There is no experience quite like seeing a Broadway show. Between the bright lights and breathtaking performances, these productions continue to wow crowds year after year and have legacies that have lasted for decades.
To help you plan your next trip to NYC, we have compiled a list of the best Broadway shows playing right now including plays and musicals, both classics and new hits. No matter your preferred genre, you are sure to find something you love.
Broadway in New York City
New York City’s theatre scene dates back to 1750 when Walter Murray and Thomas Kean introduced the public to the Theatre on Nassau Street in Lower Manhattan. They primarily presented Shakespeare’s plays and occasional operas. In the 1840s, entertainment pioneer P.T. Barnum opened Niblo’s Garden which became a premiere destination for New York nightlife.
More than a century later, Broadway and the Times Square Theatre District was designated as a national historical site. This helped to save and renovate some of the area’s iconic theatres, rekindling a love of the arts.
Top 10 Broadway Shows Playing Now
Below is a list of our selections of the top 10 Broadway shows playing right now, which includes Disney classics adapted from film, biopics and theatre classics.
The Lion King
This powerful tale about the King of the Jungle debuted at Minneapolis’ Orpheum Theatre in July of 1997 and made its way to Broadway in November. It is now Broadway’s third longest-running show after more than 9,000 performances. Like the film of the same name, The Lion King features music from Sir Elton John and lyrics from Tim Rice. It is the resident show at Minskoff Theatre in New York and is a popular touring production as well.
Aladdin
Another Disney favorite, Aladdin debuted in 2011 at the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle. It is based on the book of the same name by Chad Beguelin and features music by Alam Meken. This magical musical made its Broadway debut in 2014 at the New Amsterdam Theatre which it has called home ever since. Enjoy your favorite songs like “Arabian Nights” and “A Whole New World” live on stage.
Chicago The Musical
Take a trip back to the Jazz Age with this 1975 musical adaptation from John Kander and Fred Ebb. Chicago, based on the 1926 play by reporter Maurine Dallas Watkins, follows a group of glamorous female criminals. The musical debuted at the 46th Street Theatre and made its way to Broadway in 1996. Following the April close of Phantom of the Opera, Chicago is now the longest-running active show on Broadway and showings can be enjoyed at the Ambassador Theatre.
Moulin Rouge! The Musical
This charming jukebox musical is based on the popular 2001 film of the same name starring Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman. It was directed by Baz Luhrmann, who also produced Giacomo Puccini’s La Bohème for Broadway. Moulin Rouge was written by him and Craig Pearce. It opened at the Al Hirschfield Theatre on Broadway in 2019 and won 10 awards including Best Musical at the 74th Tony Awards.
Sweeney Todd
The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and Mrs. Lovett’s meat pies have become a Broadway staple since opening in 1979. With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, this captivating musical transports viewers back to Victorian London. Sweeney Todd is now in its third revival on Broadway at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre with a star-studded cast that includes Annaleigh Ashford, Thomas Kail and multi-platinum recording artist Josh Groban.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
This magical play written by Jack Thorne takes inspiration from the hit fantasy series and focuses on Harry Potter’s son, Albus Severus Potter, who is preparing for his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The play debuted on the West End in 2016 and made its way to the Lyric Theatre in 2018. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child earned the title of Best Play at the 2018 Tony Awards and has become an international phenomenon for wizard-loving families.
Wicked
Keeping with the magical theme, there is perhaps no bigger success of the 21st century than Stephen Schwartz’s Wicked. This 2004 musical spins the classic tale of the Wizard of Oz into the perspective of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West. It premiered on Broadway at the Gershwin Theatre with Idinia Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth in starring roles and won three Tony Awards as well as a Grammy Award for the cast recording. It is Broadway’s fourth-longest-running show and is set for an upcoming two-part film adaptation.
Hamilton
The breakout 2015 hit Hamilton, by Lin-Manuel Miranda, tells the story of the Founding Fathers of the United States. It premiered Off-Broadway in 2015 at the Public Theater in Lower Manhattan, then transferred to the Richard Rodgers Theatre in 2015. Hamilton earned a record-breaking 16 nominations and took home 11 awards at the 70th Tony Awards including Best Musical. It also received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2016.
