1. Kiss Me, Kate
Let’s start with the most direct connection: more Cole Porter. If you adored the lyrical wit and sophisticated melodies of 'Anything Goes', 'Kiss Me, Kate' is your essential next step. This is Porter at his absolute peak, weaving a story about a theater
company staging a musical version of Shakespeare’s 'The Taming of the Shrew'. The twist? The divorced lead actors, Fred and Lilli, find their fiery off-stage battles bleeding into their on-stage performances. The result is a brilliant show-within-a-show structure packed with classic songs. You get the same clever wordplay and romantic entanglements you loved in 'Anything Goes', but with an added layer of Shakespearean comedy. It’s smart, it’s hilarious, and songs like 'Another Op'nin', Another Show' and the sizzling 'Too Darn Hot' deliver that signature Porter punch.
2. 42nd Street
Was your favorite part of 'Anything Goes' the massive, synchronized tap finale? If so, '42nd Street' is the musical you were born to see. While 'Anything Goes' has an iconic tap number, '42nd Street' is tap dancing. This is the ultimate backstage musical, telling the classic story of a bright-eyed young chorus girl, Peggy Sawyer, who gets her big break when the leading lady is injured. The plot is pure, simple, feel-good fun, but it’s just the vehicle for some of the most spectacular choreography ever put on a stage. Numbers like 'We’re in the Money' and the show-stopping title song feature dozens of dancers tapping in perfect, thunderous unison. It’s a love letter to the hard work and dazzling payoff of classic Broadway, capturing the sheer scale and energy that made the final moments of 'Anything Goes' so thrilling.
3. Crazy for You
If you love the fizzy, romantic-comedy heart of 'Anything Goes', look no further than 'Crazy for You'. Billed as 'The New Gershwin Musical Comedy', it takes a classic boy-meets-girl plot, throws in a case of mistaken identity, and sets it all to some of the greatest songs in American music history. The story follows Bobby Child, a wealthy 1930s playboy who wants to be a dancer but is sent to a dead-end town in Nevada to foreclose on a theater. Naturally, he falls for the owner's daughter and decides to put on a show to save the venue. With unforgettable George and Ira Gershwin tunes like 'I Got Rhythm' and 'Someone to Watch Over Me', the show has the same Depression-era optimism and plucky, can-do spirit. It’s a tidal wave of charm, high-energy dance, and pure, escapist romance.
4. Thoroughly Modern Millie
Transport yourself back to the Roaring Twenties with 'Thoroughly Modern Millie'. Set in 1922, the story follows Millie Dillmount, a young woman who moves to New York City with a 'thoroughly modern' plan: to marry her wealthy boss for money, not love. Of course, her plans go delightfully awry. This show shares the Jazz Age setting and flapper-filled energy that gives 'Anything Goes' its vintage sparkle. More importantly, it’s packed with high-spirited, athletic dance numbers, including some truly impressive tap sequences. The story is a madcap romp full of quirky characters, surprising romance, and a sense of discovering yourself in the big city. It's a joyful valentine to a bygone era of social change and artistic explosion, making it a perfect companion piece.
5. The Drowsy Chaperone
This one is for the true musical theatre lover. 'The Drowsy Chaperone' is a unique and heartfelt parody of the very type of 1920s musical comedy that 'Anything Goes' exemplifies. The show begins with a lonely, modern day theater fan (the 'Man in Chair') who decides to play the cast recording of his favorite fictional 1928 musical, 'The Drowsy Chaperone'. As the record plays, the show magically comes to life in his apartment. What follows is a hilarious send up of all the beloved tropes : a ditzy leading lady , a bumbling best man , gangsters disguised as pastry chefs , and , of course , a perpetually tipsy chaperone . It lovingly pokes fun at the flimsy plots and stock characters of the era while delivering genuinely show stopping numbers , making it a clever , witty , and deeply affectionate homage.
