Top 10 Most Shocking Plot Twists in Musicals

#10: Miss Trunchbull Is Miss Honey’s Aunt

“Matilda the Musical”
Okay, this might not be a surprise to fans of the 1996 movie version of Matilda, or the original 1988 Roald Dahl novel, but this twist is brilliantly set up in the musical. Throughout the musical, Matilda invents a long story to tell her librarian friend, Mrs. Phelps, about a beautifully tragic acrobat couple. The couple are excited to welcome their first child, but the mother dies just after giving birth, leaving the child to be raised by her evil aunt. When Miss Honey reveals to Matilda that Miss Trunchbull is her aunt, Matilda realizes her story has been about Miss Honey the whole time. It’s a unique touch to the musical, and a sweet character moment that highlights the strong connection between Matilda and Miss Honey.

#9: The Plants Take Over the World

“Little Shop of Horrors”
In the original Broadway production of “Little Shop of Horrors,” there are no happy endings. Audrey II, the evil human-eating plant from outer space, succeeds in its villainous plot to grow and multiply until its alien plant race takes over our planet. The finale sees all of our main characters eaten to death, only to return in half-plant form as they ominously warn the audience, “Don’t feed the plants!” This ending might come as a shock for fans of the 1986 movie who haven’t seen the stage production. An ending similar to this one was originally shot for the film, but tested poorly with audiences as it was too dark. An alternate ending was shot that left our main characters with a much happier ending.

#8: Katherine Is Pulitzer’s Daughter

“Newsies”
The last person we expected to be related to spunky, go-getter reporter Katherine Plumber was the heartless newspaper publisher she was speaking out against, which is what makes this Act II reveal so shocking. It’s Pulitzer, not Katherine, who reveals this information to the newsies, specifically to sow distrust among them. This revelation causes a temporary rift between our two main characters, with newsies ringleader Jack Kelly unsure if he can trust Katherine after everything her father has done to them. Thankfully the two eventually make up, and work together during a massive strike that finally forces Pulitzer to concede to the striking newsies’ demands.

#7: Alice Is Billy’s Mother

“Bright Star” (2014)
In this bluegrass musical written by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, the story is woven across time periods to tell the story of newspaper editor Alice and the aspiring writer she takes under her wing, Billy. Seeing young Billy’s adventures in life and romance inspires Alice to reminisce about her own youth, her brush with young love, and the resulting child she was forced to give up for adoption. She has no idea where her son is in the world, or even if he’s still alive. Still, she holds out hope that she might someday find him, eventually discovering he’s right under her nose. Though Billy initially has a hard time accepting such a shocking truth, eventually he welcomes Alice into his life as his mother.

#6: How Evan Really Broke His Arm

“Dear Evan Hansen”
“Dear Evan Hansen”’s heavy topics of anxiety and depression make for a very emotional musical, but there is no moment more heartbreaking than when the cause of Evan’s broken arm is finally revealed. We’re initially led to believe that Evan broke his arm after falling from a tree, but in a heartfelt conversation with his mother, we learn that Evan intentionally jumped in an attempt to take his own life. With this new information, Evan’s cast, which is featured prominently on posters and playbills for the musical, takes on a new meaning. It symbolizes healing and hope, and resilience in the face of difficult mental health battles.

#5: Kim Dies to Help Her Son

“Miss Saigon”
This adaptation of Puccini’s Madame Butterfly, set during the Vietnam War, tells the tragic story of U.S. Marine Chris, Vietnamese girl Kim, and their young son Tam. When Chris returns to Vietnam years after the war to find Kim, Kim is shocked to see Chris’ American wife Ellen accompanying him. Kim pleads with Chris and Ellen to take Tam back to America to provide a better life for him, but Ellen refuses. Faced with what she thinks is no other option at the climax of the musical, Kim takes her own life so that Tam can have a better one. It’s a tragic ending to an already emotional musical, and a poignant example of the extent a parent will go to to provide for their child.

#4: They Were Nazis the Whole Time

“Cabaret”
Yes, you might expect that a musical set in Berlin in 1929 would have Nazis featured prominently in the plot, but “Cabaret” sets this twist up so brilliantly that you aren’t expecting it, even if you were. Throughout Act I, the Kit Kat Club cabaret is presented as an endlessly fun den of indulgence, free-thinking, and total liberation. The environment is immersive, bringing the audience into all the fun the characters are having. While characters hint at political unrest outside the Kit Kat Club, it isn’t until the sudden reveal of Ernst Ludwig’s red armband that we realize how deeply Nazi ideology has ingrained itself in Berlin. This reveal completely changes the tone of the rest of the musical, mirroring the real historical experience of Berliners at this time.

#3: Christine Colgate is the Jackal

“Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”
This musical is based on the 1988 film, which in turn is a remake of the 1964 comedy, “Bedtime Story.” Premiering on Broadway in 2005, “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” follows two con artists keeping a wary eye out for the legendary con artist known only as “The Jackal” while attempting to scam the naive Christine Colgate. Though Lawrence and Freddy’s relationship starts off akin to one of mentor-mentee, the eventual rivals become wrapped up in a bet that would mean the loser has to leave town. So both the con men and the audience are completely bamboozled when it’s revealed that not only is Colgate herself the Jackal, but she also knew about their ruse the entire time - and she scammed them right back in return!

#2: The Beggar Woman Is Lucy Barker

“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”
Sweeney Todd is one of Stephen Sondheim’s darkest musicals, but it also contains one of the biggest twists in Broadway history. As we get to know our protagonist throughout the musical, we learn that Todd’s real name is Benjamin Barker and he has a daughter named Johanna, whose mother, Lucy, died by poisoning herself. Throughout the show, we also meet the Beggar Woman, an impoverished Londoner who’s often confused and upset by her surroundings with no explanation. Tragically, it’s only after Todd kills the Beggar Woman in a panic that he realizes she was indeed his wife, Lucy - and that the widowed Mrs. Lovett knew about Lucy’s survival as well.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Gabe Is Dead

“Next to Normal”

Abuela Claudia Won the Lottery

“In the Heights”

#1: Elphaba Survives

“Wicked”
Since the release of the blockbuster movie musical adaptation of “Wicked”, everyone’s been talking about this musical, but they only know half the story. Yes, although the entire musical opens with a massive musical number celebrating the death of the “wicked witch”, Elphaba actually survives in “Wicked”. This twist is especially shocking because the Wicked Witch’s death in “The Wizard of Oz” is an incredibly well known, iconic scene that’s been referenced and parodied for decades. It’s not uncommon to hear audience members gasp when Elphaba emerges from the trap door to greet Fiyero - who’s also the scarecrow now; double spoiler for “Wicked: For Good”. It’s a twist no one saw coming, and one we can’t wait to see on the big screen!

What musical twist shocked you the most? Let us know in the comments!