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The best gifts for musical theatre fans are the ones they will actually play, sing and read: a cast album of a show they love, a Hal Leonard vocal selections book in their show, or a backstage book that explains how the magic gets made. Below are 18 ideas in four groups (cast recordings, songbooks, Broadway books and stocking stuffers), each with one line on why it lands. We have not listed prices, because they move daily; tap through to see today’s.
Every pick is a real, in-print product we checked against the publisher, label or a library catalogue. If the person you are shopping for already knows every word of Hamilton, skip to the songbooks; if they are brand new to Broadway, start with the cast albums and pair one with our guide to famous musical theatre characters.
Which cast recordings make the best gifts?
A cast album is the classic Broadway present: it is the show the fan saw (or wants to see) in a form they can replay on the drive home. These six cover the big titles fans ask for most.
1. Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
The original Broadway cast recording of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s show: 46 tracks on two CDs from Atlantic Records. Why a fan will love it: Hamilton is sung almost all the way through, so the album is basically the whole show. Pair it with our Hamilton songs explained guide.
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2. Les Misérables (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
The 1987 original Broadway cast on two discs, from “I Dreamed a Dream” to “Bring Him Home”. Why a fan will love it: It is the recording many American fans grew up on, and a natural fit for anyone who has worked through our Les Mis characters guide.
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3. Wicked (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
The 2003 Decca Broadway album with Idina Menzel as Elphaba, Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda and Joel Grey as the Wizard. Why a fan will love it: Whatever they thought of the films, this is where “Defying Gravity” started. Our Wicked songs explained breaks down every number.
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4. The Phantom of the Opera (Original London Cast Recording)
The 1986 London cast starring Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman, in the 2001 remastered two-CD set. Why a fan will love it: Crawford and Brightman created the roles, and two discs means the score in depth, not a highlights reel. See our Phantom songs explained.
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5. SIX: Live on Opening Night (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
Recorded live at the show’s Broadway opening on October 3, 2021, and later Grammy-nominated, according to BroadwayWorld. Why a fan will love it: You can hear the audience lose it, which is exactly the energy of SIX. Meet the queens in our SIX characters explained.
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6. Sweeney Todd (2023 Broadway Cast Recording)
The two-CD recording of the 2023 Broadway revival starring Josh Groban and Annaleigh Ashford, with a 40-page booklet that includes the libretto. Why a fan will love it: A big, lush modern recording of Sondheim’s darkest score, and a good gift for the friend who has every older Sweeney already.
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Which songbooks should you buy for a singer?
For the fan who sings (in a choir, at auditions, or just loudly in the car), a vocal selections book from Hal Leonard turns listening into performing. Vocal selections give the vocal line with piano accompaniment, so a pianist friend can play along.
7. Hamilton Vocal Selections (Hal Leonard)
Seventeen selections from the show in a 200-page book, per Hal Leonard. Why a fan will love it: Rap verses written out bar by bar are a revelation, even for people who know the album by heart.
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8. Wicked Vocal Selections (Hal Leonard)
Thirteen songs with color photos from the production and a note from composer Stephen Schwartz. Why a fan will love it: Every Elphaba and Glinda in training wants “The Wizard and I” and “Popular” on the music stand.
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9. The Phantom of the Opera Vocal Selections (Hal Leonard)
Nine songs in their original keys for voice with piano accompaniment. Why a fan will love it: “Think of Me” and “The Music of the Night” are rites of passage for sopranos and baritones. Pair it with our Phantom fan guide.
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10. The Singer’s Musical Theatre Anthology, Volume 1: Soprano (Book/Online Audio)
Edited by Richard Walters, with songs organized by voice type and online accompaniment audio. Why a fan will love it: One book covers decades of shows, and the recorded accompaniments mean they can practice without a pianist. Mezzo, tenor and baritone/bass editions also exist, so check their voice type first.
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What Broadway books do fans love?
Books are the gift that keeps a fan busy until the next ticket. These four go behind the curtain.
11. Hamilton: The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter
The complete libretto with Miranda’s own footnotes, plus the story of how the show was made (Grand Central Publishing, 2016). Why a fan will love it: The footnotes are full of in-jokes and references they will want to tell you about over dinner. See also our Hamilton characters explained.
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12. Finishing the Hat by Stephen Sondheim
Sondheim’s collected lyrics from 1954 to 1981, “with attendant comments, principles, heresies, grudges, whines and anecdotes,” as the subtitle promises (Knopf, 2010). Why a fan will love it: Sondheim critiquing his own lyrics, and other people’s, is pure joy for anyone who loves words set to music.
