5 Musicals to Listen to BESIDES Hamilton
- Hannah Larsen
- Feb 3, 2019
- 3 min read
Whenever I tell people I like musicals, most people’s thoughts or responses have something to do with Hamilton. NEWSFLASH: There are other musicals besides Hamilton! Now don’t get me wrong I LOVE Hamilton and there is nothing wrong with listening to it. But there are SO many other musicals out there!
Rules for this list
1. There are so many other shows out that don’t get enough recognition from today’s generation, however, this does not mean I will not include some contemporary musicals
2. For each show, I will be including whether a legal recording is available. When a musical is illegally posted on the internet, it is called a bootleg. PLEASE don’t watch bootlegs. Some shows are available on Netflix, and in rare cases on Youtube. Some shows also have movie versions, which usually are not as good, but are as good as you’ll get.
3.Some musicals tackle sensitive topics and have strong language, so do your research before listening. Clean versions of songs with some language are sometimes available on YouTube.
Without further ado, in no particular order, here are 5 musicals to listen to besides Hamilton. (I recommend looking up the musical and reading the synopsis on Wikipedia before listening so you know the context of the songs)
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1. LEGALLY BLONDE
This funny and hilarious musical based on 2001 film starring Reese Witherspoon is definitely worth listening to. The musical follows Elle Woods, a girl with a 4.0 average….in Fashion Merchandising. She goes to extreme lengths to chase the man of her dreams to Harvard Law School, all while learning that life is more than looking fabulous and happily ever afters. The songs are fun and catchy. Featuring the voice talents Laura Bell Bundy and Christian Borle, this musical is “What You Want.”
Legal recording: Yes! Not the best quality, but it’s On Youtube with the original Broadway cast!
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2. NEWSIES
Boys that can sing, act, and dance amazingly? Yes please! Newsies is based on the 1992 Disney film of the same name and takes place during the Newsboys strike of 1899. After the price of newspapers rises, the Newsies go on strike, not only on behalf of their rights but on behalf of the rights of New York’s workers. This show is inspiring and has catchy motivational tunes that will make you want to “Seize the Day” (Not to mention the newsboys are super cute ;D)
Legal recording: Yes! There is a professionally shot recording of the show available on Netflix with most of the original Broadway cast. The only thing better than that is seeing the show live.
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3. MEAN GIRLS
This musical is totally fetch! Just like in the movie, smart and quirky Kady moves to the US from Africa, excited to be going to high school. She meets Janis and Damien, who quickly become her friends. She also meets the plastics, the meanest yet most popular girls in school. Kady thinks Regina is nice: she did invite her to sit at the plastics lunch table. But Janis and Damien assure her that Kady shouldn’t be fooled by the pink. Regina George is nobody’s friend.
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4. BE MORE CHILL
This musical is hilarious and relatable in some way to any teenager. The show follows Jeremy Heere, a junior in high-school who longs to be cool and impress the girl he likes, Christine. Jeremy is introduced to the SQUIP, a supercomputer inside of a pill that implants itself in your brain and tells you how to be cool. What Jeremy doesn’t know is that the squip can also have disastrous consequences. At the end of the day, technology is no substitute for friendship and the ACTUAL voices in your head.
Legal recording: Unfortunately, there is not a legal recording of Be More Chill. There is a book that the show was based on, but it is VERY different than the show.
Spotify Album Link (I usually listen on Youtube since most songs have strong language and I am a good Christian bean)
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5. LES MISERABLES
This one is a classic! I was fortunate enough to see Les Miserables at the Civic Center last year and it was amazing. The musical tells the beautiful story about how a man changed from an escaped convict to a good man because of the power of love. The songs are iconic and the show is full of suspense, romance, revolution, action, and more. Just make sure you have a box of tissues while listening to the show.
Legal recording: Unfortunately, there is not a legal recording of the Broadway show. But don’t fret! There is a video on Youtube for the tenth anniversary where they perform the whole show, just without the full set, but it’s basically the same. There is also a movie starring Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, and Anne Hathaway. It’s not the same as the Broadway show, so make sure you listen to the original Broadway cast recording and watch the video first, but it's a great alternative.
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