Around the World in 80 Musicals: Part V: The Middle East and Africa

Today our world tour continues to the Dark Continent and the desert region, with stops in 7 countries. This week's adventure covers 10 more musicals - some are blockbusters, others critically acclaimed award-winning shows. On this leg of our journey, we'll discover the wonders of genies, pharaohs, dream coats, and the single most influential person in the history of mankind. Rub that magic lamp, and hop aboard your flying carpet - off we go!

The data comes from The Playbill Vault and Internet Broadway Database, and details the original Broadway production. Many of the shows take place in multiple countries, but (for the most part) we include them under their primary setting. In limiting it to 80 shows, obviously some favorites are going to be left out. We'd love to hear from you with your favorites that we missed.

Around the World in 80 Musicals

Stop Five: Africa and the Middle East: 
Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Egypt, Israel, Iraq

AFRICA

NIGERIA

Fela!

1. Fela! - Setting: Lagos, Nigeria (2009, 463 performances, Eugene O'Neill Theatre)

UGANDA

The Book of Mormon

2. The Book of Mormon - Setting: Uganda (2011, 3,280 performances*, Eugene O'Neill Theatre)

KENYA

The Lion King

3. The Lion King - Setting: Kenya (1997, 8,828 performances*, New Amsterdam Theatre)

SOUTH AFRICA

Sarafina!

4. Sarafina! - Setting: Soweto, South Africa, 1976 (1988, 597 performances, Cort Theatre)

THE MIDDLE EAST

EGYPT

Aida

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

5. Aida - Setting: Egypt (2000, 1,852 performances, Palace Theatre)

6. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat - Setting: Egypt (1982, 747 performances, Royale Theatre)

ISRAEL

 

Jesus Christ Superstar

The Band's Visit

7. Jesus Christ Superstar - Setting: Bethany, Jerusalem, Gethsemane, Gologtha (1971, 711 performances, Mark Hellinger Theatre)

8. The Band's Visit - Setting: Bet Hatikva, Israel (2017, 504 performances*, Ethel Barrymore Theatre)

IRAQ

Kismet

Aladdin

9. Kismet - Setting: Baghdad, Iraq (1953, 583 performances, Ziegfeld Theatre)
10. Aladdin - Setting: Iraq, The Arabian Peninsula (2014, 2,033 performances, New Amsterdam Theatre)

* - as of 1/23/19

Visit the rest of this world tour:

Part I - The United Kingdom and Ireland HERE

Part II - France, Spain, Portugal HERE

Part III - The Rest of Europe HERE

Part IV - Asia and Oceania HERE

#1990