Larger-than-life characters and personas? Check! Many metal performers are well-known for their showmanship and theatricality (such as Ozzy Osbourne’s infamous incident with a live bat). Though admittedly an acquired taste, heavy metal definitely shares many characteristics with musical theatre. Many of these shows embrace the wild side of the genre, and often to acclaim and commercial success, but none of them cross into heavy metal, and I’m honestly surprised. Numerous shows have drawn from the world and history of rock, often through the catalogues of famous bands, such as Green Day ( American Idiot), The Who ( The Who’s Tommy) or the entire 1980’s glam rock scene ( Rock of Ages). That said, there remains one genre largely untouched by Broadway: heavy metal. Whether it’s the diverse hip-hop influences in Hamilton, or the electro-pop opera that was Great Comet, or the musical melting pot of Hadestown, new musical landscapes are constantly being explored. It’s true that musical theatre has never been afraid of trying new things, and this seems to be especially true today.
