Having a social life is rough when you’re into Broadway musicals. I mean, sure, if you’re in your high school’s theatre troupe, then maybe socializing is easier for you. You make good friends under those hot lights and layers of pancake makeup, bonding over awkward stage kisses and memories of cast parties past. I was not so secretly incredibly jealous of the theatre community when I was in high school. I was in the ballet community. The ballet community is, in practice, a lot like the theatre community in the hot lights and pancake makeup, but we were never there to make friends. We were there to bleed through our pointe shoes, compulsively count to eight and then back to one again, and learn our music (a phenomenon I’ll be sure to write about someday).
What we did have in common with the theatre community, of course, was a shared love for Broadway musical soundtracks.
I can’t speak for every Broadway fan, but my love for musicals made me weird. It wasn’t the only thing, but I’m sure it helped. There’s a reason we invented the term theatre geek, and it wasn’t supposed to be a compliment. We were supposed to be doomed to a life of Slurpee-stained sweaters and national tours.
And then “Hamilton” happened.
Suddenly, Broadway was cool. It was educational, multicultural, and hip-hopping, a term that reveals my internal age of 1,000 and complete ignorance of the rap genre. People from all over were suddenly becoming obsessed with Lin Manuel-Miranda’s Tony-winning opus. Before I knew it, it was everywhere. I was in New York when “Hamilton” was in previews, and I was there at the height of the frenzy. And somewhere in the middle, I got really sick of “Hamilton.”
Breathe a sigh of relief. You’re not the only one.
This list exists for a few groups. Firstly, this list is for people who got into Broadway merely for “Hamilton,” and they’re looking for other musicals that could be good, too. Second, this list is for people like me who are sick of seeing the same musical everywhere. Third, this list exists for the people who accidentally clicked on this article and are looking for something to occupy their time. If you’re in a public restroom, sit back. I’m long-winded, like a modern-day Dickens or, apparently, Lin-Manuel Miranda.
So, without further ado, here are five Broadway musical soundtracks that are not “Hamilton.”
1. "An American In Paris" (2015)
Back in May 2016, I very randomly ended up at the Palace Theatre in Manhattan on a Friday night to see “An American in Paris.” It was one of the most fortunate and expensive impromptu decisions of my entire life. “An American in Paris,” which closed in January 2017, is one of the most visually compelling musicals I’ve ever seen.
The show is based on the 1951 film of the same title, which stars Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron. It’s romantic, funny, and the songs are cheerful, fun, and dance-able. In fact, all of the songs are old tunes by George and Ira Gershwin, two renowned songwriters that I reference a lot in my poetry and fiction because they’re classic (and I’m long-obsessed). I recommend this soundtrack for anyone who’s a sucker for a sweet love story, homoerotic subtext, or has secretly wanted to be a tap dancer. Better yet, all three.
Standout Track: “I Got Rhythm,” arguably the most famous song from the film and maybe one of the most well known in the entire American musical canon.
2. "Jersey Boys" (2005)
This show closed at the August Wilson Theatre after nearly a twelve-year run in January 2017. While I was never fortunate enough to see the show on Broadway, I did see it in my hometown of Detroit, and it’s just as amazing as the Tony Awards told us it was. Not only does the lighting tell a story in itself, but the theme of friendship and brotherhood is performed so believably that you’ll be sobbing when it’s over.
For the past decade, Broadway has been really obsessed with true-story musicals, and that’s what “Jersey Boys” is. It’s based on the life and fame of 1960s pop sensations, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. For those of you under the age of 1,000, The Four Seasons are responsible for the other “Big Girls Don’t Cry” (the one that isn’t by Fergie). While that might seem basic, it’s really anything but. The Four Seasons were involved in a lot of scandal and intrigue, including an extreme connection to the mob. Yeah, that’s important to the musical, too. Crime and bubblegum pop. It’s every weird girl’s dream (read: my dream).
I recommend the “Jersey Boys” soundtrack to people who don’t mind men singing in falsetto, tend to like old jukebox tunes, or have stumbled upon the weirdly dark 2014 Clint Eastwood film adaptation on cable. The show makes a lot more sense—I promise.
