Top 10 Best New Musicals

By Julia Bianco on April 2, 2014

Photo by Broadway Tour on Flickr.com

A lot of college students write off musicals as those boring things that their parents always go to see. But musicals aren’t just for old people. The new class of musicals is interesting and entertaining, with great soundtracks that you’ll want to listen to over and over again. Plus, with more theaters offering student discounts, you won’t have to break the bank to go see a musical. Here are the top ten new musicals that you should go see right now.

10. Once

Notable Awards: Tony Award for Best Musical, Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical, Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album

Once, which was nominated for eleven Tony’s (eight of which it won, including Best Musical), does a great job of breaking down the traditional barriers between the performers and the audience. The show is set in a bar, and before the show and during intermission, audience members can actually go on stage and buy drinks. The simple set and relatable plot make the show engaging and entertaining throughout, while still giving the audience a more familiar feel that they usually get in the larger than life theater productions that Broadway is so prone to.

9. Matilda the Musical

Notable Awards: Tony Award for Best Musical, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical, New York Drama Critics’ Circle Best Musical, Olivier Award for Best New Musical

Based on the hit movie of the same name, Matilda the Musical brings back great childhood memories while adding in fun music and dance numbers. Another Tony winner for Best Musical, Matilda the Musical has been taking the Broadway world by storm with its over the top adventurous storyline and unique and fun atmosphere.

8. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Notable Awards: Tony Award for Best Book, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book, Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album

Every time you go to see Spelling Bee, it will be a different performance. Typical performances of the show ask four audience members to come onstage and join the six child performers in the competition, where an announcer will provide ridiculous improvised example sentences for each word. This really gives the show an interactive feel, and means that with each viewing the show has the potential to change. Plus, the music is great, with the original Broadway cast recording being nominated for a Grammy Award.

7. Billy Elliot the Musical

Notable Awards: Olivier Award for Best New Musical, Drama Desk Award for Best Musical, Tony Award for Best Musical

Based on the 2000 film Billy Elliot, this musical brings music by Elton John together with an inspiring story of a young male ballet dancer who just wants to live out his dream. The story is juxtaposed with the story of family troubles during the UK miners’ strike in County Durham, England. The story is sure to pull at your heartstrings, and the music will make you want to get up out of your seat and dance.  The musical has been extremely well received, winning best musicals at the Tony Awards and the Drama Desk awards.

6. Next to Normal

Notable Awards: Tony Award for Best Score, Pulitzer Prize for Drama

The eighth musical in history to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Next to Normal presents a compelling picture of a family who struggles with mental problems. The story does a great job at providing a realistic picture of someone who struggles with bipolar disorder, as well as the ways in which the people around them deal with the issues. The music, which is mostly rock based, adds some extra life into the musical, making it more than just your typical drama.

5. The Book of Mormon

Notable Awards: Tony Award for Best Musical, Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical, Tony Award for Best Original Score, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical, Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album

One of the rare musicals to have its soundtrack place in the iTunes top ten albums, The Book of Mormon, written by the creators of popular TV show South Park, is definitely a must see for the music alone. The funny storyline, though, involving naïve Mormon missionaries who travel to Uganda to try to spread their religion, is also going to keep you involved throughout. The musical is strong all around, and, with its comedic tone, it’s a great start for people who claim that they aren’t into musicals.

4. Spring Awakening

Notable Awards: Tony Award for Best Musical, Tony Award for Best Book, Tony Award for Best Score, Drama Desk Outstanding Musical, Grammy Award Musical Show Album

Also known as the show that launched now superstar Lea Michele, Spring Awakening does a great job of combining dramatic topics including rape, abortion, child abuse, suicide and homosexuality with an upbeat rock score. The teen angst and sexual frustration exhibited by the characters are expressed through the music, which is extremely catchy. Although the show does get very dark, it always keeps the audience engaged.

3. Avenue Q

Notable Awards: Tony Award for Best Musical, Tony Award for Best Book, Tony Award for Best Original Score

Avenue Q is a puppet show, but it’s not one that you want to bring children to. The raunchy and hilarious show will keep the audience in stitches through its entire run. The 23rd longest running musical in Broadway history, Avenue Q is sure to amuse anyone with a funny bone (although they probably should be over the age of 16).

2. Spamalot

Notable Awards: Tony Award for Best Musical, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics

Based on the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Spamalot takes all of the movie’s ridiculousness and puts it into musical form, which only makes it better. The musical brings back all of the favorite jokes from the movie, while adding in its own extra scenes and characters that make it a different viewing experience than just sitting down to the movie again. The music also really adds something to the plot and the elaborate tap dancing numbers are extremely entertaining.

1. Wicked 

Notable Awards: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical, Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Broadway Musical

Everyone knows the story of The Wizard of Oz, but what Wicked does so well is that it presents the opposite point of view. The show tells the typical story from Elphaba’s, the wicked witch of the west, perspective, providing a great twist on a familiar story. The music is amazing and the show does a great job of delving into some of the deeper aspects of the story. There’s a reason that Wicked is the eleventh longest running show in Broadway history, with no sign of slowing down. It’s got all the perfect elements of a great musical, and it is definitely worth seeing.

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