As we all kick off a new year, there is a lot to look forward to with Broadway’s spring season on the horizon. If we look to the past, there are tons of musicals that will be celebrating milestone anniversaries in 2026. From Annie Get Your Gun to Spring Awakening, mark these dates down in your calendar to celebrate this year!
Annie Get Your Gun — 80 years (May 16, 1946)
Eight decades ago, the story of Annie Oakley came to the stage by way of an Irving Berlin musical starring Ethel Merman. With music and lyrics by Berlin and book by Dorothy and Herbert Fields, the musical opened at the Imperial Theatre and ran for over 1,100 performances. The score includes Broadway standards like “Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better” and “There’s No Business Like Show Business.” (Note: Annie Get Your Gun opened the year before the inaugural Tony Awards, so it was not eligible.)
The King and I — 75 years (March 29, 1951)
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The King and I is celebrating its 75th anniversary of opening at the St. James Theatre. Based on Margaret Landon’s 1944 novel Anna and the King of Siam (which was based on Anna Leonowens’s memoir), the Tony-winning musical starred Yul Brenner and Gertrude Lawrence and ran for over 1,200 performances. “Something Wonderful” and “Shall We Dance?” are two standouts from the sumptuous score.
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying — 65 years (October 14, 1961)
Sixty-five years ago, the Frank Loesser–scored musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying opened at the 46th Street (now Richard Rodgers) Theatre and ran for 1,417 performances. With a book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock, and Willie Gilbert, based on Shepherd Mead’s 1952 novel, the story follows J. Pierrepont Finch as he makes his way from a window washer to chairman of the board for the World Wide Wicket Company. The musical won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, as well as the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. “Brotherhood of Man,” “I Believe in You,” and “Coffee Break” are a few of the favorite songs from the score.
West Side Story movie musical — 65 years (October 18, 1961)
The Academy Award–winning film adaptation of West Side Story, starring Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, and Rita Moreno, premiered in theatres 65 years ago. Jerome Robbins, the original Broadway production’s director, codirected the film with Robert Wise. Songs like “America,” “Cool,” and “Tonight” come from the score written by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim. The film won 10 Academy Awards, setting the record for the movie musical with the most wins.
Sweet Charity — 60 years (January 29, 1966)
Hey, big spender! Sweet Charity, starring Gwen Verdon, opened at the Palace Theatre 60 years ago. Her husband, the legendary Bob Fosse, directed and choreographed, with the music written by Cy Coleman, the lyrics written by Dorothy Fields, and the book written by Neil Simon. The Tony-nominated musical was based on the 1957 film Nights at Cabiria, and featured songs like “Big Spender,” “Rich Man’s Frug,” and “If My Friends Could See Me Now.” It ran for 608 performances and received a film adaptation in 1969.
Mame — 60 years (May 24, 1966)
Light the candles, get the ice out, and roll up the rug, because Mame celebrates its 60th anniversary this year! Starring Angela Lansbury in the titular role, the Tony-nominated musical is based on Patrick Dennis’s 1955 novel Auntie Mame, which centers on bohemian socialite Mame Dennis and her nephew. With a book by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee and a score by Jerry Herman, Mame ran for 1,508 performances at the Winter Garden Theatre, and includes songs like “Bosom Buddies,” “It’s Today,” and “We Need a Little Christmas.”
Follies — 55 years (April 4, 1971)
Stephen Sondheim’s Follies opened at the Winter Garden Theatre 55 years ago and ran for 522 performances. The book, written by James Goldman, tells the story of former showgirls reuniting at their old theatre before it’s demolished. It won seven of its 11 Tony Award nominations, including for Sondheim’s score, which included songs like “Losing My Mind,” “Broadway Baby,” and “Could I Leave You?”
Jesus Christ Superstar — 55 years (October 12, 1971)
Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar opened 55 years ago at the Mark Hellinger Theatre. The musical, starring Jeff Fenholt, Ben Vereen, and Yvonne Elliman, follows the final days of Jesus before his crucifixion. It ran for 711 performances, and introduced audiences to songs like “Everything’s Alright” and “I Don’t Know How to Love Him.”
Fiddler on the Roof movie musical — 55 years (November 3, 1971)
The 1964 Broadway musical Fiddler on the Roof gained a whole new audience with its Oscar-nominated film adaptation that was released in 1971. Topol earned an Oscar nomination for his performance as Tevye, the story’s protagonist and titular character for the musical’s inspiration, Tevye the Milkman by Sholem Aleichem. The songwriting team Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick are responsible for the musical’s beloved songs, including “If I Were a Rich Man,” “Matchmaker,” and “Sunrise, Sunset.”
Godspell — 50 years (June 22, 1976)
Half a century ago, Godspell, conceived by John-Michael Tebelak, with a score by Stephen Schwartz, opened at the Broadhurst Theatre. The musical, which follows the events in the Gospel of Matthew as a series of parables, had become a big success Off-Broadway, playing over 2,000 performances before transferring to Broadway, where it played 527 performances. Schwartz’s score earned a Tony nomination, and featured songs like “Day by Day,” “All for the Best,” and “Save the People.”
