Your Guide to Broadway Musicals
What is Broadway?
You may have heard the phrase that a show is "on Broadway," but what does that mean? A Broadway show is a musical or play that is held in one of the 41 professional theaters that have over 500 seats and are located in the Theater District of Manhattan. The Theater District is central to the Midtown neighborhood and hugs Broadway - the road that runs through the boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx. Hence the phrasing "On Broadway." However, many of these theaters are not exactly on the road of Broadway, so it may seem a bit confusing when you have to turn onto different streets to get to the shows, but don't worry, you're on the right path!
Most Broadway shows are musicals, but there are several plays that you can attend if show-tunes aren't your thing, or if you're just curious. This article will focus on the musicals.
What Are Some of the Broadway Staples?
Broadway runs are often open-ended and depend on critical response. If ticket sales are good, and stay good, then the show can go on for a very long time. See below for some of the currently-running Broadway staples.
On this list, my favorite shows are "Hamilton" and "Aladdin" (Aladdin was the very first Broadway musical I'd ever attended!) I also love "Wicked" as well, and that show is still ever so popular.
Chicago (1996 Revival)
"Chicago" is Broadway's longest running current show and musical, as it's been on Broadway since November 1996. It's also considered Broadway's longest running revival (A revival is when a show that has previously opened and closed on Broadway gets brought back several years later for a different production). "Chicago" has won several Tony Awards in its time, and so its a safe-bet if you're not sure what to go see.
The Lion King
"The Lion King" has been running since November 1997 and is still one of the most popular Broadway shows to attend. It's won several Drama Desk Awards as well as several Tony Awards - including the Tony Award for Best Musical in 1998. It's based off of Disney's 1994 film of the same name with music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice.
Wicked
"Wicked" has been on Broadway since October 2003 and is based off a 1995 book called "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West" which, in turn, is based off the story of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." The show is told from the perspective of the witches from the Land of Oz. "Wicked" has won 10 Tony Awards - including the award for Best Musical - and countless other awards as well.
The Book of Mormon
"The Book of Mormon" has been on Broadway since March 2011. It's also won several Tony Awards, including Best Musical. "The Book of Mormon" is a musical comedy and, because of its box office sales and positive critical response, is considered one of the most successful Broadway musicals of all-time.
Aladdin
"Aladdin" opened in March of 2014 and is based off the 1992 Disney movie of the same name. This musical brings back three songs that were written for the original film but not used, and adds four brand-new songs written for the musical. This production won both a Tony Award and Drama Desk Award.
Hamilton
"Hamilton" is one of my favorite musicals of all time. It opened August of 2015 and won 11 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, a Grammy Award, and a Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
Other Exciting Current Musicals
Shucked
"Shucked" opened on Broadway earlier this year (April 2023), and instantly became a massive hit. Not only did "Shucked" receive a positive critical response, but it also received nine Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical.
Hadestown
Written by Anais Mitchell, this musical opened on Broadway in 2019 to widespread critical acclaim. That year, at the Tony Awards, "Hadestown" received fourteen nominations, and won eight of them (including Best Musical).
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Filled with magic, illusions, and stage wizardry, "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child," has won several Tony Awards and has received positive reviews from critics. However, the response from the Harry Potter fandom has been quite polarized. Some fans thought that the characterizations and the dialogue were spot on, while some believe that certain choices made by some of the characters were not quite in line with the arc of the characters in the book. The only way to determine for yourself, however, is to watch the musical!
Kimberly Akimbo
"Kimberly Akimbo" has received widespread critical acclaim, and even won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
New York, New York
"New York, New York" is a brand-new musical that opened on Broadway in April of 2023. Despite mixed reviews, it did receive nine Tony Award nominations. It received one of those, for Best Scenic Design of a Musical.
Back to the Future: The Musical
"Back to the Future: The Musical" premiered on Broadway in June of 2023. It is based off the 1985 film of the same name. It features songs that are well-known from the "Back to the Future" films, including "The Power of Love" and "Johnny B. Goode." Even though it is a new production to Broadway, it has received generally positive reviews after its West End run (think British Broadway). Many agreed that this was a good homage to the original film.
Six
"Six" originally showed at Edinburgh Fringe Festival before eventually moving to the West End and, finally, in 2020, coming to Broadway. It has positive critical response across the board and even won a Tony Award for Best Original Score. "Six" is based off the six wives of Henry VIII
Things to Do Around the Theaters
Places to Stay
Wrapping Up
I hope this guide helped you get a feel for Broadway, what it is, and maybe helped you choose which show you want to see when you come visit New York!
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