Hamilton
With the popularity ofHamiltonon Disney+ along with the show likeEncore(reuniting old high-pitched schoolhouse casts to do again on the same stage quite a few age after they left it ) and Beyonce’sBlack is Kingvisual album , there is no shortage of musical establish amusement to pour at home while societal distancing .
But , if anyone has ever wanted to plunge a little bit deeper into the reality of musical theater or the history of the stage there are quite a few documentaries currently rain cats and dogs that can be enjoyed as well . peach and see with some of the best , lean below .
Every Little Step (2008)
Every Little Stepis a great docudrama because it embrace the history of a belovedmusical(A Chorus Line ) the behind the scenes work on Broadway , as well as the intimate life of the mass who strive and shinny to make it on the stage .
The documentary film follows the molding cognitive operation for a revival ofA Chorus Lineon Broadway and the assailable casting call that takes spot to throw up the leads for the upcoming show . It ’s a enceinte behind the scenes take care at the work that goes into even a known hit show making it ’s restoration to New York City .
The Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened (2016)
WhileA Chorus Lineshown inEvery Little Stepwas a revival with a clear winning track record , it ’s still hard to predict anything when it come to subsist melodious theatre . That ’s whereThe well bad matter That Ever Could Have Happenedcomes in .
The documentary tell the casting , production , and closing of the Stephen SondheimmusicalMerrily We flap Along . With Stephen Sondheim at the helm and young stars like Jason Alexander , everyone call up the show would be a hit yet , it opened to vituperative reviews . Unfortunately , the show closed after 16 performances . The documentary goes deeply , follow what happened to the cast afterwards , who kept execute , and the cult classic the show has since become .
Six By Sondheim (2013)
There ’s a reasonThe Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happenedwas such a big deal , because Sondheim in themusicaltheater world is Sondheim . The HBO documentary , Six by Sondheim , explore the composer and lyrist ’s success through six of his greatest call .
The call let in , " Something ’s add up , " fromWest Side Story , " Being Alive,“fromCompany , and " Sunday , " fromSunday in the Park with George .
Show Business: The Road to Broadway (2007)
Another behind the scene expect at the victory and heartbreak that number with even clear it to Broadway , Show Businessfollows a peculiarly exciting season that take position in 2003 to 2004 . That was the class theWickedmade its Broadway entry .
And yet , it was n’t expect to deliver the goods ; this is something that the Edgar Albert Guest critics make clear . Even with its breakout success , Wickeddidn’t gain the Tony for BestMusicalthat twelvemonth and it would be some time beforeWickedwould get the adulation it deserves . This docudrama is a gravid looking at at how and why some show acclivity and some fall , and what ( or if ) awards really matter .
Life After Tomorrow (2006)
WhileThe Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happenedfollowed the lives of untested grownup to adult actors , Life After Tomorrowexplores the lives of a numeral of actress who were cast in the Broadway output ofAnnie .
Whether these performers portrayed orphans or Annie herself , this documentary is an unvarnished tone at the wonders and pitfalls of stardom at such a young old age . How far can a starring role as a child really take an actor in life ? As in everything else , not everyone can succeed .
Fiddler: Miracle of Miracles (2019)
Fiddler on the Roofhas had quite the influence on the musical dramatics community ever since it opened in 1964 . Lin - Manuel Miranda himself spill the beans a interpretation of the famous Sung , " Tradition , " at his own wedding .
Fiddler : Miracle of Miraclesexplores the story of the show from its curtain raising on Broadway ( where critics were not swelled fan ) all the path to its winner and universal root word of custom and societal change . The documentary comes full circle as performers from the show confabulate New Anatevka , a village in the Ukraine that ’s also the circumstance of this geological period musical , to perform some of themusical ’s most wanted number .
In the Heights: Chasing Broadway Dreams (2009)
Before there wasHamilton , there wasIn the Heights , which also won Lin - Manuel Miranda a Tony for Best Musical . The PBS documentary , In the Heights : Chasing Broadway Dreams , extend a great look at the star and his roll before any of them actually became the well - known stars they are today .
The unchecked joy of working on a projection that a person believes in and the euphoria of a young cast make it on Broadway are all captured on film before anyone even knew whatHamiltonwas . This is a must check forHamiltonfans who want to seeHamiltonbefore it became a forward-looking mean solar day cultural milepost .
Hamilton’s America (2016)
Hamilton , like its predecessorIn the Heights , did n’t come along out of tenuous atmosphere . There was a circumstances of body of work and a tidy sum of research that went into the project before anyone even heard about it .
Hamilton ’s Americatakes a behind the scenes look how the musical came together and where the tangible history that urge it took lieu . There may nothing else to say aboutHamiltonthe hit Broadway musical , but there ’s a lot to learn about its creation and soon - to - be legacy .
We Are Freestyle Love Supreme (2020)
Even beforeIn the Heights , Lin - Manuel Miranda was just a part of a freestyle belt group from his college , Wesleyan University . This docudrama pursue that radical , Freestyle Love Supreme , as they come together for a reunification carrying into action in the Big Apple in 2019 .
However , the documentary also follows the history of the radical , from their generation in college all the way to their appearing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival . It ’s a great flavor at how friendship can be bring up and strained over years of creative thinking .
Most Valuable Players (2010)
The joyfulness of theater , and melodious theater in particular , has a special place in the warmheartedness of anyone and everyone who had anything to do with dramatics in high schooling . Most Valuable Playersfollows a group of theater youngster in Pennsylvania as they prepare for their time of year as well as the Freddy Awards , their own high schooling Tony ’s of sorts .
It ’s a nice reminder of the natural endowment and enthusiasm that surrounds live house , as well as what it entail to be a part of an tout ensemble .
NEXT : Hamilton : 5 Reason ’s Eliza Is The Best Character ( & 5 It ’s Angelica )