5 Broadway Musicals Making NYC History
"Circle of Life," The Lion King on Broadway. © Disney. Photo: Matthew Murphy
This past season, nearly 15 million people saw a show on Broadway, close to record attendance. It’s among the biggest entertainment draws in New York City and has been a mainstay for over a century.
Every year dozens of new productions are mounted in Manhattan’s Theatre District to critical acclaim and popular reception. Some musicals, however, stick around, becoming must-see classics across generations of audiences. Chicago, The Lion King, Wicked, The Book of Mormon and Hamilton are chief among these, each firmly anchored in the pop culture zeitgeist.
Read on for the elements that allow these shows to endure as living pieces of NYC’s performing arts history.
Courtesy, Chicago on Broadway
Chicago
The revival opened November 14, 1996, at the Richard Rodgers Theatre and is now playing at the Ambassador Theatre
Original cast members: Bebe Neuwirth (Velma Kelly), Ann Reinking (Roxie Hart), James Naughton (Billy Flynn), Joel Grey (Amos Hart)
Notable replacements: Wayne Brady, Melanie Griffith, Jennifer Holliday, Taye Diggs, Lynda Carter, Sofia Vergara, Huey Lewis, Usher, Christie Brinkley, Ashlee Simpson, Billy Ray Cyrus, Mel B, Cuba Gooding Jr., Pamela Anderson, Jinkx Monsoon
Pamela Anderson as Roxie Hart. Photo: Jeremy Daniel
When the Chicago revival opened, Broadway was all about spectacle—falling chandeliers, flying helicopters, big barricades. The razzle-dazzle of Chicago, however, is built on its choreography, “with a minimal production design, all-black set and costumes, with the band onstage,” says producer Barry Weissler. That formula has made the musical revival the longest-running current show, with more than 11,000 performances—second in Broadway history to Phantom of the Opera.
Courtesy, Chicago on Broadway
Chicago premiered on Broadway in 1975 and ran for just over two years. The revival began as part of the City Center Encores! series, which highlights overlooked musicals, before transferring to Broadway—the first such Encores! production to do so. The storyline centers on two women, Roxie and Velma, on trial for murder. They vie for the attention of their shady lawyer, Billy Flynn, who will stop at nothing to get the media’s ear. Many of the songs, by John Kander and Fred Ebb, have been reborn in a modern context: “Cell Block Tango” was used in a promo for Ryan Murphy’s show All's Fair, and “We Both Reached for the Gun” was part of a viral TikTok dance trend.
Jinkx Monsoon. Courtesy, Chicago on Broadway.
Why are audiences continuously drawn to it? “It’s about the circus that is the American judicial system,” says Jinkx Monsoon, who broke box-office records playing Matron “Mama” Morton in 2023. The musical became a huge success in the wake of televised murder trials and growing true-crime obsessions.
“When we opened, America was captivated by the O. J. Simpson trial. Every year since there has been another trial or scandal, a public figure or celebrity that consumes our attention. With social media and reality television, our voyeuristic fascination with fame has only intensified,” Weissler says.
The show has also brought in new audiences with celebrity castings. A-listers such as Pamela Anderson, Usher and Ariana Madix have attracted repeat ticket buyers. “Melanie Griffith was a huge surprise. She was a proven film star when she did the show back in 2003, but no one expected her to shine in a Broadway musical,” Weissler says.
Samuel E. Wright (center back) and the original cast of The Lion King. Photo: Joan Marcus
The Lion King
Opened November 13, 1997, at the New Amsterdam Theatre and is now playing at the Minskoff Theatre
The Lion King roared on the scene as an innovator, thanks to its impressive puppetry—including a life-size elephant—that stampeded down the aisles, wowing audiences. Director, costume designer and mask co-designer Julie Taymor was the mastermind behind transforming the 1994 Disney animated feature into a live theatrical extravaganza, now the third-longest-running show in Broadway history.
Julie Taymor. Courtesy, Disney Theatrical Group
In using masks, Taymor created what she calls a “double event,” which enables the audience to see the characters as animal and human at the same time. “The way the puppets and masks are used is singular. Having the actors visible as humans and not hiding them in an animal costume, yet at times you see animalistic movement, it makes the connection between human and animal feel real,” says Lisa Dawn Cave, The Lion King’s worldwide production supervisor. Taymor earned her mark in theatrical history as the first woman to win for best direction of a musical at the 1998 Tonys.
