The Best Broadway Musicals To See in New York

Broadway represents some of the best theater in the world. The shows appearing in the just 41 Broadway theaters are groundbreaking, heartwarming, tear-jerking, and shifting huge numbers of tickets. In fact, in 2018/2019, Broadway attendance reached over 14 million people! That’s more than all the professional sports teams in NYC combined (yes, that includes the Mets, Yankees, Knicks, and Jets). In a true embodiment of “the show must go on,” Broadway came back bigger and better than ever after being shut down due to Covid for nearly a year and a half. There’s never been a better time to grab a Broadway ticket. Come see your favorite mega-hits alongside a large selection of new, exciting productions. Here’s a list of the best Broadway musicals, from the longest-running and most popular to the newest shows in town:

LONGEST-RUNNING BROADWAY MUSICALS:

When you think of a Broadway show, there are some iconic shows that immediately spring to mind, and are synonymous with musical theatre: The Phantom of the Opera was the longest-running show in Broadway history, opening in 1988 and ending its historic run on April 16, 2023. Cats had an 18-year Broadway run. Mamma Mia ran for 14 years and remains the longest-running jukebox musical. The original production of A Chorus Line ran for 15 years, while the original production of Les Misérables ran for 16. But two of the longest running Broadway shows are still running today:

Chicago-Broadway

Chicago

Chicago: The current production opened in 1996 and won 6 Tony Awards including Best Revival. It hasn’t left the Broadway stage since and can be seen at the Ambassador Theatre. Set in Chicago in the 1920s, this musical tells the story of Roxie Hart, her Cook County Jail cellmate Velma Kelly, and lawyer Billy Flynn. It’s a tale full of murder, deception, greed, and the “Razzle Dazzle” of showbiz. Chicago also has some of the best dancing – in the style of the legendary Bob Fosse – you’ll see on a Broadway stage. This musical was made into the Oscar-Winning film of the same name starring Renee Zellweger, Richard Gere, and Catherine Zeta-Jones which has become one of the most successful movie musicals.

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The Lion King

The Lion King opened in 1997, won 6 Tony Awards including Best Musical, and has the unique distinction of being the biggest box-office hit of all time. And not just for musicals: it’s the highest-grossing piece of entertainment. Meaning it has overtaken films like Harry Potter, Star Wars and Avatar. The Lion King is based on the beloved animated film and, with music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice, includes all your favorite tunes like: “Hakuna Matata”, “The Circle of Life”, and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” along with songs written exclusively for the stage show. It also has some of the most creative and breathtaking staging under the direction of Julie Taymor. This hit has become a global sensation, playing on the West End, Japan, Germany, Spain, France and more.

BLOCKBUSTERS ON BROADWAY:

These three Broadway shows hit the ground running and have gone on to be huge commercial, box office successes and cultural behemoths:

Hamilton-Broadway-Musical

Hamilton

Hamilton opened in 2015 and won 11 Tony Awards as well as the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Book, music, and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, this musical broke box office records and remains the highest charting Broadway cast recording in history. Telling the story of America’s founding fathers and focusing on Alexander Hamilton, this musical remains one of the most popular shows on Broadway and was also filmed and released on Disney+. Entertainment Weekly says, “you’d be crazy to miss it.”

Book-of-Mormon

The Book of Mormon

The Book of Mormon opened in 2011 and won 9 Tony Awards including Best Musical. Written by “South Park'' creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, with music and lyrics by Robert Lopez (also known for co-writing the songs for the movie Frozen), this musical is just as catchy, irreverent, and hilarious as that team implies. The Book of Mormon follows Latter-Day missionaries Elder Cunningham and Elder Price who are sent to Uganda to spread their faith. Time Out New York’s 5-star review called it, “the most exuberantly entertaining Broadway musical in years.”

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Wicked

Wicked opened in 2003 and is based on the book by Gregory Maguire, “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West.” One of the most popular musicals on Broadway and with a huge and ever-growing fanbase, Wicked was the winner of 3 Tony Awards, and follows the story of green-skinned Elphaba and the more popular Galinda on paths that will end with one being called “The Good Witch” and the other “Wicked.” The musical originally starred Idina Menzel as Elphaba, Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda, and Joel Grey as the Wizard, and there is a movie adaption currently in development. The New York Times calls it, “the defining musical of the decade.”

