Make 'em laugh! A survey of some of Broadway's funniest

With all the storytelling, singing and dancing, and the razzle and dazzle occurring on the theater stage, viewers are certain to be whisked away momentarily from daily routines into the play's fictional worlds. But sometimes the audience needs more cheering up than the usual. In this case, Broadway has a card up its sleeve: a wealth of rib-tickling plays to turn a frown upside down. Here are some of Broadway's funniest productions:  

Image Source: nytimes.com

The Book of Mormon

Written by the irreverent duo behind "South Park" and the man who brought "Avenue Q" to life, this boundary-pushing musical about two rather naïve Mormon missionaries trying to spread the word among Ugandan locals who couldn't be bothered has been eliciting both gasps and guffaws from audiences since 2011.  

Image Source: imgkid.com

Urinetown

A satirical look at bureaucracy, capitalism, and politics, among others, this Tony award-winning musical focuses on a drought-weakened town and its people who have to share public urinals and suffer through absurdly exorbitant fees and strict laws or be sent to a penal colony called "Urinetown."  

Little Shop of Horrors

This comedy-horror musical is based on the 1960 film of the same name. The show launched in 1982 with a script and lyrics by the Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, respectively, who will later be best known for their Disney collaborations. Little Shop of Horrors features a man-eating plant called Audrey II, doo-wop and Motown songs, and some pretty outstanding effects.  

Image Source: broadwayworld.com

Spamalot

Adapted by 1/6 of the (genius) jokers that make up Monty Python, Eric Idle, the play is based on the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Audiences have been flocking to see the indomitable Black Knight, the killer rabbits, and the enthusiastic coconut-shell clopping knights, among others, onstage since 2005.

Apart from the above-mentioned, there are also family-friendly productions like Disney's "Aladdin" and "The Lion King," which may not be straight comedy but have definitely wowed audiences thanks to characters like Timon and Pumbaa and Genie, or the physical comedy-rich "Blue Man Group." In fact, there are probably hundred of hilarious plays and musicals performing on Broadway and beyond today, all geared-up to "make 'em laugh."
  
Josh B. Eaves is a self-described theater geek who has worked as a tech support guy for several productions. Follow this blog for more about the goings-on in the performing arts world.