From FUNNY GIRL to SOMETHING ROTTEN!- BWW Readers Pick the Best Shows About Theatre

By: Jan. 18, 2016
Get Access To Every Broadway Story

Unlock access to every one of the hundreds of articles published daily on BroadwayWorld by logging in with one click.




Existing user? Just click login.

Theatre* people love stories about their industry.

What can we relate to more than a show about our own people and the experiences that we go through regularly? There's nothing like seeing a show about theatre and thinking to yourself, "Yes! I've been there. I've worked with that kind of person. That character is literally me." At the moment, Broadway has two shows on that are exclusively about the theatre world- SOMETHING ROTTEN! and NOISES OFF- and that doesn't even include the ones that feature the entertainment industry in general, like JERSEY BOYS, ON YOUR FEET, and the like.

Of course, this isn't a new concept, is it? After all, the first musical to win the Tony Award for Best Musical was about "a troupe of strolling players" performing Shakespeare (Yes, theatre nerds, we're talking about KISS ME KATE). Shakespeare himself wrote about theatre artists in, for instance, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. This almost metta genre is timeless.

In light of NOISES OFF recently opening on Broadway, we asked the BroadwayWorld readers which shows about theatre they love the most, and here's what we got!

Abby Janis: Funny Girl Funny Girl Funny Girl! (Partial to Barbra)

Annie John: Lend Me a Tenor and Noises Off. Both expose the work and sometimes chaos behind creating entertainment. Both express these theatrical traits with silliness, humor, and heart.

Madison Wiggins: Funny girl! Annie Get Your Gun! And Chicago!

Jesse Tyler House: I definitely have to go with Spamalot! What could beat having a show about a quest to have a Broadway show? Humor everywhere and witty lines and lyrics that artfully and actively engage the audience.

Raphael Likes: The Producers.

Sam Butler: The Producers, hands down!

Maria Roqueta: A Chorus Line!!!!!!! Forever

Megan Richardson: A Chorus Line. Definitely.

Renee Vena Bishop: Kiss Me, Kate!

Tyler Temple: 42nd Street, Act One, The Producers, Noises Off.

Deanna Lambert Murphy: Chorus Line

Adolfo José Busó: Play- NOISES OFF! Musical- THE PRODUCERS

Diana Williams Zepeda: Noises off

Cyndy Metcalf: Has to be A CHORUS LINE for me. Not just because you mentioned it. Played the grooves off that record.

Follow Sally Henry on Twitter for more Broadway musings and general theatre nerdery: @BwayGinger

*Just making sure we're all clear on how the cool kids spell "theatre."



Videos