On May 6, the national touring production of “Hamilton” will return to San Diego for an 11-day run that is nearly sold out.
But superfans can enter a weekly lottery for 40 front-row tickets at every performance that will be sold for just $10 (Why $10? Look at whose face adorns the bill).
In August, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical about American founding father Alexander Hamilton will mark its 10th anniversary on Broadway, where tickets to the show are still selling at 98-100% capacity each week. More than 5 million people have seen “Hamilton” live on stage worldwide, and many millions more have watched the streaming live-capture film on Disney+.
The winner of 11 Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, “Hamilton” revolutionized the musical theater art form by infusing the score with hip-hop and jazz music styles, and a highly diverse cast that reflect Hamilton’s own story as a striving immigrant who achieved the American dream.
Inspired by a 2004 biography written by Ron Chernow, the musical follows Hamilton’s life journey. Orphaned and impoverished in St. Croix, he arrived in New York City at age 15 and — through brains and bravado — climbed the ranks of society as a writer, statesman and attorney. He served as George Washington’s secretary in the Revolutionary War and became America’s first treasury secretary. His life was cut short in his mid-40s in a gun duel with longtime political rival Aaron Burr, but his legacy is ed today thanks to the efforts of his widow, Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton.
Back in January when another musical blockbuster, “Wicked,” toured through San Diego, I published my picks for the top 10 “girl songs” in Broadway history — since “Wicked” is jam-packed with great girl songs.
With ‘Wicked’ back in town, we picked the top 10 girl songs of musical theater
But if you’re looking for a contemporary musical that’s overflowing with great songs for men, absolutely nothing beats “Hamilton.” So, in honor of the tour arriving soon at the San Diego Civic Theatre, I am offering my top 10 Broadway men’s songs.
When I picked my favorite girl songs a few months ago, I named the numbers that are so relatable to me as a woman that they make me cry whenever I see them performed live. But in choosing men’s songs, I prefer numbers that inspire me with their emotional rawness, fury, pain and insane vocal demands. Almost all of the Broadway songs I love are what theater composers call “I want” songs, where the character sings about their secret struggles and the things they desire most.
So, in honor of “Hamilton,” here are my 10 favorite Broadway songs for men.
1. “The Room Where it Happens” from “Hamilton”
Why? Every great protagonist deserves a strong antagonist, and in “Hamilton,” that’s Aaron Burr — who gets most of the musical’s best songs. My favorite is this highly athletic number where Burr’s long-simmering jealousy and hatred toward Hamilton explodes after he’s shut out of a private dinner where Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison will decide where the nation’s capital will be established. The bouncy, banjo-infused song flips back and forth between the dinner conversation and the thoughts of the exiled Burr, whose howling rage grows to a climax with the ominous final words “click, boom.”
Who sang it best? Role originator Leslie Odom Jr. won a well-deserved Tony Award for his performance as Burr. Odom’s voice grows from gentle and controlled to ferocious as he furiously dances and leaps around the stage. You can see him perform the song on the live-capture Disney+ film or on Broadway next fall when he’ll reprise his Burr for 12 weeks in honor of the 10th anniversary. Odom’s performance of this song in the Disney+ film is the best individual musical theater song performance I’ve ever seen. Here’s a clip: youtube.com/watch?v=UMD14n4UOVQ.
2. “Being Alive” from “Company”
I’m a sucker for Sondheim, who had a way of impeccably pairing his always-clever lyrics with emotionally evocative music. In the 1970 musical “Company,” commitment-shy Bobby is turning 35 and his friends are urging him to settle down. The longtime bachelor resists, fearing a broken heart but eventually he realizes, in this slow-building, soul-baring song, that love is worth the risk, singing: “Someone to crowd you with love / Someone to force you to care / Someone to make you come through / Who’ll always be there / As frightened as you, of being alive.”
