Underrated Musicals You Should Check Out

There are so many musicals that have existed and been incredible, but don’t get as much attention as others. And those musicals are what this post is about.

(L-R, top) Aaron Tveit as Gabe, J. Robert Spencer as Dan, Adam Chanler-Berat as Henry, Jennifer Damiano as Natalie, (front) Alice Ripley as Diana and Louis Hobson as Dr. Fine at Arena Stage in Crystal City through January 18, 2009.

Next To Normal

Next to Normal is a rock musical about a suburban family that centers around the mother as she struggles with worsening bipolar disorder after the death of her son and the effects it has on the whole family.

The Band’s Visit

The Band’s Visit is about the Alexandria Ceremonial Police Orchestra, an Egyptian band, as they mistakenly end up in the isolated Israeli town of Bet Hatikva. They interact with the locals of this desert town, and their presence brings excitement to the usually monotonous lives of the people. It won the Best Musical Tony Award at the 2018 Tony’s.

Grey Gardens

Grey Gardens tells the story about the lives of Edith Ewing Bouvier Beale (“Big Edie”) and her daughter Edith Bouvier Beale (“Little Edie”) who were Jacqueline Kennedy’s aunt and cousin, respectively. The show follows their lives from being rich and socially polished aristocrats to their largely isolated, downtrodden lives in their health code violating home.

Miss Saigon

While Miss Saigon is well loved for diehard theater fans, it is still underrated for the more casual fans and mainstream knowledge. Written by the same writes of Les Miserables, Miss Saigon takes place in 1970’s Saigon during the Vietnam War and tells the tragic tale of a doomed romance involving an Asian woman abandoned by her American lover. I’ve seen the show live and it is truly stunning.

What underrated musicals would you recommend to others? Share them with a comment.