NEWER HITS ON BROADWAY:

And-Juliet-Stephen-Sondheim

& Juliet

& Juliet comes to the Stephen Sondheim Theatre after a hit run on the West End. With a book by David West Read, music by Max Martin, and directed by Luke Sheppard, & Juliet asks what would happen if Juliet didn’t end it all over Romeo and includes pop anthems like “Since You Been Gone,” “Roar,” “Baby One More Time,” “Larger Than Life,” and “Can’t Stop this Feeling!” The Guardian called the show “a fun, feminist makeover with a great pop soundtrack.”

Aladdin

Aladdin

Aladdin is based off of the beloved animated film with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice. Discover a “Whole New World” in Agrabah when Aladdin finds a lamp, a genie, and has a chance to make all his wishes come true. Great for kids, families, and Disney lovers of all ages, this music has some truly incredible stage magic. The Hollywood Reporter calls it, “A family friendly hit!”

Back to the Future at the Winter Garden Theatre

Back to the Future

Back to the Future is comes to the Winter Garden Theatre after a hit run on the West End. Adapted for the stage by the original movie creators Bob Gale and Robert Zemeckis, with original music by Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard, and directed by John Rando, The Evening Standard called the musical “enormous fun…a near-seamless slice of escapist entertainment.”

Moulin-Rouge-Broadway

Moulin Rouge! The Musical!

Moulin Rouge! The Musical! opened in 2019 and won 10 Tony Awards including Best Musical. Based off of the 2001 film, Moulin Rouge! follows a young poet, Christian, who falls in love with the courtesan Satine at the famous Moulin Rouge cabaret. You’ll see why The New York Times calls the show “spectacular” when you see the amazing set, great dancing, and awe-inducing arrangements of more top 40 songs than you can shake a stick at. Moulin Rouge! is a pop culture sensation that includes songs like “Lady Marmalade,” “Single Ladies,” “Firework,” and “Toxic.”

walter-kerr-theatre-hadestown

Hadestown

Hadestown opened in 2019 and won 8 Tony Awards including Best Musical. The musical takes you to the underworld and back as it tells the story of Orpheus and Eurydice, King Hades and Persephone. It’s a story of love, human nature, fate, and hope told with a brilliant ensemble, and songs and staging that will leave you breathless. amNY says this “new musical soars with stunning visuals and bold performances.” The album, with music and lyrics by Anais Mitchell, won the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album in 2020.

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Six: The Musical

Six: The Musical was meant to open on March 12, 2020…the day Broadway shut down because of Covid. This musical had its triumphant reopening in October 2021 and went on to be nominated for eight Tony Awards, winning both the Tony Award for Best Original Score and the Tony Award for Best Costume Design in a Musical. It tells the story of the six wives of Henry VIII, and these six ladies are true queens of the stage, embodying all the girl power superstardom of a pop concert. Exuberant, fun, and running at a clip of just 80 minutes, this musical is a blast that deserves its long-delayed time in the spotlight. Variety gives it “a solid ‘10’ for joy.”

NEW MUSICALS ON BROADWAY:

These musical theater shows are the newest Broadway shows in town and tomorrow’s greatest hits. Many of these shows were forced to close shortly after they opened due to the pandemic, and each reopening is a miracle. New shows are the lifeblood of Broadway and being able to catch an actor’s Broadway debut is an experience not to be missed.

A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical

A Wonderful World

A Wonderful World comes to Studio 54 ]starring James Monroe Iglehart as Louis Armstrong. Featured songs include, “What a Wonderful World,” “I Can’t Give You Anything but Love,” “When You’re Smiling,” and many others. This show has already wowed audiences in Chicago, and it’s ready to dazzle on the Broadway stage!

Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club in the August Wilson Theatre

Cabaret

Cabaret plays at the August Wilson Theatre after a hit run on the West End. This iconic musical set in a nightclub in Berlin has been revived on Broadway multiple times and was also adapted into a 1972 film of the same name that earned Oscars for Liza Minelli, Joel Grey, and director Bob Fosse. Variety called the West End production “triumphant…[the show] is destined to run and run.”

Death Becomes Her

Death Becomes Her

Death Becomes Her is based on the movie of the same name and comes to the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre starring Megan Hilty, Jennifer Simard, Christopher Sieber, and Michelle Williams. With a book by Marco Pennette, music and lyrics by Julia Mattison and Noel Carey, and direction from Christopher Gattelli, Death Becomes Her follows two lifelong frenemies – a writer and an actress - when they run into Viola Van Horn and her unusual potion that seems to turn back the clock on their beauty and youth. Variety called the Chicago production “an entertaining show…[with] stellar star-turns.”

