During these tough times, it can be nice to have some form of entertainment. Musical theater is a great way to relax and only think about what’s unfolding in front of you. Most musicals have such a powerful storyline that keeps you from thinking about anything but the story.

During the COVID pandemic, many theaters have had to shut down. Performances have recently started back up in certain areas, however, and people who’ve been vaccinated can attend.

If you happen to find yourself able to travel in the next few months, perhaps during winter vacation Feb. 28-March 4 or April vacation April 25-29, consider the following options.

Hamilton tells the story of Alexander Hamilton and things he experienced in the early days of this country: he good and the bad. The show was written by Lin Manuel Miranda, an American actor, singer, composer, playwright, producer and film director.

Miranda also produced alongside Thomas Kail. The show’s choreographer is Andy Blankenbuehle. 

Hamilton is about two hours and forty-five minutes long. The music/lyrics are fast paced in Act 1 but become slower and more mellow as you get into Act 2. The production debuted in January 2015 and remains on Broadway at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on West 46th Street in New York City.

If you aren’t able to see this musical in person, Hamilton currently airs on Disney+.

If you’re looking for something darker, Beetlejuice tells the story of Lydia Deets, a young girl who has just lost her mother and struggles with grief. Her life changes when she meets a recently deceased couple and a “demon with a thing for stripes.”

Written by Eddie Perfect and choreographed by Connor Gallagher, the show is two hours and thirty minutes long. The set design and props are truly a work of art and very detailed.

The show’s first performance was October 24, 2018. The show will return April 8 to the Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway in New York City.

The show Six is a modern retelling of the lives of the six wives of Henry VIII. Presented as a pop concert, the wives take turns singing and telling their stories to see who suffered most at Henry’s hands.

The show was written by Lucy Moss, youngest female director in Broadway history, and Toby Marlow, English writer, composer and actor. Six is produced by Kevin McCollum and choreographed by Carrie-Anne Ingrouille.

The show runs for an hour and twenty minutes with no intermission. The music is relatively fast but easy to keep up with. The actors sing super clearly, despite it being a fast pace show. The show first performed December 18th, 2017.

Six will go on tour starting in 2022 beginning with an engagement at the CIBC Theatre in Chicago March 20. 

If you’re looking for entertainment a little closer to home, check out one of these upcoming shows at Citizens Bank Opera House in Boston:

• Pretty Woman, Jan. 18 – 30
• Wicked, June 8 – July 24