9 Broadway Musicals You Can Stream At Home After Merrily We Roll Along

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Now that you’ve enjoyed Merrily We Roll Along, you can watch nine other fantastic Broadway shows without leaving home! While seeing a Broadway show in person can be expensive and require travel, professionally filmed productions – often called “proshots” – make it easier than ever to experience the magic of live theatre.

The filmed version of the Broadway show Merrily We Roll Along is already a hit, letting fans everywhere enjoy performances by stars Jonathan Groff and Daniel Radcliffe from home. You can find these recordings – called proshots – on most major streaming platforms, though they often don’t get the same level of promotion as films and television series.

Finding great musicals to watch can be tricky, but I’m here to help! As a big fan of musical theater and Broadway, I’ve put together a list of nine award-winning shows you should check out.

As a Broadway fan, I’ve been exploring a lot of newer musicals, and they’re all over the place in the best way! Some remind me of shows like Merrily We Roll Along, while others are totally different. You’ll find everything from really moving, realistic stories like Waitress: the Musical to super fun, over-the-top rock shows like The SpongeBob Musical. Honestly, there’s no one single ‘Broadway sound’ anymore, which is great. I’m confident that if you check out these shows, you’ll definitely discover your next favorite!

9. Hamilton

Available On Disney+

If you haven’t yet experienced the incredibly popular musical Hamilton, now’s a great time to discover it! The show tells the story of Alexander Hamilton, one of America’s Founding Fathers, from his days fighting in the Revolutionary War to his untimely death.

Even though the musical heavily idealizes its subject, the amazing music and performances make it truly worth seeing. I don’t usually enjoy musicals, but I believe anyone interested in getting into Broadway should give this one a try – it’s quickly become a modern classic.

Plus, seeing Jonathan Groff in Merrily We Roll Along makes his performance as King George III in Hamilton even more interesting. The two characters are vastly different – Franklin Shepard is complex and flawed, while King George III provides much of the comic relief. Groff brilliantly portrays both roles, showcasing his impressive range as an actor.

8. Frozen: The Hit Broadway Musical

Available On Disney+

The filmed version of Frozen: The Hit Broadway Musical is now streaming on Disney+, and it’s a refreshing change of pace after watching the emotionally complex Merrily We Roll Along. While based on the popular Disney film, the Broadway show features extra scenes and songs.

If you’ve already seen the animated film, you might wonder if this stage production is worth watching. However, Disney often reimagines and builds upon its stories for the stage, and this isn’t just a quick way to make money. They’re also known for creating incredibly impressive sets that really take advantage of the possibilities of live theater.

The Broadway adaptation of Frozen expands on Elsa’s story, giving her character more emotional depth, and weaves in elements of Scandinavian folklore. The show also features fantastic new songs seamlessly integrated with the original score, all penned by the same talented songwriting team, Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez.

7. Billy Elliot: The Musical

Available For VOD On YouTube, Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, & Fandango At Home

A filmed version of Billy Elliot the Musical became available for streaming in 2018, four years after it was first shown in theaters, and you can now rent or buy it on demand. The musical tells the story of Billy, a young boy who discovers a passion for ballet and bravely follows his dream, even though it goes against what people expect during the 1984-1985 miners’ strike in a part of England called County Durham.

This musical is a beloved classic enjoyed worldwide. It’s been performed successfully in major theater hubs like London’s West End and New York’s Broadway, as well as Australia and several other countries. The music, composed by Elton John and Lee Hall, gives Billy Elliot the Musical a unique sound that’s as memorable as the style of Merrily We Roll Along. Elliott Hanna gave a wonderful performance in the leading role.

6. Waitress: The Musical

Available On HBO Max & YouTube Primetime

Sara Bareilles, inspired by the 2007 film, wrote all the songs for the Broadway musical Waitress. It makes perfect sense that the filmed version of Waitress: The Musical includes the singer—who originally imagined the entire show—in its cast.

Jenna Hunterson is a baker and waitress trapped in a difficult marriage with her abusive husband, Earl. When she unexpectedly becomes pregnant, her situation gets even more complicated, leading her to have an affair with her doctor. Hoping for a fresh start, Jenna’s friends convince her to enter a pie-baking contest – the prize money could be her ticket to leaving Earl.

