From the Stage to the Page: 9 Books That Fill The Broadway-Sized Hole in Our Hearts

To add perspective and layers to a well-known story, I urge you to read MARY POPPINS, SHE WROTE. Revealing the behind-the-scenes story of Mary Poppins creator, Pamela Lyndon Travers, the book surprised me both in its measures of the relationship between a writer and her craft, and the world in which Travers was immersed. She butted heads with Walt Disney over the Disney film’s choices for adapting her character to screen; she knew W.B. Yeats and T.S. Eliot; she followed the practices of a famous guru. There are memorable stories of Travers’ childhood, moments where she pretended to be a hen for hours, sometimes having to be pulled away from her “nest.” There is the constant accumulation of ideas and daydreams, situations and desires that help readers see where the character of Mary Poppins was born. The story leaves you with the sense of double life: one of creator and one of a character that has taken on a life of its own. 

It’s impossible to write this without the title song immediately jumping into my head, which is always a welcome burst of energy. I don’t know that I’ve ever listened to a more upbeat musical soundtrack with such serious topics, and that’s a testament to the hope and connection that the story ultimately inspires. The book is just as engaging, complex, and impactful, which is unsurprising as it’s written by the show’s creators. High school senior Evan Hansen tells one lie about knowing Conor Murphy, motivated by a letter to Evan found in Conor’s pocket the day he dies; as the lie grows, Evan is accepted by Conor’s family and feels he can’t possibly take it back—especially when he realizes that what he’s unintentionally begun is bigger than himself. This is a great read when looking to feel close to a community and reflect on what our actions mean to others. 

THE COLOR PURPLE is still on my list of top three Broadway shows, and the book has a prominent spot on my shelf. Alice Walker gives voice to characters whose stories need to be heard, touching on topics that are often buried or ignored. The book’s letter format and the two-decade span give readers time and reflective insight into the lives of a strong group of women as they reveal, examine, explore, and search for meaning. THE COLOR PURPLE more than deserves its Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award, and I hope continues to be read for years to come. 

Broadway often feels as if it has its own language, community, and culture. RAZZLE DAZZLE gives the rest of us a glimpse at what goes on behind the curtain, beginning in the mid-1970s with the decline of the Shubert Organization and its confident rescue by two board members, Bernard Jacobs and Jerry Schoenfeld. Suddenly a struggling theater company was entertaining thousands as it climbed back to the top, granting the Times Square scene another chance at mesmerizing audiences—and generating drama and rivalries backstage in a competitive scene full of talented, strong-willed people. The conversational tone of the first chapter drags you into a world of “angel[s],” or “backers of Broadway shows,” and I found myself hanging on every word

I read this in the middle of March at the recommendation of my roommate; with the promise of an impromptu apartment-wide book club, I dug in and finished in two days. Christopher is the kind of narrator whose voice stays with you, who you feel like you know on a personal level by the end of the first chapter. His reaction to the events around him—the discovery of the neighbor’s dead dog, and his vow to solver the murder—is both unique and relatable, speaking with a directness and honesty that drives the story. At fifteen, Christopher provides an interesting lens for strange and unpredictable events; if I had the option, I would gladly read ten more novels about his life, and was thrilled to learn the book was also adapted into a play. 

Like many of the young musical theater-obsessed, WICKED may have captured the most hours of my devotion, despite the fact that it took me years to actually see the show.  The book is one of many treasured tales from Gregory Maguire, spins on popular stories that offer new perspectives and insights. There’s something so nostalgic about the land of Oz, and Wicked invigorates and reimagines the world and its characters, giving us a full picture of this unique society with very relatable troubles. It will definitely leave you looking at your surroundings and the people you know from different angles, wondering what lies beneath.  

When TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD hit Broadway at the end of 2018, it felt like the buzz spread quickly and unanimously, likely a tribute to the book’s reach and status as a classic literary work. I still remember reading it in high school English, along with many other students in the country, I’m sure. Scout was always the star of the show for me, with her curiosity and spunk. Now feels like the time to reread books first discovered in childhood, or dive into one you’ve always meant to read but somehow haven’t. Atmospheric and thought-provoking, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is a worthy place to spend your reading time. 

It’s hard to talk about the theater scene without mentioning Hamilton, which has taken the world by storm, bringing new life to the history of Alexander Hamilton. A complex man with a controversial story, Ron Chernow’s biography reveals Hamilton’s early days as an orphan, educating himself, up to a suspicious death amidst a duel with Aaron Burr. In between, we learn about his political career, coauthoring The Federalist Papers and earning a spot as the US’s first Treasury Secretary, as well as his relationship with his wife, Eliza, and other friends and prominent figures. With this book and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton soundtrack, you’re all set. 

There is as much history in the story itself as there are ways in which nearly two centuries worth of readers have arrived at this book; I remember touring an Estonian museum and learning that many refugees during World War II had clung to tattered copies and shared quotes from LES MISERABLES. The story of ex-convict Jean Valjean and the music from the Broadway musical is familiar to many, but reading the written text brings an entirely different experience where readers get to visualize the scenes and attach emotion. The power of conviction and the timeless discussions of poverty, war, and inner turmoil lodge themselves in Hugo’s prose, as we get a deeper look at many of the characters and their motivations.