Who sang it best? Raúl Esparza’s Tony-nominated performance as Bobby in the 2006 Broadway revival of “Company” has long been acknowledged as the best-ever Bobby, but also one of the all-time great Broadway performances. Not only did Esparza sing his guts out every night, he also learned to play the piano for director John Doyle’s staging, where all of the actors played their own instruments. Watch it here: youtube.com/watch?v=eBBPKedba5o
3. “Make them Hear You” from “Ragtime”
This is the best song in one of the best musicals ever written about America’s racial divide. Written by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, it’s the story of three broken families — white, Black and Jewish — whose lives intersect in early 20th-century New York City. Coalhouse Walker is a successful Black ragtime pianist whose dreams are crushed when his fiancée Sarah dies trying to defend his honor after a racist attack. After leading an uprising for Black rights, Coalhouse is cornered by police. He decides to go out in a blaze of glory, but first sings this inspiring and operatic call to action to ensure his sacrifice is not forgotten: “Sometimes there are battles / Which are more than black or white / And I could not put down my sword / When justice was my right / Make them hear you / Make them hear you.”
Who sang it best? Brian Stokes Mitchell, who launched his acting career with San Diego Junior Theatre at age 14 and graduated from Patrick Henry High, originated the role of Coalhouse in the 1997 Broadway musical. His vocal performance of this song is robust, heroic and vocally rich, and he can still performs the heck out of it nearly 30 years later. In recent years, nobody has brought more power and feeling to the song than Joshua Henry in last year’s revival production at New York City Center. Here’s a clip: tiktok.com/@nycitycenter/video/7433846435751218474
4. “Stars” from “Les Misérables”
Most people prefer escaped parolee Jean Valjean’s heavenly “Bring Him Home” as the best male song from “Les Misérables.” But I prefer this sung prayer to the heavens by his relentless pursuer, the police inspector Javert. In this brief song by Claude-Michel Schönberg, Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc NatelI, Javert explains his self-appointed life purpose as a crime-avenging angel of God. “Stars” humanizes a character who might otherwise be seen as a one-dimensional villain. It’s a powerhouse song set to gorgeous music with a big, satisfying finish. You can hear it live next fall when the national tour visits San Diego Sept. 16-21.
Who sang it best? “Les Misérables” is my favorite musical, so over the years I’ve searched YouTube for different performances of “Stars” and other songs from the “Les Miz” score. There are plenty of great Javerts, but my favorite is the now-retired Australian baritone Philip Quast, who first played the part in Australia in 1987 and went on to play it in London and in several concert versions and recordings. What I love about his performance is the shuddering awe he experiences as he looks up at the stars, the sense of emotional reserve that suits his character and his powerful final note. Watch it here: youtube.com/watch?v=urxk4mveLCw
5. “Finishing the Hat” from “Sunday in the Park with George”
In Stephen Sondheim’s art-inspired 1984 musical, French pointillist painter Georges Seurat sings about his single-minded focus on art-making to the exclusion of everything and everyone else. The song’s short bursts of vocal sketches mirror the character’s staccato painting style. Musically, the song starts atonally all over the place, but like a pointillist painting, it gradually fills itself into a beautiful rolling melody.
Who sang it best?
With its fast-changing time signatures and off-kilter melodies, this song is treacherous ground for any singer. Role originator Mandy Patinkin was a perfect fit for the part, both in his razor-sharp vocal performance and in his eccentric artistic sensibility. Listen to it here: youtube.com/watch?v=GTSMlVlQ-pQ
6. “One Last Time” from “Hamilton”
“Hamilton” is the only musical that merited two songs on my top 10 men’s song list. And boy is this one well-deserved. America’s first president, George Washington, makes a case for why he won’t serve another term, ensuring that the fledgling United States follows through on its Constitutional promise of electing presidents with finite of service rather than have an enduring king for life. Boy does this song seem relevant today.
Who sang it best? Tony nominee Christopher Jackson originated the role of Washington and still dominates with his powerful, tearful and emotion-packed plea for the need to step down and teach Americans “how to say goodbye.”
