As 2015 nears its end, it's time to look back on the highs and lows of the year. Hopefully theatre lands overall as one of the highs. There have been thousands upon thousands of wonderful theatre productions around the world this year, including one of the most well-known venues, New York City. I've compiled a list of the five Broadway shows, in my opinion, that have had the most impact and meaning.

1. Hamilton

This one should be a bit obvious unless you've been living under a rock. Hamilton has reached far beyond typical theatre fans to become an international sensation. Using varying styles of music (including rap and hip-hop), Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical tells the life story of Alexander Hamilton, one of the most unsung heroes of the group of men known as the Founding Fathers. The show will definitely sweep the 2016 Tony Awards and is one for the record books.

2. Fun Home

Fun Home is a unique musical in its subject matter and many other elements. Straying away from the stereotypical happy musical format, the story follows a young girl growing up in the modern world as a lesbian with her gay father. The show not only features a female protagonist (unfortunately still an oddity on the Great White Way), but also is the first Broadway musical with a lesbian protagonist. The show won five 2015 Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

3. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

This Broadway play follows a young man with Asperger's-like symptoms who works to investigate the mysterious death of a neighbor's dog. The play won five Tony awards, including best play.

4. The King and I

The Rodger's and Hammerstein classic was revived earlier this year at Lincoln Center with a star-studded cast. Kelli O'Hara beautifully plays the role of Anna, which finally garnered her first Tony Award on her fifth nomination. Many musical revivals are brushed off as fluff shows without much meaning. However, The King and I holds powerful messages of love and acceptance, and this beautifully mounted production makes for a meaningful revival.

5. The Color Purple

The Color Purple revival recently opened to rave reviews. The show features a well-rounded cast with many big names, including Jennifer Hudson. The fantastic production brings important messages that pertain to hot-button issues and will draw large audiences and garner many awards.

It is always fun to look back on a fantastic year of theatre, but to also look to the future. Here's to an amazing year of theatre in 2016!