8 Singers You Didn’t Know Who Have Appeared on Stage

Josh Groban, Sara Bareilles and Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco are just a few singers that have recently dabbled in musical theater. Below we look take a stroll down memory lane and look at some of the best-selling music artists that have taken their vocal talent to the Broadway stage over the years.

1. Josh Groban, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812

Where you’ve heard him: Josh Groban has had a 20-year career with nearly 25 million albums sold. Most well-known for “You Raise Me Up,” Groban also sang “Evermore” on the soundtrack for the recent Beauty and the Beast live-action remake.

What the musical is about:Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 is a new electro-pop-operatic retelling of a section of Tolstoy’s War and Peace. Performing at the Imperial Theater, Groban plays the main character Pierre. Buy The Great Comet Tickets now.

 

2. Sara Bareilles, Waitress

Where you’ve heard her: Grammy-winner Sara Bareilles is known for hits “Brave” and “Love Song,” has sold over one million albums, and composed the music and lyrics for the musical Waitress.

What the musical is about: Waitress is about Jenna, a pregnant, unhappily married waitress with big dreams to win a pie-baking contest. Purchase Waitress Musical Tickets for its Kansas City run.

 

3. Brendon Urie, Kinky Boots

Where you’ve heard him: Brendon Urie is the frontman for the rock band Panic! At The Disco, which boasts the hit songs “I Write Sins Not Tragedies,” and “Emperor’s New Clothes.”

What the musical is about: Kinky Boots is a Broadway musical with music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper. Based on the 2005 British film, Kinky Boots was inspired by the true events of a shoemaker who tries to revitalize his shoe business with kinky boots. Buy Kinky Boots Tickets for September 29-October 1 at Starlight Theatre.

 

4. Bette Midler, Hello, Dolly!

Where you’ve heard her: From platinum-selling songs like “Wind Beneath My Wings” and “From a Distance,” to performances in the film Beaches, Hocus Pocus, First Wives Club. Award-winner Bette Midler is currently playing Dolly Gallagher Levi in the Broadway revival of Hello, Dolly!

What the musical is about: New York widow Dolly Levi, socialite-turned matchmaker, schemes to set up Horace Vandergelder and his clerks. Bette Midler will be performing Hello, Dolly! at the Shubert Theatre in New York City. See Bette Midler and buy Hello, Dolly! Tickets now.

 

5. Adam Lambert, Wicked (2004, 2007)

Where you’ve heard him: Adam Lambert was runner-up on the eighth season of American Idol in 2009. If you missed him on AI, you probably have heard him on the radio with hit songs “Whataya Want From Me,” “If I Had You” or “Never Close Our Eyes.”

What the musical is about: Lambert has performed in numerous musicals, most notably in the L.A. Wicked production as an ensemble member and the understudy of Fieryo in the LA production. Wicked is the story of Elphaba, a misunderstood girl with emerald-green skin who grows up to be the Wicked Witch of the West and Galinda, the popular girl who grows up to become Glinda the Good Witch of the South.

What he’s doing now: Currently, Adam Lambert is performing with Queen as their lead singer while on tour. Queen and Adam Lambert will be in Kansas City on July 9.Buy Queen and Adam Lambert Tickets and see them perform at the Sprint Center.

 

6. Joey McIntyre, Wicked (2005)

Where you’ve heard him: “You’ve Got It (The Right Stuff),” “Tonight,” “Hangin’ Tough,” “Step By Step,” and “I’ll Be Loving You (Forever)” are just some of the hits that Joey McIntyre sang during New Kids On the Block’s heyday and recent resurgence.

What the musical is about: McIntyre played the role of Fieryo in the Broadway production of Wicked. Wicked is the story of Elphaba, a misunderstood girl with emerald-green skin who grows up to be the Wicked Witch of the West and Galinda, the popular girl who grows up to become Glinda the Good Witch of the South.

What he’s doing now: Joey McIntyre is currently on tour with The Total Package tour promoting the NKOTB album Thankful. The Total Package tour features NKOTB, Boyz II Men and Paula Abdul and kicks off May 12th. The Total Package Tour will be in Kansas City on June 12. See Joey McIntyre at the Sprint Center and buy New Kids On The Block Tickets now.

 

7. Billie Joe Armstrong, American Idiot

Where you’ve heard him: As Green Day’s lead singer, you may have heard Billie Jo Armstrong on hits “Longview,” “When I Come Around,” and “Holiday.”

What the musical is about: American Idiot is a sung-through stage adaptation of punk rock band Green Day’s rock opera, American Idiot. The musical follows Johnny, the self-proclaimed “Jesus of Suburbia”, and his two buddies, Will and Tunny, as they attempt to break out of their mind-numbing, aimless suburban existence. Vocalist/guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong performed the role of “St. Jimmy” occasionally throughout the run on Broadway.

What he’s doing now: Billie Joe Armstrong is currently on tour with Green Day for the Revolution Radio tour, and will be at Kansas City’s Sprint Center on August 11. Buy Green Day Tickets and see Billie Joe Armstrong live.

 

8. Ariana Grande, 13 (2008)

Where you’ve heard her: You probably know Ariana Grande from hearing music from her catalog of top ten hit songs, including “Problem,” “Side to Side” and “Break Free.”

What the musical is about: In 13, Evan Goldman moves to New York City from a small-town in Indiana and grapples with his parent’s divorce, prepares for his upcoming Bar Mitzvah, and navigates the complex social hierarchy of a new school. 13 is the only Broadway musical with a cast and band entirely made of teenagers.

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