10 revivals that changed *everything* | the most groundbreaking musical theatre revivals of all time

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I'm taking a deep-dive into the world of musical theatre revivals today as I talk through some of the most groundbreaking productions in the West End and on Broadway.

From gender-swapped Sondheim to circus-set Schwartz, we're looking at the shows that made the most significant changes to the original material.

Check it out and comment down below with the boldest and most groundbreaking revivals you've seen!

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00:00 | introduction
03:26 | Oklahoma!
07:32 | Chicago
11:19 | Pippin
15:54 | Company
20:21 | Jesus Christ Superstar
24:14 | Legally Blonde
27:28 | Spring Awakening
30:28 | Guys and Dolls
33:49 | Sunset Boulevard
37:51 | Cabaret

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#broadway #westend #theatre

[stevenreid]

An interesting connection between two of the shows on your list: Ali Stroker became the first actor who uses a wheelchair when she was in the Deaf West Spring Awakening, and the first to win a Tony for her role in the revival of Oklahoma.

[matthewweatherhead]

I had zero clue that Pippin wasn’t originally made for a circus. I guess that’s just how iconic that revival was

[scaratthedisco]

Act I of Deaf West Spring Awakening was perhaps the most beautiful piece of theatre I have ever seen.

[kacey]

I wouldn't so much call it "groundbreaking" but, to me, one of the most interesting cases of this is Chess. It's been produced so many times and is never the same play twice. I have seen it many times (professional and amateur/student productions) and I could not give a plot synopsis that would match for any two of the productions. It's like a collection of characters and songs that can never seem to find their story.

[petrarchiana]

Great, great list. As a New York theater-goer, I have to throw in a mention to Yiddish Fiddler. The production didn't change the story at all, but the language change had a massive impact. Plus, directed by original Emcee Joel Grey.

[laurengreenberger]

This reminds me of when high schools in America decided to do random shows as steam punk for some reason.

[probablyhiii]

I work as a stage technician, currently in college studying stage management and directing. Fish’s Oklahoma was a huge eye opener for me in regards to how far a director can go with their vision. I saw the National Tour when it came to Los Angeles during previews, and the first blackout sequence was one of the most horrifying experiences i’ve ever had as an audience member. There was a subtle hostility that built up in the audience, and that boiled through poor jud up until the first gunshot. Some people down my aisle got up and made their distaste known. At intermission I moved to the center cuz I was hyped for the dream ballet lmao

[nickkostopoulos]

Small correction: Fosse directed the film adaptation of “Cabaret”, but the original Broadway production was directed by Hal Prince.

Great subject; keep up the good work!

[mikaylahopkins]

A fun regional twist on Oklahoma! I have become obsessed with recently is the Oregon Shakespeare Company 2018 revival of Oklahoma!, where Ado Andy and Woody's genders were swapped so both of the main couples were queer. One article lovingly dubbed it "Oklahomo!" and I am obsessed with everything about it.

[nemccann]

I love these educational/theatre history videos of yours! Have to say, the actor-muso Lord of the Rings at the Watermill theatre has my entire heart. To take such an epic story that played in one of the largest west end houses and put it in this tiny little theatre and still have it feel grand and expansive and glorious… Paul Hart is a genius.

[rebeccag]

This was a great list! One thought I wanted to share. People often say Oklahoma! was the first modern/book musical because it used songs to develop plot and characters. I would argue that that was Showboat, from the 1920s.

But I think Showboat was almost too ahead of its time (plus the way it took on racism made it more challenging in terms of mass acceptance), so the musicals that followed, didn't follow suit. Oklahoma! is ground-breaking because it used integrated songs to advance plot/character, AND in the right way at the right time, and set the tone for all musicals that followed.

Oklahoma! absolutely significantly changed musical theater. I just want to give Showboat its flowers too :)

[capri]

As soon as I saw the title I said to myself if deaf west spring awakening isn't on here I will be shocked. Glad to see it mentioned, was such a beautiful and well thought out revival.

[constancewhewchile]

The Broadway revival of Pippin was the first show I ever saw on Broadway and I literally burst into tears the moment magic to do started lol

[RachelsReviews]

I have very fond memories of seeing The Music Man revival in 2000 with Rebecca Luker and Craig Bierko.

[michaelweaver]

Terrific analysis, and a great list of excellent revivals. I do have three corrections to things you mentioned. The original Broadway production of cCbaret was not directed by Bob Fosse, (lthough he did direct the movie) but was, in fact, directed by Harold Prince. The DeafWest production of Spring Awakening was not there first in that style, they did a Broadway revival of Big River with exactly the same concept of both deaf and hearing actors, including a few of the original production’s cast members. And finally, Marissa Wallace was not the first black woman to be cast as Miss Adelaide. There was an all black Broadway revival years ago. Now, in fairness, it failed very quickly, but it did happen.

[Avaloniussilver]

I hope ragtime comes back to Broadway. I was Tateh in High School, and it was the only big role I ever did. So many memories!

[smlb]

Michael Arden's revival of Once on this Island with the staging and the sand was epic

[PS-DLMA]

I saw the Sam Mendes production of Cabaret in Australia in 2004. Was confronting and moving and AMAZING

[destinecarrington]

Just saw the new Company last night and it was amazing! The set design is everything to me.

[jurney]

Thank you for the praise for the 2006 revival of Company. My absolute favorite version. Raúl Esparza is the best Bobby IMO and i will never forgive the Tony's for robbing him of his rightful tony