“How does a bastard, orphan, son of a whore…”
The opening lines of the musical Hamilton already set the tone for the show that changed Broadway and live theater as a whole, not just at the time but likely forever. Using rap music to tell the story of one of the founding fathers of the United States, Alexander Hamilton, writer and performer Lin-Manuel Miranda consecrated himself in theater history. The show had a new wave of fans in 2020 when the live performance filmed in 2016 arrived at Disney+. This allowed people from around the world to watch this amazing musical, democratizing theater and Broadway for those who would not be able to attend for various reasons, including money-wise.
Hamilton is not the only musical available to watch, and many live performances have been recorded in the theater over the years. One of the most recent ones is Come From Away, available on AppleTv+, which tells the story of a small Canadian city that helped many airplanes to lend during 9/11. Broadway also has its streaming service, called BroadwayHD, and has various recorded live performances available. However, even in the era of specialized streaming services, most theatrical shows are not available to watch. Here is a list of some musicals that should be filmed live and become available on streaming services.
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7 Anastasia
Based on the 90s animated movie about the Russian aristocracy, Anastasia was already a good movie, but the stage musical was actually surprisingly even better. The Broadway musical had more songs than the movie, though they were written by the same composers. A beautiful story about finding yourself, Anastasia is nonetheless especially directed at those who like slightly darker and more political stories.
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MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
Set in the Russian Revolution, the orphan Anya has no recollection of her past. When she encounters two men who have one goal (pretend to have found the lost princess to receive money), Anya accepts a deal that will change her life forever.
6 Little Shop of Horrors
The Broadway show Little Shop of Horrors was based on an ’80s film, which was in turn based on a ’60s film, so it’d be great to see the show come full circle and be filmed live. A musical that has horror elements (not something seen every day in musical theater) and comedy is a very different experience than the other musicals present on this list but not less important. A very dark but funny comedy that has inspiration from noir films had to be a part of the anticipated shows that should be available on a streaming platform. Little Shop of Horrors is about a florist who is in love with his coworker, but gets involved raising a carnivorous plant that feeds on human blood and flesh.
5 Beetlejuice
Beetlejuice had a complicated story: the show was closed permanently because of the pandemic but thankfully came back in 2022. A new take on Tim Burton’s classic ghost story, Beetlejuice continued Burton’s unique visuals but elaborated on its story with fantastic songs that are just as eccentric as the original movie. The musical is a fun watch and should be available for Burton’s fans worldwide to see on a streaming platform. In the stage show, a recently deceased couple asks for help to try to haunt the new owners of their home. The one they ask for help? A devious ghost called Betelgeuse (pronounced Beetlejuice).
4 Waitress
Waitress is based on the 2007 movie with the same name and is a heartbreaking story about loss, hope, and abuse. The show ran for about four years on Broadway before closing due to Covid-19. Sara Bareilles, who wrote the musical, came back to the role for a few nights in 2021 when the show was back on Broadway for a limited number of performances.
The story follows a young woman who is stuck in an abusive relationship. She discovers that she is pregnant and has to figure out what she has to do with her life now that she will become a mother. She will find love again in many different forms in this beautiful journey
3 The Book of Mormon
The religious musical satire has been making people laugh since 2011 when it debuted on Broadway. Created by the creators of South Park and the musical Avenue Q, The Book of Mormon is a funny and clever show that is intended for 17 and up due to some inappropriate and sexual topics that may not be suitable for small children. Something not surprising coming from the controversial South Park creators. Nonetheless, The Book of Mormon is a unique and thoughtful musical comedy and coming-of-age story, following two new young preachers as they try to teach the word of the Lord in a remote Ugandan village. They will discover a new reality that they didn’t even dream could exist.
2 The Lion King
One of the most famous and beloved Disney movies, The Lion King would then be considered by many as one of the most spectacular shows available to watch on Broadway. With another Disney stage show set to be released this year, Aladdin on the West End, there is no reason why a filmed Lion King stage show couldn’t happen as well. A story inspired by Hamlet but set in the animal kingdom, The Lion King follows the soon-to-be king Simba in his journey to maturing and becoming the lion he is meant to be.
1 Moulin Rouge!: The Musical
Based on the love story created by Baz Luhrmann, Moulin Rouge has transferred immaculately onto the stage and would make a great streaming performance, a spectacular scenario wherein the audience enters the Moulin Rouge and has a once-in-a-lifetime experience. One of the many peculiar aspects of this stage show is that it’s a jukebox musical, which means that the soundtrack is from various famous singers, not original tones for the show.
The songs on the Broadway show were updated since the movie happened over 20 years ago, but most of the soundtrack is still the same. Moulin Rouge! tells a romance story of star-crossed lovers that meet in a Parisian nightclub. There, the romantic poet Christian falls in love with Satin, the main act of the club. They will have to fight things they never expected in order to finally be together.