Hell's Kitchen at the Shubert Theatre

Hell's Kitchen

Hell's Kitchen plays at the Shubert Theatre after its sold-out run off-Broadway at the Public Theater. The musical is inspired by Alicia Keys’ childhood in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan and has music and lyrics by Alicia Keys, a book by Kristoffer Diaz, direction by Michael Greif, and choreography by Camille A. Brown. Variety calls it “a quintessential musical…beautiful and heartbreaking.”

Maybe Happy Ending

Maybe Happy Ending

Maybe Happy Ending runs at the Belasco Theatre and stars Darren Criss and Helen J Shen as two Helperbots who form a friendship and go on an unexpected journey. Can two obsolete robots find a new purpose and maybe even fall in love along the way? Come see what The Atlanta Journal-Constitutioncalled “dazzling…brimming with ideas and technological inventiveness…[and] electrifying.”

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MJ: The Musical

MJ: The Musical follows the making of Michael Jackson’s 1992 Dangerous World Tour and has a book written by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage. MJ includes hits like “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough,” “Beat It,” “Smooth Criminal,” and “Thriller.” One of the first new musicals to open after the pandemic, MJ started performances in December 2021. The Washington Post calls it, “a riveting, adrenaline rush of a show.”

Once Upon a Mattress

Once Upon a Mattress

Once Upon a Mattress stars Sutton Foster and Michael Urie in this updated version of Hans Christian Anderson’s The Princess and the Pea and plays at the Hudson Theatre. This production of the musical started at New York City Center Encores!, where it received rave reviews. Get tickets now because this musical is only on Broadway for 18 short weeks! New York Stage Review called it “a royal success.”

Suffs at the Music Box Theatre

Suffs

Suffs plays at the Music Box Theatre after a sold-out run off-Broadway at the Public Theatre. With book, music, and lyrics by Shaina Taub, direction from Leigh Silverman, and choreography by Mayte Natalio, Suffs begins in 1913 and follows the women’s rights movement and the suffragists as they pursue the right to vote. The Wrap called the off-Broadway production a “tour-de-force suffragette musical” and “rousing entertainment.”

Sunset Boulevard with Nicole Scherzinger

Sunset Boulevard

Sunset Boulevard runs at the St. James Theatre and stars Nicole Scherzinger as Norma Desmond, a silent film star hoping to make a career comeback. When she meets young screenwriter Joe Gillis, they see a mutual opportunity to make each of their dreams come true. The show comes to New York after a hit run in London’s West End. The Guardian said, “Nicole Scherzinger dazzles in [director] Jamie Lloyd’s radical rework.” You’ve never seen Sunset Boulevard like this – get tickets while you can!

Tammy Faye

Tammy Faye

Tammy Faye will play at the Palace Theater in October 2024 after a hit run in London’s West End. Katie Brayben will reprise her role as Tammy Faye and Christian Boyle will also star as Jim Bakker in this musical with book by James Graham, music by Elton John, and lyrics by Scissor Sisters’ Jake Shears. Come fall in love with Tammy Faye as she and her husband start a televangelist empire in the 1970s. Then see what happens when the cameras turn off and the jealousy rises. The New York Times calls it “spectacular entertainment…the show has a heart as big as the title character’s bouffant hairdo.”

The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby plays at the Broadway Theatre with a book by Kait Kerrigan, music by Jason Howland, lyrics by Nathan Tysen, choreography by Dominique Kelley, and direction from Marc Bruni. Jeremy Jordan and Eva Noblezada reprise their roles from the production at the Paper Mill Playhouse that BroadwayWorld “phenomenal [and] destined to become a treasured addition to American musical theatre.” The musical is based on the novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald and is set in 1920s New York and Long Island. Grab a drink and join socialite Daisy Buchanan and Midwesterner Nick Carraway at the party at Jay Gatsby’s mansion. Then watch as jazz age revelry soon spins out of control.

The Notebook at the Schoenfeld Theatre

The Notebook

The Notebook, based on the hit movie of the same name, comes to the Schoenfeld Theatre. With music and lyrics by Ingrid Michaelson, book by Bekah Brunstetter, and direction by Michael Greif and Schele Williams, the Chicago Tribune called this musical “absolutely gorgeous” and “not to be missed.”

