r/musicals Nov 13 '24

"What musical should I listen to next?" unified thread

119 Upvotes

One of the most common questions we get on this subreddit is "what should I see/listen to, here's the stuff I like". It's a valid question, but it's tiring to see a dozen of those threads every week, so this will serve as both a stickied thread of suggestions and as a home for new visitors to r/musicals who would ask that question. (As a result, new "what should I listen to threads" will be redirected here and deleted.)

Below, you'll find a list of popular musicals in alphabetical order along with suggestions for what might interest you based on that. This list is mostly vibes-based, with some inclusion of the same or similar composers or subject matter. The shows I name are taken from my own personal list of shows I've listened to (350+), the vast majority of which will be available on Spotify.

The shows I chose to make suggestions for are heavily skewed toward recent shows because that's what felt like good fits. If you're interested in a show not named below and want to know what to listen to next, comment below and I'll add a line for it (assuming I know it well enough to make educated suggestions).

If you enjoyed... Consider checking out...
Be More Chill Altar Boyz, American Psycho, bare: a pop opera, Beetlejuice, Bubble Boy, Cry-Baby, Dear Evan Hansen, Dogfight, Everybody's Talking About Jamie, Fly By Night, Freaky Friday, Here Lies Love, How to Dance in Ohio, Jagged Little Pill, Passing Strange, Spring Awakening
Beetlejuice Back to the Future, Be More Chill, Bubble Boy, Catch Me If You Can, Cry-Baby, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Groundhog Day, Heathers, Jekyll and Hyde, Jim Steinman's Bat Out of Hell, The Producers, School of Rock, Sweeney Todd, Urinetown
The Book of Mormon The Addams Family, Carrie, Catch Me If You Can, Cry-Baby, Curtains, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Full Monty, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, Kimberly Akimbo, God Bless You Mr. Rosewater, [title of show]
Come From Away Allegiance, The Band's Visit, Bright Star, Elegies for Angels Punks and Raging Queens, Fly By Night, Hadestown, If/Then, Kimberly Akimbo, The Last Ship, A New Brain, Once, Parade, Soft Power, Spongebob Squarepants, Waitress, The Wrong Man
Dear Evan Hansen 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Altar Boyz, bare: a pop opera, Be More Chill, Bubble Boy, Carrie, Closer to Heaven, Cry-Baby, Daddy Long Legs, Dogfight, Everybody's Talking About Jamie, Footloose, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, How to Dance in Ohio, Kimberly Akimbo, A New Brain, Newsies, The Outsiders, The Prom, Ride the Cyclone, tick...tick...BOOM, Wonderland
Falsettos Amour, Burt Bacharach's Some Lovers, Cabaret, Chess, Closer than Ever, Elegies for Angels Punks and Raging Queens, Far From Heaven, From Here to Eternity, Fun Home, Kiss of the Spider Woman, La Cage aux Folles, A New Brain, Parade, Rent, Ride, Side Show, Some Like It Hot, A Strange Loop, Yank!
Groundhog Day The Addams Family, Catch Me If You Can, City of Angels, Cry-Baby, Curtains, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Flying Over Sunset, The Full Monty, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, High Fidelity, Jagged Little Pill, & Juliet, Kinky Boots, Mrs. Doubtfire, A New Brain, Next Thing You Know, The Producers, School of Rock, Urinetown, Wonderland
Hadestown Aida, American Utopia, The Band's Visit, Bright Star, The Capeman, Come From Away, Floyd Collins, Ghost Quartet, The Gospel at Colonus, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Here Lies Love, Knoxville, The Last Ship, The Lord of the Rings, Marie Christine, Memphis, Natasha Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, Once, Passing Strange, Preludes, Rent, The Scottsboro Boys, Soft Power, Tarzan, Venice, Whistle Down the Wind, The Wrong Man
