History

From inspiring tales of courage and morality, to somber investigations of the depths to which humanity can sink, reality has often formed the basis of some of Broadway’s greatest theatrical works.

The musical Operation Mincemeat is a hilarious and quick-witted portrait of a British WWII deception plot involving a corpse, two crashed airplanes and the creator of James Bond. But who were the real-life agents behind this historic event?

Based on Gypsy Rose Lee’s bestselling 1957 memoir, Gypsy paints a compelling portrait of a stage mother who both uplifts and cripples her daughters. But who were the real Mama Rose, Louise, June and Herbie?

Learn all about the musical’s historical characters, from long-reigning queen Catherine of Aragon to Henry VIII’s survivor, Catherine Parr.

Beauty titans take the stage in this musical retelling of the rivalry between trailblazers Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubinstein.

Since its 1945 premiere in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel, “You’ll Never Walk Alone” has continued to inspire. We explore the song’s cultural impact through the world of football and charity singles.

Eleanor – An American Love Story chronicles the remarkable journey of Eleanor Roosevelt, the shy, insecure aristocrat who was destined to become First Lady of the World. We spoke to the musical’s creators about the show’s inspiration, development and continued appeal.

William Finn and James Lapine’s groundbreaking musical Falsettos is a contemporary look at family, relationships, bar mitvahs, baseball and AIDS. Here’s the story of how this landmark musical came to be.

Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope, Micki Grant’s groundbreaking musical celebration of the Black experience in America, opened on Broadway on April 19, 1972. Fifty years later, here’s a look at this innovative, history-making musical revue.

April 14, 2022 marked the 110th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. Read about the real-life figures that inspired Maury Yeston and Peter Stone’s epic musical.

From the worlds of show biz, politics, literature and business, these women made an indelible mark on humanity. Celebrate their achievements with this list of dynamic musicals about renowned historical figures.

Irving Berlin’s Annie Get Your Gun brought classic Wild West shows to the musical stage. Discover the colorful history of the real people behind the characters in Annie Get Your Gun.

Some of the truth behind Funny Girl is anything but funny. Discover the history of some of musical theatre’s most beloved characters.

Who was the real Eva Perón? And did she ever meet Che Guevara? In this segment of our ongoing series, we take a look at the real-life figures behind the characters in Evita.

The musical Barnum presents a delightfully vibrant and entertaining portrait of The Greatest Showman and his cohorts. But who were the real-life figures behind these colorful characters?