Every night along Broadway Avenue, lights turn down and curtains rise as actors and actresses take to the stage, bringing stories to life through the power of music and dance. Like movies and Hollywood, Broadway is considered the pinnacle of musical theatre, and it’s one of the most quintessentially New York activities you can do, especially as there are so many shows to choose from. From long running classics like Chicago and The Phantom of the Opera, to newer hits like Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen, there's something for everyone.
Broadway
The term ‘Broadway theatre’, or simply ‘Broadway’, refers specifically to 41 theatres in the Theatre District and Lincoln Centre of Manhattan, each with 500 seats or more. A great majority of these performances are musicals, and they've become an important part of American popular culture, with several of the most beloved musicals being adapted to film and television. Musicals have an incredible influence on society as well, with some of the more recent hits addressing sensitive issues such as immigration, poverty, capitalism and more.
Wicked
At the Gershwin Theatre on W 51st Street, audiences have been treated to the story before and behind The Wizard of Oz since 2003, watching Galinda flitting about on stage and cheering on Elphaba as she defies gravity. Originally played by Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel, Wicked’s popularity and importance in Broadway culture has not diminished over its nearly 20-year run, remaining one of Broadway’s staple musicals.
The Book of Mormon
Witty, dry and satirical, The Book of Mormon, opened in 2011, tells the story of two missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints’ as they attempt to preach to the villagers of a remote Ugandan village. “An atheist’s love letter to religion”, as Matt Stone, one of the show’s creators, puts it, The Book of Mormon is a fantastically funny performance that will leave you sore from laughing for days.
The Phantom of the Opera
The Angel of Music has been serenading audiences at the Majestic Theatre on W 44th Street since 1988. With well over 10,000 performances, it’s currently Broadway’s longest-running production to date, and with good reason. From the ethereal vocals of Christine Daaé to the mystery of the Palais Garnier’s resident phantom, this musical is endlessly entertaining, with some truly memorable musical scores—in fact, it has a sequel called Love Never Dies, though that has yet to have a Broadway production itself due to mixed reviews.
West Side Story
Adapted from the classic tale of star-crossed lovers, William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story brings to life a 1950s Upper West Side blue-collar neighbourhood in New York, divided by the Jets, a white gang, and the Sharks, a Puerto Rican gang. The musical marked the Broadway debut of the legendary Stephen Sondheim, and the dance sequences were choreographed by Jerome Robbins himself, so you can rest assured that you’ll be in for a treat when the curtain rises.
Off-Broadway
Just like how Broadway refers to theatre size, Off-Broadway specifically means productions put up in theatres of between 100 to 499 seats. The smaller sizes of these theatres lend a more intimate atmosphere to the performance, which adds to the overall effect of the musical or play. Off-Broadway is also something of a proving ground for newer productions, being less expensive and less commercial, but still allowing for shows to build up an audience. Who knows, you might just be watching the best new musical of the season coming to life.
Hamilton
Everybody and their mother wants to watch “the ten dollar founding father without a father” spit rhymes and spin the story of the American Revolution, as well as the nation’s first years of independence. Lin-Manuel Miranda worked on this project for a decade, and his hard work has more than paid off. The show has been praised not only for its markedly different sound and casting, but also for sparking an interest about America’s history with their youth. It's been enjoyed by royalty, presidents, celebrities and Everyday Joes alike. The show has been pretty much sold out since it started, but there are $10 lottery tickets to be won every night, so don't throw away your shot.
Hadestown
Greek mythology has been adapted, recycled and revamped a countless number of times since time immemorial, and Hadestown is an excellent addition to this group of adaptations. Originally a limited-run musical and then concept album by folk singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell, Hadestown is a retelling of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, as well as the myth of Hades and Persephone, set in a post-apocalyptic, Great Depression-esque world. The musicals numbers are a great mix of folk and jazz, and like Hadestown, are noted for being especially relevant to the current day and age, tackling issues of poverty, capitalism, and more. A particular fan favourite is the song “Why We Build the Wall”, written nearly a decade before talks of a physical border wall between the United States of America and Mexico, yet still hauntingly relevant.
A Chorus Line
Set on a bare stage of a Broadway theatre, A Chorus Line is a collection of stories of 17 dancers auditioning to be part of a production’s chorus line, as well as the choreographer for whom they audition. Full of heart and hope, A Chorus Line was one of the first Off-Broadway productions that inspired other producers to premier their shows Off-Broadway, and with such diverse stories as the dancers have, it’s always a treat to watch.
The Fantasticks
When it first ran, The Fantasticks performed over 17,000 shows over 42 years, and that run still remains the world’s longest running musical. The allegorical story of two fathers who pretend to feud to trick their children into falling in love, The Fantasticks is found not only in a professional stage, but also in amateur performances, as its easy set up—compared to most other Broadway and Off-Broadway productions—made it a staple of regional, community and high school performances.
Off-Off-Broadway
If you guessed that the extra ‘off’ in Off-Off-Broadway means that the theatres are getting smaller, you're right! Held in theatres with less than 100 seats, Off-Off-Broadway, sometimes known as indie or independent theatres, is almost a world away from Broadway proper. Initially borne out of an anti-commercial and experimental movement of drama and theatre, Off-Off-Broadway is where you'll find the true diversity of New York’s theatre entertainment. Aside from musicals and plays like Look Back in Anger and House Plant, Off-Off-Broadway is also home to magic acts and other performances, like Drunken Shakespeare and Chamber Magic, all in small, intimate venues across the five boroughs of NYC.
Bonus: Plays
If musicals aren’t your thing, Broadway does have several plays for you to enjoy as well.
To Kill a Mockingbird
This adaptation of the classic modern American novel of the same name began its Broadway run in 2018, and brings to life the story of Atticus Finch, his children Scout and Jem, and Boo Radley. Dealing with issues of racial inequality, gender roles and compassion, the play is a fairly faithful and impactful adaptation of Harper Lee’s classic.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Set almost immediately after the epilogue of the final book of the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child extends the story of the Golden Trio and their children, as they deal with an enemy who threatens the peace they've fought to protect. If you were a fan of the books and the movies growing up, this might be a magical way to spend your evening.
Shakespeare in the Park
A New York institution since 1962, if you’re in the city in the summer, this is undoubtedly one of the best things to do. Staged at the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park, the Public Theatre stages two productions from Shakespeare’s repertoire during the summer months, and gives away free tickets to people in the park and other locations in the city to watch the performances, so all you need to do is bring yourself to the theatre and get a good seat.
