Some of the most prominent shows to come to Broadway have a message that has marked the hearts and minds of viewers all over the world, and have even caused people to change perspective. Here are those shows.
1. "Hairspray."
"Hairspray" told the story of a "pleasantly plump" teenager in 1960s Baltimore who, against all odds, fought to integrate "The Corny Collins Show" after joining the show and becoming an overnight sensation. The story of "Hairspray" pushed a political agenda to show the struggle of the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s and how hard it was to get racial segregation and acceptance. "Hairspray" went on to win 8 Tony awards and played in theaters all around the world, and continues to be performed today.
2. "The Falsettos."
"The Falsettos" shows the story of Marvin, his son, his ex-wife, his psychiatrist turned into his ex-wife's now-husband and his lover as they navigate the 1970s during the AIDS epidemic while attempting to be a tight-knit family. The musical shows the world just how clueless doctors were about AIDS when it first came about and puts into perspective just how different we view it now. "The Falsettos" consists of "March of the Falsettos" and "Falsettoland", the last two installments in one trio of one-act Off-Broadway musicals. "The Falsettos" first premiered on Broadway in 1992 and got nominated for 7 Tony awards, winning Best Original Score and Best Book of a Musical, then revived in 2016 and got nominated for 5 Tony awards.
3. "Fiddler on the Roof."
Set during Imperial Russia in 1905, "Fiddler on the Roof" told the story of Teyve, father of 5 daughters, who tries hard to uphold his Jewish traditions and ideals as outsiders tried to sway him out of his beliefs, but comes across challenges as the Tsar bans Jews from the village and three of his daughters want to marry men who are far from his customs of faith. In the end, the musical brings the message that being reliant on tradition in a time that tests your faith and ideals is so important, and that we would be nowhere without tradition. "Fiddler on the Roof" first opened in 1964 and went on to have 5 Broadway revivals, a film adaptation, Tony nominations, and national tours.
4. "Spring Awakening."
"Spring Awakening", set in 19th Century Germany, told the stories of a group of teens having to learn the ins and outs of their curious sexualities after adults around them refuse to teach them about it. The dark ending of "Spring Awakening", which includes an unsafe abortion resulting in death and teenage suicide, shows that teenagers should have a right to learn about their bodies and sexualities. "Spring Awakening" premiered on Broadway in 2006 and had a revival in 2015 with talents of Deaf and hearing actors by Deaf West Theatre with its own twist of showcasing both the show's message and the message of oralism in Deaf education during that time.
Of course, there are so many amazing Broadway productions that have left a mark on viewers all around the world, but there are so many to list, which is a great thing. Broadway still continues to be the most prominent business in the world, and loved by many around the world.
