New York City’s Broadway theater district is home to some of the most iconic and long-running musicals and plays in the world. At any given time, there are dozens of Broadway shows playing on the famous stages that line the Theater District in Midtown Manhattan. From record-breaking hits like The Lion King and The Phantom of the Opera, to recent Tony Award winners for Best Musical like A Strange Loop and Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Broadway attracts visitors from around the globe eager to see a show in the Live Theater Capital of the World.
Current Broadway Shows
As of October 2023, there are numerous Broadway shows running on Broadway in New York City. Some shows have been open for many years, while others just opened recently. The current Broadway shows include the following:
- The Lion King – Open since 1997, this musical based on the Disney animated film is Broadway’s fourth-longest running show.
- Chicago – This acclaimed Bob Fosse musical set in prohibition-era Chicago opened in 1996 and is Broadway’s second longest-running show.
- The Phantom of the Opera – Andrew Lloyd Webber’s famous musical is Broadway’s longest-running show, having opened in 1988.
- Moulin Rouge! The Musical – A jukebox musical with pop hits that won the 2021 Tony Award for Best Musical.
- The Book of Mormon – The outrageous religious satire musical by the creators of South Park opened in 2011.
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – A play set 19 years after the last Harry Potter novel that opened on Broadway in 2018.
- Hamilton – Lin-Manuel Miranda’s acclaimed hip-hop musical about Founding Father Alexander Hamilton opened on Broadway in 2015.
- Aladdin – The hit Disney musical based on the animated film opened in 2014.
- Dear Evan Hansen – Ben Platt starred in this original heartfelt musical that opened in 2016 and won 6 Tony Awards.
- Come From Away – This musical tells the true story of passengers stranded in a small town in Newfoundland on 9/11. It opened in 2017.
- The Music Man – Hugh Jackman stars in the big Broadway revival of the classic musical comedy that opened in 2022.
- Into the Woods – Stephen Sondheim’s fairy tale musical is back on Broadway in an all-star revival for 2022-2023.
In addition to long-running hits and recently opened shows, the 2022-2023 Broadway season will also see high-profile new musicals and plays open in the coming months, like a revival of Death of a Salesman with Wendell Pierce, a play about Michael Jackson called MJ The Musical, Hugh Jackman starring in The Music Man, Daniel Craig and Ruth Negga in Macbeth, and Patti LuPone in Company, among many other shows.
Most Popular Broadway Shows
Certain Broadway shows stand out as the biggest hits and crowd-pleasers based on longevity, ticket sales, profits, and pop culture relevance. Some of Broadway’s most popular shows over the past few decades include:
- The Lion King – Disney’s musical stage adaptation is one of the highest grossing Broadway shows of all time with innovative puppetry and stage effects. It has been seen by over 100 million people.
- Wicked – The Wizard of Oz prequel has run since 2003 and is acclaimed for its score and technical effects. It routinely grosses over $1 million per week.
- The Phantom of the Opera – Broadway’s longest-running show features an enduring score and lavish sets and costumes. It has been seen by over 140 million people.
- Hamilton – Lin-Manuel Miranda’s groundbreaking hip-hop historical musical became a massive crossover pop culture hit, with tickets impossible to get.
- The Book of Mormon – This hilarious satirical show from the South Park creators was a hot ticket when it opened in 2011 thanks to rave reviews and buzz.
- Mamma Mia! – The musical featuring ABBA songs ran from 2001 to 2015 and grossed over $2 billion worldwide through various productions.
- Jersey Boys – Featuring Four Seasons hits, this jukebox musical about Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons ran for over 11 years on Broadway.
- Dear Evan Hansen – Ben Platt’s star-making performance in this intimate original musical made it a cultural phenomenon and 6-time Tony winner.
These are just some examples of the most popular Broadway shows from the past few decades that achieved mass popularity, record-breaking sales, and permeated mainstream pop culture consciousness.