Dreamgirls — 45 years (December 20, 1981)
Forty-five years ago, Dreamgirls arrived at the Imperial Theatre and dazzled audiences with songs like “One Night Only,” “Steppin’ to the Bad Side,” and the show-stopping anthem “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going,” sung by Effie, played by breakout star Jennifer Holliday. Abbott Elementary cast member Sheryl Lee Ralph starred as Deena, and screen star Loretta Devine as Lorrell, telling the story of a young R&B trio ascending into stardom. With music by Henry Krieger and lyrics and book by Tom Eyen, the musical won six of its 13 Tony Award nominations, and ran for 1,521 performances.
Miss Saigon — 35 years (April 11, 1991)
Inspired by the opera Madame Butterfly, Miss Saigon tells the story of a young Vietnamese woman and an American soldier set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War. The Tony-nominated musical played for 4,092 performances at the Broadway Theatre, and starred Willy Falk and Lea Salonga, who made history as the first Asian Tony Award winner.
The Secret Garden — 35 years (April 25, 1991)
Based on the 1911 novel of the same name, The Secret Garden opened at the St. James Theatre and ran for 709 performances. The cast featured Mandy Patinkin, Howard McGillin, Daisy Eagan, Rebecca Luker, and John Cameron Mitchell, with a book and lyrics by Marsha Norman, and music by Lucy Simon. The score included songs like “Lily’s Eyes” and “The Girl I Meant to Be.” Eagan won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, making her the youngest actress to ever win a Tony.
Rent — 30 years (April 29, 1996)
Thirty years ago, a group of young actors burst onto the scene and into the mainstream with Rent. Inspired by the opera La Bohème, Jonathan Larson’s musical set the action in 1990s New York City, specifically in the Alphabet City neighborhood, as a group of friends navigates life as young artists set against the backdrop of the AIDS crisis. Tragically, Larson passed away the day before Rent opened Off-Broadway. The musical became an instant hit, winning both the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and making stars out of its cast, including Anthony Rapp, Adam Pascal, and Idina Menzel. It ran for 5,123 performances, and still continues to inspire with anthems like “Seasons of Love,” “La Vie Bohème,” and “Take Me or Leave Me.” It received a film adaptation in 2005 and a live television event in 2019.
The Producers — 25 years (April 19, 2001)
Adapted from Mel Brooks’s 1967 film, the musical adaptation of The Producers features a score from Brooks and a book by Brooks and Thomas Meehan. Starring Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, the story centers on two theater producers scheming to make money on a Broadway musical that is set to flop. The musical ran for 2,502 performances at the St. James Theatre, and features songs like “Keep It Gay” and “I Wanna Be a Producer.” The Producers won 12 of its 15 Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical, which set the record for the most awards for a single show.
Mamma Mia! — 25 years (October 18, 2001)
Audiences were guaranteed to dance and jive like dancing queens when the ABBA-scored Mamma Mia! opened at the Winter Garden Theatre 25 years ago. The score includes ABBA hits “Dancing Queen,” “Voulez Vous,” and the titular “Mamma Mia,” with the story focusing on a daughter who invites three of her mom’s former lovers to her wedding to find out which one is her dad. With the original Broadway cast featuring Louise Pitre, Judy Kaye, and Karen Mason, the musical ran for 5,758 performances and even transferred to the Broadhurst Theatre in 2013. In 2008, Meryl Streep led an all-star cast in the film adaptation. Mamma Mia! just returned to its original Broadway home for limited-run revival in 2025, where audiences are still having the time of their lives.
The Drowsy Chaperone — 20 years ago (May 1, 2006)
The Drowsy Chaperone opened at the Marquis Theatre 20 years ago with an all-star cast of Tony winners Danny Burstein, Sutton Foster, Beth Leavel, and Kecia Lewis. Its score, written by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison, includes songs like “Show Off,” “I Am Adolpho,” and “As We Stumble Along.” Its book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar tells the story of a musical theater fan known as Man in Chair who shares his favorite musical from 1928 in a send-up to 1920s American musical comedies. It ran for 674 performances and won five of its 13 Tony Award nominations.
Mary Poppins — (November 16, 2006)
Everyone’s favorite practically perfect nanny flew to Broadway 20 years ago. The stage musical adaptation of the Disney hit movie musical Mary Poppins featured songs from the beloved Sherman Brothers’ score, including “Let’s Go Fly a Kite,” “Jolly Holiday,” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.” Starring Ashley Brown as the titular character and Gavin Lee as Bert, the Tony-nominated musical ran for 2,619 performances at the New Amsterdam Theatre.
Spring Awakening — 20 years (December 10, 2006)
Two decades ago, Spring Awakening took Broadway by storm when it opened at the O’Neill Theatre. Starring future household names Jonathan Groff, Lea Michele, and Skylar Astin, the musical adaptation based on Frank Wedekind’s 1891 play ran for 859 performances. The story follows a group of teenagers in 1890s Germany navigating sex, abortion, and more. With music by Duncan Sheik and a book and lyrics by Steven Sater, the Tony-winning musical won eight of its 11 nominations, and features songs “Mama Who Bore Me,” “The B*tch of Living,” and “Totally F*cked.”