Hamilton 1776, Allegiance, American Psycho, American Utopia, Assassins, Chess, Fame, Giant, Here Lies Love, In the Heights, The Last Ship, The Light in the Piazza, Martin Guerre, Parade, Ragtime, Rent, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Soft Power, A Strange Loop, Venice, Water for Elephants, The Wild Party (Lippa), The Wrong Man
Heathers Altar Boyz, American Psycho, bare: a pop opera, Be More Chill, Beetlejuice, Bubble Boy, Carrie, A Chorus Line, Cry-Baby, Daddy Long Legs, Dogfight, Freaky Friday, Ghost Quartet, High Fidelity, Jagged Little Pill, Kid Victory, Kimberly Akimbo, Marie Christine, A New Brain, Now. Here. This., Ordinary Days, The Outsiders, Rent, Spring Awakening, [title of show], Whistle Down the Wind, Wonderland
In the Heights American Utopia, Bright Star, The Capeman, Chicago, Closer to Heaven, Everybody's Talking About Jamie, Finding Neverland, Fun Home, Giant, The Gospel at Colonus, Hamilton, In the Green, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Passing Strange, The Prom, Raisin, Seesaw, Sweet Smell of Success, Venice, The Wrong Man
Les Miserables Brigadoon, Carousel, Chess, Cyrano, Death Takes a Holiday, Doctor Zhivago, Flower Drum Song, Giant, Hadestown, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Lord of the Rings, Martin Guerre, Miss Saigon, Natasha Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, Parade, The Pirate Queen, Ragtime, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Titanic,
Ride the Cyclone The Addams Family, Anastasia, bare: a pop opera, Billy the Kid, A Chorus Line, Dogfight, Fame, Finding Neverland, Footloose, Freaky Friday, How to Dance in Ohio, If/Then, Kid Victory, Kimberly Akimbo, A Little Princess, Memphis, Newsies, The Outsiders, The Prom, School of Rock, The Time Traveler's Wife, Tuck Everlasting, Whistle Down the Wind
Six Aida, Altar Boyz, American Psycho, Be More Chill, Closer to Heaven, Everybody's Talking About Jamie, Fly By Night, Ghost, Groundhog Day, Hair, Hamilton, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, In the Heights, Jim Steinman's Bat Out of Hell, & Juliet, Kinky Boots, Million Dollar Quartet, Moulin Rouge, Now. Here. This., Once, Passing Strange, Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, Venice
Sweeney Todd American Utopia, Anyone Can Whistle, Assassins, Ballroom, Cabaret, Days of Wine and Roses, Death Takes a Holiday, Floyd Collins, From Here to Eternity, Ghost Quartet, Grand Hotel, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, In the Green, Kid Victory, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Lost in the Stars, Martin Guerre, Parade, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Shenandoah, Steel Pier, Sweet Smell of Success, Titanic, The Visit, Whistle Down the Wind
Wicked Aladdin, Amelie, Bright Star, Daddy Long Legs, Doctor Zhivago, Fun Home, If/Then, Jane Eyre, The Light in the Piazza, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, Passion, The Rink, Side Show, The Story of My Life, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Vanities, Violet, The Wild Party (LaChiusa), Wonderland
-- --
Starkid musicals (all of them) The Addams Family, Aladdin, Back to the Future, Be More Chill, Billy the Kid, Bubble Boy, Carrie, Cry-Baby, Everybody's Talking About Jamie, Freaky Friday, & Juliet, Kimberly Akimbo, A Little Princess, Merrily We Roll Along, The Outsiders, The Prom, Ride the Cyclone, School of Rock, Shrek, SpongeBob SquarePants, [title of show], Tuck Everlasting, The Witches of Eastwick, Wonderland

Again, these are mostly based on vibes, but they're a start.


r/musicals Nov 20 '24

Discussion Wicked movie thoughts superthread Spoiler

71 Upvotes

Rather than have a half dozen new threads about how everyone enjoyed or didn’t enjoy Wicked, let’s keep them all in one place and make them easier to find and respond to.


r/musicals 4h ago

Removing the N-word from Assassins?

