Broadway theatre

Before they were luminaries of the theatre, they were young guns making their Broadway debuts. Take a look at some of the biggest Broadway stars first appearance in a Playbill, which include little tidbits about their lives before achieving Broadway stardom—the kind of information that they’d never include later in their accomplished careers. Who spent time in the Texas pageant scene? Who was a radio DJ in Canada? Take a look at these Broadway stars’ first Playbill bios to find out.

Idina Menzel made her debut in 1996’s Rent, but before that she was playing the New York City club circuit with her band.

Mary Martin sang on the radio and in nightclubs before making her Broadway debut in 1938’s Leave It To Me.

Barbra Streisand’s first Playbill bio, for her Broadway debut in 1962’s I Can Get It For You Wholesale, featured an interesting origin story.

Robert Goulet made his Broadway debut as Lancelot in 1960’s Camelot, but before that he was a DJ in Can Biography broadway2.