Best Broadway Shows and Musicals

Updated: 11 marzo 2024

There are so many great Broadway shows to choose from in 2024, so we’ve created this list of what’s on Broadway right now to help you pick the right one for you.

We love Broadway shows, and as local tour guides, we are lucky to be able to attend plays and musicals regularly.

Several of our tour guides are up-and-coming theater actors and we love discussing and debating with guests about which show is best.

We also run the very popular NYC Travel Tips Facebook Group where we regularly discuss all things Broadway and where we got some ideas for this post.

Our group of roughly 200k members consists of locals, frequent visitors to the city and newbies, -- and they all love sharing tips and tricks for visiting NYC!

You don't need to become a member to read the posts, comments, and recommendations, so consider checking the group out after you read this post.

And in this video, I go over the multiple ways you can get discounted tickets to Broadway shows.

Click here to find ticket prices for out what's playing. But before booking, take a look at our guide to finding Cheap Broadway Tickets.

Our list contains Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Off-Broadway shows. What's the difference?

Without further ado, here’s our list of the best current Broadway shows in NYC.


TOP BROADWAY MUSICALS AND SHOWS

ONGOING

Hamilton

Perhaps one of the best Broadway shows of all time, Hamilton tells the tale of Alexander Hamilton, one of America's founding fathers. 

With a musical score that blends show tunes, jazz, R&B, and even hip-hop, Hamilton captures a momentous moment in America’s birth. 

The real-life story provides insight into the complexity of Hamilton's relationship with figures like George Washington and Aaron Burr. 

The show won 11 Tonys including two for Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score, both composed by Broadway sensation Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Read more to find out how to get $10 tickets and other discount tickets to Hamilton.


Wicked The Musical

This prequel to The Wizard of Oz is a feel-good musical about how two young witches go from disliking each other to becoming close friends. 

wicked

The show follows the special friendship between Elphaba, an awkward green-skinned girl, and Glinda, a popular blonde, while they are students at sorcery school.

As the girls grow into their destinies as a Wicked Witch and a Good Witch, yet discover a strong bond between them.

Read here for Wicked Discount Tickets.


The Lion King

Chances are you have heard about the Lion King for years and have been waiting to get to New York City to see it. Now's your chance!

In case you don't know how good it is, this review from Time Magazine will convince you.

“Awe-inspiring! ….Taymor's imaginative ideas seem limitless. It's a gorgeous, gasp-inducing spectacle”.

Find out about getting Lion King Discount Tickets.


Moulin Rouge!

This musical tells the story of a young English poet, Christian, who falls in love with cabaret actress Satine, the star of the Moulin Rouge in Paris.

Moulin Rouge

The lavish stage production and seductive songs have made it a staple of Broadway. This lively show is guaranteed to entertain!


Little Shop Of Horrors

Everyone’s favorite carnivorous plant is back on an Off-Broadway stage and still entertaining audiences since its first debut in 1982! 

Shy floral assistant Seymour discovers a new kind of plant and not a very nice one. He names it Audrey II, after his coworker crush Audrey).

Audrey II’s insatiable desire for blood to keep it alive drags Seymour into a fiasco involving murder but he cannot keep up with Audry II’s appetite.

Meanwhile, Seymour plots to rescue the real Audrey from an abusive relationship. Things don't go as Seymour hopes, his plan is foiled and Audry II rules the day.


MJ The Musical 

This is by far one of the best Broadway shows that opened back in 2022!

Nominated for 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, MJ The Musical is a look back at the biggest moments in Michael Jackson’s illustrious career. 

The show looks at his life through the lens of 25 of his greatest hits.

The story is captivating, the choreography is wonderful and the songs are songs that we know so well.

Learn how to get discount tickets to MJ the Musical.


SIX

Six was one of the best Broadway shows that opened in 2021.

Through girl-group pop songs, the six wives of Henry VIII tell you about their not-so-happy lives (and deaths) with this infamous English King.

Six the Musical

This clever script was written when playwrights Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss were college students!

With eight Tony nominations in 2022 including Best Musical, SIX is one of the best shows on Broadway right now.


Harry Potter and The Cursed Child

This play takes place 19 years after Harry Potter graduated from Hogwarts.

He’s sent his son, Albus, to his alma mater where trouble brews again.

