In what has been dubbed a Musical Theatre golden age, there are so many shows to see in your three days in New York; with Time Square bursting with LED advertisements of the hottest musicals and newest plays; it’s easy to become overwhelmed with options. Options ranging from time honoured classics such as Phantom of the Opera; Les Miserables and Chicago to almost-unheard-of-until-now contemporaries like King Kong; Pretty Woman and Hadestown.
Luckily, it’s been narrowed down for you! These are the top 3 new musicals that everyone should definitely make time to see next time they’re in New York.
3. The Prom
This heartfelt coming of age story about acceptance will have you leaving the theatre with a renewed sense of hope for humanity. With compositions by Matthew Sklar and lyrics by Chad Beguelin, this musical has quickly become a hit. The story is centred around a young girl from Indiana who wants to bring her bring a same-sex date to the prom however, her school chooses to enforce homophobic policies. Through the help of new friends and the community, they make the prom a night where everyone can feel accepted.
2. Waitress
If you want to feel all the feels; this is the musical for you! Warning: you will cry. Waitress is the story of a young woman who dreams of opening up a bakery and eventually ending her not-so-happy marriage, but her life takes a few unexpected turns and let’s just say things don’t go quite as planned. Waitress is a heartwarming tribute to friendship, self realization and new beginnings. With music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles - who’s written pop albums many of you may know- and 4 Tony Nominations; this is not a show you want to miss!
1. Be More Chill
And finally, the musical you have to see this year; possibly the most realistic representation of adolescence created on stage, this new musical will make you laugh, cry and ultimately go home with the songs stuck in your head. Be More Chill (based off the book by Ned Vizzini) is a strong contender for the 2019 Tony’s, with music and lyrics written by the brilliant Joe Iconis: this intimate show will touch your heart. This musical takes an unfiltered portrait of what it’s like to be a teenager in a postmodern world and the many entailments that come with it, such as self esteem issues, anxiety and social communities.
Written by Abby Jansen
Comments