Unlikely Friendships in Musicals

A lion, a scarecrow, a tin man and a farm girl? A dog and a bird? A glamorous evangelist and a two-bit criminal? These are not the likeliest of buddies, but in musical theatre, Anything Goes! Check out these Concord Theatricals musicals featuring characters who have forged unexpected friendships.

Anya, Dmitry and Vlad in Anastasia: The Musical by Terrence McNally, Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens (US/UK)
(Full-Length Musical, Dramatic Comedy / 4w, 5m, 1 girl + Ensemble)
This dazzling show transports its audience from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s, as a brave young woman named Anya sets out to discover the mystery of her past. Pursued by a ruthless Soviet officer determined to silence her, Anya enlists the aid of a dashing con artist, Dmitry, and a lovable ex-aristocrat, Vlad. Despite their different backgrounds, this trio embarks on an epic adventure to help Anya find home, love and family.

Moonface and Reno in Anything Goes by Cole Porter, Guy Bolton, P.G. Wodehouse, Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse (US/UK)
(Full-Length Musical, Comedy / 4w, 3m + Ensemble)
Anything Goes is a wacky shipboard farce featuring romance, intrigue, colorful characters and a glorious score by Cole Porter. Amid the variety of relationships featured in the musical is the seemingly mismatched but delightful friend pair Reno Sweeney, a glamorous broad, and Moonface Martin, a two-bit criminal. This duo finds a delicious common ground in the song “Friendship,” a highlight of Cole Porter’s classic, crowd-pleasing musical comedy.

Roxie and Velma in Chicago by John Kander, Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse (US/UK)
(Full-Length Musical, Comedy / 10w, 9m)
In roaring twenties Chicago, chorine Roxie Hart murders a faithless lover and convinces her hapless husband to take the rap… until he finds out he’s been duped and turns on Roxie. Convicted and sent to death row, Roxie and another “Merry Murderess,” Velma Kelly, vie for the spotlight and the headlines. At first frenemies, Roxie and Velma ultimately join forces in search of the “American Dream”: fame, fortune and acquittal.

Deena and Effie in Dreamgirls by Tom Eyen, Henry Krieger, Michael Bennett and Harold Wheeler (US/UK)
(Full-Length Musical, Drama / 4w, 4m + Ensemble)
Through gospel, R&B, disco and more, Dreamgirls explores themes of ambition, hope and betrayal, all set in the glamorous and competitive world of the entertainment industry. At the center of the musical are singers Deena and Effie, who begin as friends but soon become competitors, as sleek Deena replaces powerful Effie as lead singer of a rising Motown trio. In the end, smooth and rough come together as they forge a meaningful friendship, laying the groundwork for their own empowerment.

Jamie and Hugo “Loco Chanelle” in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie by Tom MacRae, Dan Gillespie Sells and Jonathan Butterell (US/UK)
(Full-Length Musical, Dramatic Comedy / 8w, 10m)
Jamie New, who is 16 and lives on a council estate in Sheffield, doesn’t quite fit in. Jamie is terrified about the future…but is going to be a sensation. Over the course of the musical, Jamie overcomes prejudice, beats the bullies and steps out of the darkness into the spotlight. Along this journey, Jamie becomes acquainted with a veteran drag queen named Hugo “Loco Chanelle.” At first the pair clashes, but when they discover commonalities, they spark of an inter-generational mentorship that gives this musical a touching spark.

Sandy and Rizzo in Grease by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey (US)
(Full-Length Musical, Comedy / 8w, 9m + Ensemble)
Head “greaser” Danny Zuko and new (good) girl Sandy Dumbrowski try to relive the romance of their “Summer Nights” as the rest of their Rydell High gang sings and dances their way through school. The female leads of Grease, innocent Sandy and tough-as-nails Rizzo, start as opponents amid the social hierarchy at Rydell High. But as the story progresses, these two young women realize just how much they have in common.

Mame and Vera in Mame by Jerome Lawrence, Robert E. Lee and Jerry Herman (US/UK)
(Full-Length Musical, Comedy / 6w, 6m)
When the ebullient and convivial socialite Mame Dennis suddenly becomes responsible for the upbringing of her nephew Patrick, the wealthy sophisticate embraces the challenge, introducing the boy to all of life’s wonders. Along for the ride on Mame’s journey is the brassy Vera Charles, a veteran actress. When Mame’s financials get tight, Vera offers her a small role in a new play, but when Mame flubs a line, it puts Vera in a tough place. Despite this conflict, Mame and Vera foster a one-of-a-kind friendship, made clear in the show-stopping duet “Bosom Buddies.”

Don Quixote and Sancho Panza in Man of La Mancha by Dale Wasserman, Mitch Leigh and Joe Darion (US/UK)
(Full-Length Musical, Dramatic Comedy 5w, 6m + Ensemble)
Inspired by Don Quixote, Miguel de Cervantes’ 17th-century masterwork, this classic Golden Age musical follows the adventures of a deluded but determined old man and his faithful, if hapless, squire. Traditionally cast as physical opposites, the boisterous and proud Quixote and his shy, humble manservant somehow weather one exploit after another. When asked about his unusual relationship with the Impossible Dreamer, Sancho sums up their friendship in three words: “I Like Him.”

Sister Amnesia and Sister Mary Annette in Nunsense by Dan Goggin (US/UK)
(Full-Length Musical, Comedy / 5w)
This riotous show is framed as a fundraiser put on by the Little Sisters of Hoboken to raise money to bury sisters who were accidentally poisoned by the convent cook, Sister Julia (Child of God). Among the madcap group of leading ladies is the loopy Sister Amnesia and Sister Mary Annette — who is actually a puppet. Despite their obvious differences, the two learn from each other and form the most unique of musical-comedy friendships.

