Broadway Tonight!

Sunset Boulevard – Sunset Boulevard is based on the 1950 film of the same name, debuted in London in 1993, and came to Broadway in 1994. The story follows Norma Desmond, a faded silent film star, living in the past in her decaying mansion on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. A young screenwriter, Joe Gillis, accidentally crosses her path and she envisions her big screen return with romance and tragedy along the way. Norma sings “With One Look” when she first meets Joe to reminisce about her past succes in silent film.

Aladdin – Aladdin is based on the 1992 film of the same name which debuted on Broadway in 2014. Set in fictional Agrabah, a poor young man encounters a genie that grants him three wishes which he uses to woo Princess Jasmine and defeat the sultan’s evil Grand Vizier, Jafar. Aladdin used his first wish to become a Prince to court Jasmine. The two ride on a magic carpet and sing about A Whole New World that’s opening up for them and their love for each other.

Thoroughly Modern Millie – Thoroughly Modern Millie is based on the 1967 film which was based on the musical Chrysanthemum (London, 1956). The story is set in 1922 when a small-town girl, Millie Dillmount, heads to New York City to marry for money with the backdrop of women entering the workforce. She loves the flapper lifestyle but problems arise when she stumbles on a slavery ring sending white women to Hong Kong. Early in Act 1, Millie sings through her change from small-town girl to flapper in the big city with Thoroughly Modern Millie.

West Side Story – West Side Story was inspired by William Shakespeare’s iconic play about star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet and opened on Broadway in 1957. Set in the 1950s in the Upper West Side of Manhattan, the musical explores the rivalry between the Jets (white) and the Sharks (Puerto Rican). It’s all a backdrop to the love story between Tony (a former Jet) and Maria (the sister of the leader of the Sharks). The Overture combines music from four songs: Tonight-Quintet, Tonight, Maria, and the Dance at the Gym/Mambo.

Les Miserables – Les Miserables is a sung-through musical based on the 1862 Victor Hugo novel of the same name. Set in early 19th-century France, the musical tells the story of Jean Valjean. Valjean steals a loaf of bread to feed his sister’s child and is thrown in jail for 19 years. He breaks his parole, and starts a new life intent on redemption while France is thrown into revolution. Valjean, disguised as a soldier, has learned his daughter Cosette, is in love with Marius, who is fighting the revolution. Valjean prays to God to Bring Him (Marius) Home, so Marius can be with Cosette after the war, even if it may cost Valjean his life.

The Lion King – The Lion King is based on the 1994 Disney film of the same name, premiered on Broadway in 1997, and became the third longest-running show in history. In this coming-of-age drama, young lion Simba flees his kingdom when his father King Mufasa, is killed by his uncle, Scar. Simba grows up in exile and returns home to confront his uncle and reclaim the throne. As the sun rises on Pride Rock, Rafiki the mandrill present the newborn cub Simba to the animals that have gathered and sings about the Circle of Life.

Beauty & the Beast – Beauty & the Beast is based on the 1991 Disney film which was based on the French fairy tale of the same name, and premiered on Broadway in 1994. The musical tells the story of an unkind prince who is magically transformed into a beast as punishment for being selfish. To break his curse (and the curse on his castle), he must learn to love and be loved in return before a magic rose loses all its petals. Prologue tells the story of the curse. At the end of Act 1, Belle, Beast’s prisoner, has been touring the castle with enchanted objects, Cogsworth and Lumiere. She wanders into a forbidden place in the castle and the Beast shoves her in his anger. Belle flees the castle and the Beast realizes he will be a monster forever If I Can’t Love Her.

Chicago – Chicago is based on the 1926 play of the same title which was a satire based on actual female criminals in Chicago. It debuted on Broadway in 1975. The musical tells the Jazz Age story of two women accused of killing their husbands. Velma Kelly, a vaudevillian, welcomes the audience into the world of the show singing about All That Jazz.

Songs for a New World – Songs for a New World is a “theatrical” song cycle which debuted Off-Broadway in 1995. A song cycle is a group of songs performed in a sequence. Songs for a New World, while not connected by plot, is connected by a central theme: the moment of decision. A woman recounts the stories of two poor suitors and the rich man she eventually marries while realizing what she has sacrificed in exchange for wealth and comfort in Stars and the Moon.

Jesus Christ Superstar – Jesus Christ Superstar is a sung-through rock opera loosely based on the Gospels’ accounts of the Passion of the Christ which premiered on Broadway in 1971. The Overture combines music from three songs: Heaven on Their Minds, What’s The Buzz?, and Strange Thing Mystifying. In Act II, after the Last Supper, Jesus sneaks out to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray, telling God of his doubts about his mission and demanding to know why he awaits a horrible death. When God doesn’t answer, Jesus realizes he can’t defy God and surrenders.

Wicked “Defying Gravity” – Wicked is based on a loose adaptation of the 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, based on L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and subsequent 1939 film adaptation. It debuted on Broadway in 2003 and the story follows witches Elphaba and Glinda before and after Dorothy arrives in Oz and focuses on their complex friendship. At the endof Act I, Elphaba realizes the Wizard is a fraud who uses parlor tricks and lies to stay in power. Despite Glinda’s pleading, Elphaba will not apologize to the Wizard and vows to do what is right. Elphaba and Glinda part ways as Elphaba flys away from the Emerald City by enchanting a broom and Defying Gravity.