With the popularity of Hamilton on Disney+ along with the shows like Encore (reuniting old high school casts to perform again on the same stage quite a few years after they left it) and Beyonce's Black is King visual album, there is no shortage of musical based entertainment to stream at home while social distancing.
But, if anyone has ever wanted to dive a little bit deeper into the world of musical theater or the history of the stage there are quite a few documentaries currently streaming that can be enjoyed as well. Sing and learn with some of the best, listed below.
Every Little Step (2008)
Every Little Step is a great documentary because it encompasses the history of a beloved musical (A Chorus Line) the behind the scenes work on Broadway, as well as the intimate lives of the people who strive and struggle to make it on the stage.
The documentary follows the casting process for a revival of A Chorus Line on Broadway and the open casting call that takes place to cast the leads for the upcoming show. It's a great behind the scenes look at the work that goes into even a known hit show making it's return to New York City.
The Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened (2016)
While A Chorus Line shown in Every Little Step was a revival with a clear winning track record, it's still hard to predict anything when it comes to live musical theater. That's where The Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened comes in.
The documentary recounts the casting, production, and closing of the Stephen Sondheim musical Merrily We Roll Along. With Stephen Sondheim at the helm and young stars like Jason Alexander, everyone thought the show would be a hit yet, it opened to scathing reviews. Unfortunately, the show closed after 16 performances. The documentary goes deeper, following what happened to the cast afterwards, who kept performing, and the cult classic the show has since become.
Six By Sondheim (2013)
There's a reason The Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened was such a big deal, because Sondheim in the musical theater world is Sondheim. The HBO documentary, Six by Sondheim, explores the composer and lyricist's success through six of his greatest songs.
The songs include, "Something's Coming," from West Side Story, "Being Alive," from Company, and "Sunday," from Sunday in the Park with George.
Show Business: The Road to Broadway (2007)
Another behind the scenes look at the triumph and heartbreak that comes with even making it to Broadway, Show Business follows a particularly exciting season that took place in 2003 to 2004. That was the year the Wicked made its Broadway debut.
And yet, it wasn't expected to succeed; this is something that the guest critics make clear. Even with its breakout success, Wicked didn't win the Tony for Best Musical that year and it would be some time before Wicked would get the adulation it deserves. This documentary is a great look at how and why some shows rise and some fall, and what (or if) awards really matter.
Life After Tomorrow (2006)
While The Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened followed the lives of young adult to adult actors, Life After Tomorrow explores the lives of a number of actresses who were cast in the Broadway production of Annie.
Whether these performers portrayed orphans or Annie herself, this documentary is an unvarnished look at the wonders and pitfalls of stardom at such a young age. How far can a starring role as a child really take an actor in life? As in everything else, not everyone can succeed.
Fiddler: Miracle of Miracles (2019)
Fiddler on the Roof has had quite the influence on the musical theater community ever since it opened in 1964. Lin-Manuel Miranda himself sang a rendition of the famous song, "Tradition," at his own wedding.
Fiddler: Miracle of Miracles explores the history of the show from its opening on Broadway (where critics were not big fans) all the way to its success and universal themes of tradition and social change. The documentary comes full circle as performers from the show visit New Anatevka, a village in the Ukraine that's also the setting of this period musical, to perform some of the musical's most cherished numbers.
In the Heights: Chasing Broadway Dreams (2009)
Before there was Hamilton, there was In the Heights, which also won Lin-Manuel Miranda a Tony for Best Musical. The PBS documentary, In the Heights: Chasing Broadway Dreams, offers a great look at the star and his cast before any of them actually became the well-known stars they are today.
The unbridled joy of working on a project that a person believes in and the euphoria of a young cast making it on Broadway are all captured on film before anyone even knew what Hamilton was. This is a must watch for Hamilton fans who want to see Hamilton before it became a modern day cultural milestone.
Hamilton’s America (2016)
Hamilton, like its predecessor In the Heights, didn't appear out of thin air. There was a lot of work and a lot of research that went into the project before anyone even heard about it.
Hamilton's America takes a behind the scenes look how the musical came together and where the real history that inspired it took place. There may nothing else to say about Hamilton the hit Broadway musical, but there's a lot to learn about its creation and soon-to-be legacy.
We Are Freestyle Love Supreme (2020)
Even before In the Heights, Lin-Manuel Miranda was just a part of a freestyle rap group from his college, Wesleyan University. This documentary follows that group, Freestyle Love Supreme, as they come together for a reunion performance in the Big Apple in 2019.
However, the documentary also follows the history of the group, from their genesis in college all the way to their appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It's a great look at how friendships can be nurtured and strained over years of creativity.
Most Valuable Players (2010)
The joy of theater, and musical theater in particular, has a special place in the hearts of anyone and everyone who had anything to do with theater in high school. Most Valuable Players follows a group of theater kids in Pennsylvania as they prepare for their season as well as the Freddy Awards, their own high school Tony's of sorts.
It's a nice reminder of the talent and enthusiasm that surrounds live theater, as well as what it means to be a part of an ensemble.