History StarMakingRole / Theatre

* Ray Bolger, the future [[Film/TheWizardOfOz Scarecrow]], in ''On Your Toes''.

* Shirley Booth in ''Come Back, Little Sheba''. She went on from this success to take a secondary character from ''Literature/ATreeGrowsInBrooklyn'' and make a star turn out of it in TheMusical version.

* Creator/MichaelCrawford, Music/SarahBrightman, and to a lesser extent Steve Barton, Rosemary Ashe (London Carlotta) and Judy Kaye (New York Carlotta) in Andrew Lloyd Webber's ''Theatre/ThePhantomOfTheOpera'' - though all of them had been involved in well known productions, Crawford and Kaye having gained significant Acclaim in previous shows ''Barnum'' and ''On The Twentieth Century'' respectively, and Brightman attracting attention for her commercially successful recording of ''Pie Jesu'' from Webber's ''Requiem''. The Subsequent West End and Broadway Productions of the Mega-Hit ''Phantom'' gained them all International Recognition.

* Marissa Jaret Winokur in ''Film/{{Hairspray}}''. It was also a major push for Matthew Morrison and Kerry Butler.
* Jonathan Groff, Lea Michele, John Gallagher Jr. and Skylar Astin in ''Theatre/SpringAwakening''. Michele would become a household name with her other SMR on ''Series/{{Glee}}'', as would Groff to a lesser extent (he also had ''WesternAnimation/{{Frozen|2013}}'' to help).

* Dan Fogler, Celia Keenan-Bolger and Jesse Tyler Ferguson in ''Theatre/TheTwentyFifthAnnualPutnamCountySpellingBee''. Ferguson later found success on screen thanks to the sitcom ''Series/ModernFamily''.

* Laura Bell Bundy in ''Theatre/LegallyBlonde: The Musical''.

* Michael Cerveris and Paul Kandel in the Broadway musical version of ''Music/{{Tommy}}'', though the latter may have been helped by [[WesternAnimation/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame a certain Disney movie that came out just three years after that musical ended.]]

* In addition to Creator/LinManuelMiranda, this also applies in varying degrees to every other principle actor in Theatre/{{Hamilton}}'s original Broadway cast, except for Creator/JonathanGroff who was already well known both on Broadway and in other formats. The biggest examples would be Creator/LeslieOdomJr and Creator/DaveedDiggs who found the most success outside of the stage.
* Howard [=McGillin=]'s first Broadway role as VillainProtagonist John Jasper in {{Theatre/Drood}} got him a Tony nomination and helped jumpstart a long and successful career.

** Creator/GeneKelly in ''Theatre/PalJoey''. Kelly was signed by MGM, but Creator/ColumbiaPictures obtained the show's film rights.

* Estelle Getty's performance in ''Theater/TorchSongTrilogy'' was noted by the producers of ''Series/TheGoldenGirls'', who went to see the production upon Rue Mclanahan's suggestion.

* Creator/PiaDouwes fame and notoriety sky rocketed, especially in Europe and Asia, after her performance as the titular character in the international smash hit ''Theatre/{{Elisabeth}}'', as well as Creator/UweKruger own stardom growing larger as the leading man Der Tod/Death, roles they have both returned to on multiple occasions.

* In addition to Creator/LinManuelMiranda, this also applies in varying degrees to every other principle actor in Theatre/{{Hamilton}}'s original Broadway cast, except for Jonathon Groff who was already well known both on Broadway and in other formats. The biggest examples would be Leslie Odom Jr. and Daveed Diggs who found the most success outside of the stage.

* Dan Fogler, Celia Keenan-Bolger and Jesse Tyler Ferguson in ''Theatre/TheTwentyFifthAnnualPutnamCountySpellingBee''. Ferguson later found success on screen thanks to the sitcom ''Theater/ModernFamily''.

* Ethan Slater's Broadway debut originating the title role in Theatre/TheSpongebobMusical.
* In addition to Creator/LinManuelMiranda, this also applies in varying degrees to every other principle actor in Theatre/{{Hamilton}}'s original Broadway cast, except for Creator/JonathonGroff who was already well known both on Broadway and in other formats. The biggest examples would be Leslie Odom Jr. and Daveed Diggs who found the most success outside of the stage.

* Despite having several leads in various Broadway shows, Laura Benanti's Tony Award winning role as Louise in the 2008 revival of ''Theatre/{{Gypsy}}'' made her a Broadway star.

* Jonathan Groff, Lea Michele, John Gallagher Jr. and Skylar Astin in ''Theatre/SpringAwakening''. Michele would become a household name with her other SMR on ''Series/{{Glee}}'', as would Groff to a lesser extent (he also had ''Disney/{{Frozen}}'' to help).