The Outsiders at the Bernard B Jacobs Theatre

The Outsiders

The Outsiders, based on the book of the same name by S.E. Hinton, comes to the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre after a run La Jolla Playhouse in California that the Los Angeles Times called “hypnotic” and “impressively original.” Set in Tulsa in the 1960s, it follows Ponyboy Curtis, Johnny Cade, and the rivalry between the working class “Greasers” and the well-off “Socs.” The musical has a book by Adam Rapp with Justin Levine, music and lyrics by Jamestown Revival and Justin Levine, and direction by Danya Taymor. BroadwayWorld called the adaptation “an impressive new musical, with a talented cast, dynamic performances, and choreography.”

Water for Elephants at the Imperial Theatre

Water for Elephants

Water for Elephants, based on the best-selling book of the same name by Sara Gruen, comes to Broadway’s Imperial Theatre with music and lyrics by PigPen Theatre Co., book by Rick Elice, and direction from Jessica Stone. Water for Elephants follows a young man who jumps a train and finds himself building a new life with a traveling circus, and Arts ATL called the production at the Alliance Theatre “an up-tempo, family-friendly show.”

UPCOMING BROADWAY MUSICALS: 

These highly anticipated shows will start performances soon:

Swept Away

Swept Away

Swept Away is based on the album of the same name by the Avett Brothers and follows two brothers who find work as sailors and then get into a shipwreck. It will play at the Longacre Theatre starting in October 2024 after hit runs in California and Washington, D.C. and stars John Gallagher, Jr., Adrian Blake Enscoe, Stark Sands, and Wayne Duvall. Theatermania said, “the musical if fresh, the actors marvelous, and the harmonies powerful enough to make the Avett Brothers proud.”

Audra Gypsy Majestic Theatre

Gypsy

Gypsy starring Audra McDonald comes to the Majestic Theatre in November 2024. This iconic musical about the ultimate stage mom has previously starred actors like Patti LuPone, Bernadette Peters, Angela Lansbury, and Ethel Merman. Now Audra McDonald gets her own Rose’s Turn in this musical with book by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Styne, and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.

Todd Haimes Theatre

The Pirates of Penzance

The Pirates of Penzance will play at Roundabout’s Todd Haimes Theatre starting in April 2025 starring Ramin Karimloo and David Hyde Pierce. This classic Gilbert & Sullivan comedy gets an update from director Scott Ellis and choreographer Warren Carlyle with a new adaptation by Rupert Holmes. Jazz and blues will feature heavily when this pirate ship stops in New Orleans. Come see young love, a fast-talking Major-General, and a Pirate King who isn’t above exploiting a legal loophole or two.

RECENTLY CLOSED BROADWAY MUSICALS:

The Wiz at the Marquis Theatre

The Wiz

The Wiz comes to Broadway’s Marquis Theatre after a national tour. Amber Ruffin provided additional material to this production of the musical with a book by William F. Brown, music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls, direction from Schele Williams, and choreography by JaQuel Knight. Come see a whole new version of The Wizard of Oz! DC Theater Arts said it, “enthralls with its mind-bending projections, slick choreography, standout performances, and hip-hop flavor…Schele Williams directed standout performances of the Tony Award-winning musical with its mix of rock, ‘70s funk, gospel, soul, and a dash of hip-hop. The Wiz is what a musical is supposed to be.”

Tommy at the Nederlander Theatre

The Who's Tommy

The Who's Tommy, featuring music from The Who’s 1969 album “Tommy” including songs like "Pinball Wizard," "The Acid Queen," and "We're Not Gonna Take It," came to Broadway after a sold-out, hit run at Chicago's Goodman Theatre. Directed by Des McAnuff, who directed the original Broadway production in 1993, The Chicago Tribune called this revival “a ready-for-prime-time stunner” that “explodes with life.”

Merrily We Roll Along at the Hudson Theatre

Merrily We Roll Along

Merrily We Roll Along played at the Hudson Theatre starring Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff, and Lindsay Mendez. Transferring uptown after a hit run off-Broadway at New York Theatre Workshop, The New York Times said “Maria Friedman’s staging brings the intelligence of the songs fully alive…with Jonathan Groff, Daniel Radcliffe and Lindsay Mendez as the show’s central trio of backward-tumbling friends, it is perhaps for the first time perfectly cast.”

