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Between the 1950s and the 1990s, more than 30 Broadway musicals got their start in Michigan before moving to New York. So, this week, we wrap up our countdown with the Final Five (no, it's not March). Here are the Top 5 Broadway shows (and one honorable mention) that got their start here in Michigan.

For decades, Broadway shows got their start in Detroit, relying on Michigan audiences to help producers gauge the songs that worked, the scenes that didn’t, and whether or not their production would be a success. This week, Encore Michigan starts a countdown of the Top 10 shows that got their out-of-town tryout here in the Mitten before going on to Broadway success. Take a look, and see what shows you recognize. You just might be surprised.

From the stage lights of Adrian’s historic Croswell Opera House to the graceful artistry of Grand Rapids’ CARE Ballet, Michigan is home to organizations that preserve the richness of the past while shaping the future of the performing arts.

Michigan Arts Orgs to Support | October 6, 2025 Two Michigan organizations — Performing Arts Workshops (PAW, Inc.) in Niles and Jackson...

Summer might be over, but Stratford is just heating up. Crisp fall air, turning leaves, and world-class theatre make this the season’s...

Michigan Arts Orgs to Support | Sept 23, 2025 Two community-driven arts organizations — ARS Arts & Culture Center in Benton Harbor and...

Michigan Arts Orgs to Support | Sept 16, 2025 Two Michigan-based arts organizations are bridging creativity and community healing. Lions...

Lydia Hiller & Demetria Thomas in THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR, 2022 Detroit, MI- The Michigan Shakespeare Festival Board of Directors,...

Detroit Opera House interior. Photo from Detroit Historical Museum Another Michigan Arts Org is forced to cancel programming amidst...

Part of what makes The Stratford Festival unique is the full slate of programming they feature each year. Sure, we all know Stratford as...

Plowshares Theatre Company and the Traverse City Dance Project, two incredible arts organizations in Michigan that value artistry,...

Shakespeare In Detroit and C. Glass Dance Co., two important arts organizations to follow. With work ranging from original dance pieces...

The Michigan Shakespeare Festival, a statewide institution with a history of serving Michigan audiences, now in need of support from the...

Videmus & Thumb Kids Theatre This week, we turn our attention to two more Arts Orgs with different missions, but the same unyielding...

Living Arts Detroit and West Michigan Symphony This week, we turn our attention to two more Arts Orgs. creating amazing work in...

The Epic Center is more than a venue, it's the heartbeat of Kalamazoo, MI's arts community. This week we’re trying something a bit...

Michigan is full of amazing performing arts organizations. From theatres to dance companies, opera houses to symphony orchestras – no...

Two cultural gems — Thumbcoast Live Theatres and Peppermint Creek Theatre Company — are showing just how vital live performance is to...

This week, we turn our attention to two more Arts Organizations doing amazing work in Michigan. From plays to musicals and concert...

Let’s face it, this is a moment of uncertainty. New political policies are announced on a weekly, sometimes daily basis, and are often...