The idea that most men don’t (or won’t) like musicals is a bad stereotype. There’s a lot more to musicals than silly songs and dancing. Musicals can tell many different kinds of stories, even ones that your guy will like.
Whether you’re trying to get your boyfriend, husband, or partner to go to the theatre regularly or surprise him for a milestone birthday or graduation these five musicals are sure to get your significant other jazzed about musicals…
Hamilton
This is something that anyone who has seen Hamilton will tell you… The music is wonderful. Thanks to the great lyrics and music by Lin Manuel Miranda. Miranda has said that the soundtrack is a “love letter to hip-hop,” which is exactly what it is. Hamilton is the first hip-hop musical to be so big a hit, and it’s also a great place for hip-hop fans to hang out. You don’t have to look too hard to find out which parts of Hamilton are based on real events and which ones are more made up. But the dramatization, just like in a good biopic or movie based on real events, carries you through. Plus, there is rapping, singing, dancing, and language from the 21st century. But if you take the time to listen to what Hamilton is trying to say, you can still learn a lot about history.
The Lion King
It’s a real-life version of one of your favorite movies. Not only that, but it also has life-size puppets, music by Elton John, and an amazing cast. We’re pretty sure that you’ll love The Lion King by Disney. It blew people away when it opened almost 20 years ago, and it still does today. It also has some of the most amazing costumes you’ll ever see on stage. Plus, Circle of Life has a familiar score that will give you chills as soon as it starts. It’s a great way to see your favorite Disney movie in a new way, and it’s also a great way to show your kids how magical the theatre can be. The Lion King became one of Disney’s most popular movies very quickly. It won Best Original Score for Hans Zimmer and Best Original Song for “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” by Elton John and Tim Rice. Two other songs, “Circle of Life” and “Hakuna Matata,” were also nominated, so it wasn’t a big surprise when Disney Theatrical Productions said there would be a stage show. Disney’s The Lion King opened on Broadway just three years after the movie came out. It quickly became the most popular musical in New York. In its first year, it won five Tony Awards, including the Best Musical award. Two years later, it went on tour around the US and opened at the Lyceum Theatre in London’s West End, where it has been ever since.
Bat Out of Hell
If you’d do anything for love then with Jim Steinman’s jaw-dropping rock musical, Bat Out of Hell, you’re in luck. Bat Out of Hell is full of great Meat Loaf songs like “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That),” “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now,” and “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad.” It also has an epic story and staging that match the music’s raw emotion and thunderous power. Also, there are a lot of special effects (think motorcycles, fire, and explosions!) and the stakes are high. Can the star-crossed lovers get together and change the world at the same time? To find out, you’ll have to see Bat Out of Hell.
Wicked
Wicked has a lot of heart, a lot of energy, and some of the biggest musical numbers ever seen on stage. It’s a clever, funny, and sweet way to look at one of your favorite stories, and it will change the way you think about classic bad guys. It is a big, bright, colorful show that is full of joy and wonder. This amazing, never-before-told story of the Witches of Oz has been seen by over 53 million people in 16 countries around the world. It is a must-see.
Book of Mormon
If the man in your life loves South Park? The Book of Mormon is a great show for him. It’s funny, disrespectful, and very, very stupid. The Book of Mormon was written by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, who created the popular adult cartoon series South Park, plus Robert Lopez who created the US stage hit Avenue Q. It is Parker and Stone’s first time on Broadway, and what a first time it is! This is the most critically acclaimed new musical in a long time. It has won nine Tony awards, including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical, Best Scenic Design of a Musical, Best Lighting Design of a Musical, Best Sound Design of a Musical, Best Direction of a Musical, and Best Orchestrations. It was also nominated for an impressive six Outer Critics Circle Awards and twelve Drama Desk Awards, so it has perfect credentials as a stage musical.
If you think these five musicals for men may not be his cup of tea, then there are a few top tips we have to get him to show an interest him in musicals:
- Guys like familiar things, so start with a classic musical like The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, or Cats.
- If your man likes movies more than plays, you could try to find a movie musical that he might want to see. For example, Hugh Jackman stars in the movie version of the musical The Greatest Showman.
- Check to see if there is a musical being performed in your area. If that’s the case, tickets might be cheaper and there will be more options for when to watch it.
