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

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

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

Next Slide

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 the original Off-Broadway production of 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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