The Book of Mormon
Trey Parker, Matt Stone and Robert Lopez wrote this irreverent musical comedy about two missionaries from the Church of Jesus Chris of Latter-day Saints who travel to a remote Ugandan village. The Book of Mormon debuted at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre in 2011 and has since grossed more than $700 million while earning nine Tony Awards including Best Musical. It also won a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. Not bad for the guys from South Park!
SIX
Despite being one of the newer musicals on this list, SIX has established itself as a fast favorite since opening at the Lena Horne Theatre in 2021. It premiered at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2017 and moved to the West End in 2019 before crossing the Atlantic. It had a brief run in Spring 2020 before Broadway went on hiatus, but was impressive enough to win Best Musical Score at the Tony Awards that year. SIX is a modern retelling of the lives of Henry VIII’s six wives in the form of a pop concert.
Best New Broadway Shows in 2023
Nominations for the 2023 Tony Awards highlight some of the best new Broadway plays and musicals that opened this year. We will dive into a few of the highlights below.
Best Musical
There are a few classic choices in this category including Some Like It Hot and New York, New York, but there are intriguing newcomers too. For example, & Juliet is a jukebox musical that reimagines what our title character’s life would have looked like if she did not die at the end of the famous Shakespeare play. It debuted in 2021 at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre and is up for nine awards including Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Lorna Courtney) and Best Costume Design.
Kimberly Akimbo is based on David Lindsay-Abaire’s book and 2001 comedy that follows a teenage girl with a medical condition that makes her age rapidly. After a short Off-Broadway run at the Linda Gross Theater, it moved to Broadway’s Booth Theatre in 2022. It was nominated for eight Tony Awards.
Opening at the Nederlander Theatre in April 2023, Shucked is one of the newest of the group. It follows Maizy and Beau, two residents of Cobb County who are forced to delay their nuptials when the year’s corn crop is damaged. It is up for nine awards including Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Alex Newell).
Best Play
Fat Ham, which is playing at American Airlines Theatre, is a modern retelling of Shakespeare’s Hamlet that centers on a queer college student actively working to break the family cycle of trauma and violence to gain independence. The play by James Ijames won the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and was nominated for six Tony Awards this year.
Tom Stoppard’s Leopoldstadt follows a Jewish family in Vienna who was forced to flee home during the Holocaust. Originally directed by Patrick Marber, this powerful play premiered in 2020 in London’s West End and opened on Broadway in 2022. It is now showing at Longacre Theatre.
Other nominees in this category include Stephen Adly Guirgis’ Between Riverside and Crazy, Cost of Living by Martyna Majok, and Jordan E. Cooper’s Aint No Mo.’
Recommended Broadway Shows
- Best Show Overall: Chicago
- Best Broadway Show For Kids: The Lion King
- Best Broadway Show For Teens: Wicked
- Best Broadway Shows For Adults: Hamilton
- Best Show for Date Night: Moulin Rouge!
- Best Show for Disney Fans: Aladdin
- Best Unconventional Broadway Show: Book of Mormon
- Best New Broadway Show: & Juliet
Tips for Attending Broadway Shows
Broadway shows typically run Tuesday through Saturday with a 7 or 8 p.m. curtain call. Matinee performances are often sprinkled throughout the week as well and can be a more affordable option if you have a flexible schedule during the day. You can find more tips for enjoying Broadway on a budget in TicketSmarter’s blog.
When preparing for a show, it is important to consider the unspoken rules of Broadway etiquette. These include business casual dress, early arrival to the theatre and minimal conversation during a show. Remember, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many families, so respecting other people’s space and allowing them to focus on the performance is paramount.
If you are planning a family trip, consider age-appropriate shows like The Lion King, Aladdin, Wicked and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Their familiarity with the stories and the films will help keep them engaged and entertained. There are several other options too, but these are considered some of the best Broadway shows for kids.
Buy Broadway Tickets Today
Now that you are a little more familiar with the best Broadway shows playing right now, it’s time to start planning your trip to the Theatre District. If you are coming in from out of town, check HotelPlanner for exclusive New York travel deals and get your Broadway tickets now.