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13. Wicked: The Grimmerie by David Cote
David Cote’s illustrated behind-the-scenes companion to the Broadway show, with more than 200 color photographs and the full libretto (Hyperion, 2005). Why a fan will love it: Costume sketches and production history for the fan who still has questions after our Wicked musical vs movie comparison.
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14. Broadway: The American Musical by Laurence Maslon and Michael Kantor (3rd edition)
A 520-page history of the Broadway musical with a foreword by Julie Andrews, updated in a third edition from Applause (2020). Why a fan will love it: It connects the dots from the earliest shows to the modern hits, perfect for the fan who wants the whole family tree.
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What are good stocking stuffers for Broadway fans?
Smaller gifts that fit in a stocking or sit nicely on top of a bigger present. We are not quoting prices here; check the current price on each listing.
15. The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux (Penguin Classics)
The novel behind Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical, in the Penguin Classics paperback. Why a fan will love it: The book’s Erik is stranger and darker than the stage Phantom. Our Phantom musical vs book lists the differences.
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16. Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire
The 1995 novel the musical is based on, in paperback. Why a fan will love it: Fans are always surprised how different (and more political) the novel is. If they want more shows like it, try our musicals like Wicked list.
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17. Audition by Michael Shurtleff
Casting director Michael Shurtleff’s classic paperback on auditioning, with a chapter on musical theatre. Why a fan will love it: The book theatre teachers keep recommending to students before their first real audition.
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18. The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall (25th Anniversary, Blu-ray)
The 2011 25th-anniversary staging starring Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess. Why a fan will love it: A full staged performance to watch at home, and a natural follow-up to our Phantom vs Love Never Dies comparison, since Karimloo and Boggess also starred in Love Never Dies in London.
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How do you pick the right gift for a musical theatre fan?
- Start with their show. A recording or songbook from a show they already love beats a “best of Broadway” sampler.
- Singer or listener? Singers get the most from vocal selections; listeners from cast albums and books.
- Check the format. Some listings are CD, vinyl or digital; make sure the version matches what they use.
- Add a note. Pair a cast album with one of our explainers, like the complete Les Mis fan guide or musicals like SIX, for a ready-made listening night.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good gift for a musical theatre fan?
A cast recording of a show they love is the safest bet. For singers, a Hal Leonard vocal selections book from that show is a step up, and for readers, a backstage book such as Hamilton: The Revolution or Sondheim’s Finishing the Hat.
What cast album should I give someone new to musicals?
Pick a show with big, well-known songs: Hamilton, Wicked, Les Misérables or The Phantom of the Opera are all on this list. SIX: Live on Opening Night is short and high-energy, which makes it an easy first listen.
What is the difference between vocal selections and a full vocal score?
Vocal selections books collect the best-known songs with the vocal line and piano accompaniment. A full vocal score contains the entire show and is mainly used by productions, so vocal selections are the usual gift for an individual singer.
Which Singer’s Musical Theatre Anthology should I buy?
The series is organized by voice type (soprano, mezzo-soprano/belter, tenor and baritone/bass), so choose the book that matches their voice. Volume 1 is the place to start.
What are good stocking stuffers for Broadway fans?
Paperbacks are an easy fit: Gaston Leroux’s The Phantom of the Opera, Gregory Maguire’s Wicked novel, or Michael Shurtleff’s Audition for performers. Check each listing for the current price.
Does Musicals On Line earn money from these links?
Yes. As an Amazon Associate, MOL earns from qualifying purchases made through the Amazon links on this page, at no extra cost to you. It does not change which products we include.
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Sources: Hamilton (album), Wikipedia; Hamilton original Broadway cast recording, Library of Congress; Les Misérables (original Broadway cast recording), Wikipedia; Wicked (musical album), Wikipedia; Wicked 2003 OBC, BroadwayWorld; The Phantom of the Opera (original London cast recording), Wikipedia; SIX: Live on Opening Night CD, BroadwayWorld; Grammy nominations for Best Musical Theater Album, BroadwayWorld; Sweeney Todd 2023 cast recording on CD, BroadwayWorld; Hamilton Vocal Selections, Hal Leonard; Wicked Vocal Selections, Ficks Music; Phantom of the Opera Vocal Selections, Musician’s Friend; Singer’s Musical Theatre Anthology Vol. 1 Soprano, Hal Leonard; Hamilton: The Revolution, Melcher Media; Finishing the Hat, Penguin Random House; Wicked: The Grimmerie, BroadwayWorld; Laurence Maslon on the third edition, BroadwayWorld; The Phantom of the Opera (Penguin Classics), Penguin Random House Canada; Wicked by Gregory Maguire, HarperCollins; Audition by Michael Shurtleff, Penguin Random House; The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall, Wikipedia; Love Never Dies (musical), Wikipedia.
