While theatre can shine a spotlight on life's truths, it can also transport us to worlds unknown. With innovative designs, creative storytelling, and old-fashioned theatre magic, a production can transform the stage into an awe-inspiring landscape.
From The Wiz to Hadestown, check out 21 imaginative Broadway shows that have been keeping us inspired. What are your favorite transportive Broadway plays or musicals?
SpongeBob SquarePants Playbill - Opening Night
The cast of SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical.
Joan Marcus
Pippin Playbill - Opening Night
Cast of Pippin
Cats
Cast
Martha Swope/©NYPL for the Performing Arts
Into the Woods Playbill - Opening Night, Nov 1987
Cast of Into the Woods
Finding Neverland Playbill - Opening Night
Matthew Morrison, Kelsey Grammer and company in the Broadway production of Finding Neverland
Carol Rosegg
The Wiz Playbill - December 1974
Clarice Taylor, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Ted Ross and Tiger Haynes in The Wiz
Photo by Martha Swope
Shrek Playbill
Brian d'Arcy James, Daniel Breaker, and Sutton Foster in Shrek the Musical.
Joan Marcus
Xanadu Playbill - Opening Night
Mary Testa, Kerry Butler, Jackie Hoffman, and cast of Xanadu
Paul Kolnik
Peter and the Starcatcher Playbill - Opening Night
Adam Chanler-Berat, Christian Borle and cast in Peter and the Starcatcher
O&M Co.
Wicked Playbill - Opening Night, Oct 2003
Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel in Wicked
Joan Marcus
Starlight Express Playbill - Opening Night, March 1987
Frank Mastrocola, Sean Grant, Ronald Garza, Angel Vargas, Greg Mowry, Michael Scott Gregory, and Barry K. Bernal in Starlight Express
The Lion King
The Lion King
Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 Playbill - Opening Night
Josh Groban and the Cast
Chad Batka
Matilda The Musical Playbill - Opening Night
Cast of Matilda The Musical
Brief Encounter Playbill - Opening Night
Hannah Yelland and Tristan Sturrock in Brief Encounter
Beetlejuice Playbill - Opening Night
Alex Brightman in Beetlejuice
Matthew Murphy
Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark Playbill - Opening Night
Cast of Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark
Hadestown Playbill - Opening Night
Eva Noblezada, André De Shields, and Reeve Carney in Hadestown
Matthew Murphy
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Playbill - Opening Night
Alex Sharp and cast of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Joan Marcus
Once on This Island Playbill - Opening Night
Alex Newell, Hailey Kilgore, and the cast
Joan Marcus
War Horse Playbill - Opening Night, March 2011
Cast of War Horse
