What to Watch After Hamilton on Disney+
So you watched Hamilton on Disney+ and are wanting to continue the live theatre experience at home—you may be surprised to learn that Netflix, Amazon, PBS and other streaming services and apps are able to ‘Satisfy’ your Broadway craving. We’ve compiled a list of our favorite family-friendly Broadway shows that have been filmed live to stream—there’s truly something for everyone!
Shrek The Musical
A filmed performance of Shrek The Musical with the original principal cast—including Brian d’Arcy James and Sutton Foster—is available to stream on Netflix. Clocking in at just over two hours, it’s “the greatest fairy tale never told” and will keep kids entertained with its fantastic sets and costumes. Shrek The Musical won the 2009 Tony Award for Best Costume Design and two Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Set Design and Outstanding Costume Design.
Appropriate for all ages.
Streaming on Netflix
Available for purchase on Amazon, Google Play, Vudu, iTunes
The SpongeBob Musical
Unfortunately, producers of The SpongeBob Musical recently made the difficult decision to cancel the remainder of their tour, including their stop at Starlight Theatre, due to the uncertainty ahead regarding COVID-19. You can still catch this fantastic musical on Amazon, though! With a score written by music giants like John Legend, Lady Antebellum, Steven Tyler and more, the whole family will love this hit show. It was nominated for an outstanding 12 Tony Awards in 2018—including Best Musical.
Appropriate for ages 5+.
Available for purchase on Amazon, Google Play, Vudu, iTunes
Disney's Newsies: The Broadway Musical
Newsies, the 2011 Broadway musical based on the Disney film, was a hit in New York City and on the road—including at the Hollywood Pantages, where a live performance was filmed for theatrical release. Now available to stream on Disney+, Newsies features Tony Award-winning choreography and endlessly catchy tunes by Alan Menken—who also wrote the scores to hits like The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast.
Appropriate for ages 8+.
Streaming on Disney+
Available for purchase on Amazon, Google Play, Vudu, iTunes
Kinky Boots
This next one may be familiar—the national Broadway tour appeared at Starlight Theatre just a few years ago, and it’s definitely one worth seeing again! Kinky Boots won the Tony Award for Best Musical (and Best Choreography, Best Orchestrations, and three more!) when it first hit the Broadway stage in New York City. It’s been a crowd favorite ever since and tells a heartwarming story about celebrating one another’s differences. It’s available to stream through PBS and BroadwayHD.
Appropriate for ages 12+.
Streaming on PBS Passport, BroadwayHD
Memphis
Another familiar title—Memphis, the 2010 Tony Award winner for Best Musical, played under the stars at Starlight Theatre in summer 2012. Now available to stream on BroadwayHD, Memphis tells the story of love, ambition and a cultural revolution. With a fantastic soundtrack and the Tony-nominated cast filmed at Broadway’s historic Shubert Theatre, audiences adore this show—for good reason!
Appropriate for ages 14+.
Streaming on BroadwayHD
Available for purchase on Amazon, Google Play, Vudu
Bonus recommendation
21 Chump Street
21 Chump Street is a fourteen-minute one-act musical with book, music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda. The show is based on the second half of episode #457 of the podcast This American Life, in which a high school student falls in love with an undercover police officer.
Streaming on YoutTube
These are just a few of many filmed live performances available right now—not to mention the classic movie musicals like Sound of Music, Hairspray and Les Misérables. We hope to see you again under the stars soon, but until then—we hope you enjoy a few of our favorite Broadway hits from home.
Please note: Age recommendations are just that—a recommendation. As always, please use your best judgement when determining what musicals are appropriate for your children to watch.