From a truly bloody barber and tiger to classic fairy tales with unexpected twists, this upcoming Broadway season is filled with a host of spectacular shows. Check out TicketSmarter’s list of the top 10 anticipated Broadway debuts making their mark in 2023. No matter if you’re a fan of drama, comedy, or adventure, these productions will suit everyone who wants to enjoy them.
1. A Doll’s House
Academy Award winner Jessica Chastain will star in the newest adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s play, A Doll’s House. Directed by Jamie Lloyd, the play’s opening night is set for March 9 at the Hudson Theatre in New York. Having previously made a splash on Broadway in The Heiress, Chastain will take on the lead role as Nora Helmer, a married woman dissatisfied with her station in life that questions whether to stick by her family or take a chance to find herself.
2. Parade
Set in the early 1900s in Atlanta, Ga., Parade follows the trials of a man, Leo Frank, who is wrongfully accused of killing a young girl. Originally debuting on Broadway in 1998, this musical won two Tony Awards and is now being directed by Michael Arden (A Christmas Carol, Once on This Island.) Ben Platt (Dear Evan Hansen, Pitch Perfect) and Micaela Diamond (The Cher Show) will play Leo and Lucille Frank. Make sure to stop by Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on March 16 to see this drama play out.
3. Back to the Future: The Musical
The Doc and the DeLorean are back in this nostalgic adaptation of the classic ‘80s film series. In this musical Doc Brown and Marty McFly, played by Roger Bart and Hugh Coles, embark on an adventure back to the year 1955. With music and lyrics by Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard, Back to the Future: The Musical will also feature songs from the original film like “Johnny B. Goode” and “The Power of Love.”
Having received the 2022 Olivier Award for Best New Music along with 7 Olivier Award nominations, ‘80s fans and musical theater enthusiasts alike will have a great time seeing Back to the Future: The Musical when it debuts on Broadway this summer on June 30 at the Winter Garden Theatre.
4. Dancin’
After 41 years, Bob Fosse’s award-winning musical revue is returning to Broadway. Dancin’ is kicking off its first Broadway revival since it originally debuted in 1978. Wayne Cilento (A Chorus Line), who starred in the original production, is directing the show, with Nicole Fosse, Gwen Verdon and Bob Fosse’s daughter, as a co-producer. Featuring a wide mix of music genres and spectacular dance routines, Fosse fans will be delighted by the revival of this classic hit. Grab your Dancin’ tickets before they’re gone and catch opening night on March 19 at the Music Box Theatre.
5. Bad Cinderella
From the minds of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Emerald Fennell, follow this new version of Cinderella, played by Linedy Genao. In Bad Cinderella, the title character is the town misfit who deals with her mean stepmother and stepsisters while trying to find love in the flawless kingdom of Belleville. Laurence Connor (Les Misérables) directs this comedic musical where the typical aspects of fairy tales are challenged and audiences are shown the importance of loving and living for oneself, rather than others.
With rave reviews from publications like The New York Times and The Guardian, lovers of fairy tales will enjoy this musical where the dazzling damsel isn’t so perfect and stirs up trouble while searching for love. Bad Cinderella will debut on March 23 at the Imperial Theatre, with shows stretching out to the end of spring.
6. Life of Pi
Join Piscine ‘Pi’ Patel and Richard Parker the Bengal tiger as they learn to coexist while surviving for months at sea in this theater adaptation of the infamous book, Life of Pi. The book was such a success that there was a film adaptation in 2012, which won four of the 11 nominations from the Oscars, including for Best Director and Best Original Score. The themes of the play center on spirituality and hope in perilous situations. From the book to the big screen, Life of Pi will again captivate audiences when it debuts on stage at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on March 30.
7. Prima Facie
Jodie Comer (Killing Eve, Free Guy), makes her Broadway debut in Prima Facie on April 11 at the John Golden Theatre. As a multi-Emmy and BAFTA award-winning actress, it is impossible to deny Comer’s acting chops and fans of her work will be delighted to see her acting translated for the stage in this one-woman show. Prima Facie, written by Suzie Miller, spotlights Tessa, a young barrister wrestling with her morals and the power of the patriarchy after a surprising event. Directed by award-winning Justin Martin, Prima Facie is expected to bring a fresh force to the Broadway scene after completing a sold-out summer venture in London’s West End.
8. Pictures From Home
Larry Sultan’s photo memoir, Pictures From Home, is a new American play about the dramatic and comical lives of a small family, captured in photos by the son. Nathan Lane (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum), Zoe Wanamaker (Electra, Shadow and Bone) and Danny Burstein (Moulin Rouge!, Cabaret) star in this production directed by Bartlett Sher. Family ties, childhood memories and the quest for the American dream are explored in Sultan’s memoir. Introspective audiences will enjoy this production when it comes to Broadway’s Studio 54 on February 9. The play is expected to run throughout the spring, so don’t miss your chance to grab tickets and head to the Big Apple to catch the performance live.
9. Sweeney Todd
After more than 40 years, Sondheim and Wheeler’s Sweeney Todd returns to Broadway with an all-star cast, which includes Josh Groban, Analeigh Ashford, and Gaten Matarazzo (Stranger Things, Dear Evan Hansen.) Fans of the demon barber will be thrilled to see Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett team up to seek revenge and sell some of the best (and most unsettling) pies in London. This musical thriller will debut at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in NYC on March 26. Don’t worry if you can’t make it to opening night as the production is expected to run through the summer.
10. Peter Pan Goes Wrong
Get your tickets to this family-friendly rendition of Peter Pan, where chaos and comedy set course for Neverland for nearly 17 weeks at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, starting April 19. Peter Pan Goes Wrong is put on by the Cornley Drama Society, the same minds that brought audiences the Tony Award-winning hit, The Play That Goes Wrong. Be prepared to wipe tears from your eyes as Wendy, John, and Michael join Peter Pan and his crew in what the London Evening Standard called, “A joyous masterclass of physical comedy and general disaster!” With plenty of technical difficulties, flying hazards, and arguments among the cast, everyone that is young at heart will have a great time with this comical play.
Buy Broadway Tickets Today
Get your Broadway tickets today with TicketSmarter and experience these theatre productions debuting in the new year. To help with the hassles of finding accommodations, TicketSmarter’s travel planner is offering customers great deals on their travel and hotel plans. If you can’t make it to the Big Apple, don’t worry. We also have a list of five must-see Broadway shows touring in a city near you.