Longest-Running Broadway Shows
While popularity is one measure of a hit Broadway show, longevity is another impressive marker of success. The following are the shows with the most performances and longest runs in Broadway history:
Show | Opening Date | Total Performances* |
---|---|---|
The Phantom of the Opera | January 26, 1988 | 14,000+ |
Chicago | November 14, 1996 | 10,000+ |
The Lion King | November 13, 1997 | 10,000+ |
Cats | October 7, 1982 | 7,485 |
Les Misérables | March 12, 1987 | 6,680 |
*As of October 2023
These record-breaking Broadway shows have achieved impressive decade-plus (or more) long runs on Broadway, amassing thousands of performances over many years. They have become beloved icons and quintessential Broadway classics through their unmatched longevity.
Most Tony Award-Winning Broadway Shows
Winning a Tony Award—Broadway’s highest honor—is a major achievement and marker of success for Broadway shows. Here are the Broadway shows that have won the most Tony Awards in history:
Show | Tony Awards Won |
---|---|
The Producers | 12 |
Hello, Dolly! | 10 |
Billy Elliot the Musical | 10 |
The Book of Mormon | 9 |
South Pacific | 9 |
Hamliton | 11 |
These record-setting Tony-winning shows were recognized by the Broadway community for their superlative achievements in writing, music, performances, and technical theater. The quantity of their Tony wins signifies their impact on Broadway history.
Most Expensive Broadway Shows to See
Given the lavish productions, costumes, effects, and talent involved, Broadway shows can have very high ticket prices, especially for hit musicals and premium seats. Below are some of the Broadway shows that currently have the highest average ticket prices:
- Hamilton – $249 premium ticket average, as high as $549
- The Music Man – $225 premium ticket average, over $699 for best seats
- Into the Woods – $199 premium ticket average, up to $499 for prime seats
- The Lion King – $167 premium ticket average, up to $229 for optimal seats
- Wicked – $135 premium ticket average, best seats over $199
- MJ The Musical – $125 premium ticket average, up to $349 for optimal seats
Given these shows’ combination of high demand and must-see status for tourists and Broadway fans, their top ticket prices can soar. However, more affordable tickets can be found for most shows if bought well in advance or through lotteries and rush policies.
Most Successful Recent Broadway Openings
Looking at Broadway shows that have opened in the past 5 years, these stand out as the most successful based on ticket sales, profits, cultural impact, and buzz:
- Hamilton (opened 2015) – The history-making hip-hop musical became an unprecedented crossover phenomenon.
- Dear Evan Hansen (opened 2016) – The intimate original musical struck a chord with audiences and won 6 Tonys.
- Come From Away (opened 2017) – This feel-good 9/11 musical scored rave reviews and strong box office.
- Jagged Little Pill (opened 2018) – The Alanis Morissette jukebox musical earned 15 Tony nominations and won Best Musical in 2020.
- Ain’t Too Proud (opened 2019) – This musical about The Temptations was a hit with critics and audiences.
- Moulin Rouge! The Musical (opened 2019) – The pop musical spectacular based on the movie won 10 Tonys including Best Musical.
These recently opened Broadway shows managed to make a big splash quickly despite an ever more competitive environment. Their innovations and crowd-pleasing qualities made them breakout successes and highlights of the modern Broadway era.
Classics Returning to Broadway
In addition to new shows, timeless Broadway classics frequently return to the New York stage in high-profile revivals. Recent and upcoming revivals bringing back iconic shows include:
- West Side Story – Steven Spielberg’s Oscar-winning film adaptation sparked interest for the 1957 Leonard Bernstein musical to return in 2020 starring Isaac Powell.
- The Music Man – Hugh Jackman stars as Harold Hill in the hit 1957 musical comedy scheduled to open in late 2022.
- 1776 – A revised production of the 1969 musical about the signing of the Declaration of Independence came back in 2022 with female and minority casts members in major roles.
