Underrated Musicals for New Year As the calendar turns and a fresh twelve months stretches out before us, there is no better time to refresh your theatrical palette. While blockbuster mainstays like Les Misérables and The Phantom of the Opera often dominate holiday viewing lists, the musical theater and film canon is brimming with overlooked masterpieces. Embracing lesser-known song-and-dance spectacles offers a fantastic way to welcome new beginnings with open arms, fresh perspectives, and toe-tapping energy. Whether you want to escape into a whimsical fantasy, reflect on the passage of time, or simply enjoy some spectacular vocal performances, these hidden gems provide the perfect soundtrack for your New Year celebrations. The Last Five Years
For those who view the new year as a time for romantic reflections and fresh starts, Jason Robert Brown’s The Last Five Years is an absolute must-watch. This intimate, emotionally resonant two-person musical chronicles the five-year relationship between a rising novelist and a struggling actress. What makes this production uniquely captivating is its structural storytelling: the man’s story is told in chronological order, while the woman’s story is told in reverse, meeting only once in the middle at their wedding. The brilliant score blends pop, jazz, and classical elements, delivering profoundly moving ballads that perfectly capture the joy of falling in love and the quiet heartbreak of letting go. It is a stunning exploration of how relationships evolve, making it an excellent catalyst for personal contemplation during the holiday season. Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812
If your New Year’s resolution is to experience something entirely bold and innovative, this electro-pop-opera is exactly what you need. Based on a seventy-page slice of Tolstoy’s War and Peace, this musical completely shatters traditional theatrical conventions. It transports audiences to 19th-century Moscow, immersing them in a visually spectacular, vodka-soaked, and opulent world. The score by Dave Malloy is an intoxicating blend of electronic dance music, folk songs, and classical Russian opera, culminating in a lush and sweeping sonic experience. Following the lives, loves, and existential crises of a vibrant ensemble cast, the production exudes a restless, celebratory energy that feels uniquely aligned with the hopeful anticipation of a New Year’s countdown. The Band’s Visit
Sometimes the most profound new beginnings come from unexpected, quiet encounters rather than grand, sweeping gestures. The Band’s Visit, based on the acclaimed Israeli film, tells the story of an Egyptian police band that gets accidentally stranded in a small, remote Israeli desert town. Over the course of a single evening, the musicians and the local residents bond over shared meals, personal sorrows, and the universal language of music. With a hauntingly beautiful, Middle Eastern-infused jazz score, this musical is a delicate masterclass in empathy and human connection. Its message of finding common ground across cultural divides serves as a beautiful, grounding reminder of the harmony and warmth we can all strive for in the coming year. Donkey Skin
For a dose of pure, unadulterated visual magic, director Jacques Demy’s Donkey Skin is a fairy tale like no other. Starring the magnificent Catherine Deneuve, this enchanting 1970 French musical brings a surreal, dreamlike quality to the screen that is guaranteed to delight viewers of all ages. Bursting with bold, Sirkian colors, enchanted forests, and whimsical costumes, the film follows a princess who disguises herself in a donkey pelt to escape the clutches of a bizarre marriage proposal. Accompanied by the lush, magical compositions of frequent Demy collaborator Michel Legrand, the movie is a vibrant explosion of cinematic joy. Diving into this delightfully bizarre and visually sumptuous world provides the perfect whimsical escape to kick off a vibrant and colorful new calendar year. London Road
For the true crime aficionados who still crave a theatrical experience, London Road is a genuinely groundbreaking and macabre oddity. This highly original British film is adapted from a verbatim stage musical, using the actual, transcribed interviews of residents from Ipswich following a string of real-life murders in 2006. Rather than relying on traditional show tunes, the dialogue from everyday citizens is set to an intoxicating, rhythmic, and poetic score. The resulting production is a startling, intoxicating, and surprisingly uplifting testament to the power of community organization and healing. Watching this brave and unconventional movie will challenge your preconceived notions of what a musical can be, offering a fresh, artistic lens through which to view the resilience of the human spirit.
The dawn of a new year is the ideal moment to branch out and discover the countless theatrical gems that exist just off the beaten path. By moving past the popular giants and exploring these underrated stage and screen productions, audiences can enrich their holiday viewing experiences with diverse stories and innovative melodies. From intimate romantic retrospectives to sweeping Russian epics and colorful fairy tales, these shows remind us of the boundless creativity that musical storytelling has to offer. As you gather your loved ones or settle in for a cozy evening of entertainment, choosing to watch these magnificent, unconventional musicals ensures your new year will begin with artistry, inspiration, and a truly unforgettable soundtrack.
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