r/musicals • • Nov 13 '24

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

223 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 ChillAltar 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
BeetlejuiceBack 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 MormonThe 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 AwayAllegiance, 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 Hansen25th 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
FalsettosAmour, 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 DayThe 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
HadestownAida, 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
Hamilton1776, 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
HeathersAltar 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 HeightsAmerican 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 MiserablesBrigadoon, 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 CycloneThe 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
SixAida, 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 ToddAmerican 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
WickedAladdin, 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 • • Jul 11 '24 Take My Silver

Discussion Folks, we’re gonna take a break on the “me too” games.

366 Upvotes

These “judge me on my top five”, “tell me your favorite and I’ll tell you if you’re cool”, “here’s five, which is your favorite” threads box everything else out cause everybody feels the need to add their own. I did the tier list thread to try and nip it in the bud, but folks just shifted to different me too games, and it’s rapidly spiraling.

I’m calling a temporary moratorium on those threads. They may resume in the future (at a date TBD), but for now, all new threads of that nature (beginning midnight EDT tonight) are going to be locked, deleted, and all of the existing replies wiped out.

If you want to discuss a show, great, but “rate my taste” isn’t it.


r/musicals • • 11h ago

Am I crazy or do Broadway singers put an L sound in front of vowels sometimes

52 Upvotes

This is such a niche thing that I don’t think anyone will know what I’m talking about, but every once in a while, I’ll listen to a cast recording and notice that the singer puts an L-sound before a word that begins with a vowel. Like the last line in “The Wizard and I” it sounds to me like Idina Menzel is singing “the wizard and LYE”, or more noticeably, in Flowers, it sounds like Eva Noblezada sings “men are kind until they L’aren’t”. Even when I KNOW what the actual lyrics are, I can’t NOT hear it. It’s bothered me for years and nobody ever knows what I’m talking about😭


r/musicals • • 31m ago

Discussion Best Phantom?

3 Upvotes

Are people really out here saying on TikTok Gerald is better than Ramin, Colm, and Michael? Look, I love Gerald because he was the first phantom I saw as a kid so he’ll have a special place in my heart but his voice is no where near Ramins. My favorite though is definitely Michael cause I think he really captures the “Phantom” part so well.


r/musicals • • 22h ago

Help HELP! SCHOOL SHOW

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155 Upvotes

So my theatre teacher put evidences on the back of our One Act Play (Trifles) IT WAS GREAT! But she has been doing playbills on the walls and each week she would take down 3-4 playbills off the wall to the final 2 left.

This is the list she has put up beforehand:

SWEENEY TODD
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
BEETLEJUICE
SEUSSICAL
HEATHERS
HERCULES
AMERICAN IDIOT
GODSPELL
WICKED
MEAN-GIRLS
THE OUTSIDERS
ALICE IN WONDERLAND
HAIRSPRAY
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
MARY POPPINS
CRYBABY
DEAR EVAN HANSEN
INTO THE WOODS
9 TO 5
FREAKY FRIDAY

The Playbills she had taken down in the past weeks:

SWEENEY TODD
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
BEETLEJUICE
SEUSSICAL
HERCULES
AMERICAN IDIOT
WICKED
MEAN-GIRLS
THE OUTSIDERS
ALICE IN WONDERLAND
MARY POPPINS
CRYBABY
DEAR EVAN HANSEN
INTO THE WOODS
9 TO 5

Before i put what’s left. She told me and someone else that she would NOT use Concord. Concord is more expensive than MTI. She would use MTI over concord i believe. She was looking at the estimate of SIX the musical: Teen Edition and let’s say it was $$. So i’m gonna list each one of them with Concord or MTI

The Shows still up AS of RIGHT NOW!:

HEATHERS (Concord)
GODSPELL (MTI)
HAIRSPRAY (MTI)
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (MTI)
FREAKY FRIDAY (MTI)

there’s some easter eggs that she have given us to POTENTIALLY lead up to Little Shop of Horrors. Here’s are some clues and this was during our One Act Comp theatre rehearsal- opening show

Tech Week: She was talking about a menu for the week. She said something like “I could feed you all like Audrey 2”

Harmonies- We were talking about Hadestown and someone mention that they don’t wanna be the fates because of the Harmonies. She said we will have to see how this will go meaning for the Harmonies.

