In 1985, the wreckage of the RMS Titanic was discovered about 370 miles (600 km) south-southeast off the coast of Newfoundland, at a depth of about 12,500 feet beneath the surface of the Atlantic Ocean.

The collision with the iceberg dashed all of these dreams simultaneously, and the subsequent transformation of character of the passengers and crew had, it seemed to me, the potential for great emotional and musical expression onstage.

"[2] Yeston saw the story as unique to turn-of-the-century British culture, with its rigid social class system and romanticizing of progress through technology.

Titanic′s previews began at Broadway's Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in 1997 with various technical troubles which were overcome by opening night, initially receiving mixed to positive reviews.

The New Yorker′s was the first of numerous later unqualified raves: "It seemed a foregone conclusion that the show would be a failure; a musical about history's most tragic maiden voyage, in which fifteen hundred people lost their lives, was obviously preposterous.... Astonishingly, Titanic manages to be grave and entertaining, somber and joyful; little by little you realize that you are in the presence of a genuine addition to American musical theatre.

[5] With a Grammy Award nominated cast album, over the next twenty years the show received hundreds of professional and amateur productions worldwide and has become a national and international staple of musical theater.

Directed by Richard Jones with choreography by Lynne Taylor-Corbett, the cast included John Cunningham, David Garrison, Larry Keith, Alma Cuervo, Michael Cerveris, Victoria Clark, Don Stephenson, Judy Blazer, and Brian d'Arcy James.

[7] The lobby of the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre was redecorated for the production: the complete passenger list of the Titanic was painted on the walls, noting those who ultimately survived the disaster.

The production toured the United States after closing on Broadway, beginning in January 1999 at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, with a cast that featured Brian d'Arcy James (Los Angeles only), Marcus Chait, William Parry, Adam Heller, David Pittu, and Matthew Yang King.

In 2012 original Broadway cast member Don Stephenson, who created the part of Charles Clarke, developed a new chamber version of Titanic in collaboration with choreographer Liza Gennaro.

[14][15] In February 2014 most of the original Broadway cast reunited, including Michael Cerveris, Brian d'Arcy James, Martin Moran, David Garrison, David Costabile, and Becky Ann Baker for a staged concert of the musical at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall.

The cast included Bonnie Milligan as Alice Beane, Chuck Cooper as Captain Edward Smith, Eddie Cooper as Henry Etches, Drew Gehling as Edgar Beane, Ramin Karimloo as Frederick Barrett, Emilie Kouatchou as Caroline Neville, Judy Kuhn as Ida Straus, Brandon Uranowitz as Bruce Ismay, Chip Zien as Isidor Straus, Lilli Cooper as Kate Murphey and Samantha Williams as Kate McGowan.

[17] The role of Frank Carlson, the passenger who misses the ship as it departs, was played by Jesse Eisenberg, Victoria Clark (who originated Alice Beane on Broadway), and David Hyde Pierce at select performances during the run.

[18][19] A Dutch touring production (European premiere) opened on September 23, 2001, in Royal Theatre Carre, Amsterdam.

This production featured Bob Deutsch as Captain Smith, David Haines as J. Bruce Ismay, and Cory Doran as Barrett.

The London premiere was presented by West Wickham Operatic Society between November 21–26, 2006, at The Churchill Theatre Bromley, conducted by Paul Showell.

On February 9, 2008, Ballinrobe Musical Society, under the direction of Peter Kennedy, performed the first ever production to take place in the Republic of Ireland.

Directed by James Cutler, starring Don Winsor, Greta Sherriff, Jon Sebastian, and Paul Batey, it received overwhelming critical acclaim.

It will be produced by De Graaf & Cornelissen Entertainment and feature René van Kooten as Thomas Andrews.

[24] Titanic has been translated into nine languages: Japanese, French, Dutch, German, Czech, Finnish and Norwegian, Korean, Hungarian, and a Danish version premiered in the Autumn of 2017.

[25] This version added a new sequence in which First Officer Murdoch commits suicide out of responsibility over the disaster, and has Bree Smith playing Alice.

[26] One reviewer praised Smith’s performance but felt it an “odd choice made by the casting team…I couldn’t help but initially think that in an authentic setting, a black woman would not be fangirling over people who most likely wouldn’t treat her very well.

Stoker Fred Barrett arrives at the dock in Southampton, amazed by the feat of engineering ("How Did They Build Titanic?").

He is joined by Lookout Frederick Fleet and wireless telegraph operator Harold Bride, and they gaze in awe at the "Ship of Dreams" ("There She Is") as the crew arrives.

In the wireless room, Bride is overwhelmed by the passengers' personal messages to be sent, though he finds time to handle Barrett's proposal to his girlfriend ("The Proposal/The Night Was Alive").

On Sunday morning, the First Class attends religious services ("God Lift Me Up"), then dances on deck to "The Latest Rag".

As evening draws near, the temperature drops, and lookout Fleet finds the weather conditions difficult for spotting icebergs ("No Moon").

He orders all passengers to put on life vests, for Bride to begin sending distress messages, and for Andrews to inspect the damage.

In Third Class, the three Kates and Farrell attempt to find a way up to boat deck, but are unable to until they are assisted by Barrett ("The Staircase").

He visualizes redesigning her, as well as the final moments for the passengers before the ship sinks beneath the waves ("Mr. Andrews' Vision").