The Book of Mormon satirizes organized religion and American idealism through an outrageous yet oddly heartfelt story about two young Mormon missionaries sent to Uganda. Written by South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the show balances irreverent humor with show-stopping numbers, and what surprises many fans is that despite its wild humor, real-life Mormon leaders have taken out ads in show programs inviting audiences to learn about the actual faith.

The Sound of Music remains one of the most cherished musicals ever, telling the story of the von Trapp family’s escape from Nazi-occupied Austria with unforgettable songs like Do-Re-Mi and My Favorite Things. The real von Trapp family actually disliked the film’s portrayal of their escape, as they didn’t flee over the mountains but rather took a train to Italy, proving that sometimes, reality is much less dramatic than musical theatre.

We Will Rock You celebrates the music of Queen through a futuristic rock narrative, featuring anthems like Bohemian Rhapsody and We Are the Champions. Despite its initial mixed critical reception, it became a massive audience favorite, and Brian May of Queen personally oversaw the music arrangements to ensure every song retained its original rock-and-roll power.

Mamma Mia! turned ABBA’s greatest hits into a heartwarming story of love and family, filling theaters with infectious energy and singalong moments. The show became such a global sensation that when it opened in China, it was one of the first Western musicals to be fully translated into Mandarin, bringing ABBA’s music to an entirely new audience.

Cabaret captures the decadence and darkness of 1930s Berlin, with an unforgettable Emcee character leading audiences through a world on the brink of collapse. Its themes remain so powerful that in some productions, the show ends with the cast standing in silence, forcing the audience to absorb the weight of the story before they can even applaud.

The Lion King reimagines the Disney classic with breathtaking puppetry, African-inspired rhythms, and Elton John’s unforgettable songs including Hakuna Matata. The elaborate animal costumes and towering puppets require incredible skill to operate, and performers undergo months of training to master their movements. The giraffe-like stilts worn by actors playing the grassland animals are so intricate that they were originally designed with input from real-life puppeteers and acrobats.

Hairspray celebrates self-love and racial integration in 1960s Baltimore, with its upbeat soundtrack and high-energy dance numbers like You Can’t Stop the Beat. The role of Tracy Turnblad is famously played by a plus-sized actress, breaking stereotypes about leading ladies in musical theatre. The show’s signature beehive hairstyles require so much hairspray that some productions have gone through multiple cans per performance.

Aladdin brings the magic of the beloved Disney film to the stage with dazzling choreography, elaborate set pieces, and show-stopping numbers like Friend Like Me. The Genie’s role is one of the most demanding in musical theatre, requiring intense vocal range, comedic timing, and physical endurance. During early Broadway rehearsals, the magic carpet effect was so complex that technical teams had to keep its mechanics top secret, making it one of Disney’s most mysterious stage illusions.

Billy Elliot combines working-class grit with the elegance of ballet, telling the story of a young boy in a struggling mining town who dreams of becoming a dancer. The role of Billy is one of the most demanding for a young performer, requiring exceptional acting, singing, and ballet skills, and because of its physical demands, the show often cast multiple boys in rotation, with some productions training their young leads for years before they were ready to perform.

Grease became the ultimate high school rock-and-roll musical, filled with timeless songs like Summer Nights and Greased Lightning that continue to electrify audiences. Despite its fun-loving reputation, the original stage production was much grittier than the film, featuring stronger language and darker themes before it was toned down for mass appeal. When John Travolta starred in the movie adaptation, he had actually played a different role - Doody - on stage years before.

Wicked flips the story of The Wizard of Oz on its head, exploring the misunderstood origins of the Wicked Witch of the West with dazzling performances and powerful songs like Defying Gravity. Its costumes and set designs are so intricate that during its Broadway run, the show became one of the most expensive productions to maintain, with its dragon clock centerpiece alone being one of the largest mechanical props in theatre history.

Jesus Christ Superstar turned the final days of Jesus’ life into a rock opera, blending biblical storytelling with electric guitars and powerful ballads. It was originally conceived as a concept album before hitting the stage, and when it first premiered, some church groups protested it for its unconventional depiction of religious figures, making it one of the most controversial yet influential musicals of its time.

