33 Broadway Tunes to Add Some Pizzazz to Your Next Workout

The lights! The drama! And, of course, the music! There’s nothing quite like a Broadway show—and all of the grandeur and talent that comes with it. As a bona fide theater kid, I grew up watching the Tony Awards and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade each year on TV with unwavering attention; pre-YouTube, these were the moments when people around the country could get a glimpse of what was happening in New York City.

All this to say, it is with great pleasure that I unveil this week’s playlist: The best Broadway show tunes to keep you moving throughout your entire workout. And OK, I already hear you shouting from your balcony seat: You’re not so sure about working out to Broadway show tunes. But before you dip out at intermission, know that a) Broadway-themed workout classes are a thing, and they are very popular, and b) these songs are just as upbeat as any of our other bang-up workout playlists.

Here, you’ll find a hefty dose of modern musicals, several of which have very pop-friendly soundtracks. Things kick off with “Larger Than Life” from & Juliet, and yes, it’s that Backstreet Boys song. You’ll also find sing-along hits from SIX, Hadestown, The Book of Mormon, Hamilton, and a song from the revival of Oklahoma!, featuring Tony Award-winner Ali Stroker.

For those who love the rock era of Broadway, there are tracks from Green Day’s American Idiot, Duncan Sheik’s Spring Awakening, and Jonathan Larson’s Rent. And if all of this is sounding a bit too modern for you, there are also songs from Anything Goes, The Music Man, West Side Story, and Chicago.

So if you’ve got jazz hands, bring ‘em. And press play on this tracklist.