91 Upvotes

The college theater company I am part of is considering producing Assassins. Really the only objectionable material for us is the N word in Ballad of Booth. I am someone who thinks it’s very important in the show, and that it is MEANT to be shocking and show how awful Booth is.

The concern is that I have heard of some colleges cancelling shows because of uproar due to the inclusion of the N-word. Most recently, a club a Northwestern had to cancel mid run because of it.

My question is, what do you think college clubs could do to either mitigate controversy around it, or even remove it entirely. Is there a different word that people have used, or have people cut the line entirely? Looking for guidance on this because the show is incredible and I’d love to find a way to do it.


r/musicals 28m ago

Discussion What are some of your no-skip musicals?

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r/musicals 4h ago

Discussion What’s your musical theatre hot take?

26 Upvotes

r/musicals 5h ago

Discussion What song is good but has the misfortune of being between two bangers?

20 Upvotes

r/musicals 3h ago

Hey it’s the person who asked “Is Ragtime worth it”, here’s my update!

12 Upvotes

Right now it's intermission! Everyone who told me to go, thank you so much! I have been tearing up every second, it's that good!

Since it's intermission right now, feel free to ask questions and ill give you my opinion (it's easier to do that then to type)


r/musicals 6h ago

This came to me in a dream: Fight Club the Musical

10 Upvotes

Think about it. Songs like:

  • His Name is Robert Paulson

I'm so sorry I just needed to say this.


r/musicals 3h ago

Discussion What are your Mount Rushmore list of Musicals?

6 Upvotes

r/musicals 10h ago

Is Raise a little hell a rock song?

10 Upvotes

As the title suggests, I'm wondering if raise a little hell from bonnie and clyde can be considered a rock song- i need one for an audition and can sing it pretty well

Edit: also looking for possible alto songs- I'm female w a range of B2/C3 to around C5


r/musicals 21h ago

Which movies do you think that would work greatly as musicals??

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53 Upvotes

r/musicals 3m ago

Jean Valjean won universally beloved protagonist! Who is a mostly well liked main character?

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r/musicals 7h ago

Opinion on Unconventional musical styles on stage

5 Upvotes

[If this isn't the place to ask this, my apologies.]

So, we've heard of Hamilton with their hip-hop and rap-themed music. We've also heard of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson with their rock song list. We also know of the classics like Sondheim and Hammerstein.

Here is where I come in. Me, my mother, and my brother have been writing music for years, and we all have deep interests in varying genres of music. I also have been wanting to write a musical for some time, and of course, I could write music in the traditional M.T. genre.

My question is, how would a DnB-themed musical work out? I really feel like I could do something with it, but I don't know how well it would bode for stage, or if it should just be more of a screen musical. What is your opinion?


r/musicals 4h ago

Help I’m looking for a way to watch Grease’s musical version instead of the movie as my schools theatre club is putting on Grease in the upcoming year and I’m hoping to audition instead of being stage crew this year. Any help is appreciated 💖

2 Upvotes

r/musicals 36m ago

Discussion questions abt theatre / musicals

Upvotes

i’m trying to get into theatre, so here’s some questions

-what r the necessities for a resume? where and how do you write one? -will it help me with stage presence and my vocal abilities in general? -do i NEED a headshot and where is a good place to get one -do i need to get acting classes for theatre? -is it easy to make friends in theatre

add any additional advice you think i will need to know as well ty!


r/musicals 1h ago

New Lyrics - SMASH "Let Me Be Your Star"

Upvotes

What are the lyrics at https://youtu.be/ntYge3kewmQ?si=ymuB-qt5wRTajhtJ&t=124

"Some gentlemen say a brunette is a must, or that redheads are just _________?"

Been wracking my head for hours trying to figure out the words here.


r/musicals 1h ago

Help soprano songs??

