September has been a month of book buzz with Cleveland Book Fest filling our city with readings, workshops, and panels - that has reminded just how powerful a good book can be. But for Broadway fans books aren’t just stories on the page—they’re the spark that can ignite songs, dances, and entire worlds under stage lights.
So as this year's Book Fest comes to a close, we're sharing some of our favorite reads that connect us with Broadway. Some of these novels inspired the shows you’ll see in our 2025–2026 KeyBank Broadway Series, while others are staff picks that capture Broadway’s history, drama, and a little bit of its chaos.
Whether you’re a voracious reader, a theater buff, or someone just looking for your next great story, this list is a love letter to the books that keep Broadway buzzing long after the final curtain.
Stories of the Season
First, take a look at the books that inspired our current KeyBank Broadway Series. These titles are known for their engaging characters, vivid imagery and moving love stories. Follow along as we dive into what makes these books so special to us.
THE NOTEBOOK - Nicholas Sparks
We would be remiss not to start off our list with the world-renowned tear-jerker and recent musical sensation The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks that launched their tour here at Playhouse Square just a few weeks ago. The story of The Notebook follows young lovers Noah and Allie as they grow together and apart over the course of their lives. While the jury’s still out on whether this novel qualifies as heartwarming or heartbreaking, Sparks' brilliant prose paints a world of beauty and possibility that any hopeless romantic will enjoy.
THE OUTSIDERS - S.E. Hinton
This Tony Award-winning musical has its roots in the controversial 1960s novel; banned in some classrooms and required reading in others. In rural Oklahoma, the rival gangs Greasers and Socs have clashed for years. The Outsiders centers on young Greaser Ponyboy and his friends as they come of age in a violent and unforgiving environment. Utilizing themes of boyhood, damage and redemption, Hinton constructs a touching story that reminds us: whether Greaser or Soc, we’re all human.
THE GREAT GATSBY - F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Great Gatsby is an all-American classic that details the life of eccentric millionaire Jay Gatsby and his many exuberant parties. His carefully constructed demeanor begins to crumble, however, when we learn that Gatsby throws his parties for one reason– to garner the attention of the beautiful Daisy Buchanan. Fitzgerald paints a glittering picture of The Roaring Twenties beset with love, loss and betrayal that has made this hopeful tragedy a timeless bookshelf staple.
WATER FOR ELEPHANTS - Sara Gruen
Set in circus from The Great Depression era, Water for Elephants is told by Jacob Jankowski, an old man remembering life from his nursing home bed. Having joined the circus as an orphaned runaway, he forms tight bonds with several cast members, most notably the beautiful (and married) Marlena. This novel will make you laugh, cry and root for Jacob and Marlena until the very last page, truly capturing Gruen’s sentiment that “Life is the greatest show on Earth!”
Our Picks:
Next, we have a selection of titles picked by our staff. Here you’ll find moving memoirs, more books that inspired their own Broadway adaptations, and some stories of Broadway’s captivating history. There’s something for Broadway lovers young and old!
MATILDA - Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl is world-renowned as a master of children’s literature, and Matilda is a perfect example of why. Join young Matilda as she finds herself with growing telekinetic powers and uses them to retaliate against her negligent parents and cruel school principal. A silly, magical story with a heartwarming conclusion, Matilda is the perfect book for small readers with big imaginations.
CARRIE - Stephen King
If you take Matilda and add hormones, high school bullies and Stephen King’s aptitude for writing horror classics, you’ll get our next pick: Carrie. High schooler Carrie White has been tormented by both her peers and religious fanatic mother her entire life-- until her newfound telekinetic powers begin to tip the scale. King is an expert at digestible yet heavily impactful horror, making Carrie a perfect pick for this Halloween season.
WITHOUT YOU: A MEMOIR OF LOVE, LOSS, AND THE MUSICAL RENT - Anthony Rapp
Anthony Rapp is a Broadway star best known for originating the role of Mark in the Tony Award-winning musical Rent. In his memoir, he talks about the creative process behind Rent, his career on Broadway, and his experience with grief as he coped with the deaths of both Rent’s creator and his mother. Rapp’s story is an intimate insight into the personal lives that hide behind the bright lights of Broadway and serves as a reminder to hold your loved ones close and, of course, measure our years in love.
WHEN BROADWAY WAS BLACK - Caseen Gaines
When Broadway Was Black takes a deep dive into the 1921 musical Shuffle Along, the first Broadway show with an all-Black cast and production team. The show was groundbreaking on many accounts, paving the way for the Harlem Renaissance and setting the stage for Black performers and creatives for generations to come. Gaines brings early 1900s Broadway to life in this unflinching and very readable account of Black artists’ lasting impact on the American stage—a must read for Broadway fans across generations.
RAZZLE DAZZLE: THE BATTLE FOR BROADWAY- Michael Riedel
Razzle Dazzle dives into Broadway’s chaotic history; including its initial rise, collapse and rebirth into the empire we know today. The 1960s-70s marked a period of financial collapse for New York, and the Shubert Organization, once barons of Times Square, found themselves exchanging their theaters for parking lots. Riedel takes us within the Shubert Organization where two board members successfully conspired to control the company, catalyzing Broadway’s revival and making for a thrilling yet informative read.