Hamilton changed musical theatre by fusing hip-hop with historical storytelling, turning Alexander Hamilton’s life into an exhilarating stage production. Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote much of it while on vacation, famously penning the show’s first song in the White House while imagining how Hamilton’s story could be told like a modern rap battle.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat takes a biblical story and turns it into a wildly colorful, genre-hopping musical, filled with humor and catchy tunes like Any Dream Will Do. Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice originally wrote it as a short school production, never expecting it to become a full-length hit. The title garment itself has had dozens of redesigns over the years, with some productions using over 100 feet of fabric to create the extravagant dreamcoat.

Miss Saigon reimagines Madame Butterfly in the context of the Vietnam War, delivering a heartbreaking story of love and loss with soaring ballads like The Last Night of the World. Its staging is as legendary as its music, with one of the most famous theatrical effects being the life-sized helicopter that appears on stage, an innovation so complex that during early performances, it sometimes malfunctioned and had to be manually “flown” by crew members.

Chicago oozes jazz-age glamour and cynical showbiz satire, with sizzling numbers like All That Jazz and Cell Block Tango making it one of Broadway’s longest-running shows. The original production’s minimalist staging was inspired by vaudeville acts, keeping the focus on the performers rather than elaborate set changes. Unlike many musicals, Chicago embraces a concert-like presentation, with actors often addressing the audience directly.

Matilda brings Roald Dahl’s beloved novel to life with an electrifying score by Tim Minchin and dazzling choreography, celebrating the power of intelligence and resilience in a world that underestimates children. The role of Matilda is so demanding that in most productions, 3 or 4 young actresses rotate the part.  In the original West End run, Matilda set a Guinness World Record for the most Olivier Awards won by a single cast.

Evita captures the rise and fall of Eva Perón with Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s sweeping rock opera score, featuring the iconic Don’t Cry for Me Argentina. The role of Eva is so vocally demanding that many actresses have had to limit their number of performances per week to preserve their voices, and during early rehearsals, even seasoned performers found themselves struggling to keep up with the relentless musical pacing. 

Sweeney Todd is a chilling yet darkly comedic tale of revenge and murder set in Victorian London, with Stephen Sondheim’s intricate score bringing to life the macabre story of a vengeful barber and his accomplice, Mrs. Lovett. Its grisly yet theatrical appeal has captivated audiences, but what many don’t realize is that during its original Broadway run, some audience members fainted from the intensity of the blood effects, proving just how immersive and shocking the production could be.

Rent revolutionized musical theatre with its raw portrayal of struggling artists in New York City during the height of the AIDS crisis, delivering anthems like Seasons of Love that still resonate today. Jonathan Larson’s rock-infused score gave the show a unique, contemporary feel, but tragically, he never got to see its success—he died unexpectedly the night before its first off-Broadway preview, making every performance a poignant tribute to his legacy.

Blood Brothers tells the tragic story of twin brothers separated at birth, exploring themes of class and fate through a gripping narrative and a haunting score. Willy Russell’s musical has a devoted fan base, and its dramatic finale is so intense that some audience members have reportedly seen it multiple times just to process the emotional impact, making it one of the most tear-jerking endings in musical theatre.

Jersey Boys chronicles the rise of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, blending a jukebox musical format with an engaging, documentary-style narrative. To authentically capture Valli’s signature falsetto, actors playing the role must undergo extensive vocal training, and during some productions, lead performers have had to cycle in and out of the role to protect their voices from the strain of nightly performances.

Come From Away tells the true story of a small Canadian town that welcomed stranded travelers after 9/11, turning an act of kindness into a deeply moving musical. Because the entire show is performed by just twelve actors playing multiple roles, quick costume changes happen so fast that audience members often don’t even notice them, making it one of the most seamlessly choreographed productions ever.

Oklahoma! revolutionized musical theatre by seamlessly integrating songs, dance, and storytelling, with Rodgers and Hammerstein creating a new template for Broadway with numbers like Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’. Its famous dream ballet sequence was groundbreaking, using dance to reveal inner emotions instead of just serving as entertainment. Early productions featured real corn growing in the on-stage fields, adding to the authenticity of the rural setting.

Kinky Boots delivers a powerful message about acceptance and self-expression, set to an energetic score by Cyndi Lauper, with dazzling drag-inspired choreography. The iconic red thigh-high boots worn by the performers are custom-made for each actor, and some pairs have a heel height so extreme that even experienced dancers require extensive rehearsal time to confidently walk in them.