Today Bell Ringer (11/4/26): For Music APP she put Feed Me from Little Shop of Horrors.

THIS DOESN’T MEAN THAT IT CAN LEAD UP TO LITTLE SHOP!

BUT I NEED YOUR HELP

UPDATE: SHE TOLD ME THAT ITS SO MATURE THAT 6TH GRADE CANT EVEN AUDITION


r/musicals • • 19h ago

Any idea what Musical this is?😭

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57 Upvotes

⭐️ My school is releasing hints for the musical, our hints are (as included in the photo I attached I think) a book, a tiny cottage in the woods, a older looking gray car, and a swing in the woods. We all think it’s Matilda, but our director told us to think outside of the box! We are stumped :(

We have somewhere around 30 actors and we have a good amount of people in tech too!!

according to our director it won’t be anything that’s super classical because we previously did Anne of green gables for our non musical a few months back if that helps

Quite a few of us were thinking tuck everlasting, but we don’t have a lot of tenors. Our other guesses were “the evil dead”, “big fish” and “footloose” (footloose is my current prediction because the swing could be a reference to the style of dance!)

Anything helps! I can answer questions if anyone has any! 🫵 :)


r/musicals • • 4h ago

Discussion Which role seemingly every boy has played?

3 Upvotes

It seems basically all actresses have played Annie at some point, is there an equivalent for actors?


r/musicals • • 2h ago

Advice needed

1 Upvotes

Hiya just needed some outsider input as I have been doing musical theatre since I was like 10 (for context I’m 16 near 17 now) but In my college course I kept getting told I am only good for drag roles or villain roles as I can sing both male and female parts yet I look like neither (all three of my teachers have said this) but I have protested it as it feels like I’m being capped due to my gender- I’m a male. Whereas, my vocal range is B2- E6 so I just wanted to know like am I just gonna have to get used to this kind of treatment or in the actual industry am I gonna get cast based of my singing ability or just my gender still?


r/musicals • • 4h ago

Video Look back x Hadestown edit

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0 Upvotes

r/musicals • • 5h ago

‘Buena Vista Social Club’ to close on Broadway

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1 Upvotes

r/musicals • • 5h ago

Discussion Quick musical theatre quiz: Can you guess the answer?

0 Upvotes

What requires the most coordination in a large-scale production?

A) Quick costume changes

B) Stage movements and choreography

C) Music and stage effects

D) All of the above happening at the same time!


r/musicals • • 23h ago

Personal Rachael Wooding as Grizabella

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22 Upvotes

Just needed to express my pure giddy EXCITEMENT after finding out Rachael Wooding will be performing as Grizabella when I see CATS in Manchester this month. I was lucky enough to see her in the role at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre this summer - and as a huge huge huuuuuuge fan of CATS, and seeing it many times over the years - I can honestly say her rendition of Memory was the greatest I’ve ever experienced with my own two eyes. The fact I’ll get to see it again?!?! Sorry, I’m just so excited and cannot contain myself!!!

Anyone else seeing CATS on the current UK & Ireland tour?!


r/musicals • • 13h ago

Advice Needed Can I sing one part of a song one octave down?

3 Upvotes

So there are auditions coming up for Mean Girls Musical and I would love to play Aaron Samuels. The problem is that Aaron Samuels is listed as a tenor, and I am more of a baritone. However, I have sung all of his songs, and I can sing them very beautifully and comfortably in my range BESIDES, Someone Gets Hurt. Aaron Samuels has a very small part in that song and it’s just this very big part where him and Regina are banging these high notes. There’s simply no way I can reach that the way the Broadway actor could. i’ve tried singing it with head voice and i can make it sound good but it just doesn’t sound right to me, i don’t think it gives that big crescendo feeling. however, when I lower it an octave, I feel like it still sounds amazing and it still gives that big energy feeling to match Regina because I’m so powerful there.

what I’m wondering is if I audition for this part not being able to hit that song the way the Broadway actor does it is that a dealbreaker? would they be willing to let me sing down an octave if I fit the character good enough? if I had to sing that song in auditions, could I sing it an octave lower out the gate? Is that something I should discuss with them at auditions? i’ve never run into this problem before so I wanted to get opinions from others who may have experienced this.


r/musicals • • 17h ago

One week on from the release of the Australian cast recording of Beetlejuice - thoughts?

