The holidays really are the most wonderful time of the year. The lights, the songs, the spirit, the general excuse to eat pie – it’s a magical time. For those of us who aren’t the best at coming up with great gifts, though, the weeks after Thanksgiving can turn into a stressful mess as we struggle to find something really meaningful to show our loved ones how much we care.
StageBuddy is here to help! We’ve scoured the web to find you the best gifts the theater world has to offer. With this guide, you’ll find the perfect gift for your favorite theater nerds.
CAST RECORDINGS:If you can’t take them to the theater, cast recordings are the best way to bring the show to them! We’ve sifted through the many recordings out there to bring you a collection that will appeal to theater fans of all ages and interests. These albums are some of our favorites, and we’re sure the musical theater enthusiasts in your life will love them, too.
The cutest romance to ever hit Broadway, this revival of the classic show She Loves Me takes a You’ve Got Mail-style approach to love. With its endless wit and the timeless endearment of its love story, it’s sure to charm the socks off any rom-com lover or romantic heart. (Our review.)
You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown
For budding theater enthusiasts, it doesn’t get better than this cast recording of the York Theatre’s You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown! Featuring the voices of Broadway’s youngest vets, this charming album is sure to win over any young theater fan - and pull at the heart strings of their parents!
Know a theater fan whose interest extends to film too? This cast recording of Cagney might just be for them! This hit musical recounts the life of James Cagney, from his scrappy beginnings as an Irish kid living in New York to his success as a beloved actor, whose enduring place in Hollywood as a legendary classic. (Read our interview with star Robert Creighton.)
Combining the charm of a John Hughes movie with the plot of Shakespeare’s As You Like It and set in a mall, this award-winning musical will appeal to fans of the 1980s and 1580s alike.
In a hilarious twist on the disaster movies of the '70s, Disaster takes its audience on the wildest cruise of their lives with this outrageous comedy. With a star-studded cast, this album is the perfect gift of wild humor and off-beat twists. (Read our interview with star Jennifer Simard.)
BOOKS:There’s always more to a show than the performance itself. These books will take theater lovers behind the scenes, and introduce them to a whole new world of theater they’ve never seen before.
The best gift theater gift this holiday season is a ticket to Hamilton. Of course, there are none to be had, but Lin-Manuel Miranda’s book is the next best thing. With insightful chapters about the cast and creative process by Jeremy McCarter, accompanied by Lin’s annotations of the musical’s songs and truly beautiful production photos, it’s an excellent look at the making of the instant Broadway classic. It’s also the perfect way to alleviate the pain of losing the Hamilton ticket lottery every day.
Showstoppers!: The Surprising Backstage Stories of Broadway’s Most Remarkable Songs
All the best shows stop at some point, when a song so astounding that it instantly captures audiences hits the stage. Gerald Nachman’s book follows the history of the songs that make Broadway great. With insights from the creative teams that brought those show-stopping moments to the stage and the performers that made them happen, this book will appeal to analytical minds who love to understand the creative forces behind Broadway’s best moments.
The Secret Life of the American Musical: How Broadway Shows Are Built
Always wondered how Broadway shows get to the stage? Jack Viertel is here to help with his celebration of the musical as the classic American art form. Cleverly structured like a musical itself, the book will take your fellow theater fans beyond backstage to show them the history of the musical from Oklahoma! to Hamilton, guiding them through the structure of a musical and the structure of the theatrical world that creates them.
Show and Tell: The New Book of Broadway Anecdotes
With this big book of Broadway did-you-knows, Ken Bloom takes us through the funniest, most outrageous, and surprising must-know stories from backstage. Here to satisfy the gossip in us all, this book invites us to join in on the backstage fun. It’s sure to delight any Broadway fan dying to know what happens behind the scenes.
The Untold Stories of Broadway
In this look at the best moments of theater history, Jennifer Tepper promises to change the way you look at Broadway. The Untold Stories of Broadway's insights into Broadway’s historic moments, coupled with anecdotes from the lives of stars, will certainly please the history aficionado who wants to learn more about the behind-the-scenes of their favorite industry. Plus, the Drama Book Shop has planned a discussion and signing event with Tepper on December 1 that will take your gift to the next level!
MEMORABILIA:Sometimes, a theater lover just wants to strut their stuff. Wearing your love for theater on your sleeve and turning your theatrical passions into action is never easier than with these classic Broadway trinkets.
As any theater lover knows, the Playbill is the most important memorabilia you get at the show – especially if you hang out by the stage door to collect autographs. This official playbill binder gives your favorite fans a safe place to store their programs, and the treasured memories that go along with them.
The lovely minimalist design of Hamilton’s famous quote is an incredible accessory to complete any show-bound outfit. Plus, it might get you some good karma for the aforementioned lottery.
This cute Broadway souvenir mug is the gift that keeps on giving, as Broadway Cares is theater’s biggest charity effort to help men, women, and children living with AIDS. Show your charitably minded theater friends that you care with a gift for them, and a gift for the community.
Any Broadway-bound superstars in your life? This adorable tote is the perfect way to show your support!
Bring the whole family in on the theater fun this holiday season with this make-it-as-a-star Broadway-themed board game! It’s a fun romp into the Broadway world with enough trivia and challenges to keep the family in stitches throughout the holiday season.