Standout Track: “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” honestly. The story behind the song is actually pretty
funny.
Oh, what the hey! The movie version's really good, too.
3. "Avenue Q" (2003)
So, you’re tired of musicals that are based on other things. Good. “Avenue Q” isn’t really based on anything else except for maybe your life after you graduate from college. Creators Robert Lopez (who, with his wife, won an Oscar for writing "Frozen" track "Let It Go" in 2014) and Jeff Marx felt like optimistic children’s programs (i.e. “Sesame Street,” my favorite show ever to exist, thank you very much) lied to them about their never-ending potentials, so they made some cynical, wise-cracking puppets and won three Tony Awards from there. I was weirdly obsessed with “Avenue Q” in the eighth grade when I could relate to absolutely nothing the characters were singing about. But now that I’m in my twenties and preparing to leave the safety of my undergraduate career, I feel many of the lyrics too deeply. There are twisted, relatable lines in every song and sage pieces of advice, like why charity is a good idea, how to tell your roommate you know he's probably gay, and why the Internet might be as popular as it is (extremely explicit language on this last one).
I do not recommend “Avenue Q” to people going through their first social justice experience or “Sesame Street” enthusiasts. However, I do recommend the soundtrack to the extremely cynical and anyone looking for a good Gary Coleman joke. Apparently, people like that exist.
Standout Track: “It Sucks to Be Me,” the hilariously expository opening to the show.
4. "American Idiot" (2010)
There was no way I could create a list of excellent Broadway musical soundtracks and not include “American Idiot.” It’s a personal attachment, sure, but the show really is unique and excellent. Taking the story from Green Day’s 2004 rock opera album and adding some songs from their 2009 album, “21st Century Breakdown,” this musical tells the story of three disaffected suburban youths. Fed up with their predictable, basement-dwelling lives, they make some enormous life decisions. Protagonist Johnny moves to the nearest metropolis, his friend Tunny joins the Army, and his friend Will becomes a father. A lot of darker and sadder things happen in between, but I won’t spoil anything for you in case you see it (and at this rate, something tells me the musical is about to become super relevant).
“American Idiot” is a short musical—90 minutes and no intermission. There’s hardly any dialogue, and it relies on Billie Joe Armstrong’s lyrics to tell a big, deep, meaningful story. Thankfully, Armstrong is a true poet, and you’re never lost when you watch this story unfold. The emotion in every song is raw and honest. Plus, it’s one of the few Broadway soundtracks tough enough to blast in your car without feeling embarrassed.
I recommend “American Idiot” to anyone who already identifies as a Green Day fan, anyone who’s looking for something new to head-bang to, or a compassionate human being who’s really worried about the world and needs a creative outlet for that energy.
Standout Track: “Jesus of Suburbia,” which has the most profoundly poetic lyrics and features the introductions to most of the show’s main characters. A nine-minute opus but a true delight for the pop-punk soul in you.
5. "Hairspray" (2002)
I say that 2017 is the year we make “Hairspray” relevant again. When the movie/musical was released in 2007, it was an instant hit among young kids. With its bright colors and fun musical numbers, who could resist it? Plus, the message that “Hairspray” sends about racism and body image are especially pertinent to modern politics. The protagonist, Tracy Turnblad, is an excellent role model for young girls and women. She’s also an incredible example of what a social-justice ally should look like.
And the soundtrack has something to satisfy any listener. There’s that nostalgic, early-1960s groove on most tracks. Some of the songs are about dancing, some about adolescent romance, and some are about the plight of oppressed groups in the United States. Some of the songs have elements of all three concepts. Whether you choose to listen to the Original Broadway Cast recording, the film, or the cast of 2016’s “Hairspray Live,” you can bet you’re going to love it.
I recommend “Hairspray” to anyone who lives or breathes.
Standout Track: “You Can’t Stop the Beat,” the musical’s trademark finale with elements of romance, groovy dancing, and social justice.
There’s a lot more than Founding Fathers out there, budding musical fans. Let me show you my ways. There’s a lot more where that came from.
Now, pretend I just disappeared in a plume of smoke like the Witch from “Into the Woods” or something.