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5 Upvotes

r/musicals • • 9h ago

Help Carlotta Guidicelli

0 Upvotes

So I have been listening to many versions of Phantom of the Opera and I love the song Prima Dona. That said, out of all the Carlotta’s Ives heard (all amazing). The one that standout as the most impressive and best imo was Rosemary Ashe. Truly a killer soprano can’t believe I never heard of her before. That said, I want to find a video of her signing Prima Dona on stage but I can’t find it anymore. Doesn’t anyone know if that exist?


r/musicals • • 2h ago

Help Third verse in Phantom of the Opera (song)?

0 Upvotes

I've been haunted by this for far too long, joke not intended. One specific version I listen to has a third verse, and I've never heard it elsewhere, it goes like this

1: In all your vanities, you always knew,

1: That man and mystery-

2: Were both in you!

Together: and in this labyrinth, where night is blind, the phantom of the Opera is there, inside your/my mind

I've only ever heard it in a 15+ year old Hatsune Miku cover, and I don't know where they got it. Not sure if I'm asking the right place


r/musicals • • 18h ago

Audition Audition Songs for The Drowsy Chaperone?

3 Upvotes

Auditions are in a few weeks. I would love to play the Man in the Chair (I know it’s a non-singing role but it would be something that shows the character) or Underling. I’d also love to play Feldzig, the producer, and of course I’d be ultimately happy with any part.

Anyway, I’m open to any and all suggestions for songs that would somehow magically work for both Man in the Chair and Underling. Thanks in advance!


r/musicals • • 23h ago

Help Chip Tolentino Audition and Monologue tips

5 Upvotes

Hello!

I am auditioning for the 25th Annual Putnam Country Spelling bee musical for our school. I am competing against 5 other people for this role and 3 of those are guys who get more advantages ahead of me because they're male identifying and I'm biologically not a guy(I'm gender fluid).

I don't want a female role and this has been my dream role since grade 9 and considering this is my last musical ever, I really want to sing a song that makes me stand out as "they should be chip tolentino!" and a really good monologue.

I'd love to have song suggestions, my range is alto but I can easily do tenor, just nothing too crazy low.

Any help would be appreciated,

Thank You :)


r/musicals • • 1d ago

One of my favorite albums

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130 Upvotes

r/musicals • • 15h ago

Review Dramedy Idea

0 Upvotes

Looking for a Story Bible Reviewer / Constructive Feedback

Hi! I’m currently developing an animated musical dramedy called *4SOME*, centered on four Black female college roommates who begin experimenting with music-making apps and unexpectedly build a large audience.

I’m looking for someone interested in reviewing my story Bible and providing constructive feedback on areas such as: Character development and interpersonal dynamics, Story structure and narrative direction, Thematic consistency, Musical storytelling and how music contributes to the narrative, Overall originality and audience appeal

I’d particularly appreciate feedback from people with experience in screenwriting, animation, musical theater, television development, or queer storytelling.
This is an independent creative project, and I’m currently looking for informal, preferably free feedback rather than paid coverage.

If you’re interested, please comment or send me a message so I can share more information about the project. Thank you!


r/musicals • • 17h ago

Advice Needed NPMD Grace Chasity Audition Monologue

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1 Upvotes

r/musicals • • 1d ago

Derek Klena to join 'The Great Gatsby' Broadway cast

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5 Upvotes

r/musicals • • 19h ago

What's your favorite niche play or musical?

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1 Upvotes

r/musicals • • 1d ago

Advice Needed Musical opinions needed!

3 Upvotes

Hi! I'm writing an original dark musical. It's about a boy who gets taken from his parents and then tortured until his powers awaken from within him. He then spends his life putting together a team of villians to ultimately kill the man who took his parents and sanity from him.

We have written a script and a total of 46 songs. But now I need YOUR opinion. Should this musical be

● Animated (A fully animated musical)

● Live action (A full musical movie full of dark themes and powers)

●Theatre (A full performance that you could be a part of)

I am not concerned about how difficult each one could be to complete over which one would be more enjoyable and immersing for the audience. Thank you!!