Equally important, The Lion King’s cross-cultural story about family dynamics and jealousy continues to resonate and be passed down from generation to generation. It’s one of the few Broadway shows that holds deep appeal for viewers in every age group—a testament to a spectacle with 300 costume changes, 200 puppets, 52 stampeding wildebeests and two dozen other animals—and has served as an introduction to musical theater for an untold number of children.
Heather Headley as Nala. Courtesy, Disney Theatrical Group
The production provided early roles for many notable performers, including Heather Headley, who played Nala and later won a Tony for Aida; Renée Elise Goldsberry, a future Tony winner as Angelica Schuyler in Hamilton; and Christopher Jackson, who originated the role of George Washington in Hamilton. Lindiwe Dlamini, meanwhile, has been in the cast in a variety of roles since day one (with a few short breaks along the way).
Elton John and Tim Rice. Courtesy, Disney Theatrical Group
The Lion King’s monumental achievements paved the way for other Disney musicals adaptations, including Mary Poppins, Aladdin and Frozen. It also served as a turning point for pop stars breaking into musical theater: Elton John, who composed some music for the movie and musical, went on to write songs for Aida, Billy Elliot: The Musical and the short-lived Tammy Faye, while Cyndi Lauper, David Bowie and John Legend are among the music icons who have since written for Broadway.
Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth perform "One Short Day," from Wicked. Photo: Joan Marcus
Wicked
Opened October 30, 2003, at the Gershwin Theatre
Original cast members: Idina Menzel (Elphaba), Kristin Chenoweth (Glinda), Joel Grey (Wizard of Oz), Norbert Leo Butz (Fiyero), Carole Shelley (Madame Morrible), William Youmans (Dr. Dillamond)
Notable replacements: Stephanie J. Block (Elphaba), Annaleigh Ashford (Glinda), Donna McKechnie (Madame Morrible), Alex Brightman (Boq)
Even though Wicked lost the 2004 best musical Tony to Avenue Q, it has defied gravity to reach legacy territory. The musical that catapulted the careers of Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth has captured the hearts of millions of fans in its 22 years on Broadway.
Idina Menzel as Elphaba. Courtesy, Wicked LLC
The fantastical story about a rivalry that transforms into friendship is a prequel to The Wizard of Oz. It references L. Frank Baum’s 1900 children’s book and the 1939 movie, and the 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked West of the West, on which the musical is based, has remained a top-selling title for two decades—returning to number 1 on the back of the 2024 movie adaptation. That two-part motion picture (Wicked: For Good is set to premiere this November) has reignited interest in seeing the story in its theatrical context.
Photo: Joan Marcus
The show places two women at its center, a rare creative move for Broadway and one that gives “voice to a different type of love than what we are used to seeing,” says Allie Trimm, who currently stars as Glinda.
The platonic friendship Glinda and Elphaba is key. “Wicked invites audiences into a world of spectacle, but what keeps them coming back is the depth of the relationships, particularly between Glinda and Elphaba,” Trimm says. “Their dynamic allows for real introspection on identity, morality and change. We fall in love with these women learning how to navigate a complicated world.”
Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth in "Popular." Photo: Joan Marcus
Stephen Schwartz’s songs from the musical, meanwhile, have become mainstays: “Popular” has amassed a TikTok following, “For Good” has been adopted as an anthem of sisterhood and the show-stopping, first-act-ending “Defying Gravity” more or less has a life of its own.
Kevin Clay as Elder Price, The Book of Mormon. Photo: Julieta Cervantes
The Book of Mormon
Opened March 24, 2011, at the Eugene O’ Neill Theatre
Original cast members: Andrew Rannells (Elder Price), Josh Gad (Elder Cunningham), Nikki M. James (Nabulungi), Rory O’Malley (Elder McKinley/Moroni)
Notable replacements: Ben Platt (Elder Cunningham)
The Book of Mormon, a satirical musical comedy from the creators of South Park and the Tony-winning Avenue Q, has been making audiences laugh for nearly 15 years. Behind the show’s success is its timeless story by Trey Parker, Matt Stone and Robert Lopez, according to Kevin Clay, who currently stars in the production as Elder Price.
