6 Books to Read if You’re Excited about the Tony Awards

No theater lover should miss reading the classic that inspired Fiddler on the Roof. It follows the story of Tevye, a Jewish man living in a Russian shtetl with his wife and five daughters and the misfortune that can’t seem to stop following him. While Tevye can never seem to catch a break, especially when it comes to his daughters’ love lives, his comic nature makes sure that his story is always a lively one.

J.M. Barrie’s timeless story of the boy who wouldn’t grow up began as a short story, then a play, then a novel. Since then, it’s become a musical, a movie-musical, and the story of its development for the stage even lead to the movie and musical Finding Neverland. While Peter Pan may have been meant for the stage, the vivid language of the novel will entrance you. From pirates to mermaids, Neverland will suck you in and make you debate why you ever grew up.

Romeo and Juliet is one of the best-known plays in the English language, as well as the inspiration for many more stage and screen adaptations (we’re looking at you, West Side Story). Since we bet you’ve already read the original play, enjoy this choose-your-own version of the tale of two star-crossed lovers, with over 100 endings alternate endings.

Who would have thought that Roald Dahl’s dark children’s book about a literature-loving young girl would have become a smash hit on Broadway? Though Matilda has left the Great White Way, the beloved book that inspired it is always there for readers, the inspirational main character proving that books can give you all kinds of special powers!

While Hamilton might be sold out for years to come, the book behind it is readily available at bookstores everywhere. Lin-Manuel Miranda was on vacation reading Alexander Hamilton when he got the idea for the groundbreaking musical about the founding father. While reading the book might not cause you to write your own syncopated history, it will leave you with fascinating new insight into the man who developed many of the policies still in place in America today.

Leading the pack in Tony nominations for 2017, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 is based on a 70-page portion of War and Peace. Since the thought of reading War and Peace might be overwhelming, the creator of the show, Dave Malloy, was able to put only the parts that made it into the show in this Vintage Short eBook version. The story about young Russian aristocrats trying to live their life in wartime is full of love, heartbreak, and vodka, so make sure you have your troika ready for this wild ride!