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A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical

A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical ran at the Broadhurst Theatre with a book by Anthony McCarten, direction by Michael Mayer, and choreography by Steven Hoggett. A Beautiful Noise brings the story of Neil Diamond to life on stage and features songs like “Sweet Caroline,” “America,” and “Cracklin’ Rosie.”

The Heart of Rock and Roll

The Heart of Rock and Roll

The Heart of Rock and Roll, based on the music of Huey Lewis and the News, ran at Broadway’s James Earl Jones Theatre. The musical has a book by Jonathan A. Abrams, story by Tyler Mitchell and Jonathan A. Abrams, direction by Gordon Greenberg, and choreography by Lorin Latarro. The show is set in the 1980s and includes iconic songs like “Do You Believe in Love,” “Hip to Be Square,” “If This Is It,” and “The Heart of Rock and Roll” as it follows musician-turned-office worker Bobby and his boss Cassandra. BroadwayWorld called it, “bright and sparkling with optimism…an entertaining musical comedy that promises the audience a good time while delivering on the promise of the power of love.”

Lempicka at the Longacre Theatre

Lempicka

Lempicka ran at the Longacre Theatre and follows the life and career of the polish artist Tamara de Lempicka. The musical has book, lyrics, and an original concept by Carson Kreitzer, book and music by Matt Gould, choreography by Raja Feather Kelly, and direction by Rachel Chavkin. Eden Espinosa starred as Lempicka in a much-lauded performance. The New York Times said “the title role is filled to the bursting point by Eden Espinosa…who has finally found a part to match her high-voltage talent.”

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street ran at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre starring Josh Groban, Annaleigh Ashford, and Gaten Matarazzo as Sweeney Todd, Mrs. Lovett, and Toby respectively. Aaron Tveit, Sutton Foster, and Joe Locke later took on these roles. This production directed by Thomas Kail and choreographed by Steven Hoggett features a 26-piece orchestra. The New York Times called it "ravishingly sung, deeply emotional and strangely hilarious."

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Kimberly Akimbo

Kimberly Akimbo, with book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire and music by Jeanine Tesori, played at Broadway's Booth Theatre. The musical stars Victoria Clark who plays Kim, a teenager from New Jersey who has an aging disease that makes her look like a 72-year-old woman. A unique coming-of-age story, Time Out New York called the off-Broadway production, “clever, touching and idiosyncratic...the best new musical of 2021.” Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Lindsay Abaire originally wrote Kimberly Akimbo as a play in 2000, which played at South Coast Repertory Theatre in California and Manhattan Theatre Club in New York.

Spamalot at the St. James Theatre

Spamalot

Monty Python’s Spamalot played at the St. James Theatre after a hit run at the Kennedy Center. Based on the hit film Monty Python and the Holy Grail and back on Broadway for the first time since its original hit run in 2005, come see the Lady of the Lake, Knights of the Round Table, King Arthur and more! The New York Times called the original production, “resplendently silly…the best new musical to open on Broadway this season.”

Days of Wine and Roses at Studio 54

Days of Wine and Roses

Days of Wine and Roses ran at Studio 54 after a hit run at the Atlantic Theater off-Broadway. Starring Brian d’Arcy James and Kelli O’Hara, Days of Wine and Roses is adapted from the film of the same name and follows a couple in the 1950s as they build a family and struggle with addiction. The production has music and lyrics by Adam Guettel, book by Craig Lucas, and direction by Michael Greif. The Wrap called it, “one of the few great musicals of this century” with Brian d’Arcy James and Kelli O’Hara giving “truly awesome performances.”

How to Dance in Ohio at the Belasco Theatre

How to Dance in Ohio

How to Dance in Ohio, based on the HBO documentary of the same name, ran at the Belasco Theatre. The musical follows a group of autistic young adults as they prepare for a spring dance. The New York Times called the movie “a piercing documentary…[that] goes so much deeper than the corsage-and-boutonniere snapshot.”

Harmony at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre

Harmony

Harmony, with music by Barry Manilow, book and lyrics by Bruce Sussman, and direction and choreography by Warren Carlyle, comes to the Barrymore Theatre after a sold-out run downtown. This musical tells the remarkable true story of The Comedian Harmonists, who were catapulted to fame in the 1920s and 30s, making dozens of films, selling out theaters, and becoming international superstars. Variety says the show has “a crackling, cracking-wise script…every element of ‘Harmony’ clicks in place like a gorgeous puzzle.”

