If you are a musical theater fan, the Paris Olympics may have you wondering how many musicals feature sports in a leading role. Here is a list of ten.
- Bring It On: The Musical – Before Cheer became a binge-worthy sensation on Netflix, Bring It On: The Musical put competitive cheer in the spotlight on stage. Based on a film of the same name, this 2012 show features music by Tom Kitt and Lin-Manuel Miranda and lyrics by Amanda Green. Licensing for Bring It On is available through Music Theatre International.
- Gotta Dance – Based on the documentary of the same name, Gotta Dance premiered in Chicago in 2015 with an all-star cast, including Andre De Shields, Lillias White, and Stephanie Powers. The show chronicles the story of a senior hip-hop dance team aspiring to become NBA dancers.
- Rocky – Opening to mixed reviews on Broadway, Rocky may not have packed a one-two punch at the box office but did earn a Tony Award for set design. Based on the Academy Award-winning film about an unlikely heavyweight champion, this show is available for licensing from Music Theatre International.
- Golden Boy – Based on a 1937 play about an ambitious prizefighter, this musical opened on Broadway in 1964, starring Sammy Davis, Jr. with Louis Gossett and Baayork Lee in supporting roles. For more resources about Golden Boy, check out the Library of Performing Arts’ Digital Collections.
Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library. “Sammy Davis, Jr. (center) and unidentified actors in the stage production Golden Boy.” The New York Public Library Digital Collections.
5. Damn Yankees – This classic musical hit a home run when it opened on Broadway in 1955. The show earned seven Tony Awards, including Best Choreography for Bob Fosse and Best Actress for Gwen Verdon. Damn Yankees marked the beginning of Fosse and Verdon’s partnership on stage and off. The show is available for licensing from Music Theatre International.
6. Bull Durham – Inspired by the 1988 film, this baseball musical premiered at The Alliance Theatre in 2014. A reworked adaptation will open at Theatre Raleigh this fall starring Nik Walker and Carmen Cusack.
7. Bend It Like Beckham – Inspired by the film of the same name about a young woman who aspires to play professional soccer, this musical premiered in London’s West End in 2015. Perhaps with the popularity of cable shows like Ted Lasso and Welcome to Wrexham, Bend It Like Beckham will have a comeback. Who knows?
8. Different Fields – This opera about a football superstar features music by Mike Reid, a former All-American defensive lineman himself. The show received its premiere in New York City at the New Victory Theatre on Broadway. It is available for licensing from Theatrical Rights Worldwide.
9. All-American – This 1962 football musical was a bonafide flop on Broadway but is said to have inspired Mel Brooks, the show’s book writer, to create The Producers. The New York Public Library of the Performing Arts has resources from the original Broadway production in its digital collections.
10. The Magnificent Seven – The only Olympic musical on the list, this show about the 1996 U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Team premiered at Flint Repertory Theatre in 2023. For more information visit The Magnificent Seven Musical website.
Want to hear more? Check out our StageNotes’ Spotify Playlist featuring songs from some of the musicals on this list.