The Book of Mormon — 15 years (March 24, 2011)
Fifteen years ago, the team of Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, and Matt Stone brought an unexpected hit to the O’Neill Theatre with their musical The Book of Mormon. With Andrew Rannells and Josh Gad as the leads, the story follows their two Mormon characters on their mission in a Ugandan village. The musical won nine Tony Awards out of 14 nominations, including Best Musical. The score includes songs like “Hello!” and “I Believe.” The musical has racked in over 5,400 performances, and is still running, making it the 10th longest-running Broadway show in history.
Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark — 15 years (June 14, 2011)
There is a lot of lore about the musical adaptation of the famous comic book hero Spider-Man and its Broadway journey. With 182 preview performances, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark holds the record for the longest preview period in history. During this time, there were many struggles, including actors getting injured performing stunts, opening night being repeatedly delayed, and critics seeing an unfinished show that led to negative reviews. Still, once the musical did open at the Foxwoods (now Lyric) Theatre, it ran for 1,066 performances. The cast included Reeve Carney, Jennifer Damiano, and Patrick Page. The score written by U2’s Bono and The Edge featured songs like “Rise Above” and “If the World Should End.”
Bonnie & Clyde — 15 years (December 1, 2011)
Bonnie & Clyde may have only run for 36 performances after it opened at the Schoenfeld Theatre 15 years ago, but it certainly made an impact on plenty of fans. With music by Frank Wildhorn, lyrics by Don Black, and a book by Ivan Menchell, the musical tells the true story of Texas outlaws Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow as they robbed banks during the Depression. Starring Jeremy Jordan and Laura Osnes, the score includes songs like “Raise a Little Hell,” “How ‘Bout a Dance?” and “The World Will Remember Us.” Fans can now enjoy a live capture starring Jordan and Frances Mayli McCann.
Waitress — 10 years (April 24, 2016)
When Waitress opened at the Brooks Atkinson (now Lena Horne) Theatre 10 years ago, the Tony-nominated musical showed audiences what baking can do! Based on the 2007 film, the musical adaptation starring Jessie Mueller became beloved among fans with songs like “Bad Idea” and “She Used to Be Mine.” With a score by Grammy winner Sara Bareilles and a book by Jessie Nelson, the musical ran for 1,537 performances before returning post-COVID shutdown for another Broadway run and a live capture.
Shuffle Along, or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed — 10 years (April 28, 2016)
George C. Wolfe’s Shuffle Along opened at the Music Box Theatre, 95 years after its original source material premiered on Broadway. With a libretto by Wolfe, the story focused on the creation of the 1921 musical of the same name that featured a book by Flournoy Miller and Aubrey Lyles. It made history as the first musical to feature an all-Black cast and creative team. The 2016 musical featured the original 1921 score by Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle, and boasted a cast of all-stars, including Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Billy Porter, Brandon Victor Dixon, Joshua Henry, and Adrienne Warren. Though it only ran for 100 performances and never received a cast album, it gained a legion of devoted fans and was nominated for 10 Tony Awards.
Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 — 10 years (November 14, 2016)
Who knew a 70-page excerpt of War and Peace could make for a compelling musical? David Malloy, that’s who! He wore the hats of librettist, composer, lyricist, and orchestrator, while Rachel Chavkin helped his vision come to life as director of Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812. Ten years ago, it opened at the heavily redesigned and reimagined Imperial Theatre, and featured songs like “Dust and Ashes,” “No One Else,” and “Sonya Alone.” The Tony-nominated musical starred multiplatinum recording artist Josh Groban and future The Gilded Age breakout star Denee Benton in their Broadway debuts as the titular characters. It ran for 336 performances.
Dear Evan Hansen — 10 years (December 4, 2016)
Benj Pasek and Justin Paul’s Dear Evan Hansen made a splash when it opened at the Music Box Theatre a decade ago. Ben Platt earned a Tony Award and shot into stardom for his performance as the titular character, an anxious high school student who finds himself at the center of significant tragedy. The musical won six of the nine Tony Award nominations it received, including Best Musical and Best Original Score, which includes fan favorites like “Waving Through a Window” and “You Will Be Found.” It ran for 1,672 performances and received a film adaptation in 2021.
These 26 Broadway musicals are only the beginning of a long list celebrating milestone anniversaries this year. Make sure to check out the following as well:
70 years:
The Most Happy Fella
55 years:
Ain’t Supposed to Die a Natural Death
Oh! Calcutta!
45 years:
Merrily We Roll Along
40 years:
Rags
35 years:
The Will Rogers Follies
30 years:
Chicago (currently running revival)
Bring in ‘da Noise, Bring in ‘da Funk
25 years:
Urinetown
20 years:
Grey Gardens
Tarzan
15 years:
Catch Me If You Can
Priscilla: Queen of the Desert
Sister Act
10 years:
A Bronx Tale
Bright Star
Motown
Tuck Everlasting
