Broadway has long found inspiration from other forms of art. Whether fairy tales, novels, movies, and even comics, theatre has constructed lively worlds from pre-existing works. But some of your favorite musicals came to Broadway without source material.
From larger-than-life celebrations like The Prom to intimate explorations like Company, check out these 23 original musicals that have played Broadway—and let us know your favorite show made without source material.
City of Angels Playbill - Opening Night, Dec 1989
Scott Waara and the Cast of City of Angels
On A Clear Day You Can See Forever Playbill - Opening Night, Oct 1965
John Cullum and Barbara Harris in On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
Bert Andrews Photography
They're Playing Our Song Playbill - Dec 1979
Robert Klein and Lucie Arnaz in They're Playing Our Song
Urinetown Playbill - Opening Night
Hunter Foster and cast
Joan Marcus
A Class Act Playbill - Opening Night, March 2001
Lonny Price and Randy Graff in A Class Act
Photo by Photo by Joan Marcus
Falsettos Playbill - Opening Night, May 1992
Michael Rupert, Chip Zien, Barbara Walsh, Jonathan Kaplan, Heather Mac Rae, and Carolee Carmello in Falsettos
Drowsy Chaperone Playbill - May 2006
Sutton Foster in The Drowsy Chaperone
Joan Marcus
If/Then Playbill - Opening Night
Idina Menzel and cast of If/Then
Something Rotten! Playbill - Opening Night
The cast of Something Rotten!
The Rink Playbill - Opening Night, Feb 1984
Liza Minnelli and Chita Rivera in The Rink.
Ken Howard
Via Galactica
A scene from Via Galactica.
Dear Evan Hansen Playbill - Opening Night
Ben Platt
Matthew Murphy
The Book of Mormon Playbill - Opening Night
Nikki M. James, Andrew Rannells, Josh Gad, and the cast of The Book of Mormon
Joan Marcus
Next to Normal Playbill - Opening Night
Alice Ripley, Aaron Tveit, and J. Robert Spencer in Next to Normal
Joan Marcus
In the Heights Playbill - Opening Night
Lin-Manuel Miranda and company of In The Heights.
Joan Marcus
Caroline or Change Playbill - Opening Night, April 2004
Chandra Wilson and Tonya Pinkins
Michal Daniel
Hedwig and the Angry Inch Playbill - Opening Night
Neil Patrick Harris in Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Joan Marcus
Grease Playbill - May 1972
A scene from the original New York production of Grease.
A Chorus Line
A Chorus Line
Hallelujah, Baby! Playbill - April 1967
Cast of Hallelujah, Baby!
Company Playbill - Dec 1970
Dean Jones and cast of Company
Friedman-Abeles/©NYPL for the Performing Arts
The Prom Playbill - December 2018
The cast of The Prom
Deen van Meer
Anything Goes Playbill - July 1935
Ethel Merman in Anything Goes.
