Father’s Day is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the special men in our lives, and what better way to do so than with the magic of musical theatre? Whether your dad is a fan of classic rock, heartfelt stories, or exhilarating performances, we’ve got a musical that will hit all the right notes. From Broadway classics to modern hits, these five musicals are sure to entertain, inspire, and maybe even bring a tear to dad’s eye.
Hank Williams: Lost Highway by Randal Myler and Mark Harelik
Hank Williams: Lost Highway is the spectacular musical biography of the legendary singer-songwriter frequently mentioned alongside Louis Armstrong, Robert Johnson, Duke Ellington, Elvis and Bob Dylan as one of the great innovators of American popular music. The play follows Williams’ rise from his beginnings on the Louisiana Hayride to his triumphs on the Grand Ole Opry to his eventual self-destruction at twenty-nine. Along the way, we are treated to indelible songs like “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” “Move It on Over” and “Hey, Good Lookin’,” which are given fresh and profound resonance set in the context of Williams’ life.
Jimmy Buffet’s Escape to Margaritaville Book by Greg Garcia and Mike O’Malley, Music and Lyrics by Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville is a musical comedy featuring the most-loved Jimmy Buffett classics, including “Cheeseburger in Paradise”, “Margaritaville,” “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” “Fins,” “Volcano,” and many more. With a book by Emmy Award winner Greg Garcia (“My Name is Earl,” “Raising Hope”) and Emmy nominee Mike O’Malley (“Survivor’s Remorse,” “Shameless”), this hilarious, heartwarming musical is the party you’ve been waiting for!
A Bronx Tale Book by Chazz Palminteri, Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by Glenn Slater, Based on the Play by Chazz Palminteri
Based on the critically acclaimed play that inspired the now classic film, this streetwise musical will take you to the stoops of the Bronx in the 1960s—where a young man is caught between the father he loves and the mob boss he’d love to be. Featuring a book by Academy Award nominee Chazz Palminteri, music by Oscar, Grammy, and Tony Award winner Alan Menken, and lyrics by Grammy Award winner and Oscar and Tony Award nominee Glenn Slater, A Bronx Tale is a story about respect, loyalty, love, and above all else: family. Contains adult language and mild violence.
High Fidelity Lyrics by Amanda Green, Music by Tom Kitt, Book by David Lindsay-Abaire
When Brooklyn record store owner Rob finds himself unexpectedly dumped, his life takes a music-filled turn toward the introspective. Based on the popular novel by Nick Hornby, High Fidelity follows Rob as he struggles to discover how his relationship went awry and strives to change his life in order to win back his sweetheart Laura. With memorable characters and a rock-and-roll score, this homage to music geek culture explores love, heartbreak, and the power of the perfect soundtrack. Contains adult language.
Gettin’ the Band Back Together Book by Ken Davenport and The Grundleshotz, Music and Lyrics by Mark Allen, Additional Material by Sarah Saltzberg
Mitch Papadopolous always dreamed about being the next Bon Jovi, but he chose security over stardom and left those daydreams behind for a day job. For a while he thought he had everything—the high-paying job, the high-rise apartment—until his 40th birthday when he got handed a pink slip and had to move back in with his Mom in Sayreville, New Jersey. And when his high school arch nemesis (with a 20-year-old grudge and a tangerine spray tan) threatens to foreclose on their house, this big-shot banker must save his small-town home the only way he can: by winning The Battle of the Bands. So he dusts off his guitar, gathers his old gang (the math teacher who isn’t good at math, the Irish cop who dreams about being on Broadway, the dermatologist who can’t get a date, and a 16-year-old Jewish rapper who makes Vanilla Ice look cool), and sets out to win the battle—and maybe even win back the high school sweetheart he left behind—proving it’s never too late to give your dreams one last shot.
