Unforgettable Broadway Love Stories: A Look at the Most Iconic Couples

Leslie Odom Jr. and Nicolette Robinson's offstage romance blossomed from their onstage love story during their time performing in Once on This Island. Robinson, who was brought on to the production just weeks before opening night, credits Odom Jr. with helping her navigate her blocking. However, their initial connection was purely platonic, with Robinson stating that she simply felt a strong connection with Odom Jr. and wanted to be around him constantly. After the show ended, the pair stayed in touch and eventually began dating.

"We weren't sure if it was a date or not at first, but it ended up being one when he kissed me goodnight," she recalled. Both passionate about theater, the couple has supported each other through the ups and downs of their careers. They even had to borrow money from her parents to make rent before Hamilton came along. Despite the challenges, they believe that if you truly love something and dedicate yourself to it, you can achieve your dreams.

Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick's shared passion for theater played a significant role in bringing them together. Their paths crossed in November 1991 when Broderick became involved with the Naked Angels Theater Company, founded by Parker's brothers Pippin and Toby. Six years later, the couple took their love to Broadway, starring alongside each other in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Parker, however, confessed to feeling nervous about acting opposite her partner, fearing they might not be able to control their laughter during performances.

She couldn't stop praising her spouse, admiring his intellect and looks. According to her, he was the most handsome man she had ever laid eyes on, and his mere presence motivated her. Her love for him knew no bounds. Eventually, the couple collaborated on a production of Neil Simon's Plaza Suite, which finally opened in March 2022 after being postponed for two years due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

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The Most Iconic Broadway Couples: Hugh Jackman and Deborra Lee Furness, Leslie Odom Jr. and Nicolette Robinson, More

Leslie Odom Jr. and Nicolette Robinson found love in an unexpected place – the stage. The couple met during a production of Once on This Island, where Leslie helped Nicolette with her blocking. While their connection was initially platonic, they developed a strong bond and started dating shortly after the show closed. As Nicolette put it, "It was really just a human connection, like, ‘Wow, I need to be around this person all the time.’"

"We weren't sure if it was a date initially, but it ended up being one after he kissed me at the end of the night," she shared. Their shared passion for theater has been a source of support throughout their respective careers. "Before Hamilton, we struggled to make rent and had to borrow money from my parents. It's a tough industry," the Broadway veteran reflected. "But when he got involved with the first workshop for Hamilton, he knew he had to do everything in his power to be a part of it. We always talk about the importance of pursuing what you love with your whole heart and surrounding yourself with it."

Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick's shared passion for theater played a pivotal role in bringing them together. It was in November 1991 when the Ferris Bueller's Day Off actor became associated with Naked Angels Theater Company, which was co-founded by Parker's brothers Toby and Pippin. Their romantic relationship reached new heights in 1996 when they starred alongside each other in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying on Broadway. Prior to the show's debut, Parker expressed her nerves about acting opposite Broderick, admitting that she was afraid they might burst out laughing while on stage. She even considered wearing a blinder to help her focus during rehearsals.

"He is simply amazing," she raved about her spouse, adding, "His intelligence and good looks leave me smitten. He is without a doubt the most attractive man I have ever laid eyes on. Not to mention, he motivates and inspires me in every way possible. I am head over heels in love with him." Recently, the couple acted together in a production of Neil Simon's Plaza Suite, which finally premiered in March 2022 after being postponed for two years due to the pandemic.

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Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick

Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick have been happily married for over 20 years and attribute their successful relationship to their theater backgrounds. Unlike many couples in Hollywood, they never aspired to be celebrities, but instead focused on their craft as actors. According to Parker, "When we were young people, all we ever wanted was to be good working actors. [My dream] was to work in theater, to be around those people whose work I was in total awe of."

"So, when people would bring up our marriage, we didn't feel the need to address any rumors or accusations," she stated. "It's important to be cautious, but at the same time, you need to have a stance and stand by it."

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Audra McDonald and Will Swenson

McDonald, who holds the record for the most Tony Awards won by an actor, first met Swenson while he was understudying the male lead in the 2007 Broadway revival of 110 in the Shade. In October 2016, the couple welcomed their daughter Sally. Swenson also has two sons, Bridger and Sawyer, with his ex-wife Amy Westerby, while The Good Fight star has a daughter named Zoe from a previous marriage. McDonald couldn't help but praise her husband's parenting skills, expressing on Instagram in June 2021, "He is such an incredible Father and it has been one of my greatest joys to watch him raise his children with such fun, patience, joy, kindness, and love."