Gutenberg! at the James Earl Jones Theatre

Gutenberg! The Musical

Gutenberg! The Musical plays at the James Earl Jones Theatre and stars Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells, together again for the first time since The Book of Mormon. Written by Scott Brown and Anthony King (Beetlejuice The Musical) and directed by Alex Timbers (Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Beetlejuice), The New York Times said, “Who knew that a musical about the life of the inventor of the printing press could have so many laughs” and called Brown and King “superb comic writers.”

Shucked-Nederlander

Shucked

Shucked ran at the Nederlander Theatre with a book by Robert Horn, music by Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, and direction from Jack O’Brien. This musical set in Corn Cob County starred John Behlmann, Kevin Cahoon, Andrew Durand, Grey Henson, Caroline Innerbichler, Ashley D. Kelley, and Alex Newell. BroadwayWorld said “it’s an unexpected show that grows on you as it goes along, and like kernels stuck in your teeth, it stays with you long after…SHUCKED deserves to be a corn-fed hit.”

some-like-it-hot-marquee

Some Like It Hot

Some Like It Hot, based on the film of the same name, ran at the Shubert Theatre with a book by Matthew López and Amber Ruffin, music by Marc Shaiman, and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman. Casey Nicholaw directed this production about jazz musicians in Chicago who witness a murder and go into hiding by pretending to be part of an all-female band. Variety called it, “a musical filled with fun, energy and heart.”

Here Lies Love at the Broadway Theatre

Here Lies Love

Here Lies Love with book and music by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim, and lyrics by David Byrne, runs at the Broadway Theatre after a hit run off-Broadway at the Public Theater in 2013. This immersive musical follows Imelda Marcos, the former first lady of the Philippines, and is directed by Alex Timbers and choreographed by Annie-B Parson. The Hollywood Reporter called it “hugely good fun.”

August-Wilson-Funny-Girl

Funny Girl

Funny Girl is back in a Broadway theatre in the first revival since the original Broadway production starring Barbra Streisand. Lea Michele stars as Fanny Brice, a girl from the Lower East Side who has always dreamed of being a star. With songs like “Don’t Rain on My Parade” and “I’m the Greatest Star,” this musical is a hot Broadway ticket.

Once-Upon-a-One-More-Time-Marquis

Once Upon a One More Time

Once Upon a One More Time runs at the Marquis Theatre with a book by Jon Hartmere and based on hit songs from Britney Spears. When a fairy godmother gives a group of fairy-tale characters The Feminine Mystique instead of their usual Grimm’s Fairy Tales, their perspectives and their lives are about to change. DC Theater Arts called it “a full-fledged, grade A, gold star success.”

Parade-Jacobs

Parade

Parade played at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre after a sold-out run at New York City Center Encores! Starring Ben Platt and Micaela Diamond, this musical follows Leo and Lucille Frank in Georgia after Leo is accused of a horrible crime. The New York Times called it, “the best-sung musical in many a New York season…this revival recalls an era of big casts, big stories and big talent – a time when musicals actually felt like events.”

New-York--New-York-St-James

New York, New York

New York, New York is a love letter to the city itself with a new score from John Kander and Fred Ebb, an original story by David Thompson with Sharon Washington, additional lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, and direction by Susan Stroman. This new musical ran at the St. James Theatre and is set after the end of World War II. As New York rebuilds, the city is filled with artists, singers, dancers, and musicians struggling to survive. If they can make it there, they can make it anywhere.

Camelot-Lincoln-Center

Camelot

Camelot ran at Lincoln Center’s Vivian Beaumont Theater and reunited Aaron Sorkin with director Bartlett Sher, who previously worked together on the stage adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird. This time they brought Lerner & Loewe’s musical about Arthur, Guenevere, and Lancelot into the 21st century.

bad-cinderalla-musical

Bad Cinderella

Bad Cinderella ran at the Imperial Theatre on Broadway after a hit run on the West End. With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by David Zippel, book by Emerald Fennel, and direction by Laurence Connor, The Guardian called the show “a blast: terrifically OTT and silly but warm and inclusive, with relatable, down-to-earth heroes and pertinent points about our quest for perfection and our expectations of each other and ourselves.”

