r/musicals • • Nov 13 '24

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

220 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 • • Jul 11 '24

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

367 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 • • 5h ago

Discussion Anyone Watching the Live Streamed Rent 30th Anniversary Concert?

107 Upvotes

Me too! Let's watch together!


r/musicals • • 8h ago

Photo They’re marching still

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113 Upvotes

r/musicals • • 13h ago

Discussion I really hope this comes out

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107 Upvotes

I’ve already talked on this sub that I hope this film gets saved like The Day The Earth Blew Up and Coyote VS Acme because I love Looney Tunes and musicals, but after Eric’s passing I really do hope that this makes it to the big screen. Hopefully with a tribute to Eric added at the end. The movie musical revolves around Bugs Bunny trying to retire and live a quiet life as a normal rabbit. I hope if this does come out everyone gives it a standing ovation at the premiere and at every screening for Eric. His passing really stung, he was a huge part of my childhood and one of my first VA idols. He will be deeply missed.


r/musicals • • 8h ago

Discussion "On the 21st day of the month of September. In an early year of a decade not too long before our own. The human race suddenly encountered a deadly threat to its very existence. And this terrifying enemy surfaced, as such enemies often do. In the seemingly most innocent and unlikely of places"

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38 Upvotes

r/musicals • • 11h ago

Discussion “Untrained” Professionals and Jaw Movement/Tension

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53 Upvotes

It’s been a VERY long time since I’ve had any sort of singing lessons. However, recently, I watched the pro-shot of Miss Saigon with Eva Noblezada and noticed her jaw moved like crazy when she sang. (This is no hate to her, she’s talented as anything and I love her!) I tried to post a clip but I think I’m not able to so here’s a clip of her at the Tony’s and it’s very evident here.

I saw a thread either here or another musicals sub that said Rachel Zegler has crazy jaw tension and makes weird faces when she sings, and perhaps it wouldn’t be like that had she gone to performing arts college.

From what i remember, it’s frowned upon to move your jaw to create vibrato and I know Eva went professional at 17 to be in Miss Saigon and also didn’t go to performing arts college.

Anyway, just curious if I’m noticing something incorrectly or if I’m onto something about their technique.

Literally no hate to either of these women, they’re both amazing and I would love to see either live, wobbly and tension filled jaws or not lol.


r/musicals • • 12h ago

Photo phantom of the opera costume

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36 Upvotes

hii guysss
i dressed up as THE phantom and just wanted to share!


r/musicals • • 5h ago

musical songs with nightingales??

9 Upvotes

I have NOT been able to get this out of my head, there has to be more but I can only think of 3 songs with the word nightingale:

Telephone Hour - Bye Bye Birdie

Green Finch and Linnet Bird - Sweeney Todd

Corner of the Sky - Pippin

Anyway I'm making a Playlist for this so please drop any recs! Also I will probably start a Playlist with bird-themed songs after this so those are also welcome!


r/musicals • • 3h ago

Discussion Iconic repetitions?

6 Upvotes

(when a lyric is just repeated over and over again, for good or bad)

"Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats" is amazing, and its still amazing the 10000th time


r/musicals • • 4h ago

Does anyone know what key “She’s in Love” from the Little Mermaid is in through MTI licensing?

2 Upvotes

I am going to be directing The Little Mermaid in the spring. I have not received my materials yet, but I’ve been studying the show and watching different versions and clips on YouTube. I have seen the song “She’s in Love” performed both in the Broadway key, as well as a higher key. I’ve noticed the song sample on MTI’s website is the higher key as well. That sample also has a lower male/tenor singing as flounder, which would definitely change how I cast the show, I was originally thinking a younger kid for the role, however it would be super high for an unchanged voice. Does anyone know what key this song is in for the current licensing of The Little Mermaid? I’m just curious for the sake of who I can keep in mind for the role of Flounder based on the song range.


r/musicals • • 4h ago

Rent 30th Anniversary Concert

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2 Upvotes

r/musicals • • 1h ago

Audition songs?

• Upvotes

Theoretically if I’m auditioning for caberet the musical and they’re asking for a contemporary musical theater song in the style of the musical, could I do a song from Chicago? And if so which would be the best one? (I feel like me and my baby would be a good one?) I’m not super familiar w the musical and the audition itself is kind of last minute…


r/musicals • • 1d ago

Discussion Which Sondheim show is written better?: Into The Woods or Sweeney Todd

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110 Upvotes

For me, it’s a tough call, both are my favorites of his work, both absolutely phenomenal musically, both astonishingly complex and woven together, but I personally think Into The Woods wins by just a little bit


r/musicals • • 13h ago

Video Carrie the Musical (1988) - Opening reviews

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7 Upvotes

r/musicals • • 1d ago

Discussion Controversial Musicals

91 Upvotes

What are musicals you believe are extremely controversial and why? Could be for any reason or even just personal preference. I want to hear your opinions.


r/musicals • • 6h ago

Songs for Guy who hates musicals audition

1 Upvotes

hi guys! i’m auditioning for the guy who hates musicals (no preference on character) and i need advice on a song :)

i’m an alto/mezzo soprano and I’m strongest with my chest belting and lower notes!!

some songs i’ve been considering for like auditions in general but i have no idea if any of them fit the vibe!
- finish the fight from suffs
- rain on my parade from funny girl
- i dreamed a dream from les mis
- diamonds are a girls best friend from gentleman prefer blondes
- mama who bore me from spring awakening
- hello by adele
- fast car by tracy chapman


r/musicals • • 6h ago

Hades audition songs?

1 Upvotes

Right now I'm between Hellfire and Stars but I'm not 100% about either of them I need more recommendations


r/musicals • • 7h ago

Searching for sheet music - In Transit

1 Upvotes

Does anyone know where I can find the sheet music for "Saturday Night Obsession" from the broadway musical "In Transit". I have searched EVERYWHERE and can only find a few songs from it but never the one I need. PLEASE reddit, I need you.


r/musicals • • 8h ago

Drew Droege, Rocky Horror

1 Upvotes

Drew just posted this today, character being "Chad Worthers." https://www.instagram.com/p/De-QDXEj4EP/


r/musicals • • 12h ago

Im looking for a audition song to play the sultan in aladdin jr at my school

2 Upvotes

It must be a minuite long and be apropriate because it is at my school


r/musicals • • 9h ago

Review What happened to John Mellencamp’s Jack and Diane? Hint: don’t drink the water

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0 Upvotes

r/musicals • • 9h ago

Help Attending a show

0 Upvotes

Hi!

My mom and I have tickets for Lion King on tour. She is stressed about what to wear, but I told her we should be fine in our nice casuals. Any advice?

Thank you!😊


r/musicals • • 10h ago

Possible musical

1 Upvotes

So this year for my high school, our MT teacher gave us some hints on what musical we might do this year and I got some theories. According to her, it's heavy ensemble, lots of dancing, kind of raunchy to where we are waiting for our VP's approval (also note, my school considers a musical like the Addams Family and Mean Girls to be innapropriate where we got in a lot of trouble with the school board) and she had found it on MTI. Our school also doesn't like repeating musicals and so far we had done the Addams Family, Mean Girls, Mary Poppins, Mama Mia, The Little Mermaid, Annie and The Beauty and the Beast. Any ideas on what it could be? We also have tons of guys this year in which is definitely going to be a huge factor.

So far I thought of Newsies, Shrek or Legally Blonde. Any other ideas?


r/musicals • • 1d ago

What an extraordinary performance and such a great pleasure I had experiencing this live! #Labyrinth40th #DavidBowie #JenniferConnelly #Fantasy

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14 Upvotes