My Personal Favourites
While I have been privileged to experience first hand the magic of Broadway theatre countless times (I have literally lost count of all the shows I have seen), here is a list of my personal favourites.
Top 5 Shows of All Time...so far.
Rent
Rent was the first show I had even seen on Broadway and later saw it another three times. Since then, I have turned into a "Rent-head," completely touched by the vibrancy of Jonathan Larson's score and the powerful message it conveys. Winner of the 1996 Tony Award for Best Musical and Best Actor/Actress, among others, the story is an adaptation of Puccini's opera La Boheme and it portrays the story of Bohemian artists living in New York City dealing with love, loss and the importance of remembering that there is "No Day but Today." Click on the image for more information about the synopsis and the musical numbers. The show closed on Broadway in 2010 and is currently playing Off-Broadway. Click here for information about discounted tickets.
Wicked
Wicked is a musical adapted from a novel by Gregory Maguire which looks at a completely different perspective of the beloved classic, The Wizard of Oz. The musical has been a hot ticket since it opened on Broadway in 2003. Some of its well-known numbers include Popular, For Good (as seen recently on the TV show Glee), and Defying Gravity. Click here to find out how to get discounted tickets and still be able to experience the magic of wicked. The show is currently on Broadway and on tour.
Les Miserables
This show is a true timeless classic. Les Mis has been my father's favourite for years, and I grew up listening to the music. I was even lucky enough to perform in the show in high school, and you could see a picture of me here.
Like Rent, Les Mis is an operetta, meaning there is no spoken word - only music and lyrics. Les Mis was adapted from the book with the same title by Victor Hugo, and it follows the character of Jean Valjean, who is an escaped convict and he created a new, hidden identity for himself as mayor and wealthy businessman. The story of his life and the characters surrounding him during the French Revolution in the 19th century is powerful and resonating for audiences of all ages, not to mention the stunning music. The show opened on Broadway in 1987 and was revived for a short period in 2006. It is currently staged in London, Spain and on tour in the U.S.
Like Rent, Les Mis is an operetta, meaning there is no spoken word - only music and lyrics. Les Mis was adapted from the book with the same title by Victor Hugo, and it follows the character of Jean Valjean, who is an escaped convict and he created a new, hidden identity for himself as mayor and wealthy businessman. The story of his life and the characters surrounding him during the French Revolution in the 19th century is powerful and resonating for audiences of all ages, not to mention the stunning music. The show opened on Broadway in 1987 and was revived for a short period in 2006. It is currently staged in London, Spain and on tour in the U.S.
Jersey Boys
Jersey Boys is a modern classic and follows the true story of Frankie Valli and his collaboration with his band, the Four Seasons. The music is up-beat and it is all from the Four Seasons themselves, while the story of the show is extremely captivating. Jersey Boys swept the 2006 Tony Awards, winning Best Musical and Best Actor, among multiple others. The musical captures the essence of the 1960's music scene (including the beloved "Who Wears Short-Shorts) and the struggles the artists themselves endured. Check out their Tony Award performance (I promise, you know all of the songs)! Click here to find out how to snag great ticket prices!
In The Heights
In The Heights is the 2008 Tony Award winning musical following the story of a Latino neighbourhood in Washington Heights in New York City. While it seems like it is targeted for a specific audience, this is definitely not the case. The story has a universal message of love and finding one's sense of belonging in a busy world. The music is incredible and mixes beautiful spanish beats with a modern hip-hop tone. The lead role of Usnavi was originally played by Lin Manuel Miranda, who wrote the story and all of the music for In The Heights. To check out Lin and listen to this different kind of Broadway musical, take a look at this link. The show closed in April of 2011 but it is currently on tour (click the picture for more information).