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Stage Royalty - Kings and Queens of Theatre

Author KevinKevin, September 11th, 2024

Forget the velvet robes, bejeweled crowns, and ancient castles!

Most of today's monarchs on stage are swapping Shakespearean monologues for electric guitars, stunning dance numbers and even a fierce pair of stilettos. Ladies and gentlemen, please bow for the kings and queens of modern theatre!

MJ - King of Pop (MJ: The Musical)

MJ: The Musical takes us back to Jackson's 1992 Dangerous World Tour, and The King of Pop just won't stop (til he gets enough) - hee hee! There's no need for a crown here, with a single sequined glove, a moonwalk that shook time and space itself, and a catalog of hits that'll be played in centuries to come, Jackson still holds the record for the best-selling album of all time with Thriller. Crowns are nice (and shiny), but who needs one when breaking records that big?

Simba - King of Pride Rock (The Lion King)

Simba's journey from cub to king is no walk in the savanna, especially with his scheming Uncle Scar hot on his tail. But by the time Simba stands tall on the peak of Pride Rock, he's earned his royal stripes (and his roar), proving he's every bit the king Mufasa knew he would be. The Lion King and its message of Remember Who You Are has been roaring on Broadway for over two decades, and with a king as mighty as Simba, it's no wonder why. Hakuna Matata!

The Queens of SIX

"Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived!" - and served. The six wives of Henry VIII reclaim their stories and crowns in a pop-fueled spectacle that's as good as any pop party playlist. Bye-bye history books, hello bops!

With each queen channeling her inner diva (think Beyonc, Adele, and Ariana Grande), the SIX queens share the stage for the entire show, turning history's biggest victims into the world's most powerful girl group. Forget how they met their end - now, they're turning Tudor tragedy on its head by trashing Henry's reputation, and don't we love to see it?

Queen Elsa (Frozen)

Who needs a throne when you can make one out of ice? Elsa's reign comes with plenty of emotional baggage, thanks to some chilling childhood trauma. However, by the end of the story, she proves that real power comes from letting love be an open door. Not only is she probably one of the most iconic unofficial Disney princesses to exist, but that magical dress transformation is sorcery at its finest.

King George III (Hamilton)

Completely insane and downright hilarious, King George III steals the show with his delightfully over-the-top number You'll Be Back. While the musical mostly focuses on Alexander Hamilton's rise in the American Revolution, King George pops in occasionally to remind the audience (and the colonies) who's boss - with some of the catchiest tunes of the show.

His Royal Highness may be losing his colony, but he does it with humor. His borderline maniacal attitude toward the revolution shows that even the villains deserve a crown - or at the least a spot in the audience's hearts.

Lola The Drag Queen (Kinky Boots)

With her sky-high heels and a heart of gold, Lola helps factory owner Charlie Price reimagine his struggling shoe business by designing a line of boots for drag queens. But more than that, she teaches Charlie - and the audience - how important it is to embrace who you are on the inside. Lola may not wear a traditional crown, but she shows that we're all queens once we step into the spotlight.

Kinky Boots won the Tony Award for Best Musical, with Cyndi Lauper's infectious score earning her the Tony for Best Original Score - making her the first solo woman to win that award. That's what we call a royal achievement!

Jackie Siegel - (The Queen of Versailles)

Originally a documentary before being adapted into a musical, The Queen of Versailles is the kind of rags-to-riches-to-rags story that would make even the most powerful kings and queens blush. In it, we meet Jackie Siegel, the self-proclaimed "Queen of Versailles," who made headlines with her real-life quest to build the largest house in America. This modern-day queen doesn't rule a kingdom, but her extravagant lifestyle - and the eventual collapse of her family's empire - make for a reign that's equal parts glamorous and tragic. She might not be fighting off invading armies, but the battle to maintain her wealth and status makes for one royal struggle.

Princess Fiona - (Shrek The Musical)

If she's not stealing bird eggs from a nest, kicking ass in a wedding dress, or belting to the high heavens, Fiona is breaking all the rules of royalty. The quirky and headstrong princess doesn't need to wait for a true love kiss, as she's busy saving herself (and Shrek from a life of swamp solitude). She's not your average fairytale royalty, and she accepts herself, flaws and all, which is why she's the all-star of the bunch.

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