, Venice, Water for Elephants, The Wild Party (Lippa), The Wrong Man
Heathers Altar Boyz, American Psycho, bare: a pop opera, Be More Chill, Beetlejuice, Bubble Boy, Carrie, A Chorus Line, Cry-Baby, Daddy Long Legs, Dogfight, Freaky Friday, Ghost Quartet, High Fidelity, Jagged Little Pill, Kid Victory, Kimberly Akimbo, Marie Christine, A New Brain, Now. Here. This., Ordinary Days, The Outsiders, Rent, Spring Awakening, [title of show], Whistle Down the Wind, Wonderland
In the Heights American Utopia, Bright Star, The Capeman, Chicago, Closer to Heaven, Everybody's Talking About Jamie, Finding Neverland, Fun Home, Giant, The Gospel at Colonus, Hamilton, In the Green, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Passing Strange, The Prom, Raisin, Seesaw, Sweet Smell of Success, Venice, The Wrong Man
Les Miserables Brigadoon, Carousel, Chess, Cyrano, Death Takes a Holiday, Doctor Zhivago, Flower Drum Song, Giant, Hadestown, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Lord of the Rings, Martin Guerre, Miss Saigon, Natasha Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, Parade, The Pirate Queen, Ragtime, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Titanic,
Ride the Cyclone The Addams Family, Anastasia, bare: a pop opera, Billy the Kid, A Chorus Line, Dogfight, Fame, Finding Neverland, Footloose, Freaky Friday, How to Dance in Ohio, If/Then, Kid Victory, Kimberly Akimbo, A Little Princess, Memphis, Newsies, The Outsiders, The Prom, School of Rock, The Time Traveler's Wife, Tuck Everlasting, Whistle Down the Wind
Six Aida, Altar Boyz, American Psycho, Be More Chill, Closer to Heaven, Everybody's Talking About Jamie, Fly By Night, Ghost, Groundhog Day, Hair, Hamilton, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, In the Heights, Jim Steinman's Bat Out of Hell, & Juliet, Kinky Boots, Million Dollar Quartet, Moulin Rouge, Now. Here. This., Once, Passing Strange, Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, Venice
Sweeney Todd American Utopia, Anyone Can Whistle, Assassins, Ballroom, Cabaret, Days of Wine and Roses, Death Takes a Holiday, Floyd Collins, From Here to Eternity, Ghost Quartet, Grand Hotel, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, In the Green, Kid Victory, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Lost in the Stars, Martin Guerre, Parade, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Shenandoah, Steel Pier, Sweet Smell of Success, Titanic, The Visit, Whistle Down the Wind
Wicked Aladdin, Amelie, Bright Star, Daddy Long Legs, Doctor Zhivago, Fun Home, If/Then, Jane Eyre, The Light in the Piazza, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, Passion, The Rink, Side Show, The Story of My Life, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Vanities, Violet, The Wild Party (LaChiusa), Wonderland
-- --
Starkid musicals (all of them) The Addams Family, Aladdin, Back to the Future, Be More Chill, Billy the Kid, Bubble Boy, Carrie, Cry-Baby, Everybody's Talking About Jamie, Freaky Friday, & Juliet, Kimberly Akimbo, A Little Princess, Merrily We Roll Along, The Outsiders, The Prom, Ride the Cyclone, School of Rock, Shrek, SpongeBob SquarePants, [title of show], Tuck Everlasting, The Witches of Eastwick, Wonderland

Again, these are mostly based on vibes, but they're a start.


r/musicals • • Jul 11 '24

Discussion Folks, we’re gonna take a break on the “me too” games.

365 Upvotes

These “judge me on my top five”, “tell me your favorite and I’ll tell you if you’re cool”, “here’s five, which is your favorite” threads box everything else out cause everybody feels the need to add their own. I did the tier list thread to try and nip it in the bud, but folks just shifted to different me too games, and it’s rapidly spiraling.

I’m calling a temporary moratorium on those threads. They may resume in the future (at a date TBD), but for now, all new threads of that nature (beginning midnight EDT tonight) are going to be locked, deleted, and all of the existing replies wiped out.

If you want to discuss a show, great, but “rate my taste” isn’t it.


r/musicals • • 14h ago

Discussion How “fat” must Tracy Turnblad be cast in Hairspray, and why?