Minstrel, Jester and King in Once Upon a Mattress by Mary Rodgers, Marshall Barer, Jay Thompson and Dean Fuller (US/UK)
(Full-Length Musical, Comedy / 4w, 7m + Ensemble)
This rollicking spin on the classic tale The Princess and the Pea provides some side-splitting shenanigans. Many moons ago, Queen Aggravain decreed no couples could marry until her son, Prince Dauntless, found a bride. Princesses came from far and wide to win the hand of the prince, but none could pass the impossible tests given to them by the Queen. That is, until the “shy” swamp princess, Winnifred the Woebegone, shows up and becomes a contender. Anchoring this musical’s conflicts with glee, and uniting against a common enemy (the Queen), are the Minstrel, the Jester and the King, three men from different classes but with a similar goal in mind.

Laurey and Ado Annie in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! by Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II, Agnes de Mille and Lynn Riggs (US/UK)
(Full-Length Musical, Comedy / 4w, 6m +Ensemble)
Practical, logical Laurey and flighty, lovestruck Ado Annie seem like the last two people to become friends, but somehow they bring out the best in each other in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s groundbreaking musical. Annie thinks with her heart, loving whatever fella she’s with, and Laurey thinks with her head, firmly resisting her growing attraction to Curly, but somehow they both wind up finding love in the end.

Snoopy and Woodstock in Snoopy!!! by Charles M. Schulz, Warren Lockhart, Arthur Whitelaw, Michael L. Grace, Larry Grossman and Hal Hackady (US/UK)
(Full-Length Musical, Comedy / 3w, 3m, 1 any gender adult)
Can a dog and a bird be friends? Apparently! Snoopy, a beagle, and Woodstock, his feathered pal, make that clear in this delightful adaptation of the beloved Peanuts comic strip by Charles Schulz. Snoopy!!! sparkles with wit and warmth as it depicts life as seen through the eyes of Schulz’s unforgettable characters. Musical numbers include “Just One Person,” “Poor Sweet Baby” and “Don’t Be Anything Less (Than Everything You Can Be).”

SpongeBob, Patrick, Sandy and Squidward in The SpongeBob Musical by Kyle Jarrow, Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Sara Bareilles, Jonathan Coulton, Alex Ebert, The Flaming Lips, Lady A, Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, Panic! At the Disco, Plain White T’s, They Might Be Giants, T.I., David Bowie, Tom Kenny, Andy Paley, Jonathan Coulton and Tom Kitt (US/UK)
(Full-Length Musical, Comedy / 16 any gender adults + Ensemble)
In what world could a sponge be friends with a squirrel named Sandy and a starfish named Patrick? The SpongeBob Musical, that’s where! Add the tap-dancing Squidward into the mix and plunge into a stunning all-singing, all-dancing, dynamic stage show based on the beloved animated series.

Wes and Patrick in The View UpStairs by Max Vernon (US/UK)
(Full-Length Musical, Drama / 2w, 8m)
When Wes, a young fashion designer from 2017, buys an abandoned building in the French Quarter of New Orleans, he finds himself transported to the UpStairs Lounge, a vibrant seventies gay bar. Wes soon develops a friendship across time with Patrick, a runaway hustler living in the 1970s. As this forgotten community comes to life, Wes embarks on an exhilarating journey of self-exploration that spans two generations of queer history.

Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion in The Wiz by William F. Brown, Charlie Smalls and L. Frank Baum (US/UK)
(Full-Length Musical, Comedy / 5w, 6m, 4 any gender adults + Ensemble)
A beloved and funktastic Broadway gem, The Wiz infuses L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz with a dazzling mix of rock, gospel and soul music. As Dorothy saunters down the yellow brick road, she meets the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Lion. While this foursome might be mismatched under any other circumstances, their tuneful journey to meet the musical’s title character allows them the chance to find strength in their differences.

Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion in The Wizard of Oz (RSC Version) by L. Frank Baum, Harold Arlen, E. Y. Harburg and Herbert Stothart (US/UK)
(Full-Length Musical, Dramatic Comedy / 3w, 5m +Ensemble)
Before The Wiz was The Wizard of Oz, MGM’s beloved musical adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s legendary novel. Singing “We’re Off to See The Wizard!,” the unlikely friend group makes theatrical magic as they wind their way along the iconic yellow brick road. This timeless crowd-pleaser is also available in the MUNY version (US/UK) and Youth Edition (US/UK). 

Victoria and Toddy in Victor/Victoria by Blake Edwards, Henry Mancini, Leslie Bricusse and Frank Wildhorn (US/UK)
(Full-Length Musical, Comedy / 2w, 3m)
In jazz-age Paris, strait-laced soprano Victoria Grant struggles to make ends meet. With some help from her flamboyant friend Toddy, Victoria ultimately achieves stardom by masquerading as a man, “Count Victor Grazinski,” who performs as a female impersonator. While at first Victoria and Toddy seem like an unusual friend pair, their fellowship sets the musical on its course and adds sparkle to both of their lives.

Charlie Brown and Lucy in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Revised) by Charles M. Schulz and Clark Gesner (US/UK)
(Full-Length Musical, Comedy / 2w, 4m)
While the beloved Peanuts characters Charlie Brown and Lucy seem to have a love-hate relationship, some might say that these two characters, also featured in the musical comedy You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, are genuinely fond of each other but just don’t know how to express their affection. The 1967 musical adapted from Charles M. Schulz’s comic strip features charming musical numbers like “My Blanket and Me,” “The Kite,” “The Baseball Game,” “Little Known Facts,” “Suppertime” and the universal classic “Happiness.”

For more plays and musicals featuring unlikely friendships, visit Concord Theatricals in the US or UK.