35 Musicals That Brought the Stories of Real People to the Stage | Playbill

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Photo Features 35 Musicals That Brought the Stories of Real People to the Stage From Funny Girl to Six, these musicals all tell true stories about real people.
By Playbill Staff
March 30, 2020

As imaginative and fantastical as the the worlds crafted onstage can be, sometimes the most riveting stories are the ones that occur in real life. Take a look back at 35 bio-musicals that took the experiences of real people and brought them to life in the theatre.

35 Bio-Musicals That Brought the Stories of Real People to the Stage

Bio_Musicals_Graphic_HR

35 Bio-Musicals That Brought the Stories of Real People to the Stage

35 PHOTOS
Jersey_Boys_New_World_Stages_Production_Photo_2017_Mark Edwards_Aaron De Jesus_Cory Jeacoma_Nicolas Dromard _HR.
Mark Edwards, Aaron De Jesus, Cory Jeacoma, and Nicolas Dromard in Jersey Boys
Joan Marcus
Tina: The Tina Turner Musical_Broadway_Production Photos_2019_Adrienne Warren and cast_HR
Adrienne Warren and cast of Tina: The Tina Turner Musical
Manuel Harlan
Stephen Mo Hanan as Al Jolson
Stephen Mo Hanan in Jolson
Photo by Rahav Segev
HR- Jessie Mueller and Jake Epstein in Beautiful.jpg
Jessie Mueller and Jake Epstein in Beautiful
Laura Osnes and Jeremy Jordan in <i>Bonnie & Clyde</i> HR
Laura Osnes and Jeremy Jordan in Bonnie & Clyde
Nathan Johnson
Next Slide  
Summer_The_Donna_Summer_Musical_Broadway_Production_Photo_2018_Ariana DeBose_HR
Ariana DeBose in Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
Joan Marcus
HR - Josh Segarra and Ana Villafañe in On Your Feet!
Josh Segarra and Ana Villafañe in On Your Feet!
Noll with Rob McClure and Zachary Unger in <i>Chaplin</i>
Rob McClure in Chaplin
Photo by Joan Marcus
Coco-Hepburn-HR.jpg
Katharine Hepburn and cast in Coco
Friedman-Abeles
The_First_Broadway_Production_Photo_1981_David Alan Grier_HR
David Alan Grier in The First
Evita_Broadway_Production_Photo_Patti LuPone_HR
Patti LuPone in Evita
Martha Swope/©NYPL for the Performing Arts
George_M!_Broadway_Production_Photo_Joel Grey_HR
Joel Grey in George M!
Roert A Wilson/©NYPL for the Performing Arts
Alyson Reed and Will Gerard in <i>Marilyn: An American Fable</i>
Alyson Reed and Will Gerard in Marilyn: An American Fable
Photo by Martha Swope
Mary Testa and Julia Murney in <i>Queen of the Mist</i>
Mary Testa and Julia Murney in Queen of the Mist
Lennon_Broadway_Production_Photo_2005_Will Chase_HR
Will Chase in Lennon on Broadway
Beth Austin, Ted Thurston, and Jill Eikenberry in Onward Victoria
Beth Austin, Ted Thurston, and Jill Eikenberry in Onward Victoria
Martha Swope / New York Public Library
Euan Morton Taboo HR
Euan Morton in Taboo
Joan Marcus
Stephanie J. Block, Hugh Jackman and Isabel Keating in The Boy From Oz, Broadway HR
Stephanie J. Block, Hugh Jackman, and Isabel Keating in The Boy From Oz
Joan Marcus
Six_Chicago_Shakespeare_Theater_Production_Photos_2019_Cast_HR
Cast of Six
Liz Lauren
War_Paint_Broadway_Production_Photo_2017_Patti LuPone_Christine Ebersole_company_HR
Patti LuPone, Christine Ebersole, and company
Joan Marcus
Legs_Diamond_Broadway_Production_Photo_1988_Peter Allen_HR
Peter Allen in Legs Diamond
Barnum_Broadway_Production_Photo_Terrance Mann_HR
Terrence Mann in Barnum
HR - Daveed Diggs, Okieriete Onaodowan, Anthony Ramos and Lin-Manuel Miranda in Hamilton
Daveed Diggs, Okieriete Onaodowan, Anthony Ramos and Lin-Manuel Miranda in Hamilton
Joan Marcus
Lempicka_Williamstown_Theatre_Festival_Production_Photo_2018_Eden Espinosa_HR
Eden Espinosa in Lempicka
Daniel Rader
Emily Skinner and Alice Ripley hr
Emily Skinner and Alice Ripley in Side Show
Joan Marcus
Annie_Get_Your_Gun_Broadway_Production_Photo_1966_Ethel Merman_HR
Ethel Merman
Aaron Tveit and ladies in <i>Catch Me If You Can</i> on Broadway, 2011 HR
Aaron Tveit and ladies in Catch Me If You Can on Broadway, 2011
Tom Bosley in the original Broadway production of <i>Fiorello!</i>
Tom Bosley in Fiorello!
Floyd Collins HR
Christopher Innvar, Jason Danieley, and Theresa McCarthy in Floyd Collins
Joan Marcus
Barbra Streisand Funny Girl HR
Barbra Streisand in the Broadway production of Funny Girl
Friedman-Abeles/NYPL
Gypsy_Broadway_Production_Photo_1959_Sandra Church_Ethel Merman_HR
Sandra Church and Ethel Merman in Gypsy
Friedman-Abeles/©NYPL for the Performing Arts
Parade - Brent Carver, Carolee Carmello
Brent Carver and Carolee Carmello in Parade
Joan Marcus
The_Cher_Show_Broadway_Productin_Photos_2018_Teal_Wicks_Stephanie_J_Block_Micaela_Diamond_HR
Teal Wicks, Stephanie J. Block, and Micaela Diamond
Joan Marcus
Ain't Too Proud_Broadway_Production Photos_2019_Ephraim_HR
Ephraim Sykes and cast of Ain't Too Proud
Matthew Murphy
The Will Rogers Follies HR
The Will Rogers Follies
Martha Swope
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