For some people, Halloween conjures up memories of being scared straight, tucked under the covers anxiously watching horror movies. With the ability to include special effects and edit scenes in post-production, film is a great medium for horror. Many Broadway production companies have also made ambitious attempts at scaring audiences.
Here’s a look at some of Broadway’s most iconic spooky musicals, some of which were adapted from popular films. Others inspired films of their own.
1. Sweeney Todd (1979)
Billed as “The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd is a colorful tale of a throat-slitting barber that somehow seamlessly blends murder and cannibalism with elements of horror. The titular barber is out for vengeance on his enemies after being sent to exile in Australia following a wrongful conviction. Upon returning home, he begins murdering his barbershop clients, while his neighbor, Mrs. Lovett, uses their decapitated body parts to make “meat” pies to serve to her customers.
Sondheim created the musical based on the fictional character who appeared in the 19th century Penny Dreadfuls serial and took inspiration from British playwright Christopher Bond’s play of the same name six years prior. It opened at the Gershwin Theatre, with Len Cariou and Angela Lansbury in the lead roles with Harold Prince directing. Sweeney Todd won eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, proving that risky horror productions can be both critical and commercial successes.
Sweeney Todd has since been revived twice on Broadway. In 2007, Johnny Depp portrayed the demon barber in the Tim Burton film.
2. Little Shop of Horrors (1982)
Described as a horror comedy rock musical, Little Shop of Horrors came to Broadway in 2003 with Hunter Foster and Kerry Butler as flower shop co-workers Seymour and Audrey. Following a solar eclipse, Seymour notices a plant resembling a Venus flytrap and discovers that it requires human blood to survive. Alan Menken and Howard Ashman wrote the music and lyrics for the musical, based on a 1960 black comedy film of the same name. It premiered off-off-Broadway in 1982 and has spawned several film and theatrical revivals.
The 2003 Broadway production ran for 372 performances at the Virginia Theatre. It has been playing for the past five years off-Broadway at Westside Theatre.
3. Carrie: The Musical (1988)
Like Little Shop of Horrors, Carrie is a classic horror story that was made for the big screen and was followed by a Broadway musical. However, it was far from a commercial or critical success; rather, it is known as one of the biggest flops in Broadway history, having lasted for just five performances at the Virginia Theatre in 1988. The original story, written by Stephen King, is about a high school girl who uses her newfound telekinetic powers to exact revenge on her tyrannical mother and bullies.
Carrie was made into a successful film in 1976. It made more than $33 million on a $1.8 million budget and earned two Oscar nominations. The 1988 musical, which had an $8 million budget, had various production issues and largely received negative reviews from critics. Linzi Hateley starred as the titular character, while the cast also included Betty Buckley, Paul Gyngell, and Charlotte d’Amboise. Lawrence D. Cohen wrote the book and Michael Gore and Dean Pitchford penned the score.
In part due to the failure of the original Broadway production, Carrie has since gained a cult following. An off-Broadway revival in 2012 garnered a more favorable response from critics, while additional productions were shown in 2015 in Los Angeles and London’s West End.
4. American Psycho (2016)
Bret Easton Ellis’ controversial 1991 novel American Psycho first spawned a film of the same name starring Christian Bale in 2000. The story centers around Patrick Bateman, a Wall Street investment banker and serial killer. Duncan Sheik brought the classic story to Broadway in 2016, but it lasted only 54 performances at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre.
Benjamin Walker played the role of Patrick Bateman, while Helene York, Jennifer Damiano, and Drew Moerlein were also part of the cast. Despite its limited run, American Psycho earned Tony nominations for Best Scenic Design of a Musical and Best Lighting Design of a Musical. It also won three Drama Desk Awards, including Outstanding Sound Design of a Musical. It has since been shown in Sydney in 2019 and Chicago in 2023.
5. Lestat: The Musical (2005)
Another short-lived ambitious adaptation, Lestat: The Musical lasted only 39 performances at the Palace Theater on Broadway in 2006. Directed by Robert Jess Roth with music and lyrics by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, respectively, the musical was inspired by Anne Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles and starred Hugh Panaro as the titular vampire.
Lestat: The Musical received mostly negative reviews, with The New York Post saying that it was “bloody awful” and Ben Brantley of The New York Times calling it “the musical sleeping pill.” It did, however, receive Tony nominations for Best Costume Design of a Musical (Susan Hilferty) and Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical (Carolee Carmello).