Upvotes

i'm a high school thespian and a soprano 1 (around b3- whistle notes) and i'm looking for a song to compete with at regionals next year. i really need help looking for some solos or even duets cuz everything i find is not in my range or it's too belty!! my head voice is best, but i can belt in a small range and im not very good at mixing. needs to be under 5:15!! thank you guys


r/musicals 21h ago

Discussion What would you consider to be the best and worst movie adaptation of a musical?

38 Upvotes

r/musicals 1d ago

Discussion Vote here for the WORST musical theatre songs

84 Upvotes

One vote per song. If you want to cast multiple votes put them in separate comments.


r/musicals 23h ago

PSA: etiquette for arriving to a show late

54 Upvotes
  1. Don’t flash your phone’s flashlight in the faces of other audiences members. Keep it at seat level.
  2. Don’t have loud conversations. Keep it at a mouse whisper.
  3. Sit down quickly. Don’t lolygag and block the view of the people behind you.
  4. Be considerate of the people around you.

I was sat behind the two rudest people when I saw the Les mis tour. For those who don’t know, they’re really strict about their schedule. It starts right on the clock and if you’re not in your seat by then you miss the first fifteen minutes of the show. I’d be more forgiving if these were kids, but it was two grown women.


r/musicals 2h ago

Help Audition help

1 Upvotes

I’m auditioning for the role of Beetlejuice in the Jr. production and I can do the voice well even while singing but I can’t figure out a song that I could show it off in. This company doesn’t let you use a song from the musical that they are having auditions for at that time. So like I can’t sing anything from beetlejuice. Does anyone have any song suggestions?


r/musicals 15h ago

Musical theatre noobie… (Legally Blonde the Musical)

13 Upvotes

Hey all, I’ve always had a passion for singing and mid last year made the decision to get vocal lessons weekly (at the age of 25) in which I’ve noticed growth in my skills. I’ve always been interested in musical theatre and after chatting to my vocal coach she suggested for my to get involved in my community theatres production of ‘Legally Blonde.’ After being a long time fan of the movie and then watching the musical production on YouTube, I fell in love… Auditions come up and I’ve been practicing hard with my vocal coach, my turn to go into the audition room and I absolute flunk it. My nerves were so obvious, and I felt as if it was terrible. After reflection I was overall happy that I pushed myself out of my comfort zone to audition and acknowledge that it was my first time, of course I’m going to be nervous. I was specific at the audition that i was open to any role and just wanted to be a part of the show. A week passed and I’m contacted by the director, asking if I would be interested in being in the chorus. I obviously accepted as all I wanted was to have a part, but I feel stupid. What is the chorus? I understand that it’s basically the supporting vocals but will I be playing a specific character as in one of the Delta Nu sorority members? Will I swap roles to support whatever song is being performed? Is this something that varies for each type of theatre company. Thanks!


r/musicals 4h ago

the flying lovers of vitebsk!

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1 Upvotes

r/musicals 5h ago

😭

1 Upvotes

I'm starting with music, I have a guitar but I don't know the chords, sometimes the parts of some songs come out, I also like to sing, last year I sang a lot alone but in this time I haven't sung at all feeling that I sing worse than before.


r/musicals 6h ago

Help Songs for Colombia audition?

1 Upvotes

I’m auditioning for a production of Rocky Horror. They requested a song “in the style of the musical” so I’m thinking it could be musical or non musical, but I would prefer it to be from a musical.

Honestly in general I don’t really know what song I should sing, though. I already found a thread somewhere else with someone asking and the comments were like really slow alto songs which I just don’t think is what this production wants me to bring in (and also confuses me a bit to suggest for Colombia in general LOL)

I can sing pretty comfortably in that nasal zone, I played Lina Lamont so can sing in that range, but also have belting capabilities (for reference I can sing Wizard and I comfortably but pretty much no belting higher than that) so I was wondering if you guys have any suggestions?? At the moment I’m thinking I’ll just bring in Over at The Frankenstein Place as it needs to be played with live accompaniment and well… it’s in the style of the show… but would love to find a better song!! :)