Around this time every year we’re hit with a bunch of new shows on Broadway aiming to find an audience and become contenders for the Tony Awards. This year’s crop is predominantly made up of revivals like The Wiz and Cabaret and stage adaptations of some well-known stories such as The Notebook and The Great Gatsby.
Despite not having many original shows, a couple of new ones have made it to Broadway after a successful pre-Broadway tryout. One in particular we are excited about is Alicia Keys’s Hell’s Kitchen. Read on to explore what’s new on Broadway this year!
- Water for Elephants: A stage adaption of the movie (that starred Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson) that was adapted from Sara Gruen’s 2006 novel. This show is said to bring the circus to Broadway as we follow the adventures of a young man as he begins a new life by joining a travelling circus.
- The Notebook: We loved the book, we loved the movie even more, and now we can fall in love with the musical! Nicholas Sparks’s famous novel is coming to the stage with a score written by indie singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson (think Grey’s Anatomy tear jerker songs). We can’t wait to watch Allie and Noah’s love story unfold night after night (after night) on stage. The only thing that would get us more excited for this musical would be if Ryan Gosling himself were starring in it.
- The Great Gatsby: A couple of our AWNY gals saw this musical during its pre-Broadway run and were pleasantly surprised! The musical stays true to the original story while adding some solid songs that allow its two stars, Broadway faves Jeremy Jordan and Eva Noblezada, to really shine.
- Hell’s Kitchen: Some of you may have already seen this musical created by Alicia Keys during its successful pre-Broadway run late last year. The story is loosely based on Keys’s coming of age in NY and stars a Broadway favorite, Shoshana Bean. If that isn’t enough to excite you, just think of the opportunity to belt out Girl on Fire or Empire State of Mind in a Broadway theatre!
- Suffs: This new musical, written by Shaina Taub (who wrote the lyrics to the Devil Wears Prada musical alongside Elton John), takes a close look at the American suffrage movement early in the 20th century. It had a successful pre-Broadway run in NY and will star Jenna Colella (Come from Away fame) and Nikki M. James (Book of Mormon Tony winner).
- Patriots: From Peter Morgan, The Crown’s creator and primary writer, Patriots stars Michael Stuhlbarg (Boardwalk Empire and The Pillowman) as billionaire Boris A. Berezovsky as he helps Vladimir Putin rise to power only to find himself engaged in an ill-fated battle of near-Shakespearean proportions.
- Lempicka: There has been a lot of buzz around this new musical, which tells the story of Tamara Lempicka, a Polish painter who fled to Paris during the Russian Revolution and became internationally known for her art deco portraits. We expect this to be an outrageous musical as Lempicka was well known for her lavish parties and many love affairs with men and women.
- Mary Jane: She may not be in the Notebook musical but you will still get a chance to catch Rachel McAdams on stage this year. She will be making her Broadway debut in this play about a single mother who is the caregiver to her chronically ill son. Expect another true tearjerker, but you’ll need to get in quick as it will only have a limited Broadway run from April 2nd – June 2nd, 2024.
- The Heart of Rock and Roll: This musical, inspired by the chart-topping anthems of Huey Lewis and the News, is jam-packed with hits you know and love. It centers on a couple of thirty-somethings who know exactly what they want from life—until they find each other. Step into an era when the airwaves sizzled, and bands with platinum dreams rocked every dive bar.
- Cabaret: This latest revival of the World War II musical is coming to Broadway after a sold-out run on the West End in London. It stars Eddie Redmayne as Emcee (for which he won the Olivier Award) and is said to be an intimate yet electrifying show—one that the AWNY team can’t wait to see!
- The Wiz: This revival first hit the Broadway stages in 1975 yet many of us would know it from the movie adaptation which starred Diana Ross and Michael Jackson. Though the show made history at the time, it has always received mixed reviews, especially when compared to its original counterpart, The Wizard of Oz. This year’s revival updates the story a little and provides more of a backstory to Dorothy and her days in Harlem. The team behind this revival have gone all out when it comes to the dance numbers, costumes and setting so don’t forget to ease on down, ease on down to the Marquis Theatre when it opens.
Get in quick for any show that piques your interest, as Broadway can be a brutal world, and any show that isn’t packing in the crowds and doesn’t find success once the Tony nominations come out in May may not be around for too long!
TICKET BUYING TIPS: It’s no secret Broadway tickets can be on the expensive side, especially if you’re taking the whole family or treating your out-of-town visitors. Fortunately for NYC’s theater-lovers, reputable discount tickets exist if you know where to look.
For online discounts: We recommend checking out Today Tix for discount offers available on a broad range of popular Broadway shows.
For same-day “rush” tickets: TKTS discount booth (look for the red stairs in Times Square) for same-day ticket offers to some of the best shows at up to 50% off.
Theatre box office: If you’re keen to avoid some of those pesky handling fees, plan to purchase your tickets direct from the box office at the show’s theatre.
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