Do you love musicals? Do you live 2,378 miles from New York City? Do you cry yourself to sleep every night and dream of your favorite Broadway stars? Well, then this article is for you! I’m about to baptize you with all the best ways to watch your favorite shows without a pricey plane ticket to Times Square. This list will include proshots, movie musicals, filmed concerts, and cast recordings. Whether you are a resident theatre kid or curious to learn more, here are some of the best ways to explore the wide world of musicals. 

First up, proshots! For those unfamiliar with this term, proshots are musicals filmed with full staging. They typically include the original cast of successful musicals. Many consider this medium their favorite way to watch musicals because the experience is similar to seeing a live show. Recently, a proshot of “Hamilton” was released on Disney+ to overjoyed reactions from fans and rave reviews from critics. Other great proshots include “Come From Away” on AppleTV+, “Newsies” on Disney+, “Kinky Boots” on BroadwayHD, and the Stephen Sondheim family of “Into The Woods,” “Sweeney Todd,” and “Sunday in the Park with George” on YouTube. If you have access to any of these shows, I highly recommend watching them! You may find a new favorite musical from the comfort of your own home. 

Now, if you are in the mood to gamble, movie musicals could be the path for you. For this article, movie musicals will include adaptations of staged musicals to the big screen. The quality of movie musicals varies dramatically depending on the subject matter. One movie musical currently receiving well-deserved praise is Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story” (2021). This remake of the classic musical is nominated for seven Oscars at the upcoming Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director. 

Grace Colvin, a Bingham student and musical actress, said, “I think that Spielberg’s ‘West Side Story’ is a phenomenal step in the movie musical industry. It brings such a grandiose and larger-than-life stage production into an intimate setting that makes it so really anyone can enjoy it whether they’re a musical fan or not.” 

Another great way to experience musicals is staged concerts and cast recordings. Staged concerts typically include performers singing through a musical in front of a live orchestra and are an excellent option for music-heavy shows. “Les Misérables: The Staged Concert” (2019) is my favorite concert. It features a legendary cast including Alfie Boe, Michael Ball, Carrie Hope Fletcher, and many more. This production can be accessed on Amazon Video. If you would prefer not to commit to watching a full staged concert, cast recordings are another way to listen to musicals on most music streaming platforms. While the plot may be more challenging to understand without dialogue, cast recordings allow everyone to listen to musical theatre. 

And there you have it! These are just some ways Bingham students can watch and discover Broadway musicals without traveling to New York City. Musical theatre has been considered elitist in the past, but now, the industry is opening so everyone can access this beloved art form. Break a leg, Bingham!