Albus has befriended Scorpius, the son of Draco Malfoy, one of Harry’s enemies.

The boys take a time-traveling journey, but trouble begins and Harry, Ron, and Hermione must help save their children and the Wizarding World.

Harry Potter and The Cursed Child has won countless awards and should be on your list of shows if you are traveling with kids!


Aladdin

Based on the Disney movie of the same name, Aladdin is the familiar tale of a poor young man who meets a Genie and is granted three wishes. 

Aladdin

With flying carpets, magnificent costumes, and of course a very special magic lamp, this highly successful Broadway show will let your imagination soar.

It’s especially good for families with young children!


The Book of Mormon

This musical comedy written by Trey Parker and Matt Stone (of the TV series South Park) together with Robert Lopez (composer of Avenue Q), has been a Broadway favorite since 2011. 

The Book of Mormon is a nine-time Tony winner including for Best Musical, so you can rest assured that this musical about mismatched Mormon missionaries sent to Uganda, will entertain!

Read here for Book of Mormon discount tickets.


Hadestown

This musical with a show book by indie musician Anaïs Mitchell and directed by Rachel Chavkin, is the recipient of 8 Tony Awards including Best Musical.

The plot weaves two Greek mythic tales, first the story of Orpheus and Eurydice, and second, the story of Hades, King of the Underworld, and his wife Persephone.

hadestown

The show features a stellar cast of actors, singers and dancers, who take the audience on a memorable voyage to the underworld and back. 


& Juliet

Created by the writer of the hilarious TV series, Schitt’s Creek, this comedic musical looks at the life of Shakespeare's Juliet if she hadn't ended it all over Romeo.

With upbeat pop songs like “Since U Been Gone,” “Baby One More Time,” and “Can’t Stop the Feeling,” this feel-good Broadway show is one not to miss!


Chicago

The Tony-winning production opened in 1996, the longest-running American musical in Broadway history.

It’s just as good as when it opened! 

This dazzling musical about adultery, murder and justice in the Roaring Twenties is exactly what Broadway is all about!


Back to the Future

This musical take on the 1985 movie Back to the Future has a showbook written by the writers of the movie screenplay, Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale. 

The musical is loosely based on the original screenplay, with main characters Marty McFly and Dr. Emmett Brown, though there are a few changes to the storyline. 

BTTF had a successful run in London’s West End and should be a fun experience for all who see this exciting show!


Kimberly Akimbo

*Closes 4/28/2024

In this musical comedy, Tony award-winning Victoria Clark stars as Kimberly, a bright and funny teenager from New Jersey. 

An aging disease makes Kim look like a 72-year-old woman, but that’s the least of her problems!

Family secrets, borderline personalities and possible felony charges don't stop Kim from searching for happiness, even when time is not on her side.



Some Like It Hot

The new musical is based on the classic 1950s comedic movie starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon.

It’s Chicago during Prohibition and two musicians (Christian Borle and J. Harrison Ghee) who witness a mob hit go on the run.

As an extra precaution, they disguise themselves as women which leads to hilarious consequences!

Directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw (Mean Girls, Book of Mormon, Aladdin), this musical is too hot to miss!


A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical

*Closes 6/30/2024

Sing along with Neil Diamond’s iconic songs, “Sweet Caroline” and “America” in this show that tells this singer-songwriter’s story from a poor kid in Brooklyn to a superstar.

Directed by Tony Award winner Michael Mayer (Hedwig and the Angry Inch) and written by four-time Academy Award nominee Anthony McCarten (Bohemian Rhapsody, The Two Popes), this show will inspire and delight audiences.


Sweeney Todd

This ever-popular spine-tingling musical began a run at the beautiful Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on February 26, 2023.

Sweeney Todd, the demon barber of Fleet Street seeking revenge in the bloodiest of ways, is played by Grammy award winner Josh Groban.

Together with Tony winner Annaleigh Ashford as Mrs. Lovett and a fantastic cast, Sweeny Todd is a show for lovers of clever dialogue, compelling music, and a touch of fright!


RECENTLY CLOSED

Here are just a few shows that have closed in the past several months. Sorry if you missed them!

The Cottage 

Jason Alexander (George from Seinfeld) makes his Broadway directing debut with The Cottage, a romantic comedy about sex, betrayal, love and possibly murder set in the English countryside in 1923.

