Top 10 Underrated Musicals of the 2010s
#10: “SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical”
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Who lives in a pineapple under the sea and took over Broadway in the mid-2010s?! SpongeBob SquarePants! Everyone’s favorite yellow sea sponge journey from the depths of Bikini Bottom to NYC. Based on the Nickelodeon character, SpongeBob was joined by his friends, Patrick Star, Sandy Cheeks, and Squidward as they attempted to save their beloved habitat from a destructive volcano. The musical starred Ethan Slater, Gavin Lee, and Lilli Cooper, featuring a rockin’ score by musicians such as David Bowie, Plain White T’s, and Panic! at the Disco. Although the IP isn’t the most obvious choice for a Broadway musical, this show proved “SpongeBob” is anything but “a simple sponge”.
#9: “Finding Neverland”
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The 2004 flick “Finding Neverland” left us all sobbing and the 2015 musical did it again. The show follows the same story as its cinematic predecessor, revolving around author J.M. Barrie and his creation, “Peter Pan.” The musical adaptation featured “Glee’s” Matthew Morrison as Barrie and Kelsey Grammer as Captain Hook. The show did not receive any Tony nominations, which may have hurt its chances of having a long run on the Great White Way. After performing at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre between 2015-2016, the show flew off to “Neverland” and hasn’t returned since.
#8: “The Band’s Visit”
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Despite winning the Tony for Best Musical, “The Band’s Visit” is a severely underrated musical theater gem. Based on the 2007 dramedy of the same name, the story follows an Egyptian police band who accidentally wind up in a small Israeli town on their way to perform at a concert. The Broadway production starred Tony Shalhoub, Katrina Lenk, and Ari'el Stachel. All three actors took home Tony Awards for their impressive performances. Intimate, meditative, and quaint, “The Band’s Visit” is a departure from splashy musical theater flair and offers up a lot of heart.
#7: “The Bridges of Madison County”
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Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood lit up the silver screen when the two played lovers in “The Bridges of Madison County.” On Broadway, Kelli O’Hara and Steven Pasquale stepped into their roles in a musical adaptation, composed by Jason Robert Brown. The story follows two strangers who embark on a short but life-changing affair. Brown’s music paired with O’Hara and Pasquale’s divine vocals make “Bridges” one of the most heartbreaking and affecting scores in the last 10 years. Unfortunately, this beautiful musical doesn’t get the credit it deserves but here’s hoping it won’t “Fade Away” from theatergoers memory.
#6: “First Date”
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“First Date” is truly originally a musical. It’s not based on any source material and it features a totally new score that is fun, fresh, and packs a comedic punch. In the 2013 Broadway transfer, Krysta Rodriguez and Zachary Levi play Casey and Aaron, two singletons paired up on a blind date. What ensues is an honest and humorous look at the challenges of dating in the modern world. Sadly, this date came to an end after only a few months on Broadway. However, as the saying goes “there’s plenty of fish in the sea” and “First Date” has gone on to receive international productions in cities like Tokyo and Melbourne.
#5: “Dogfight”
Originally a 1991 film, “Dogfight” got a musical theatre makeover in 2012 thanks to the writing team of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. The story follows an American marine named Eddie returning home from Vietnam in the 60s. Upon his return, he reflects on the night before he shipped out when he met a woman named Rose. What unfolds is a story about body image, acceptance, and forgiveness. “Dogfight” has some pretty strange and problematic themes which left it cold with some musical theatre fans but that’s the cool thing about art: it’s always up for discussion.
#4: “Allegiance”
“Allegiance” is a deeply personal tale about a dark point in American history. Inspired by “Star Trek” icon George Takei’s own experiences, the story follows a family as they are forced to enter a Japanese internment camp in the 1940s. Takei starred in the musical, alongside Lea Salonga, Telly Leung, and Greg Watanabe. Sadly, it did not last long on Broadway. After only 37 previews and 111 shows, “Allegiance” closed in early 2016. That being said, the show did go on to live in another medium. Later that same year, a recorded performance was released in cinemas where theater fans from far and wide could experience this important work.
#3: “Bandstand”
In 2017, the musical “Bandstand” brought swing music to Broadway. Opening at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, the show featured Corey Cott, Laura Osnes, and Beth Leavel. Taking place in Post-World War II Cleveland, the musical is about a group of military veterans who form a band in an attempt to win a national radio contest in the Big Apple. Despite a high-energy score and wildly fun choreography, “Bandstand” didn’t stand long on Broadway. A few months after its debut, the show closed but received screenings of a filmed performance a year later in 2018.
#2: “Beetlejuice”
When a musical adaptation of Tim Burton’s horror comedy classic, “Beetlejuice” was announced it quickly became a highly anticipated show. After wrapping its out-of-town tryouts in Washington, D.C. the musical opened on Broadway in 2019. Alex Brightman starred as the zany bio exorcist alongside Kerry Butler and Rob McClure as the Maitlands. Fun, wild, and unapologetic the musical lived up to its source material’s cult status. Even a move to a different theater and global pandemic couldn’t keep “Beetlejuice” away. The show closed in 2023 after nearly 700 performances and here’s hoping it’ll be resurrected one day. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
“Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson”
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“An American in Paris”
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“Bring It On: The Musical”
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“Hands on a Hardbody”
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#1: “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812”
“Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812” is unlike any other musical. Based on a chapter of Leo Tolstoy's literary classic, “War and Peace,” the musical is immersive, dizzying, and entirely sung through. After playing off-Broadway, “Comet” sprung to Broadway in 2016 and transported the Imperial Theatre to 1800s Moscow. Singer Josh Groban made his big Broadway debut as Pierre, starring opposite Denée Benton as Natasha. Composer Dave Malloy’s unique and challenging score earned him great public and critical praise. In 2017, the show closed but still remains an underappreciated treasure.