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Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness

Jackman and Furness first met on the set of Corelli in 1995, but their love for theater has made them regulars at the Tonys. In 2012, Furness surprised Jackman by presenting him with a special Tony Award for his humanitarian work. "After not seeing your husband for four months, there's nothing more romantic than being on a Broadway stage with 12 million people watching," she joked. Jackman expressed his gratitude to Furness in his acceptance speech, thanking her for her support and love.

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Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka

Prior to the onset of rumors surrounding their romantic involvement in 2006, both Burtka and Harris had established themselves as accomplished performers in the theater industry. Burtka's background as a professional chef includes credits in productions such as The Play About the Baby (2001) and Gypsy (2003), while Harris has been recognized for his roles in Rent, Cabaret, Assassins, and Hedwig and the Angry Inch, for which he won the 2014 Tony Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical. The couple welcomed their twins, Gideon and Harper, in October 2010, and officially tied the knot in September 2014.

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Leslie Odom Jr. and Nicolette Robinson

Following his Tony win for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for Hamilton, One Night in Miami star Leslie Odom Jr.'s wife, Nicolette Robinson, made her Broadway debut in Waitress as Jenna. She became the first mother to portray the pregnant pie maker, having welcomed daughter Lucille with Odom Jr. in 2017. The couple's second child, son Able, was born in March 2021.

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Carrie Coon and Tracy Letts

The talented actress from The Leftovers has been featured in seven of her husband's productions, starting with Bug in 1993. The couple exchanged wedding vows in September 2007. When it comes to juggling their individual careers, Coon stated in an interview with Harper's Bazaar in August 2021, "We don't have a 'take turns' approach. We always make room for the job that is too good to pass up." The Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and Coon have two children together: a son named Haskell, who was born in July 2018, and a daughter who arrived in 2021.

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Stephanie J. Block and Sebastian Arcelus

Stephanie J. Block, a Tony award-winning actress, met her future husband during rehearsals for a national tour production of Wicked in January 2006. Block played Elphaba and her husband played Fiyero. Later, in October 2007, they reprised their roles on Broadway and got married the same month in New York City. Block shared with Playbill in December 2007 that she recognized her husband's special qualities from the beginning, but was not interested in a "show-mance." Despite the distance between them, they made their relationship work and welcomed their daughter Vivienne in January 2015.

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Matt Doyle and Max Clayton

Doyle and his boyfriend met in 2015 at a Starbucks, after Clayton obtained Doyle's email address from a mutual friend. Unlike many couples in the industry, Doyle and his partner do not compete against each other, which has been a key factor in their successful relationship. "It can be really difficult to date someone who's doing the exact same thing, or God forbid, going up for the same roles as you," explained the Tony nominee in an interview with Rye Myers of RyeTheNewsGuy.com in June 2019. "We're able to be completely supportive and embrace each other's careers, which is helpful. I know how important a career is and I think he feels the same way."

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Ben Platt and Noah Galvin

Following years of friendship and both playing the leading role in Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway, Platt and Galvin began a romantic relationship in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. After being costars in Theater Camp, the couple got engaged in November 2022, marking two years of being together.

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Sara Bareilles and Joe Tippett

The star of the hit song “Brave” first crossed paths with Tippett while working together on Waitress, a musical that was being tested out-of-town in 2015. They started dating and after five years, Tippett proposed in January of 2023.

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Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson

Jackson and Richardson have shared a remarkable bond for over half a century, collaborating on stage productions along the way. Their partnership culminated in a Tony nomination for Jackson in 2023, thanks to his outstanding performance in The Piano Lesson, a play directed by none other than his beloved wife.

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Phillipa Soo and Steven Pasquale

Renowned Broadway stars, the Hamilton actress and Pasquale, who are both fan favorites, became engaged in February 2016. They exchanged vows a year later and later took on the roles of onstage love interests in the Kennedy Center's 2022 production of Guys and Dolls.

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Andy Karl and Orfeh

This Broadway power couple, who got married in 2001, later starred together in Legally Blonde: The Musical, portraying the characters of Paulette and UPS driver Kyle who eventually become a couple.

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Erika Henningsen and Kyle Selig

The Mean Girls the Musical costars — who played Cady Heron and Aaron Samuels, respectively, during its debut Broadway run — tied the knot in May 2023.