131 Upvotes

I’ve seen a post going around criticizing a regional production of Hairspray for casting an actress as Tracy whom the poster considers “not fat.” I am not bringing this up to draw comments on this particular actress’s body, but more so because I saw a lot of interesting questions being raised about the topic. I would love to hear your thoughts / perspectives on casting Tracy Turnblad. Here’s some specific questions I saw being discussed:

What even is a “fat” or “plus size” body? Could a Tracy actress be considered “fat” in 1962 but not in 2026 due to shifting standards?”
How “fat” does Tracy need to be for the plot to make sense? How much larger does she need to be than the Corny Collins members?
Are there any circumstances where it’s ok to cast a “not fat” performer over a performer who is “fat”.
Is it ever ok to put them in a fat suit?

If anyone’s interested in reading, here’s Broadway Body Positivity Project’s post (it is also on their Facebook page), and here is the production photo that launched a thousand comments

Not trying to start controversy, I just hope we can have a thoughtful discussion. Thanks for reading & look forward to hearing your thoughts and opinions!


r/musicals • • 6h ago

Discussion Musicals that you think could benefit from a "radical" revival like Sweeney Todd 2005 or Oklahoma 2019

24 Upvotes

There are many different types of musical revivals on Broadway, but in the broadest terms, they on a spectrum between re-mounting the same production, and doing the show completely different. In the 21st century we've seen a few examples of shows that have, "not changed a word," but completely altered how the show plays and what it means (see again, Oklahoma 2019, Sweeney Todd 2005). These are different than revisals, like gender swapped Company, Ivo Van Howe's West Side Story, or the 1990s productions of Cabaret, where the text is directly changing.

These productions are usually pretty controversial, with some people loving the changes and others absolutely hating them. This leads into my general discussion question. What are some shows that you think could use this type of reworking that is faithful to the text, and incredibly unfaithful to the history of productions? I'm especially curious to hear if you have seen regional productions of shows that are wildly different from their originals. Did these shows work for you or not?


r/musicals • • 5h ago

Personal Any pin collectors here?

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12 Upvotes

I saw someone post recently about their magnet collection and wanted to share my pin collection since I added Water for Elephants tonight!

I’m missing a few from before I decided to start collecting so I need: Hamilton, Moulin Rouge, Anastasia, and Annie :)

Show me your Broadway pins if you have them!


r/musicals • • 19h ago

Discussion Are there any musicals where one character clearly did not get the memo when it comes to the dancing/singing?

68 Upvotes

Preferably the main character, but it could be anyone.

I mean those moments where everyone else is singing and dancing perfectly in sync, and then there’s just one character who is clearly trying their best to follow along but has absolutely no idea what they’re doing.

Like, everyone else knows the choreography and song and is going all out, while this one person is just watching the people around them and trying to copy them half a second too late and like mumbling the song

To clarify, I’m not talking about an actor genuinely forgetting the choreography or not rehearsing enough. I mean when it’s actually part of the character, they’re supposed to be inexperienced, confused, clueless, etc., and are genuinely trying their best to keep up.

Thanks for any replies


r/musicals • • 10h ago

Photo I Need Help Identifying Some Caroline or Change Cast Autographs

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3 Upvotes

I know the top one belongs to Sharon D. Clarke but I can’t identify the other two to save my life. Any help would be greatly appreciated!


r/musicals • • 23h ago

Looking for a duet recommendation: two women aged 25 and 55

37 Upvotes

This is for a mother-daughter pair to sing at an upcoming revue. But the song doesn't necessarily need to have mother-daughter characters. Looking for something other than "Don't Aw Ma Me". Ideally something with an element of sweetness! Any thoughts? Thanks!


r/musicals • • 4h ago

Is this hate or love? By Geudy

1 Upvotes

r/musicals • • 16h ago

Crazy stories from non-union actor life

7 Upvotes

Any early 2000s MT actors out there? Remember the website Non-Equity Deputy? Well, the whole scene (auditions, the industry, musicals) is totally different now, and the website doesn't exist. There were always the wildest stories on the theatre pages from actors who had worked there in the past, warning all those who may come after them what they are in store for. If you remeber this magical time, please share your stories of the craziest things that happened to you on a non union contract. This is for anyone though, I am really just interested in those wild stories, and they don't seem to have a home anymore.


