Musical/play being in the same universe as another musical/play?

[Call_me_jorge]

In film you tend to see a another film being in that films universe. Like Star Wars being a film in the ET universe. Are there any major examples of this in the theatre?

[JBroadway]

Well technically Fun Home and Hamilton take place in the same universe. 

[Fosse76]

Unless you are talking about fantasies (i.e., Wicked, Disney shows, etc.) or a period piece (Les Miz, Phantom of the Opera), then a significant portion of shows could easily exist in the world of other shows. It's not a stretch to believe that Wicked or any other play exists in the same world as that in The Book of Mormon. It's not hard to imagine the characters in Avenue Q would take the subway and see The Phantom of the Opera. 

[SeanD2]

Assassins specifically references West Side Story

Pirates of Penzance specifically references Pinafore

Merrily We Roll Along specifically references My Fair Lady, Funny Girl, Fidler on the Roof, and Hello Dolly

title of show specifically references many many things

[AEA AGMA SM]

Sondheim is part of the toast in "La Vie Boheme," so it can be assumed that his musicals are part of that "universe."

[John Adams]

Call_me_jorge said: "In film you tend to see a another film being in that films universe. Like Star Wars being a film in the ET universe. Are there any major examples of this in the theatre?"

Generally, you don't hear about a "universe" in films, but rather in science fiction/fantasy or comic book genres. If a "universe" is mentioned in regards to a film, that film is (generally) going to be a science fiction/fantasy film, or one of the Marvel comic movies.

Universes are defined by rules. Discovering those rules, and applying them to other works is part of the fun of being immersed in a science fiction, or comic book series.

The only close example of a universe in regards to musical theater I can think of (although it really isn't the same) is Fiddler on the Roof and Rags.

EDIT: You might also count the movie musical of The Wizard of Oz and Wicked, but I think that the books are better examples than the musicals.

[JBroadway]

Oh, sorry I didn't read the original post carefully enough. I thought from the subject line that you meant shows SHARING a universe, much like the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or the Pixar theory. This question, I think, is more interesting. There are tons of shows that reference other shows directly, but how many actually exist within the same universe as each other, besides things based on true stories (as I point out in my comment above)? We have the occasional sequel, like Annie 2, Bring Back Birdie, or sequels written by other people like A Doll's House, Part 2. Then we have "spin-off" plays like Clybourne Park and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. 

[gypsy101]

at first i was like “uhhh in what world are ET and Star Wars in the same universe” lol the topic is poorly worded

what you mean is something more like: what theatrical productions exist as (referenced or established) theatrical productions in other theatrical productions?

[SeanD2]

gypsy101 said: "at first i was like “uhhh in what world are ET and Star Wars in the same universe” lol the topic is poorly worded

what you mean is something more like: what theatrical productions exist as (referenced or established) theatrical productions in other theatrical productions?"

To be fair, an alien of ET's race does pop up in the Prequels as part of the galactic senate. But that's more of an easter egg than official tie-in. 

[Call_me_jorge]

gypsy101 said: "at first i was like “uhhh in what world are ET and Star Wars in the same universe” lol the topic is poorly worded

what you mean is something more like: what theatrical productions exist as (referenced or established) theatrical productions in other theatrical productions?"

I’m saying like someone in the ET movie could watch the Star Wars films. There’s a yoda during the trick or treating scene. 

[SempreLiberal]

In the year 1812. Oak was Pierre in the Great Comet and President James Madison in Hamilton.

[CT2NYC]

BOM has a connection to THE LION KING. Beyond Elder Cunningham saying, “Oh, boy, like Lion King,” the send-off at the airport is clearly a direct reference to the stage musical.

[Loopin’theloop]

In ‘Me & My Girl’ leading lady Sally is sent to an old friend of Sir John’s for speech lessons. Sir John says this old friend lives on Wimpole Street (Henry Higgins)

[SempreLiberal]

Would satires of musicals with similar characters, e.g. Spamalot and Camelot, count?

[UncleCharlie]

In August Wilson's epic 10 play Pittsburgh cycle, some of the same characters pop up or are referenced across multiple plays. Is that what you are looking for?