From left: Rema Webb, Andrew Rannells and Josh Gad in The Book of Mormon. Photo: Joan Marcus
“Embedding a rougher, jarring style of humor into the classic framework and sound of traditional musical theater struck people immediately,” Clay says. The idea behind the production was to set contemporary humor in a traditional musical theater score to open a gateway to those who might not be attracted to Broadway musicals otherwise. Clay often meets people at the stage door who say it was their first show.
When The Book of Mormon opened, it was one of the hottest tickets to score, skyrocketing demand. “It certainly pays to be a comedy in New York City—not just compared to other musicals but a real comedy,” Clay says.
The Producers, a musical comedy landmark that ran for six years, had proved that the formula could work, though The Book of Mormon pushes the envelope further. “The underlying value of hope, community and growth solidify the show as a classic,” says Clay. “How such a wild piece of theater can also have a heart of gold without feeling forced or faked is one of its greatest feats.”
Original cast of Hamilton. Photo: Joan Marcus
Hamilton
Opened August 6, 2015, at the Richard Rodgers Theatre
Original cast members: Lin-Manuel Miranda (Alexander Hamilton), Leslie Odom Jr. (Aaron Burr), Renée Elise Goldsberry (Angelica Schuyler), Jonathan Groff (King George), Daveed Diggs (Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson), Phillipa Soo (Eliza Schuyler Hamilton), Christopher Jackson (George Washington), Anthony Ramos (John Laurens/Philip Hamilton), Jasmine Cephas Jones (Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds) and Okieriete Onaodowan (Hercules Mulligan/James Madison); the original cast also appeared in the filmed version of the musical on Disney+.
Notable replacements: James Monroe Iglehart (Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson), Denée Benton (Eliza Hamilton), Brandon Victor Dixon (Aaron Burr), Mandy Gonzalez (Angelica Schuyler), Brian d'Arcy James, Taran Killam and Andrew Rannells (all King George)
A decade old, Hamilton ranks among the greatest cultural phenomena of the 21st century. The musical, penned by Lin-Manuel Miranda, is a sung-through rap about the founding fathers, the American Revolution and the nation’s early years.
Phillipa Soo and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Photo: Joan Marcus
“It completely flipped expectations of what a Broadway musical could sound and look like,” says Tamar Greene, now playing George Washington in the show. “Lin-Manuel Miranda didn’t just write a score—he built a universe that blends hip-hop, R&B, soul and classical musical theater. His work is layered, technically complex and emotionally grounded. He’ll go down as one of the greatest composers of our time.”
Lin-Manuel Miranda, Phillipa Soo, Leslie Odom Jr. and Christopher Jackson performing at the White House, 2016. Photo: Amanda Lucidon
Hamilton emerged slowly: Miranda performed an early version of a song at the White House for President Barack Obama and others (the cast would come years later for a more expansive performance), and a longer Hamilton mixtape was staged at Lincoln Center, followed by its first full production at the Public Theater. That sold-out run had big word-of-mouth buzz, and Hamilton quickly transferred to the Richard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway. Excitement kept building with weekly Ham4Ham celebrity appearances and performances outside the theater (promoting the lottery that could net you a ticket for $10—in other words, a “Hamilton” for Hamilton). “The Room Where It Happens” crossed over from song title to everyday expression, and Hamiltonawareness now feels ubiquitous, bringing to life another lyric: “The world’s gonna know your name.”
Hamilton also broke barriers by bringing new communities into the theater. In 2020, it cemented a place in history when a recorded version of the live production, featuring nearly the entire original cast, debuted on Disney+, and nearly 3 million households watched it within the first 10 days.
Leslie Odom Jr. as Aaron Burr. Photo: Joan Marcus
A big part of the show’s groundbreaking nature is its innovative, energetic way of translating history for a modern audience. According to Greene, “It rapped through history in a way that felt urgent, honest and human. It cast people of color in the roles of the founding fathers, a bold, unapologetic statement that said, ‘This story belongs to all of us.’”
Most of the above shows are participants in NYC Broadway Week, which runs September 8–21 and offers 2-for-1 tickets available for purchase starting August 19.
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