Both the filmed versions of Waitress and Merrily We Roll Along feature outstanding casts. I’ve seen Waitress performed with several different actors, but Sara Bareilles was absolutely perfect for the part of Jenna.

5. Newsies: The Broadway Musical

Available On Disney+

Daniel Radcliffe and Jonathan Groff are well-known actors who have worked in theater, movies, and television. Lindsay Mendez is primarily a theater performer but is also recognizable. If you enjoy these actors, a great next watch is Newsies, featuring Jeremy Jordan.

Based on the true story of the 1899 newsboy strike, Disney’s Newsies: The Broadway Musical follows Jack Kelly, a street-smart newsboy, and his new friends, brothers Davey and Les, who are struggling to support their family. When newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer dramatically increases the price of papers, the three boys rally their fellow newsies to fight back with a strike.

I love the Newsies movie, but the filmed stage production is even better. Jeremy Jordan is fantastic both in the movie and on stage, delivering a truly powerful and moving performance with his voice.

4. The SpongeBob Musical: Live On Stage!

Available On Paramount+

If you’ve just seen the moving and realistic production of Merrily We Roll Along, you might be in the mood for something completely different – a big, colorful, and wonderfully over-the-top Broadway show like The SpongeBob Musical, which is available to watch as a professionally filmed performance and is a total spectacle.

The musical, The SpongeBob Musical, seems like an unlikely idea, but it’s real! The story follows SpongeBob and his friends as they work together to protect their home, Bikini Bottom, from a volcanic eruption.

The costumes look a bit like something you’d see in a high school play. There’s a character on a skateboard, and the sets aren’t anything special. Surprisingly, The SpongeBob Musical is actually very fun, despite all its flaws. What makes it even more interesting is the original music, featuring songs by artists like David Bowie and Panic! at the Disco. It’s a bit of a mystery how it all works so well!

3. Trevor: The Musical

Available On Disney+

Both Merrily We Roll Along and Trevor: The Musical tackle difficult subjects like addiction and past trauma. Trevor: The Musical does this particularly well, even though it’s about middle school students. The musical tells the story of Trevor Nelson, a 13-year-old boy in 1981 America who is obsessed with Diana Ross. He’s dealing with school, a crush, and his ambition to become a star.

Although Trevor: The Musical never made it to Broadway, we’re including it as a special mention. It played Off-Broadway for a month, but the run was unfortunately cut short when theaters closed due to COVID-19, which likely prevented it from moving to Broadway.

Before the stage production ended, a high-quality video was filmed and is now streaming on Disney+. Holden Hagelberger gave an excellent performance as the main character and truly deserves more recognition for his work.

2. Come From Away

Available On Apple TV

As a critic, I’ve been thinking about how powerfully both Merrily We Roll Along and Come From Away transport you to different eras. Merrily really feels like stepping into a time capsule, bouncing between 1957 and 1978, while Come From Away immediately throws you back to the days following September 11th, 2001. Both shows do an incredible job of evoking specific moments in time.

As a total cinema devotee, I was really moved by this film because it doesn’t dwell on the tragedy itself, but instead beautifully focuses on the kindness shown after the attacks. It tells the true story of the passengers whose planes were diverted to a small town in Newfoundland, Canada, and the incredible people who opened their homes and hearts to them. The filmmakers actually spoke with the locals, and the whole story is based on real experiences they shared – it’s incredibly touching and authentic.

Despite being critically praised, the musical wasn’t well-known until Come From Away brought it to a larger audience. Like Merrily We Roll Along, it’s a deeply touching story, and the filmed version is considered one of the best available.

1. Next To Normal

Available On PBS

Okay, if you’ve just finished watching the Merrily We Roll Along proshot and you’re looking for something equally powerful, let me steer you toward Next to Normal. It’s a truly remarkable rock musical that won the Pulitzer Prize, and it centers around Diana Goodman, a mother in the suburbs battling increasingly severe bipolar disorder. The show is a raw and honest look at her struggles and, crucially, how her illness impacts her entire family as she seeks help and treatment. It’s a tough watch, but incredibly moving.

This popular show has been performed on Broadway, in London’s West End, and around the globe. It bravely explores challenging themes related to mental health, and shares a similar emotional core with the musical Merrily We Roll Along. Ultimately, the story focuses on the importance of human connection and relationships.

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2026-04-09 02:42