One of the more charming things about visiting New York is going to go see a Broadway play or musical. The famous area of the city is home to some of the world's most well-known productions, some of which have gone on for years and years.
These renowned plays opened the doors for an even bigger demographic - movie aficionados. Into the Woods got its start on Broadway in 1968 and was turned into a movie in 2014, with a star-studded that includes Meryl Streep. Before these stories were told on screen, the plays first dazzled live audiences on some of the most famous stages in the world.
Dreamgirls: 6.5
Dreamgirls made its debut on Broadway in 1981 and was inspired by the rise to fame of popular R&B artists in the music industry. It follows the story of three Black women with the stage name, "The Dreams," as they become music superstars. Their journey starts when they enter a famous competition at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York.
In 2006, the musical was adapted into a movie starring Jennifer Hudson, Beyoncé, and Anika Noni Rose. It followed a similar story to the original musical and received high accolades and even two Oscars and three Golden Globe Awards. It was also Hudson's debut as an actor and it won her the Oscar for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role.
Hairspray: 6.6
When it comes to iconic high school stories, Hairspray is often remembered for its color-filled visuals, upbeat music, and great story. The American musical originally debuted in Seattle in 2002 based on the 1988 movie. That same year it hit gold and made its way to Broadway, where it became a sensation. It would go on to win eight Tony Awards.
The story of Tracey Turnblad, a spirited dancer, fighting for integration on a popular dance show, made it to the big screen. Nikki Blonsky would take up the role as the main character, while Zac Efron played the role of Link, her love interest. Many fans remember the movie for John Travolta's role as Tracy's conservative mother, Edna.
Annie: 6.6
The story of the free-spirited red-head is a classic when it comes to musicals, as well as on-screen renditions of the character. Many love Annie's bright red dress and sweet demeanor. The musical was inspired by a comic strip by Harold Gray and turned into a musical in 1976 in Connecticut. In 1977 it made its debut on Broadway.
Over the years, there have been a fair number of movie adaptations. The earliest one was made in 1982 with actor Aileen Quinn as Annie. Annie gets an opportunity to leave the orphanage to go live with a prestigious rich man. Still longing to meet her parents, he starts a search to try and find them.
Rent: 6.9
The rock musical Rent became a sensation for its emotional and realistic story of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the late 80s and 90s. It got its start in a New York workshop production, it then went off-Broadway, and finally to Broadway in 1996. It told the story of a group of friends living in the East Village as they struggle with their personal lives, love, rent, and their community, ravaged by AIDS.
The 2005 movie adaptation starred six of the original cast members from the Broadway musical. Both versions had memorable characters and moments, like Angel's (Wilson Jermaine Heredia) dance routine in high heeled boots and bobbed wig.
Chicago: 7.2
Chicago is arguably one of the most recognized Broadway shows. It's tantalizing, somewhat dark, and one of Broadway's longest-running shows behind Phantom of the Opera. It dazzled audiences in 1975 with its story written by Maurine Dallas Watkins and her experience of crime reporting in the 1920s.
The 2002 movie version was just as successful as the Broadway production and won the Academy Award for Best Picture. Set in a time of celebrities, scandals, and corruption during the Jazz Era, the story follows two female murderesses who find themselves in jail together.
Grease: 7.2
Who hasn't seen Grease? It's almost impossible not to have heard of the classic musical/romance story from 1978 that cemented John Travolta as a heartthrob and actor. Set in the 1950s, an Australian teen attends Rydell High and re-meets her summer love, Danny Zuko (Travolta).
But he plays aloof, as he's the leader of the T-Birds, a greaser gang. Zuko is hesitant to give up his bad-boy image for her clean and proper one. The movie was first a 1971 musical that had a run in a Chicago theater before gaining recognition on Broadway in 1972.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street: 7.3
The infamous killer Barber of Fleet Street got his origins on stage. Inspired by the play written by Christopher Bond in 1973, it was adapted into a musical on Broadway in 1979. In the story, a barber seeks revenge on a judge who lusted after his wife, jailed him on false charges, and becomes the ward of the barber's then-infant.
The play has had many adaptations, but none stuck with audiences like the 2007 version with Johnny Depp in the lead role of Sweeney Todd. It was a gritty slasher directed by Tim Burton - the perfect fit for a darker portrayal of a horrid story with some whimsical, musical elements.
West Side Story: 7.5
There really isn't a more world-renowned Broadway play than West Side Story - a different take on the classic Romeo and Juliet story. It had a try-out run in Washington and Philadelphia before hitting the Broadway stage in 1957.
The 1961 movie was just as famous. Set in the mid-1950s Upper West Side in a multicultural neighborhood, it detailed the tension-filled story of two rival gangs with true love caught in the crossfire. Some might even call the movie culturally significant and both the film and play have been referenced a countless number of times in pop culture.
Cabaret: 7.8
The storyline for Cabaret was inspired by two main works: the 1951 play by John Van Druten, I Am a Camera, and the semi-autobiographical novel by Christopher Isherwood. The musical immediately opened at the Broadhurst Theater on Broadway in 1966.
Six years later, it was adapted into a movie with the iconic Liza Minnelli as Sally Bowles and it's hard to imagine anyone else as well suited for the role. The story features a riveting love triangle between a cabaret singer, a British academic, and a wealthy playboy, all during the turmoil of the rise of the Nazi party.
Hamilton: 8.5
Hamilton became a global sensation for its more modern musical take on the story of Alexander Hamilton. It's a sung-and-rapped-through musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda. In The Atlantic, Miranda describes the musical as "America then, as told by America now" and he even starred in his production as Hamilton himself.
The musical got its start off-Broadway in 2015, but it garnered so much critical acclaim that quickly hit Broadway that same year. Fans and even celebrities scurried to get a seat and in 2020, the production was filmed as a live-action musical and premiered on Disney+. This allowed fans around the world to watch the highly talked about musical in the comfort of their homes.