You dream of seeing a Broadway musical while in New York City? In this article, I explain everything you need to know about the best Broadway shows to help you prepare your trip and the activities you will do once in the City That Never Sleeps! 😊
For me, going to see a Broadway show is a must-do activity on any trip to New York City. Broadway is a mythical place, and it is also the best place in the world to see a musical! 😀
Where to book tickets to see a Broadway show?
If you want to see a Broadway musical while in New York City, it is often best to book your ticket in advance. And if you're going to see one of the big shows that draw large crowds, such as Chicago or Aladdin, reserving your seat becomes mandatory.
Even if you book early (weeks or months in advance) you may not be able to get a discount on these shows, so there is no economical advantage. However, if you wait too long, you may realise that there are no seats left to buy for the date of your choice 😕
Some websites can be very interesting if you already know the dates of your stay and want to secure your seat for a Broadway show. Through them, you will be able to find current promotions, a show calendar, and even receive alerts if a promotion appears.
Of course, on Broadway, you will also be able to see shows that have less notoriety. Whether you have a show in mind or just want to experience a Broadway show, there are several ways to find a ticket 🎫
The best broadway shows
1. Chicago, the Musical
This mythical musical, based on a play from the 1920s, was already a great success on Broadway in the second half of the 1970s. In 1996, it made its comeback in a modernised version, and it won numerous awards. Today it is one of the longest running Broadway shows.
This show plunges the spectator into Chicago in 1924, and follows the story of Roxie Hart, who after killing her lover, finds herself in prison and meets Velma Kelly, a star of the entertainment world. The two protagonists aim to regain their freedom and become famous.
Useful information
Prices | From £67 |
Where | Ambassador Theatre |
Audience | 12+ years |
Duration of the musical | 2h30 |
Where to book? |
2. The Lion King
Nowadays, The Lion King is probably the most famous musical on Broadway. I can only advise you to book very early if you want to attend this show which sells out every day. Produced by Disney, this show tells the story of the young lion Simba, who after the death of his father will have to live many adventures to reach the throne and become the king of the Pride Lands.
In this show, the singers, actors and dancers are all dressed as animals. Music star Elton John, who was already singing in the cartoon, is one of the two co-writers of the songs of this musical. This show has been playing since 1997 at the Minskoff Theatre.
Useful information
Prices | From £87 |
Where | Minskoff Theatre |
Audience | 6+ years |
Duration of the musical | 2h30 |
Where to book? |
3. The phantom of the Opera
The Phantom of the Opera is the longest-running show on Broadway. It has been performed since 1988 at the Majestic Theatre, one of New York City's most beautiful theatres. This musical is an adaptation of the famous French novel of the same name, written by Gaston Leroux and first published in 1910.
Set in Paris at the Palais Garnier, it tells the tragic story of the talented actress Christine Daaé and the two men who fall in love with her, the aristocrat Raoul de Chagny and the mysterious Phantom of the Opera, a masked man living in the basement of the palace. For more details, click on the "book now" button below.
Useful information
Prices | About £75 |
Where | Majestic Theatre |
Audience | 5+ years |
Duration of the musical | 2h30 |
Where to book? |
4. Aladdin
Here is another musical inspired by a great Walt Disney classic: the story of Aladdin. The Hit Broadway Musical allows itself to take a little more freedom than the animated film. You'll get to experience the story of Aladdin, Jasmine and the terrible Jafar in a whole new light, and hear all the cult songs from the cartoon, as well as many others that were written especially for the show.
Useful information
Prices | About £70 |
Where | New Amsterdam Theatre |
Audience | Everyone |
Duration of the musical | 2h |
Where to book? |
My favourite Broadway musical ❤️
The show Six: the Musical has become famous worldwide since 2017. The show was originally a graduation project, yet it has now become a Broadway staple! It tells the story of the 6 wives of King Henry VIII, who sing about how fed up they are with their lives as wives. The show is pop, with music inspired by great singers such as Beyoncé and Shakira. The women speak out and assert themselves in this feminist tale tinged with humour 🙂
5. Blue Man Group
If you're looking for a truly atypical show, don't hesitate and go see these 3 masked men’s show. Initially, the 3 artists were performing in street shows and after being discovered, these talented men started to perform their show at the Astor Place Theatre.
Comfortably seated, watch a series of gags, comedy, special effects and music led by these three blue characters. This show, which has been delighting audiences for over 20 years, will blow your mind and ears! Children and adults alike can enjoy the show. For more details, click on the booking button in the table below.
Useful information
Prices | About £61 |
Where | Astor Place Theatre |
Audience | 5+ years |
Duration of the musical | 1h45 |
Where to book? |
6. West Side Story
This is probably the most mythical musical of all. It was played at the Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway for the first time in 1957, and was also a huge success when it was adapted for the cinema in 1961.
The story is largely based on Romeo and Juliet. Tony and Maria, two teenagers madly in love with each other, are caught up in the conflict between the two rival gangs they belong to, the Jets and the Sharks.
In 2020, this iconic show returned to Broadway in a bold, modern adaptation with a completely new direction and choreography.
Useful information
Prices | Between £34 and £173 |
Where | Broadway Theatre |
Audience | 12+ years |
Duration of the musical | 1h45 |
Where to book? | Tickets are not currently available |
7. Wicked
Wicked is one of Broadway's best known comedies. It has been performed since 2003 and still attracts a lot of spectators today. It is without a doubt one of the best musicals to see. This comedy is a true work of art in its entirety. The story depicts the unlikely friendship between two apprentice witches, who are at odds with each other, in the period preceding the story of The Wizard of Oz. The paths of these two apprentices separate and we discover their fates.
