The best Broadway shows in NYC
Our critics list the best Broadway shows. NYC is the place to catch these exciting plays, musicals and revivals.
Each year, about 13 million locals and tourists take in Broadway shows at one of NYC's 40 Broadway theaters. Most of those venues are located in the theater district—roughly, 41st Street to 52nd Street and Sixth Ave to Eighth Ave. Each season brings a new wave of megamusicals, plays and star-driven revivals. Some boast gold from the Tony Awards. At the height of the fall and spring seasons, be sure to check our homepage for new critics picks, reviews and cheap broadway tickets. Nosebleed seats at Jersey Boys might go for $62, but premium seats at The Book of Mormon go as high as $477. The savvy consumer can find discount tickets at most Broadway shows. NYC hurry—the curtain’s about to rise!
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See the best Broadway shows in NYC
Beautiful—The Carole King Musical
Broadway’s latest boomer jukebox musical never achieves the comic zip or dramatic force of Jersey Boys, but it is an appealing and skillfully built vehicle for Carole King’s hit ditties and soulful ballads. It's a lovable love letter to a fine songwriter and natural woman.—David Cote
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The Book of Mormon
If theater is your religion, and the Broadway musical your particular sect, it’s time to rejoice. This gleefully obscene and subversive satire is one of the funniest shows to grace the Great White Way since The Producers and Urinetown. Writers Trey Parker and Matt Stone of South Park, along with composer Robert Lopez (Avenue Q), find the perfect blend of sweet and nasty for this tale of mismatched Mormon proselytizers in Uganda.—David Cote
The Color Purple
John Doyle’s intense revival of the 2005 musical brings out its deeper hues. As an abused African-American woman who learns to value herself, the exceptional Cynthia Erivo gives a performance of magnetic directness and simplicity, supported by a mighty sisterhood of performers that includes Jennifer Hudson and Danielle Brooks. The show blossoms into a classic; it’s here, and it’s beautiful.—Adam Feldman
Fiddler on the Roof
Revelatory direction, eloquent visuals and that sublime klezmer-inflected score by Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Bock—what more do you need? A great Tevye, and Danny Burstein is nothing short of a miracle, finding the modern mensch as well as the hard-nosed, belief-bound peasant in Bartlett Sher’s magnificent, life-affirming revival.—David Cote
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Hamilton
Composer-lyricist-star Lin-Manuel Miranda forges a groundbreaking bridge between hip-hop and musical storytelling with this sublime collision of radio-ready beats and an inspiring, immigrant slant on Founding Father Alexander Hamilton. A brilliant, diverse cast takes back American history and makes it new.—David Cote
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Jersey Boys
The Broadway musical does right by the jukebox with this behind-the-music tale, presenting the Four Seasons’ energetic 1960s tunes (including “Walk Like a Man” and “Big Girls Don’t Cry”) as they were meant to be performed.—Adam Feldman
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Kinky Boots
Harvey Fierstein and Cyndi Lauper’s fizzy crowd-pleaser, in which a sassy-yet-dignified drag queen kicks an English shoe factory into gear, feels familiar at every step. But it has been manufactured with solid craftsmanship and care, and is boosted by a heart-strong cast led by Wayne Brady. The overall effect is nigh irresistible.—Adam Feldman
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The Lion King
Director-designer Julie Taymor surrounds the Disney movie’s mythic plot and Elton John–Tim Rice score with African rhythm and music. Through elegant puppetry, Taymor populates the stage with a menagerie of African beasts; her staging has expanded a simple cub into the pride of Broadway.—Adam Feldman
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Matilda
Based on Roald Dahl’s book about a child prodigy who must outwit a sadistic headmistress and horrid parents, this English musical delivers mischievous fun while hitting the requisite sentimental notes and smuggling in an antiauthoritarian message. Tim Minchin’s cheeky Britpop score and Matthew Warchus’s cartoonish staging combine for delight.—David Cote
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School of Rock
A white-hot Alex Brightman goes beyond the inevitable Jack Black impression for this surprisingly fresh and well-built stage version of the 2003 comedy about a kid band formed in an uptight prep school. Andrew Lloyd Webber's pop-pastiche score is propulsive, the uniformed, rockin'-out students are cute, and the book hits the right emotional notes. School’s in—forever.—David Cote
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There are some great long running and new shows currently on Broadway. It's been almost 12 years since I first saw Wicked, but I would still jump to go see it again tomorrow. Regardless of how many times I have been. (it's a bit embarrassing to admit, so I won't). The Color Purple is a terrific revival this season that is not to be missed by theatre fans. We all know the buzz around Hamilton, but since none of us can get tickets, we can all just jam out to the cast album or enter the online lottery everyday! School of Rock is also a lot of fun. The kids freaking ROCK in that show! See a show this season!
BOOK OF MORMON IS DA BOM DIGGITY