Phantom-of-the-Opera-Mask-Lloyd-Webber

The Phantom of the Opera

The Phantom of the Opera has the honor of being the longest-running show in Broadway history. It won 7 Tony Awards including the Tony Award for Best Musical when it opened in 1988 at the Majestic Theatre, where it played over 13,000 performances. With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, The Phantom of the Opera has one of the most recognizable musical scores, featuring songs like “The Music of the Night”, “All I Ask of You” and, of course, the titular “The Phantom of the Opera.” The musical follows the story of Christine, a young singer who catches the attention of The Phantom, a disfigured man who lives in the catacombs underneath the Paris Opera House. The Phantom of the Opera ended its historic run on Broadway April 16, 2023.

The Music Man

The Music Man is a revival of a worldwide favorite and starred Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster, which immediately made it one of the hottest Broadway theater tickets in town. There’s trouble in River City when Harold Hills comes to town. But this con artist may have to change his tune when he falls in love with the town librarian, Marian. This musical began performances in December 2021, and AP News calls it, “a ride you never want to stop. As the conductor says at the beginning: 'All aboard!'"

A Strange Loop

A Strange Loop with book, music and lyrics by Michael R. Jackson won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 2022, the Pulitzer Prize in 2020, a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical, and moved to Broadway after a critically acclaimed run at Playwrights Horizons Off-Broadway and at Woolly Mammoth Theatre in Washington DC. This “breathtaking new musical” is about a Black, queer writer writing a musical about a Black, queer writer writing a musical about a Black, queer writer…this show is all about desire, creativity, identity and self-perception.

1776

1776 ran at the American Airlines Theatre and follows America’s founding fathers during the events leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This Tony-Award winning American musical originally premiered in 1969, and this revival is being reimagined by directors Jeffrey L. Page and Diane Paulus.

Almost Famous

Almost Famous ran at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre. Based on the Cameron Crowe film of the same name, it follows a 15-year-old aspiring music journalist who is hired by Rolling Stone to go on the road with an up-and-coming band. This musical is directed by Jeremy Herrin and has book and lyrics by Cameron Crowe, and original music and lyrics by Tom Kitt. 

Beetlejuice

Beetlejuice, based on the popular Tim Burton film, opened in 2019 and follows Lydia Deetz, an out-of-place teenager whose life turns upside down when she meets a deceased couple and a demon named Beetlejuice. Say his name three times and find out why Variety calls the musical, “screamingly good fun!” Once thought to be permanently closed, Beetlejuice rose from the dead to reopen in The Marquis Theatre and fans couldn’t have been happier.

Into the Woods

Into the Woods came to Broadway’s St. James Theatre after a sold-out run at New York City Center Encores! With a book by James Lapine and music and lyrics by the late Stephen Sondheim, this star-studded fairy tale musical revival was called “near-perfect” and “comedically impeccable” by Theatermania.

KPOP

KPOP played at the Circle in the Square Theatre and was conceived by Jason Kim and the Woodshed Collective. With a book by Jason Kim, music and lyrics and music production by Helen Park, and music and lyrics by Max Vernon, the musical follows global KPOP superstars as they get ready for and perform a one-night-only special concert. The show premiered off-Broadway in 2017 at Ars Nova in association with Ma-Yi Theater Company and Woodshed Collective, and Time Out New York called it a “delightful new musical” with “impressive breadth.”

Come From Away

Come From Away opened in 2017 and tells the true story of 7,000 passengers who were rerouted to a small town in Newfoundland on September 11, 2001. The town welcomed the stranded visitors with open arms. A heartwarming tale told in the midst of tragedy, this Broadway musical will leave you full of love, hope and belief in human kindness. The show was filmed and released on Apple+, and The New York Times called it, “a big bear hug of a musical.”

Dear Evan Hansen

Dear Evan Hansen opened in 2016 and won 6 Tony Awards including Best Musical. With music by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the same team behind The Greatest Showman and La La Land, this mega-hit speaks directly to any teenager who feels lost, misunderstood, or like they just don’t fit in. The New York Times called it a "gorgeous heartbreaker of a musical," and it has recently been adapted into a film of the same name.

Company

Company had its first preview in March 2020 and ran for less than two weeks before it had to close due to Covid. But by November 2021, the show was back up and running to sensational reviews. This musical by the late Stephen Sondheim follows Bobbie on her 35th birthday, and all her friends who keep asking, why isn’t she married? This musical explores relationships, marriage, love and human connection, and Time Out New York’s 5-star review called it, “the most satisfying Broadway revival of a Sondheim show in history.” This is high praise – the legendary Sondheim wrote the music and lyrics to Follies, Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park with George, and Into the Woods. Oh, and he started his career by writing the lyrics for West Side Story and Gypsy.

