Genres of music that you'd love to hear more of in musicals.

Someone should write a vaporwave musical.

That could actually be a lot of fun! ^

I'd love to see (hear?) a serialist musical.

"Are there any types of music that you'd love to hear integrated into a Broadway score, whether it hasn't really been done yet or it exists and just isn't done much in the musical theatre world at the moment?"

Pretty music.

Beautiful music.

Melodic music.

Good music.

Since by its very nature, country music is so story driven, I would love to see more of that in musicals.

The genre I'd personally love to hear more of in new musicals is that still often most associated with musical theatre: early-mid 20th Century popular songwriting.

Having said that, I completely respect that what made so many classic Broadway scores so right was that they were composed in the style of their time.
And, by the same token, for current musicals to remain a valid theatrical form their scores generally need to reflect current musical styles.

I'd love to see more musicals where the performers play. Like in Once, where the actors could really improvise and put themselves and what they were feelings as the character into the music. That lends itself to some other genres, including pop and country, but could also work well for hip hop - could you imagine Hamilton if it wasn't as scripted and they had to freestyle differently every night? It might be a mess, but it might also be fantastic.

TonyVincent said: "What parts of Once are improvised?"

They weren't improvised to that extent, but there were subtle changes throughout when the actors played the instruments.

"Dub step"

I kind of wonder if that kind of popular music that's not bubblegum pop and not entirely dance music either could ever work in a musical or if it's too inherently abstract and vague and repetitive. It's not the best storytelling music. Would it always end up being Hit List? Maybe performers that are already more theatrical like Florence Welch or Ellie Goulding or that guy from fun. could make it work.

Country

Bluegrass

Newgrass

Old-fashioned showtunes

When I was in London a few years back I arrived just after the shuttering of THE HARDER THEY COME, a musical adaptation of the Jimmy Cliff-led reggae film. I have never seen a reggae musical but imagine that, if an interesting and entertaining one were possible, that would have been a great candidate. I wonder if anyone saw it (or has seen any other productions of it?)

I also would love more roots/bluegrass/folk music. Genres with rich traditions of narrative music that have been under-utilized in theater.

And, frankly, I think "rock musicals" too often skimp on actual rock arrangements and are often more traditional than not. HEDWIG had an authentic sound, and SPRING AWAKENING has "Totally F**ked" and a few other moments but the majority of Sheik's score is more of a dark, alternative chamber pop. I have sometimes daydreamed of a stage adaptation of Drive-By Truckers' Southern Rock Opera, which I like to think would kick ass and take names in the theater world.