5 Musicals I Would Love to See Revived on Broadway and Who Should Star in Them

State Fair at The REV Theatre Company (Photo Credit: Ron Heerkens, Jr., Goat Factory Media Entertainment, LLC.)

by Chris Peterson

There are some musicals where I completely understand why they haven’t been revived in a while. The book doesn’t work anymore, or there just isn’t much of an argument for dragging the thing back onto Broadway.

Then there are shows where I’m sitting here wondering exactly what we’re waiting for.

So here are five musicals I would love to see get another Broadway production sometime soon. And since I’m already spending imaginary producers’ money, I’m going to cast them too.

1. State Fair

I have a huge soft spot for State Fair. Maybe that immediately ages me. I don’t care.

There is something about this score that I find ridiculously charming. “It Might as Well Be Spring” is one of the great Rodgers and Hammerstein songs. “It’s a Grand Night for Singing” is glorious.

The Broadway version opened in 1996, and I think enough time has passed. Given that this is the only Rodgers and Hammerstein musical that has not gotten a major revival and that The Sound of Music is coming back this year, the timing feels a bit right.

Now, would I want somebody to completely reinvent State Fair and turn it into some dark examination of midwestern America? God, no. Please leave something alone.

Give me dancing. Give me romance. Let the thing be sincere without becoming corny.

And while we’re at it, give me Joy Woods as Margy opposite Derek Klena as Pat.

2. The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas

Ever since Dolly Parton passed last week, I’ve been thinking about The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.

And yes, I know Dolly wasn’t in the original Broadway production. Carlin Glynn was Miss Mona. But for a lot of us, Dolly and this show are permanently connected because of the 1982 movie. I can't hear the title without seeing her.

So why the hell has this never gotten a major Broadway revival?

This could be so much fun. Big personalities, country music, a little raunchiness, and a story that Broadway could absolutely sink its teeth into again. I also wouldn't want them to clean it up too much. Part of the appeal is that it should feel a little rowdy.

For Miss Mona, give me Jennifer Nettles. She has the voice, the humor, and enough country credibility that she wouldn't feel like she's playing dress-up. And opposite her, I'd love someone like Will Swenson as Sheriff Ed.

And then for Melvin P. Thorpe, I keep thinking Alex Brightman. Just let him loose.

And please, please give this thing a great choreographer and a huge ensemble.

The original production had Tommy Tune involved. You can't bring Whorehouse back and have the dancing feel like an afterthought.

This one should be loud, sexy, funny, and just a little bit ridiculous. I think Dolly would probably approve.

3. Barnum

I don't understand why Barnum hasn't come back to Broadway. This feels like one of those shows just sitting there waiting for the right person.

And right now, I think that person could be Jonathan Groff.

P.T. Barnum needs somebody with ridiculous amounts of charisma because the entire show basically depends on you wanting to follow this guy wherever he goes. Groff can obviously do that.

Also, I just want to hear Jonathan Groff sing “The Colors of My Life.” For Charity, I'd love Laura Benanti.

More than anything, though, I want the spectacle back.

Circus performers. Acrobatics. Huge musical numbers. Stuff is happening everywhere you look. I don't need some stripped-down production with three chairs and a trapeze hanging in the background. Give me the circus.

4. The Secret Garden

We've been hearing about a Broadway revival of The Secret Garden forever. A reimagined production finally made it to the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles in 2023, with hopes of eventually coming to New York, but those hopes fizzled.

And yet, here we are. It's time.

The Secret Garden has one of those scores that musical theatre people absolutely adore, while somehow the show itself hasn't been on Broadway since the original production closed in 1993. “Lily's Eyes,” “How Could I Ever Know,” “Hold On,” “Come to My Garden.” There is so much beautiful music sitting there waiting to be heard by a Broadway audience again.

For Archibald Craven, give me Josh Groban. I know that's probably an obvious choice, but I don't care. Groban singing “Lily's Eyes” and “How Could I Ever Know” is enough to sell me a ticket.

I'd love Phillipa Soo as Lily, with Ramin Karimloo as Dr. Neville Craven, and I'd put Jordan Fisher in as Dickon.

As for Mary and Colin, find us two incredible young actors we don't know yet. That's part of the fun. Let this revival introduce us to somebody new.

And please don't make the garden some giant LED screen. I want an actual garden.

We've waited long enough for this one.

5. Mame

Another one where I keep asking the same question: how has this not happened yet?

A Mame revival has been rumored in one form or another for years. And I get why producers might be nervous. This show lives and dies with whoever is playing Mame Dennis. You can't just cast somebody who sings the score well. She has to walk onstage and immediately become the most interesting person in the room.

So give me someone likr Sutton Foster or Jessica Vosk.

I want the costumes. I want the staircase. I want a massive “Mame” production number that feels like Broadway decided to spend some money again.

And then put Jennifer Simard opposite her as Vera Charles, because that could be absolutely insane.

Mame should be big. Big sets. Big clothes. Big personalities. A real orchestra. People dancing all over the stage.

Maybe that’s really what I want out of all five of these revivals. I don’t need Broadway to reinvent every old musical until it barely resembles what people loved about it in the first place.

Sometimes I just want a great score and a ridiculous amount of talent. There are plenty of musicals sitting in the vault that still have life in them. Somebody just has to be willing to open the door.