* Creator/KristinChenoweth and Creator/IdinaMenzel were already well-known Theater actresses but ''Theatre/{{Wicked}}'' truly made them '''stars''', although ''Disney/{{Frozen}}'' benefited Menzel to another level. Chenoweth's best known screen role is probably on ''Series/PushingDaisies''.

* Santino Fontana in ''Theatre/RodgersAndHammersteinsCinderella'', boosted by his performance in ''Disney/{{Frozen}}''.

* Michael Cerveris and Paul Kandel in the Broadway musical version of ''Music/{{Tommy}}'', though the latter may have been helped by [[Disney/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame a certain Disney movie that came out just three years after that musical ended.]]

* Creator/LinManuelMiranda had already become established in theatre circles thanks to ''Theatre/InTheHeights'', but nobody could guess the truly phenomenal success of ''Theatre/{{Hamilton}}'' which not only became the biggest musical hit in pop culture in decades, which made Lin one of the hottest tickets in show biz and global celebrity - Disney quickly poached him up where his many talents are put to good use - he co-wrote the songs for ''Disney/{{Moana}}'', landed the male lead of Jack the Lamplighter in ''Film/MaryPoppinsReturns'', and a recurring role in ''[[WesternAnimation/DuckTales2017 Duck Tales]]'' as Fenton Crackshell-Cabera / Gizmoduck!

* Santino Fontana in ''Rodgers and Hammersteins {{Film/Cinderella}}'', boosted by his performance in ''Disney/{{Frozen}}''.

* Chip Zien in the original Broadway run of ''Theatre/{{Falsettos}}'', with ''Theatre/IntoTheWoods'' also helping boost his career several years later.

* Denée Benton as Natasha in the 2017 Broadway production of ''Theatre/NatashaPierreandtheGreatCometof1812'', along with Josh Groban in his Broadway debut (though he is already a celebrity in his own right as a singer).

* Creator/MichaelCrawford, Music/SarahBrightman, and to a lesser extent Steve Burton, Rosemary Ashe (London Carlotta) and Judy Kaye (New York Carlotta) in Andrew Lloyd Webber's ''Theatre/ThePhantomOfTheOpera'' - though all of them had been involved in well known productions, Crawford and Kaye having gained significant Acclaim in previous shows ''Barnum'' and ''On The Twentieth Century'' respectively, and Brightman attracting attention for her commercially successful recording of ''Pie Jesu'' from Webber's ''Requiem''. The Subsequent West End and Broadway Productions of the Mega-Hit ''Phantom'' gained them all International Recognition.

* Michael Crawford, Sarah Brightman, and to a lesser extent Steve Burton, Rosemary Ashe (London Carlotta) and Judy Kaye (New York Carlotta) in Andrew Lloyd Webber's ''Theatre/ThePhantomOfTheOpera'' - though all of them had been involved in well known productions, Crawford and Kaye having gained significant Acclaim in previous shows ''Barnum'' and ''On The Twentieth Century'' respectively, and Brightman attracting attention for her commercially successful recording of ''Pie Jesu'' from Webber's ''Requiem''. The Subsequent West End and Broadway Productions of the Mega-Hit ''Phantom'' gained them all International Recognition.

* Michael Crawford, Sarah Brightman, and to a lesser extent Steve Burton, Rosemary Ashe (London Carlotta) and Judy Kaye (New York Carlotta) in Andrew Lloyd Webber's ''Theater/PhantomOfTheOpera'' - though all of them had been involved in well known productions, Crawford and Kaye having gained significant Acclaim in previous shows ''Barnum'' and ''On The Twentieth Century'' respectively, and Brightman attracting attention for her commercially successful recording of ''Pie Jesu'' from Webber's ''Requiem''. The Subsequent West End and Broadway Productions of the Mega-Hit ''Phantom'' gained them all International Recognition.

* Creator/LinManuelMiranda had already become established in theatre circles thanks to ''Theatre/InTheHeights'', but nobody could guess the truly phenomenal success of ''Theatre/Hamilton'' which not only became the biggest musical hit in pop culture in decades, which made Lin one of the hottest tickets in show biz and global celebrity - Disney quickly poached him up where his many talents are put to good use - he co-wrote the songs for ''WesternAnimation/Mona'', landed the male lead of Jack the Lamplighter in ''Film/MaryPoppinsReturns'', and a recurring role in ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales2017'' as Fenton Crackshell-Cabera / Gizmoduck!