7. “Gethsemane” from “Jesus Christ Superstar”
Why? The 1973 film version of this musical starring the dreamy Ted Neeley as Jesus was the first Broadway show adaptation I ever saw in a movie theater. Sure, the musical’s ’70s rock opera style sounds dated today, but it was audacious and thrilling in my pre-teen years. Co-written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, the song depicts Jesus’ final temptation before he surrenders himself to arrest. During the 6-minute number, jesus vocally cycles through states of sadness, fear, emotional exhaustion, bargaining, questioning, anger and resignation. It’s a workout, even for the audience.
Who sang it best? “Gethsemane” is such a vocal cord fryer that composer Andrew Lloyd Webber turned to Deep Purple hard rock tenor Ian Gillan to record the 1970 concept album. Because that album existed for a year before the show opened on Broadway, Gillan’s voice became the public’s favorite Jesus by default. But Neeley remains my favorite. Watch at: youtube.com/watch?v=VyKDoivRdIo
8. “The Impossible Dream” from “Man of La Mancha”
This beautiful ballad by Mitch Leigh and Joe Darion from this 1965 musical is the ultimate “I want” Broadway song. In the musical’s book, Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes entertains his fellow prison inmates with his tale of Don Quixote, an elderly and confused but optimistic man who imagines himself a knight on a quest to battle giants and protect fair maidens. The song is about the dream of hope, heroism and finding beauty in utter darkness.
Who sang it best?
Richard Kiley originated the role on Broadway and sang it with a true sense of weariness and conviction. But nobody beats San Diego’s own Brian Stokes Mitchell, whose performance in the 2003 production was perfect in every way. Watch at: youtube.com/watch?v=zbgTUwUP-ew
9. “One Song Glory” from “Rent”
This song always gives me chills for the autographical nature of its lyrics. Jonathan Larson adapted Puccini’s tragic opera “La bohème” into a 1996 musical about HIV-positive artists in AIDS-plagued New York. This song, performed by struggling musician Roger, is about his hope to write one great song before he dies of AIDS. “One song / To redeem this empty life / Time flies / And then, no need to endure anymore / Time dies.” Larson based the musical on his own days as a starving artist, but he believed “Rent” was going to be his breakthrough. Unfortunately, he suffered a fatal heart injury the night before the show’s first off Broadway preview performance. He was 35 years old. Larson’s “Rent” was posthumously awarded Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Book and Best Score, as well as the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
Who sang it best? Adam Pascal originated the role of Roger on Broadway and reprised the role in the 2005 film adaptation. His gravelly-voiced, angst-fueled performance has stood the test of time, even if the musical has gotten a little rusty. Listen at: youtube.com/watch?v=oWtPKHn-Qy4
10. “Soliloquy” from “Carousel”
There are lots of great men’s songs from Rodgers & Hammerstein musicals, including “Some Enchanted Evening” from “South Pacific” and “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’” from “Oklahoma!” But this song from the edgy 1945 musical “Carousel” is my favorite. In this 7-minute solo, troubled carnival barker Billy Bigelow discovers he’s going to become a father and knows he must make more money for his wife and future child. The song takes Billy on a journey through the joy of discovery, the proud hope for a son or the paternal protectiveness he’d feel for a daughter, and finally his mission to provide for his family, no matter what the consequences.
Who sang it best? John Raitt originated the role on Broadway and finished the song on a rarely performed high note. Gordon MacCrea, who played Billy in the 1956 film adaptation, brought an even bigger voice and brawny masculinity to the role. But Joshua Henry’s more modern vocal interpretation of the role in a 2018 Broadway revival offered beauty, nuance and contemporary resonance. Watch here: youtube.com/watch?v=i3cmZxPfk6o
What are your favorites?
What did we miss in our roundup of the best Broadway songs for male singers? Email me at [email protected].
‘Hamilton’
When: Opens Tuesday, May 6, and runs through May 18. 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays; 7:30 p.m. Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 1 and 7 p.m. Sundays
Where: San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., downtown
Tickets: $82 and up (limited availability)
Ham4Ham Lottery details: Sign up for the Hamilton $10 lottery tickets by ing the official Hamilton app, ing and entering. The drawing will be for 40 front-row seats at each performance. The lottery closes at noon each Thursday for tickets to the following week’s performances
Online: broadwaysd.com/-events/hamilton-2025
