Broadway shows are the pinnacle of live theatre in the United States. New York City’s Broadway district is home to iconic theatres that host extravagant musicals and plays seen by millions each year. With dozens of shows currently running, visitors to New York may wonder: what is the best Broadway show to see right now?
How to Evaluate the Best Broadway Shows
There are a few key factors that contribute to a show being considered one of the best on Broadway:
- Popularity – The longest running, highest grossing and most attended shows demonstrate audience enthusiasm.
- Critical Reception – Positive reviews, particularly Tony wins and nominations, indicate a high quality production.
- Production Value – Shows with standout elements like set design, costumes, lighting, and special effects.
- Talent – An exceptional cast, director, choreography, and other personnel.
- Storytelling – An engaging plot and score that enthralls audiences.
Of course every individual will have their own personal preferences, but analyzing shows across these areas provides a good methodology for determining the elite Broadway productions.
Most Popular Broadway Shows
One measure of a great Broadway show is its ability to draw in audiences week after week, year after year. These shows have demonstrated popular appeal over extended runs.
The Lion King
The Lion King stage musical adaptation of the classic Disney film of the same name is a true Broadway blockbuster. Having run for over 20 years since debuting in 1997, it is Broadway’s fourth longest running show of all time. The show has grossed well over $1 billion and has been seen by more than 100 million people. There have been 25 global productions in 9 different languages. With its imaginative use of puppetry and stage effects, The Lion King continues to be one of Broadway’s hottest tickets.
Opening Date | November 13, 1997 |
Total Performances | Over 9,000 |
Gross Earnings | Over $1 Billion |
Chicago
The glitzy musical Chicago has been a Broadway staple since its 1996 revival, which is currently the longest running revival in Broadway history. Set in prohibition-era Chicago, it follows the stories of two female inmates in Cook County Jail. Its distinctive Bob Fosse choreography and edgy portrayal of criminal celebrities has helped it stand the test of time. Having surpassed 10,000 performances, Chicago remains a sultry Broadway favorite.
Opening Date | November 14, 1975 (revival opened November 14, 1996) |
Total Performances | Over 10,000 |
Wicked
Wicked first cast its spell on Broadway audiences in 2003 and has remained one of Broadway’s most in-demand productions. This Wizard of Oz prequel tells the story of how the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch came to be. It has broken several Broadway box office records over its 17 year run. Key to its enduring success is a magical score featuring songs like “Defying Gravity” and “Popular.” Wicked has amassed over $1 billion and nearly 9,000 performances.
Opening Date | October 30, 2003 |
Total Performances | Over 9,500 |
Gross Earnings | Over $1 Billion |
Most Critically Acclaimed Broadway Shows
While popularity proves audience enthusiasm, critical acclaim demonstrates artistic merit. These current Broadway shows are standouts for their stellar reviews and industry honors like Tony Awards.
A Strange Loop
A Strange Loop debuted in 2019 off-Broadway before transferring to Broadway’s Lyceum Theatre in 2022. This boundary pushing meta musical follows an African-American gay man writing a musical about an African-American gay man. It received effusive praise for its originality, acting and emotional resonance. At the 2022 Tony Awards, A Strange Loop won Best Musical and Best Book, among other honors. The Pulitzer Prize board described it as “a funny, moving, original and profoundly contemporary musical.”
Tony Awards Won (2022) | Best Musical, Best Book, Best Performance by a Leading Actor, Best Direction |
The Book of Mormon
From the creators of South Park comes this hilarious and profane musical comedy about Mormon missionaries in Uganda. The Book of Mormon opened on Broadway in 2011 and instantly became a smash hit, lauded for its witty writing and catchy score. It won 9 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Book, and Best Score. Its juxtaposition of blasphemous humor with traditional musical theatre tropes make it a cutting edge crowd pleaser.
Tony Awards Won (2011) | Best Musical, Best Book, Best Score, Best Direction, Best Featured Actress |
Hamilton
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical juggernaut Hamilton took the world by storm when it premiered on Broadway in 2015, reinventing the modern musical with its hip-hop score and colorblind casting of Founding Fathers. It earned an astounding 16 Tony nominations, winning 11 including Best Musical, Score, Book and Direction. Its cultural impact and artistry has made Hamilton a prime example of the heights Broadway shows can achieve. It continues to be a hot ticket over 7 years into its run.
Tony Awards Won (2016) | Best Musical, Best Book, Best Score, Best Choreography, Best Direction |
Most Spectacular Broadway Shows
Technical elements like scenic design, costumes, lighting and stage effects create much of the magic in a Broadway show. These current shows stand out for their massive spectacle.
Aladdin
Disney’s Aladdin translates the beloved 1992 animated film to the stage in spectacular fashion. Lush sets and over 500 intricately designed costumes transport the audience to the fictional Arabian city of Agrabah. The Genie steals the show with multiple comical costume changes and illusion effects. The Cave of Wonders comes to life through scenic design, puppetry and lighting. Audiences say seeing the magic carpet fly is worth the price of admission alone.
