In days gone by, Broadway tunes were regularly the pop hits of the day, with audiences often knowing one or more of a score's songs before they sat down to watch the show. So it's not surprising that jukebox musicals have become so popular over the past several years. Not only are audiences already familiar with many of the songs, but they get to hear top Broadway talent reinvent these tunes, making them their own.
With the king (or should we say, Dancing Queen?) of jukebox musicals, Mamma Mia!, back on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre—where the hit ABBA musical opened its original, record-breaking run—it seemed like the perfect time to take a look at five other irresistible jukebox musicals currently playing Broadway stages.
Moulin Rouge! The Musical
Like the 2001 Baz Luhrmann movie-musical upon which it's based, the Tony-winning Moulin Rouge! The Musical features a host of pop hits to tell the tale of the star-crossed poet Christian and
courtesan Satine. The visually dazzling musical, winner of 10 2020 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, features new takes on such modern pop tunes as Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance," Sia's "Chandelier," Beyoncé's "Single Ladies," Elton John's "Your Song," and Katy Perry's "Firework." There is even an "Elephant Love Medley" that boasts portions of nearly 20 songs in a little more than five minutes. Directed by Alex Timbers with a book by John Logan, the current cast at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre is led by Ashley Loren (Jekyll & Hyde) as Satine and Christian Douglas in his Broadway debut as Christian plus stage and screen stars Wayne Brady (The Wiz, Let's Make a Deal, Whose Line Is It Anyway?) as Harold Zidler and Taye Diggs (Private Practice, Rent) as The Duke of Monroth. This long-running celebration of truth, beauty, freedom, and love is billed as "more than a musical—it is a state of mind."
Click here for tickets and information.
Hell's Kitchen
Fans of 15-time Grammy winner Alicia Keys should not miss the Tony-nominated Hell's Kitchen, which not only features several of the singer-songwriter's greatest hits but is also inspired by her life growing up in the famed Manhattan neighborhood. Directed by Michael Greif with choreography by Camille A. Brown, the musical features such Keys hits as "Girl on Fire," "Fallin'," and "Empire State of Mind." The New York native's debut Broadway musical also features a few previously unheard tunes, including "Kaleidoscope," "River," and "Seventeen."
Amanda Reid, who was most recently seen as Carter on Apple TV's Me, is currently making her Main Stem debut in the leading role of Ali, a 17-year-old who wants to live out her NYC dream despite the protestations of her single mom. The current cast also boasts vocal powerhouse Jessica Vosk (Wicked) as Jersey, original Tony-nominated Hamilton star Christopher Jackson as Davis, and Phillip Johnson Richardson (The Wiz) as Knuck. Plus, Kecia Lewis—who won a 2024 Tony Award for her passionate performance as Ali's piano teacher, Miss Liza Jane—continues to offer a spine-tingling rendition of "Perfect Way to Die."
Click here for tickets and information.
Just in Time
Bobby Darin is currently being celebrated in style in the new musical Just in Time, which features a dynamic, Tony-nominated performance by Jonathan Groff as the late 1950s crooner. The Glee star and Merrily We Roll Along Tony winner is in top form in the hit production at Broadway's Circle in the Square Theatre, where he sings, sways, dances on tables, and even offers a tune dressed only in a bathing suit. The immersive staging, which transforms Circle in the Square into an intimate nightclub, features Groff's impressive take on such Darin hits as "Beyond the Sea," "Splish Splash," and "Mack the Knife." The stage and screen star is supported by a top-notch company that includes Tony winner Michele Pawk (Hollywood Arms, Wicked) as Darin's mom, Erika Henningsen (Mean Girls) as Sandra Dee, and 2025 Tony nominee Gracie Lawrence (The Sex Lives of College Girls) as Connie Francis. Tony winner Alex Timbers directs Just in Time—which was developed by Timbers, based on an original concept by Ted Chapin—and features a book by Tony winner Warren Leight and Isaac Oliver.
Click here for tickets and information.
& Juliet
The catchy, hit tunes of Max Martin are on full display in the long-running jukebox musical & Juliet, which flips the script on the William Shakespeare classic, imagining what would happen next if Juliet hadn’t ended it all over Romeo. This uplifting tale of female empowerment is infused with the pop songs Martin wrote for artists such as Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, and more: "Oops, I Did It Again,” "Can't Stop the Feeling," “Roar,” "Since U Been Gone," “I Want It That Way,” and many others are among the evening's delights. Even if you are unfamiliar with Martin's catalog, the musical so seamlessly weaves the songs into David West Read's script that it seems as if they were written for this production. By the end, the audience is on its feet celebrating this feel-good show, which was nominated for nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The Broadway company is currently led by Gianna Harris as Juliet, Aladdin Tony winner James Monroe Iglehart as Lance, TikTok sensation Cheryl Porter in her Broadway debut as Angélique, Alison Luff as Anne, Drew Gehling as Shakespeare, Michael Iván Carrier as May, Liam Pearce as Romeo, and Nathan Levy as François. The hit, which opened at the Sondheim Theatre November 17, 2022, was the first new musical of the 2022–2023 Broadway season to announce its recoupment.
Click here for tickets and information.
MJ the Musical
Since its first preview in December 2021, legions of fans of the King of Pop have been flocking to Broadway's Neil Simon Theatre to catch the Tony-nominated MJ the Musical. Unlike several of the other jukebox favorites, which offer different takes on classic tunes, this production features an uncanny impersonation of the late, Grammy-winning Michael Jackson, originally played to Tony-winning effect by Myles Frost and now by Detroit native Elijah Rhea Johnson, who helped develop the role of Middle Michael throughout the workshop process of MJ. And, yes, the dazzling production features all of Jackson's biggest hits, including "Bad," "Beat It," "Billie Jean," "Thriller, "I'll Be There," "Man in the Mirror," and more. MJ, however, goes beyond the singular moves and sound to offer a look at the creative mind that catapulted Jackson to superstardom. Tony winner Christopher Wheeldon directs and choreographs the production, which features a book by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage. The show took home four 2022 Tony Awards in total, including Best Choreography, Best Lighting Design in a Musical, and Best Sound Design in a Musical.
Click here for tickets and information.
Interested in a trip to New York City or London? Use Playbill's Booking Engine to find the right hotel for your stay. Powered by Travelwits, the booking engine allows you to discover the best hotels in both cities, with added benefits like hotel credits, free breakfasts, rewards points, and more. Check out the fantastic hotels available to book, and make your experience that much more enjoyable!
