If there is anything in this world that I will never grow tired of, it is Broadway. Everything about Broadway is electric: the music, the lights, the emotions. Some shows make me laugh, some make me cry, and others make me want to jump and sing along. Here are a few of my all-time favorite Broadway shows and why they have a special place in my heart.
- . Parade, by Jason Robert Brown
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Parade is about Leo Frank, a Jewish man from Marietta, Georgia, who is accused of raping and killing a young factory girl who works for him. With its incredible lead, Ben Platt, Frank’s story unravels in the midst of deep-rooted antisemitism and prejudice that drives the people against him. I loved Parade because it is one of those rare musicals whose message comes across incredibly strong and powerful. The story was so poignant, so deeply sad, and honest; by the end, it had me in tears. Jason Robert Brown’s music was incredible. Every song felt raw, emotional, and totally captured the pain and injustice that every character in the show faced, from Leo being wrongly accused to the girl’s mother going through the pain of losing her daughter.
Throughout the musical, I am angry with them, as I wish that their story had ended differently. I thought this was one of the most incredible moments: during the conviction of the townspeople with Leo’s guilt, people were running around in the audience. This made it all seem so real and very scary, being that close to mob mentality. Another thing that I liked was that Leo didn’t leave the stage during intermission, making his story even more intense and relentless. The role of Leo Frank portrayed by Platt was performed with so much honesty and emotion that every moment seemed real to him. Parade isn’t just a show, it is an experience. It reminds you of the importance of empathy and the need to stand up against hate.
- . Gutenberg!, by Anthony King and Scott Brown
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Gutenberg! is a two-man show, starring Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells, and it was honestly one of the funniest musicals I’ve ever seen. They play two aspiring playwrights trying to create their first big musical and get noticed by a producer. The whole thing feels like watching two best friends totally commit to the bit. At the end of each show, they had a guest appear as the producer who would be willing to make their show happen.
The set was simple, with some chairs, a backdrop, and a table full of hats. One of the best parts is that they switch characters just by putting on different hats with the character names written on them, especially when they’re narrating the “show” they’re supposedly writing. It makes everything even funnier because they jump in and out of roles nonstop. At the end, they did a big reveal with a big set piece representing the dramatic, over-the-top version of the musical they dreamed of creating. At the performance I attended, the mystery producer was Ben Platt, which made the ending even better.
- . Waitress, by Jessie Nelson and Sara Bareilles
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This musical is so beautiful. The show follows Jenna, Dawn, and Becky who all work at Joe’s Pie Diner in a small southern town. Jenna, played by Sara Bareilles, is stuck in an abusive marriage with her husband Earl and unexpectedly becomes pregnant with his child, she sees this as a chance to try and escape her situation. To do this, she enters a pie baking contest with a cash prize. Through it all, Dawn and Becky support her and help her rebuild her life.
The show blends comedy and emotional moments really well, making you laugh in one scene and tear up in the next. It tells a very real, human story about wanting more out of life and finding the courage to change even when it feels impossible. That’s what I love about this musical: each character is struggling with things, like any other person, and need a way to fix them. Though serious, the musical was funny too. The back-and-forth banter between the three waitresses kept the humor constant. They joked about everything from baking pies to Jenna’s personal drama, much like actual friends. All the jokes, chaotic moments, and hilarious characters made Waitress one of the funniest and most enjoyable musicals I’ve seen, and its lessons have stayed with me.
- . Some Like It Hot, by Amber Ruffin and Matthew Lopez
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I went to see this show with my high school, and I knew absolutely nothing about the show. Even though I didn’t expect much going in, it ended up being one of the most entertaining shows I’ve seen with big theatrical tap numbers and ensemble work. The musical is about two musicians, Joe and Jerry, who witness a mob hit during Prohibition in Chicago. Because they saw what the mob had done, Joe and Jerry had to run away and disguise themselves as women, Josephine and Daphne, and join an all-female band.
The cast had amazing comedic timing, especially in the scenes where Joe and Jerry had to switch back and forth between their disguises while trying not to get caught. The musical’s sets and costumes were over the top with staircases, a moving train and cars, water fountains for the hotel, doors for the chase scene, and bedazzled costumes. Overall, I loved the musical. It was one of those shows that completely surprised me and left me laughing the entire time.
- . The Outsiders, by Adam Rapp and Justin Levine
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When I had to read the book in school, I had absolutely no interest in it at all. Seeing the musical changed that completely. It was done so well, with every song and dance relating to the story. The plot of the story follows Ponyboy Curtis, played by Brody Grant, a greaser in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the 1960s. He has to navigate a rivalry between his greaser gang and the Socs from the other side of town. The story focuses on themes of family, belonging, and class struggle as Ponyboy experiences young love with Cherry Valance, a Soc girl.
The musical really leans into the themes of class struggle, identity, and what it means to find your place in a world that feels stacked against you. It captures the constant tension between the Greasers and the Socs, highlighting how unfair and dangerous their world really is. Even though the story is serious, the moments of humor made the characters feel real and added a perfect balance to the show. Moments when the characters fought like siblings made the show feel lighter and funnier. Walking out of the theater, I felt the weight of the story in a way that stayed with me long after the curtain fell.
Seeing all of these musicals gave me a wide range of experiences, from nonstop laughter to emotional, heartfelt moments. Gutenberg! was chaotic, hilarious, and had so much energy from Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells that it felt like watching two best friends mess around onstage in the best way. Waitress mixed comedy with real emotion, blending funny characters and awkward moments with a story that felt warm and personal. Then, The Outsiders brought in a much more serious tone, with intense scenes, raw emotion, and powerhouse themes that lingered long after it ended. Each musical had its own style and impact, and seeing them made me appreciate how different stories can make you laugh, think, and feel in completely different ways.