Feature: A Brief History of Musicals Performing at the Grammy Awards

On February 15, 2016 Hamilton will perform its opening number live at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards. Only eight musicals (nine, if you count RIVERDANCE) have had this honor since the first Grammy Award ceremony in 1959. Hamilton will make history, yet again, as the first show to perform via satellite during the ceremony; while the ceremony is at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, the cast will be performing on their set at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York City in front of a live audience.

What other shows have performed at the awards? Did they end up winning the Grammy in their category? Before Hamilton performs, let's take a look at other shows that have graced the Grammy stage.

Godspell -1972

At the 14th Annual Grammy Awards, GODSPELL became the first musical to perform at the ceremony. The cast opened the performance with the chorus of "Prepare Ye The Way of The Lord" and followed it with "Day By Day"; Robin Lamont was the lead vocalist for the song. Other nominees included FOLLIES, THE ROTHSCHILDS, TOUCH, and TWO BY TWO. Their off-Broadway cast recording would win the Grammy for Best Score From an Original Show Cast Album that year.

Video: The cast of GOSPELL performing "Prepare Ye The Way of The Lord" and "Day By Day" at the GRAMMY AWARDS on March 14, 1972.

The Magic Show - 1975

Three years later, another Stephen Schwartz show would find its way to the Grammy stage. THE MAGIC SHOW performed on March 1, 1975. While not much can be found about the specific performance, we do know that it was nominated for Best Score From the Original Cast Show Album with RAISIN, LET MY PEOPLE COME, OVER HERE!, and THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW. RAISIN, a musical adaptation of Lorraine Hansberry's play A RAISIN IN THE SUN won the award.

Evita - 1981

At the 23rd Annual Grammy Awards, Patti LuPone moved an audience to their feet with her rendition of "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" from EVITA. The show was nominated for Best Cast Show Album alongside OKLAHOMA!, BARNUM, A DAY IN HOLLYWOOD/A NIGHT IN THE UKRAINE, and ONE MO' TIME. EVITA took home the award; there was no need for Argentina to cry for her that night.

Video: Patti LuPone performing "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" at the Grammy Awards.

Sophisticated Ladies - 1982

The Broadway cast of the Duke Ellington revue SOPHISTICATED LADIES swung their way onto the stage at the 24th Annual Grammy Awards. They performed a dance rendition of "It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)". The show was nominated for Best Cast Show Album beside THE LADY AND HER MUSIC, 42ND STREET, THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, and WOMAN OF THE YEAR; THE LADY AND HER MUSIC took home the award.

Video: Phyllis Hyman performing "It Don't Mean a Thing" from SOPHISTICATED LADIES.

La Cage Aux Folles - 1984

At the 26th Annual Grammy Awards, Walter Charles and his fellow Broadway cast members performed the finale of the musical LA CAGE AUX FOLLES- "I Am What I Am". The show was nominated for Best Cast Show Album with CATS, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, ON YOUR TOES, and ZORBA. CATS would take home the award.

Video: Walter Charles performing "I Am What I Am" at the GRAMMY AWARDS on February 28, 1984.

The Will Rogers Follies - 1992

At the 34th Annual Grammy Awards, the Broadway cast from THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES performed. Not much can be found about their performance online regarding their performance. They were nominated for Best Musical Show Album along with ASSASSINS, INTO THE WOODS, KISS ME, KATE, and THE MUSIC MAN. THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES took home the award.

Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk & Riverdance - 1997

At the 39th Annual Grammy Awards, the cast from BRING IN 'DA NOISE, BRING IN 'DA FUNK and RIVERDANCE competed in a dance battle during the ceremony. Colin Dunne of RIVERDANCE challenged Savion Glover of BRING IN 'DA NOISE... to a tap dance battle. The cast of RIVERDANCE also performed a number from their show, as did the cast of BRING IN 'DA NOISE... with "Industrialization". RIVERDANCE took home the award for Best Musical Show Recording, beating out not only BRING IN 'DA NOISE... but also RENT, VICTOR/VICTORIA, and the revival of A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM.

Video: While the original performance at the GRAMMY AWARDS cannot be found on Youtube or elsewhere on the Internet, this scene from RIVERDANCE depicts the difference between Irish tap dancing and American tap dancing; this would be similar to what was performed at the Grammys.

American Idiot - 2010

Before American Idiot made its New York home at the St. James theatre, the entire cast performed at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards. They performed "21 Guns" alongside the show's composers-the punk rock band Green Day. AMERICAN IDIOT would take home the Grammy for Best Musical Theatre Album the following year, beating out FELA!, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, PROMISES, PROMISES, and SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM.

Video: The cast of AMERICAN IDIOT and the band Green Day performing the show's version of "21 Guns" from Green Day's album "21st Century Breakdown."