- Funny Girl – This Jule Styne and Bob Merrill musical is back on Broadway starring Beanie Feldstein and Lea Michele in 2022-2023.
- Death of a Salesman – The 1949 Arthur Miller play returns in 2022 starring Wendell Pierce and Sharon D. Clarke.
Revivals allow veteran Broadway theatergoers a chance to revisit their favorite shows, while also introducing classics to new audiences in fresh interpretations.
Trending Topics and Themes on Broadway
Analyzing what is currently showing on Broadway provides insight into trends and common themes that reflect the preoccupations of culture today. Some trending topics on Broadway stages right now include:
Representation and Inclusion
Broadway is showcasing more diversity than ever before in casts, characters, and stories. Hamilton famously used race-conscious casting to allow actors of color to portray the Founding Fathers. More recently, 1776 was revived with a multiracial, multi-gender cast, while Kimberly Akimbo focuses on the story of a teen with a rare condition.
Revivals and Adaptations
Well-known titles like Death of a Salesman, 17 Again, The Music Man, Funny Girl, Top Hat and Some Like It Hot are being revived or adapted for new Broadway productions. Relying on pre-existing familiar stories with built-in audiences remains a go-to strategy.
Jukebox Musicals
Crowd-pleasing musicals built around existing pop music catalogs are still a major trend, as seen recently with Jagged Little Pill (Alanis Morissette), MJ The Musical (Michael Jackson), A Beautiful Noise (Neil Diamond), and upcoming shows featuring music from Jimmy Buffet, Bob Dylan and Whitney Houston.
Interactive and Immersive Experiences
Some shows are experimenting with interactive and immersive elements, like having characters interact with audience members (Beetlejuice) or even taking the action into the seating area (Mr. Saturday Night). Sleep No More combines theater with an immersive, choose-your-own-adventure haunted house.
Plays with Limited Runs
Along with open-ended musicals and revivals, Broadway also offers special limited engagement plays. These buzzy straight plays usually only run for a set period of weeks or months. Upcoming limited run plays include:
- The Piano Lesson – August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play stars Samuel L. Jackson, Danielle Brooks and John David Washington.
- The Minutes – Tracy Letts’ dark comedy about a city council meeting gone awry stars Armie Hammer and Jessie Mueller.
- A Christmas Carol – Jefferson Mays reprises his one-man performance of over 50 Dickens characters.
- Ohio State Murders – Audra McDonald stars in Adrienne Kennedy’s drama about an African-American writer.
These special engagements create an aura of urgency for theatergoers eager to catch buzzy new works and star-driven performances before they close.
How to Get Broadway Tickets
There are several ways for visitors to purchase tickets to currently running Broadway shows in New York City:
- Directly at the theater box office – Same-day tickets can be purchased at theater box offices when they open each day.
- Online in advance – Secure advance tickets from official sites like Telecharge.com and Ticketmaster.
- Discount ticket booths – Booths like TKTS in Times Square sell same-day tickets at 20-50% off.
- Lottery and rush policies – Enter lotteries and rush ticket lines at theaters to win affordable seats.
- Reseller sites – Secondary marketplaces let users resell tickets, often at marked-up prices.
- Broadway ticket packages – Packages from theater companies and travel providers bundle tickets with perks like meals and tours.
Booking tickets early online is recommended for the most choice and reliable access to popular shows that are likely to sell out quickly, especially hit musicals.
Conclusion
Broadway remains one of the most exciting destinations for dynamic performing arts in the world. From record-breaking hits like The Lion King, to recent critical and commercial successes like Hamilton, and revivals of classics like West Side Story, there is an incredible range of shows for theater lovers to experience.
Understanding the current Broadway offerings, most popular shows, newly opened productions, returning classics, and how to get tickets provides helpful insight for anyone planning a theater-filled trip to New York City. Broadway continues to showcase incredible talent and evolving theatrical innovations while also retaining its iconic status as the heart of America’s live theater scene.