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10 More Plays and Musicals to Stream Online After You Finish Hamilton
by
amanda prahl
Everett Collection / Copyright © ©Walt Disney Co./courtesy Everett / Everett Collection
If Hamilton has you looking for similar plays and musicals you can stream, look no further! Although nothing can really compare to the one-of-a-kind style of the Tony-winning cultural phenomenon, there are several shows that have similar interests, themes, or storylines. No matter what your favorite part of Hamilton is, there’s probably another play or musical you’ll love, too. With more and more theatrical performances being recorded and released for streaming, there are more options than ever to catch big-name (and smaller-name, too) shows from the comfort of your own home. While live theater is shut down for at least the rest of the year, you can watch these 10 shows at home just as easily as you can watch Hamilton on Disney+ starting July 3!
Related: 40 Feel-Good Musicals You Can Watch on Disney+ Right Now
Getty / Martin Doyle
Macbeth
Hamilton includes a direct reference to Macbeth, and it’s clear the similarities are intentional. Shakespeare’s famous tragedy follows an ambitious upstart whose pride and ambition lead to betrayal and his own downfall – sound a little familiar? You can watch a 2010 production starring Patrick Stewart for a look at how a top-notch modern actor handles this iconic role.
Everett Collection / Copyright Walt Disney Co./courtesy Everett / Everett Collection
Newsies
Like Hamilton, Newsies narrates the somewhat-true story of a bunch of rebels in New York with a charismatic but flawed leader. This time, though, that story is of a child labor strike in 1899, where a group of newsboys led a citywide strike for better working conditions. Disney’s Tony-winning stage adaptation stars Jeremy Jordan as Jack Kelly, the prickly but good-hearted leader of a bunch of makeshift rebels. Come for the top-notch dance numbers, stay for the labor politics!
Everett Collection / Showtime Networks Inc./Courtesy Everett Collection
Sunday in the Park With George
A creative genius pursues his work almost single-mindedly, often at the expense of his personal relationships. Are we talking about the title character of Hamilton or Sunday in the Park With George? Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s masterpiece, starring Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette Peters, tells two connected stories about brilliant artists and the price of art. It’s exquisite, elegant, and heartbreaking.
Getty / Dimitrios Kambouris
Billy Elliot
Hamilton tells the story of a group of people who rose up against oppression, and that’s the backdrop of Billy Elliot, too. Set against a miners’ strike in the 1980s, the musical follows a young boy who discovers a passion and gift for dance, much to the dismay of his working-class coal-mining family. It’s equal parts coming-of-age story and sharp-tongued politics, making it perfect for fans of Hamilton.
Getty / Theo Wargo
The King and I
Hamilton touches on the British colonial empire, but The King and I makes it a central focus. The “culture clash” depicted in the famous Rodgers and Hammerstein musical isn’t as humorous as it seems; it’s a story (a sometimes dated one, to be sure) about the tragedies of imperialism and misogyny as much as it is a battle of wills between English teacher Anna and the King of Siam.
Getty / Theo Wargo
She Loves Me
If it’s the delicious wordplay that you love best about Hamilton, then She Loves Me definitely should be on your list! The clever, witty romantic comedy is one of several versions of a familiar story: two coworkers who hate each other in person but are, unbeknownst to them, falling in love with each other as anonymous pen pals. It’s witty, snappy, and packed with all the letter-writing angst Hamilton does – but this time, with a lot more humor and happier outcomes.
