Not every musical makes it to Broadway, but that doesn't mean they aren't good or unworthy of a wide audience. Here are a few gems that you need to listen to.
1. Amélie, A New Musical
"Amélie" is based off of the 2001 French film of the same name. It premiered at the Berkley Repertory Theatre in September 2015, with music by Daniel Messé, and lyrics by Messé and Nathan Tysen. "Amélie" is a romantic comedy full of the vibrant imagination and kindness of its title character. It will likely move to Broadway.
2. Tick, Tick... Boom!*
Jonathan Larson, composer of the musical Rent, wrote "Tick, Tick... Boom!" as an autobiography of his struggles to become a composer. He initially performed the piece as a solo work in 1990, but after his death in 1996, David Auburn revised it into a three-actor piece. It may not possess the same powerful impact of "Rent," but it leaves us with profound messages of encouragement.
3. Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812*
"The Great Comet" is an electropop opera based on Volume 5, Part 2 of Leo Tolstoy's "War and Peace." It features a pre-"Hamilton" Phillipa Soo, and a vibrant score merging Russian folk and classical music with indie rock and electronic dance music. The lighting, costume, and set design are very beautiful and gives the show its unique immersive element.
4. Heathers: The Musical*
"Heathers" is a rock musical based on the 1988 cult classic film. It's basically Means Girls with murder. The story follows the trend of the comedy-murder plot, with an ambiguous happy ending. Serious, I have no idea it was supposed to be happy or not. A lot of fans are pushing for this musical to get its turn on Broadway. The music is so good and there is never a dull moment with homicidal teenagers singing upbeat songs.
5. Hadestown: A Folk Opera*
"Hadestown" is a concept album by Anaïs Mitchell. The story is an adaptation of the Ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. The show is set in a post-apocalyptic American depression era, where Hades is a tyrannical leader and Persephone runs a speakeasy where she sells bootleg sunlight. It merges myth, history, and fantasy with a beautiful folk score.
6. A Man of No Importance*
"A Man of No Importance" is based on the 1994 Albert Finney film. It tells the story of a theatre company in Dublin attempting to stage Oscar Wilde's controversial play "Salome." The show's score is a phenomenal and relatively unknown gem in the canon of theatre. The song "The Streets of Dublin" is reason enough to see it.
7. A Very Potter Musical Trilogy*
AVPM was a low-budget show performed on the University of Michigan campus, written and performed by students. The musical trilogy is a hilarious and sometimes touching parody of the Harry Potter series. They are actually more accurate and true to the story than the films were. The musical, available on Youtube, came in three parts: "A Very Potter Musical," "A Very Potter Sequel," and "A Very Potter Senior Year." Go watch them if you haven't. They changed my life.
8. Dear Evan Hansen
"Dear Evan Hansen" is Pasek and Paul's new musical that is certainly headed for Broadway. The musical is all about the struggles of communication and overcoming grief. It tells the story of a high school student, Connor, who commits suicide. Connor's parents find notes from Conner to Evan Hansen, a fellow student. The notes were actually written by Evan in an attempt to console Conner's grieving parents.
9. The Hunchback of Notre Dame*
"The Hunchback of Notre Dame" has been adapted from the 1996 Disney film into various stage adaptions. Most noteworthy was the 2014 La Jolly Playhouse production. The beautiful design blended well with Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz's soaring score. The musical had a pre-Broadway tryout at the Paper Mill Playhouse, but it was later announced that it would not move to Broadway. I guess they couldn't handle all that Victor Hugo. The show will be coming to Tuacahn in Utah for the 2016 season.
10. Love Never Dies
Not many people know that Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote a sequel to "The Phantom of the Opera." It's probably because people don't like to talk about it. Its confusing and unlikely plot was not nearly as well-received as its predecessor. I wonder what Gaston Leroux would think of it. Still, it does have some noteworthy songs, and great performances from its original cast.
11. Moulin Rouge!
"Moulin Rouge!" is a jukebox musical film about a poet who falls in love with the star actress of the Moulin Rouge cabaret. The film's rendition of the Police's "Roxanne" alone is a reason to watch this show. It was one of the few musicals to be nominated for Best Picture.
12. See Rock City and Other Destinations
"See Rock City" is a rock musical that incorporates pop and folk music into its story. The musical's synopsis defines the show as a "travelogue of American learning to over come their fears and expectations in order to connect." Its Jack Kerouac-style narrative combined with its memorable score is evocative of "Sante Fe" from "Newsies."
13. Mozart, l'opéra rock
"Mozart, l'opéra rock" ("Mozart, the rock opera") is a French musical that combines pop-rock with Mozart's classical compositions. The story is based on Mozart's life with many modern elements incorporated into its design. The show, widely popular in France, has two film versions.
14. 21 Chump Street
"21 Chump Street" is Lin-Manuel Miranda's 14-minute musical based on true incidents reported in the series "This American Life." It tells the story of a high school student who falls for a new student, and attempts to win her over by obliging her request for drugs. The story, told through hip-hop, rock, and pop music, has a star-studded cast: Lin-Manuel Miranda ("In the Heights," "Hamilton"), Anthony Ramos ("Hamilton"), Lindsay Mendez ("Dogfight," "Wicked"), and Alex Boniello ("Spring Awakening").
15. Bare: A Pop Opera
"Bare" is a sung-through rock musical based on Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet." The show is about Catholic boarding school students who struggle with issues of sexuality, religion, and identity. Stageagent.com summarized "Bare" as "a provocative, fresh, and utterly honest look at the dangers of baring your soul, and the consequences of continuing to hide." "Bare" is a very powerful show that will have you in tears within the first three songs.
16. Fugitive Songs
"Fugitive Songs" is a song cycle about a journey across America. The show is half-musical, half-revue with original characters that have individual intentions and reasons for traveling across country. The characters' restlessness is portrayed through the show's blend of traditional folk with pop and gospel music.
17. Dogfight*
"Dogfight" is another musical that deserves its turn on Broadway. It's an adaptation of the 1991 film, "Dogfight," about a group of U.S. Marines enjoying their last night before they are shipped out to Vietnam. They decide to have a "dogfight" as their last hurrah. The rules are simple: the one who brings the ugliest date to the party wins the cash prize. They're the type of boys the Six Merry Murderesses would come after. Pasek and Paul wrote a beautiful score with fantastic harmonies that hold "Dogfight" in high praise with its many fans.
*My personal favorites. I highly recommend them. Now go watch a musical.