When Sylvia exposes an affair to her husband and her lover’s wife, the meaning of identity, marriage and fate take center stage.

A star-studded cast of comedic actors includes Will & Grace’s Eric McCormack, Legally Blonde’s Laura Bell Bundy, Tootsie’s Lilli Cooper, and Beetlejuice’s Dana Steingold.


Once Upon A One More Time 

This musical featuring a few songs from Britney Spears follows a group of Disney princesses, including Snow White and Cinderella, who have a book club where they read their own fairy tales to each other.

Then a rogue fairy godmother replaces the monthly book with the 1960s feminist book, The Feminine Mystique.

The newly empowered princesses learn to take control of their lives and find an alternative ‘Happily Ever After’ where they are in charge.


Funny Girl

The first time this show opened on Broadway was in 1964 and Barbara Streisand played Fanny Brice, a determined girl from the Lower East Side who was determined to be a Broadway star.

This revival is every bit as wonderful as the original.

Hear iconic Broadway songs such as “Don’t Rain On My Parade,” “I’m the Greatest Star,” and “People” sung by Lea Michele, multiple award winner and star of the hit TV show Glee.


Bad Cinderella 

This tongue-in-cheek retelling of the classic fairy-tale features music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, an original story and book from Oscar-winning writer Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman) and lyrics by Tony Award winner David Zippel.

In this contemporary adaptation, Cinderella’s got her handsome Prince Charming and lives in the beautiful kingdom of Belleville. 

The townspeople are gorgeous and Cinderella’s godmother is a plastic surgeon.

Still, Cinderella’s true to herself and doesn't quite fit in. What measures will she take to please other people?


Good Night, Oscar 

This Emmy Award-winning play, set in 1958, follows the real-life Oscar Levant, (character actor), and his guest appearance on real-life Jack Paar’s popular late-night TV talk show. 

Levant and Paar were household names in the 1950s and chain-smoking, wise-cracking Levant did appear on Paar’s show multiple times. 

The play’s TV appearance is fictionalized and serves as a platform to explore Levant’s complex persona and the fine line he walked between genius and insanity.

This laugh-out-loud show stars actor Sean Hayes (Will and Grace) as Levant. His amazing performance makes this an unforgettable tragic-comedy.


The Phantom of the Opera

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s thrilling masterpiece is the longest-running show in Broadway history, premiering in 1988. It won seven Tony Awards including Best Musical. 

In this timeless tale, the ‘Phantom’ haunts the Paris Opera House. Ashamed of his appearance, covered by a mask, he falls in love with his protégée, Christine Daaé.

This romantic show proves that love is strong enough to conquer anything.


The Music Man

This spirited musical first arrived on Broadway in 1957 and was a smash hit! The latest revival, starring two-time Tony, Grammy, and Emmy winner Hugh Jackman, is just as good as the original!

Trouble starts brewing in River City when con artist Harold Hill shows up. His plans are derailed when he falls in love with the town librarian, Marian. You’ll want to sing along to the popular songs, “Seventy-Six Trombones”' and "Gary, Indiana".


Beetlejuice

Nominated for 8 Tony awards including Best Musical, this whimsical show is based on the 1988 film of the same name.

Lydia Deetz and her family have moved into a new house. The problem is the former occupants, Adam and Barbara Maitland want their house back. As they are now ghosts, they try to scare the Deetz’s out but have no success.

They call on the help of Beetlejuice, an unscrupulous bio-exorcist ghost who does whatever it takes to get the Deetz family to poach up and leave.


HOW TO GET DISCOUNT BROADWAY SHOW TICKETS

There are lots of ways to get discount Broadway tickets! Once you know how you may never pay full price again!

Our post on Cheap Broadway Tickets covers the different options such as the TKTS booth, ticket lotteries, Rush tickets and other money-saving tips.


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About The Author

Katherine Weatherford

I'm Katherine Weatherford and I'm a tour guide for Free Tours by Foot in NYC, but I have also been working professionally in theater for nearly two decades. I have worked onstage as an actor, both in New York as well as on the road, and have also worked behind the scenes as a choreographer, costumer, stage manager, and director. I am now the Co-Artistic Director of Greenwood Lake Theater , a professional theater company in the Hudson Valley. I love going to see shows of all kinds. Read More...
Updated: marzo 11th, 2024
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