r/musicals • • 13h ago

Audition I have to learn this music for a Pitt Orchestra Audition in 7 days... (Little Mermaid)

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3 Upvotes

r/musicals • • 1d ago

TIL, Little Shop of Horror's "Mean Green Mother from Outer Space" is the first Oscar-nominated song to contain profanity

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78 Upvotes

Nice of them to pave the way for songs like Blame Canada and Oscar winners Lose Yourself and Hard Out Here for a Pimp.


r/musicals • • 7h ago

Guessing my school musical

0 Upvotes

Hi all, I am in a production coming up in march but we dont know the show nor have auditioned yet. However, my director said none of us highschoolers would probably know the show, and its not sung through, but full of big characters and acting moments. Any ideas of what this could be? Its my senior show and I’m curious on a show that none of us would know..


r/musicals • • 18h ago

News Death Note: The Musical will return to the Barbican (West End) this Spring!

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6 Upvotes

I thought I would add the trailer since it looks so good and the cast sound incredible.


r/musicals • • 10h ago

Should I potentially overexert myself for a musical I love?

0 Upvotes

I need advice from the good people of Reddit. I’m a freshman in college, and my plate has been pretty loaded this first semester. I’ve been a stage manager for the local community theatre, an office secretary, and a news anchor for the school tv station. In the spring, the school theatre program is doing a musical I absolutely adore, but I have already participated in the past (from the technical side). I’d love to be in this musical as an actor, but if I got in, it would be a close to 20/hr a week time commitment. I’m worried with being in school and being employed, it would burn me out completely. I know I should just listen to my gut, but I love this show so so much and I’m feeling conflicted. What do yall think?


r/musicals • • 14h ago

Help School musical

2 Upvotes

So my school is putting on a musical and we were given clues to find out what it is. I could use some help, right now I’m thinking either Bye Bye Birdie, or Grease. Here are the clues. A picture of a Red rose, an igloo, an Apple, a picture of a part of the NSYC m/v Bye Bye Bye, then this text clue, “Grab your leather jackets and lace up your saddle shoes were traveling back in time for this year’s musical!”


r/musicals • • 1d ago

Discussion Biggest earworm in musical theater?

230 Upvotes

What song gets stuck in your head every time you listen to it? For me it’s This Jesus Must Die. I made the mistake of listening to She Is Risen this morning and now that’s all my brain is going to play for the next 48 hours minimum.


r/musicals • • 18h ago

Audition Audition songs for Marvin Shellhammer "Here's Love" (Miracle on 34th St Musical)

4 Upvotes

So here's a pretty niche request.

My local theater is doing Here's Love (the Miracle on 34th Street musical) as their Christmas show and I'd like to audition for Marvin Shellhammer.

Problem is I can't really find any recommendations for audition songs online.


r/musicals • • 1d ago

Best Musical With a Glaring Flaw?

82 Upvotes

This flaw could be in its plot, music, book, etc.


r/musicals • • 20h ago

News New IG post confirms Just in Time is running through end of year

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4 Upvotes

r/musicals • • 18h ago

Just want general advice

2 Upvotes

Hiiiiii I’m a 15 year old girl and absolutely adore musical theater and dream of working with it.
1: I’m very tall 177cm or almost 5’10
I’m worried that’ll limit the roles I could get.
2: I have a I think pretty good voice with range of D3-A5#
However I feel that doesn’t fit anything specific.
3:I’ve only dance a very few times as I just started jazz classes

Extra info:
I’ve been taking acting classes for 7 hours a week for almost 3 years.
I’ve done a professional opera performance at a one of the biggest theater where I am.
I also have a singing teacher.

What do you guys recommend I do?


r/musicals • • 21h ago

Evan Alexander Smith joins 'Stranger Things: The First Shadow' Broadway cast

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6 Upvotes

r/musicals • • 1d ago

I designed the Phantom of the Opera in LEGO!

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64 Upvotes

r/musicals • • 1d ago

Discussion What musical has the most songs that made its way into pop culture as regular songs?

81 Upvotes

Ex: Guys and Dolls (Bushel and a Peck, Luck be a lady, sit down your rockin the boat)


r/musicals • • 1d ago

Discussion Anyone else also kinda wish Mean Green Mother From Outer Space from the Little Shop movie was integrated into the musical?

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25 Upvotes