Playbill: Happy Women’s History Month! Women’s stories are not just in books. Real-life women have inspired some of the most beloved shows in Broadway history, where they lead the narratives and clearly tell their own stories.
Whether their lives are being told on Broadway now, like Gypsy Rose Lee, or in past seasons, like the suffragists—these real-life trailblazers and history-makers remind audiences that women’s voices deserve to be heard and celebrated.
6 comments:
I love seeing musicals that portray real historical stories and help an audience to perceive them in a way they normally wouldn't. Sure there are typically embellishments or other details added that may or may not be true for the sake of the story, but it still helps to get this story to an audience of people who typically may not have encountered it otherwise. I've also found that for myself personally and for many others, watching a musical about a real person piques their interest and may lead them to research about that person. I did Chaplin the musical when I was in high school, which is not a very well-known musical. Everyone has head of Chaplin, but I've found that a lot of people (myself included), don't actually know that much about him. I think it's really cool to watch a musical that gives you insight to a historical figures' life and the story that brought their name into your reality.
I did definitely forget how many of these shows on Broadway are about real people and how many I didn't know were about real people. To be specific, obviously these shows listed are about real life women and I didn't know that Funny Girl was based off of a real person or characters from Sideshow. I thought those were just fantasy characters so I've learned something new. but I did know that SUFFS was based off of a true story and a true group of women and I couldn't recommend that show more. It was a really great show and I know they're launching their tour on Broadway so I definitely recommend going to see it. I have also never seen a lot of these shows, but I definitely think that I will be going to see some of these shows when I come home for break over the summer.
I love how this article highlights such a mix of famous and more lesser-known women within Broadway shows. It’s so refreshing and nice to see musicals like Fun Home and Suffs getting the attention they deserve because they focus on personal and political stories that don’t always make it’s way onto the stage. I appreciate when theater can make history feel engaging without it being a boring lecture. Six is a great example of that because it turns a familiar story into something fun and modern, which makes it more accessible for everyone! I also love that the article doesn’t just focus on the largest names in Broadway. It really makes me wonder about how many incredible stories haven’t been told yet. There’s still so much room for new musicals that highlight women who have been overlooked. Seeing these shows succeed makes me want to see even more stories about real women, especially ones that take creative risks instead of following the same formula over and over again.
It is super interesting to me how a lot of musicals and shows on Broadway are about people and very biographical in nature. It feels odd to think about in the grand scheme of things because everyone is essentially buying tickets to go see these shows about these figures and the dynamics at play are super interesting to think about. Sometimes, reading these articles, I like to think about what I would do if I ever had a show put on for me, written about me. I would really wonder what in my life that people would choose to narrate and sometimes it is super interesting for me to think about what my career would have to look like in order for this to happen. I feel like the concept of fame and being remembered forever really scares me but also seems not real to me and it just seems so out of reach but I guess you never really know until you make it.
I’ve always loved musicals, but reading through this list of Broadway shows based on real-life women made me realize just how powerful theatre can be as a storytelling tool. These aren’t just catchy shows with show-stopping numbers—they’re history lessons, emotional journeys, and reminders that women have always been at the center of important, world-shifting moments. Take Suffs, for example. I had no idea how many suffragists worked behind the scenes of the 19th Amendment fight, or how much conflict happened within the movement itself. Then there's Fun Home, which hit me hard. Alison Bechdel’s story felt deeply personal—raw, awkward, and real. And it’s based on a graphic novel, which shows how stories can jump between mediums and still carry the same emotional weight. It also made me think about how women’s stories show up in other art forms. Lempicka connects directly to visual art, blending painting and stage performance into one bold narrative. Meanwhile, SIX feels more like a Beyoncé concert than a typical musical—and that’s what makes it brilliant. It proves history doesn’t have to be dusty or distant to hit hard. These shows made me reflect on how I tell my own story—whether through writing, journaling, or even making a junk journal. What pieces of “everyday life” could tell a bigger story if I just looked closer?
I love female driven shows especially when they are about real people. I feel like we are starting to see an increase in productions like this. Some of the ones in this article such as sideshow are a bit older but others like Suffs are newer. I think the thing that is really impactful about having a story that is based on reality is it makes it “easier” to believe. It would be my hope that people would believe it anyway but it is much more difficult to argue with a story that is based in facts. For example, the show Suffs people that do not understand the suffragettes and their movement or do not want to understand might need more than a fictional story to reach them. They might need harsh real life examples to help them understand. You cannot be like oh that was just a story but that is not actually how it happened. I understand that people still do that but it is more difficult. But either way it is a great way to get the stories of powerful women on stage and honor what they did and who they were.
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