[John Adams]

Call_me_jorge said: "I’m saying like someone in the ET movie could watch the Star Wars films. There’s a yoda during the trick or treating scene."

As SeanD2 pointed out, those are Easter eggs. Disney/Pixar are noted for them in all their movies, as are the Disney theme parks with their 'hidden Mickeys'.

Hamilton has lots of examples of specific references to musicals and (of course) hip-hop - see aaaaaa15's post in this thread.

CT2NYC mentions The Book of Mormon, but (IMO) I think BOM was meant to be more parody, or homage rather than Easter eggs. I think the difference in BOM is that Parker and Stone created whole songs "in the style of" rather than unexpectedly popping in specific quotes (as did Miranda in Hamilton).

I like Loopin'theloop's example. Good one! 

[Loopin’theloop]

Thank you John Adams

[JBroadway]

The existence of Star Wars as a movie within the ET universe is more than just an eater egg. Elliot shows ET his Star Wars action figures, even referring to them by their character names. It’s very clear that the movie does exist to them.

[FosseTharp]

Annie Bakers “The Vermont Plays”— The Aliens, Circle Mirror Transformation, Nocturama, and Body Awareness all take place in the same fictional town of Shirley Vermont .

[LightsOut90]

John Pollonos plays Small Engine Repair and Lost Girls while sharing no characters onstage are connected by an offstage event that happens within both plays

[whatdoesntkillme]

I'm surprised no one has yet mentioned American Psycho, where they see Les Mis and reference a few other shows. Or Angels in America, where Roy Cohn talks about shows playing at the time (La Cage, Cats, etc). It makes sense--both shows take place in New York. 

[lachri5]

Shows with the same historical figures or events are all in the same universe. Think about it, when people are singing Autumn on Titanic, the Husband and the Young Thing are singing Listen to the Music in one of the cabins.

Of course there's also Into the Woods, which almost feels like cheating lol

[NoName3]

In Gilbert and Sullivan's penultimate show "Utopia Limited; or The Flowers of Progress" Captain Corcoran from "H.M.S. Pinafore; or The Lass That Loved a Sailor," one of the earliest G&S shows, is presented as a "Flower of Progress" of English civilization during the first act finale, singing a few bars from HMS Pinafore. Utopia Limited (Utopia Incorporated in contemporary US parlance) and HMS Pinafore thus obviously exist in the same universe.

The idea of "universes" in contemporary conception goes back to the US TV show St. Elsewhere as far as I know (open to correction, but make sure you're talking about contemporary conception).

In the final episode of St. Elsewhere, Tommy Westphall, the autistic son of one of the main characters is seen staring into a snow globe that depicts the eponymous hospital. From that final scene, multiple critics and commenters realized that *numerous* shows were related to the St. Elsewhere universe.

I don't have javascript enabled to do a direct link. Google "Tommy Westphall Universe."

The G&S reference is a grateful nod to Sweet Lips.

[Fan123]

'M. Butterfly' (play) both thoroughly references the existence of, and is itself a 'remake' (after a fashion) of, 'Madame Butterfly' (opera).

Slightly off-topic, but it was interesting (or sloppy, arguably) how 'Smash' both made references to the existence of 'Rent' in its universe, while also including a plotline about a fictitious show that was clearly very much inspired by Rent's real-life bittersweet genesis.

More detail in an old blog post

[NoName3]

Yes, Fan123, the opera is *Madama* Butterfly by Puccini but the play it was based on was David Belasco's *Madame* Butterfly, a play based on a short story by John Luther Long of the same title. Our current Belasco Theater was built by David Belasco, thus its name, and his friendly ghost allegedly inhabits the theater.

South Pacific was based on a series of short stories by James Michener called Tales of the South Pacific and was originally based on a story that concerned a Lt. Cable and his local concubine Liat. Rodgers insisted that the writing stop because it was just a retelling of Madame Butterfly. Writing began again based on another short story from Michener's book about plantation owner Emile de Becque and nurse Nellie Forbush. But Hammerstein eventually realized he could combine the two stories, despite the fact that in Michener's original collection of stories, the two couples never met.

It's generally recognized that despite much updating Miss Saigon uses the same now public domain source material, although it's not officially acknowledged.