The staging and costumes are sublime. This show, which has already won a Grammy and 3 Tony Awards, is sure to leave you enthralled. It is open to all and will appeal to both children and adults.
Useful information
Prices | About £97 |
Where | George Gershwin Theatre |
Audience | 6+ years |
Duration of the musical | 2h30 |
Where to book? |
8. Moulin Rouge!
The Moulin Rouge musical is in fact the stage adaptation of the 2001 film of the same name, starring Nicole Kidman. So if you enjoyed the film, you'll certainly enjoy this multi-Tony Award-winning show!
The performers – no less than twenty in number – are very talented. They will tell you the love story between a cabaret star named Satine, and Christian, a writer. The story takes place in Paris in the 1900s. The play is a colourful and light show, with highly technical performances by the artists on stage.
Useful information
Prices | About £96 |
Where | Al Hirschfeld Theatre |
Audience | 12+ years |
Duration of the show | 2h30 |
Where to book? |
9. Ain't too proud - The life and times of the temptations
This musical, which has been playing on Broadway since February 2019, is one of the biggest hits of recent years. The story focuses on the rise to success of the Temptations, a famous Rhythm & Blues and Soul band, founded in Detroit in the early 1960s.
Useful information
Prices | About £96 |
Where | Imperial Theatre |
Audience | 13+ years |
Duration of the musical | 2h30 |
Where to book? | Tickets are not currently available |
10. Hamilton
Why not attend a performance of a show that has recently (since 2015) made a big splash on Broadway? The show Hamilton tells the story of one of the founding fathers of the United States: Alexander Hamilton. Orphaned, he arrives in the United States and will play an important role in the country's independence.
The special thing about this musical is that you will not find any 'spoken' words – everything is sung or rapped.
History and a musical culture tinged with rap, rhythm and blues and hip hop are intertwined to give you a wonderful time. Hamilton is the most Tony-nominated comedy to date, with a total of 11 awards 👍
Useful information
Prices | About £157 |
Where | Richard Rodgers Theatre |
Audience | Everyone/Fluent English required |
Duration of the musical | 2h45 |
Where to book? | Tickets are not currently available |
11. MJ the musical
This comedy, performed on Broadway since 2021, retraces the life of Michael Jackson through no less than 25 of his songs. It is based on the book by writer Lynn Nottage. The show takes us into the reconstruction of the artist's life and the development of his famous Dangerous World Tour.
The choreography is very impressive and the show is well worth seeing! Myles Frost, who plays the world-famous star, is impressive in his interpretation of the late singer.
MJ the Musical also won several Tony Awards 🏆 It is truly a show I recommend to everyone – even more so if you are a fan of Michael Jackson! 😉
Useful information
Prices | About £207 |
Where | Neil Simon Theatre |
Audience | 8+ years |
Duration of the musical | 2h30 |
Where to book? |
12. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Have you always wanted to know the next part of the Harry Potter saga? Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is just what you need! 🤩 The script is written by J.K. Rowling, and it is the one and only sequel to the Harry Potter story. The events take place 19 years after Harry Potter's victory against Voldemort. Harry has three children and Ron and Hermione have a daughter.
The show still lasts about 3.5 hours, so sit comfortably! Despite its duration, the performance is captivating because of the novelty of this sequel. During those few hours, you will be immersed in the world of Harry Potter – to savour the continuation of his story with magnificent staging and effects.
Don't forget to book your tickets for the show though, for it is very popular! 🙌
Useful information
Prices | About £67 |
Where | Lyric Theatre |
Audience | 10+ years |
Duration of the musical | 3h30 |
Where to book? |
Other options for buying tickets to musicals
Rush tickets & Standing room Only
Rush Ticket are the way to go if you don't mind waiting for hours. On Broadway, if you want to see some of the biggest shows, you can go to the front of the theatre or venue at least an hour and a half before the box office opens and get tickets for much less than the regular price.
You can buy tickets for $30 or $40 (£23 - £30), while average prices are usually around $110 (£85) – and even more expensive for the best seats. However, you can only buy a maximum of 2 tickets, for the same day's session, and you will not be able to choose your location. The total number of tickets available is not announced, and it is first come, first served! 😁
These seats will allow you to attend the show standing up, usually at the back of the theatre, or on the sides, for about $25 (£19). I recommend checking the theatres' websites, or even going directly to the box office the day before, to see if Rush Tickets or Standing Room Only will be available.
Broadway ticket lotteries
These ticket lotteries were initiated by the show producers to allow everyone to try their luck and attend some of the biggest Broadway shows at an extremely discounted rate.
Lotteries can be organised directly on site, in the hours before the show or a few days before, but nowadays, they are more and more often held online.
The way these lotteries work is simple: you will only have to register to participate in the draw. If you are selected, you will have the opportunity to get very good seats, often in the first rows, and to attend the show you will have chosen at a price that defies all competition. Depending on the musical, tickets available through these lotteries range from $30 to $50, while their original prices often exceed $200.
The TKTS Stands
If you didn't plan to go to a show at all, and you feel like going at the last minute, I suggest you try your luck at the TKTS stands. You can find them in many places like Times Square or Lincoln Centre, and they will allow you to buy tickets for the shows taking place the same night or the next day.
You won't find tickets to every Broadway show at these kiosks, but the selection is often quite large, and you'll have the opportunity to take advantage of discounts ranging from 15% to 50%. Sometimes, there are also special rates for students or people under 26. To find out where TKTS stands are, remember to take a good look on one of the city maps 😉
That's it for this article on Broadway musicals! If you want to learn more about what to do in New York City during your stay, feel free to check out my article on the subject! I also tell you all about accommodation in the Big Apple if you don't know yet where to sleep in New York 😊
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