David Byrne's American Utopia

David Byrne's American Utopia spreads joy and happiness in an exhilarating show featuring David Byrne and a cast of hugely talented musicians. All about connection and hope, this show has closed after a successful run on Broadway but is available to stream on HBO Max. Variety calls it “an artistically brilliant and thought-provoking performance.”

for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf

for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf by Ntozake Shange is a celebration of the power of Black womanhood as seven women share their stories and find strength in each other’s humor and passion through a fusion of poetry, dance, music, and song. It originally premiered in 1976 and this anticipated reinvention of the classic returns to Broadway for the first time. The New York Times called it “a triumphant return” and a “thrilling and exuberant revival.”

Girl From the North Country

Girl From the North Country closed on January 23, 2022 but came back to the Broadway stage in April for an encore of fifty performances. Set in a Depression-era boarding house and featuring songs by Bob Dylan, Girl From the North Country received a Critic’s Pick and a rave New York Times review that called the show “profoundly beautiful.”

Mrs. Doubtfire

Mrs. Doubtfire started previews on March 9, 2020 and had to shut down just days later. It finally opened in December 2021. Based on the iconic movie starring Robin Williams, this musical tells the story of Daniel Hillard, an out-of-work actor struggling to stay in his kids’ lives after his divorce by creating the character of Euphegenia Doubtfire, a Scottish nanny. This heartwarming musical explores the lengths a family will go to stay together. Forced to take a hiatus in January 2022 due to Covid, the musical returned to stages in April 2022.

Paradise Square

Paradise Square is set in New York City, 1863. As the Civil War rages on, free Black Americans and Irish immigrants live together in tenements in the Five Points Slum in Lower Manhattan. The amalgamation between the communities took its most exuberant form with raucous dance contests on the floors of the neighborhood bars and dance halls. It is here in the Five Points where tap dancing was born. Within this galvanizing story of racial harmony undone by a country at war with itself, we meet the denizens of a local saloon called Paradise Square. They have conflicting notions of what it means to be an American while living through one of the most tumultuous eras in our country’s history.

Tina: The Tina Turner Musical

Tina: The Tina Turner Musical tells the previously untold story of music legend Tina Turner, a woman who defied convention and continues to push musical boundaries. From her childhood in Tennessee to being a global superstar, this musical opened in 2019 and is back after a long shutdown to delight audiences with songs like “Don’t Turn Around,” “River Deep Mountain High” and “Proud Mary.” Variety said, “Call ‘Tina’ a jukebox musical or a bio-musical or anything you want to call it, but above all, this is one fine specimen in the best showbiz tradition of the Great Big Broadway Musical.”

Mr. Saturday Night

Mr. Saturday Night sees Billy Crystal’s return to the Great White Way. This time he’s playing Buddy Young, Jr., a comedian seeking one more chance at fame 40 years after his TV career burned out. And while he’s at it, he’ll try to fix the family relationships he ruined along the way. This show has a Tony-Award winning team surrounding it with music by 3-time Tony winner Jason Robert Brown, lyrics by Tony Award nominee Amanda Green, and direction by Tony Award winner John Rando.

Access to the Best Broadway Musicals

And for comprehensive information about rush tickets, student discounts, the tkts booth in Times Square, lotteries, and other Broadway discount tickets, check out our article here for tips and tricks on how to get cheap Broadway tickets!

Kathryn Willingham

Head of Creative Development at Jean Doumanian Productions

Kathryn Willingham has worked in entertainment for over ten years, and recent credits include: Co-producer of SHRINK currently streaming on Peacock, Associate Producer of the independent film UNA, and Creative Executive on multiple theatrical productions including HANGMEN by Martin McDonagh on Broadway, NASSIM by Nassim Soleimanpour Off-broadway and Associate on productions EVERY BRILLIANT THING by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe and THE EFFECT by Lucy Prebble. She was Producer of Todd Almond’s musical travelogue “Wyoming and Parts of Kansas” and Production Coordinator for Karen O and KK Barrett's “Stop the Virgens.”

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Education: B.A. in English, Literature & Creative Writing from Rhodes College
Knowledge: Theatrical Production

Published

Oct 12, 2022

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