Total Costumes | Over 500 |
Genie Costume Changes | Over 365 |
The Phantom of the Opera
After over 13,000 performances, The Phantom of the Opera remains a marvel of Gothic grandeur. The musty opulence of the Paris Opera House is rendered in vivid detail through towering sets and elaborate costumes. The famous crashing chandelier scene is a dramatic spectacle produced through complex rigging and pyrotechnics. Atmospheric lighting, candles and stage fog shroud the production in mystery befitting its phantom title character.
Moulin Rouge!
Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 pop musical film comes to life onstage in a blaze of color and movement. Moulin Rouge! overwhelms the senses with kaleidoscopic lighting and projections, decadent costumes, and sensuous choreography. Jukebox musical numbers are woven together through the Pop Musical’s iconic jukebox aesthetic, creating a visually arresting world. The vibrancy and scale of the production makes it Broadway’s most dynamic spectacle.
Costume Pieces | Over 200 |
Wigs | Over 135 |
Broadway Shows with the Biggest Stars
Seeing A-list performers live on stage provides a thrill unmatched in other entertainment. These Broadway productions feature casts stacked with household names.
The Music Man
There was palpable excitement when Hugh Jackman announced he would star as con man Harold Hill in a Broadway revival of The Music Man. Jackman is a consummate showman, evidenced by his commanding performance and box office records set during the show’s limited run. Sutton Foster brings star power as Marian opposite Jackman. Though Jackman and Foster have left the production, the legacy of their star turns remains.
Original Lead Actors | Hugh Jackman, Sutton Foster |
Highest Grossing Week (2022) | $3,074,825 |
Funny Girl
When Beanie Feldstein initially donned the frizzy wig to star as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl, it was her first major leading role after successes in smaller musicals and film. The revival became the hottest ticket in town when Dame Julie Andrews stepped in as a replacement starting September 2022. Seeing the legendary Oscar and Tony winner on stage in a career defining role is a monumental occasion.
Original Lead Actor | Beanie Feldstein |
Current Lead Actor | Julie Andrews |
The Piano Lesson
This August Wilson drama is revived on Broadway with an A-list cast in leading roles. Samuel L. Jackson portrays Doaker Charles, appearing on Broadway for the first time in over 40 years. Danielle Brooks is a force as Berniece opposite Jackson. Seeing these two titans of screen acting spar on stage is electric. A dream team creative also includes direction by LaTanya Richardson Jackson and a design team with 10 Tony wins between them.
Leading Actors | Samuel L. Jackson, Danielle Brooks |
Director | LaTanya Richardson Jackson |
Most Original & Innovative Broadway Shows
The best Broadway shows take the theatrical art form in new directions through imaginative stories, innovative use of technology and fresh aesthetics that wow audiences.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
This sequel to the beloved Harry Potter series brings Pottermania to the stage in a thrilling theatrical event across two parts. Groundbreaking illusions and special effects immerse the audience in the wizarding world like never before. Dramatic transformations unfold before the audience’s eyes through techniques like mechanical scenery, trap doors and manipulated lighting. Explosive scenes with high stakes drama make Cursed Child an unforgettable experience.
MJ The Musical
MJ The Musical offers a toe-tapping look at the creative process and career of pop legend Michael Jackson. Using state of the art technology, it creates surreal and symbolic sequences where MJ’s glove seems to float midair and videos interact with the live performers. Transformative costumes allow actors to embody MJ at different life stages. The show provides perspective on the real person behind the public persona through its meaty lead role.
Six The Musical
Six remixes the historical musical by transforming the six wives of Henry VIII into a 21st century pop girl group. These queens take turns singing songs in contemporary idioms like pop, rap, R&B and ballads to share their stories. By subverting musical theatre tradition, Six feels excitingly current. The arena style concert staging invites audiences to rock out and interact with the performers like their favorite pop stars.
Highest Rated Current Broadway Shows
Looking at critic and audience reviews on aggregate sites lets us quantify shows that achieve both critical and popular acclaim. The following shows score the highest across Broadway review platforms currently.
Show | Average Rating |
A Strange Loop | 4.8/5 |
The Book of Mormon | 4.7/5 |
Hamilton | 4.7/5 |
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child | 4.6/5 |
The Phantom of the Opera | 4.6/5 |
A Strange Loop
This daring, creative musical tops the ranks with the highest average rating between opening in 2019 through today.
The Book of Mormon
The hilarious satire has amazed audiences and critics alike for over a decade on Broadway.
Hamilton
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical masterpiece remains one of the hottest tickets in town.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
This magical theatrical event satisfiesPotterheads and general audiences alike.
Phantom of the Opera
After 35 years on Broadway, the lavish production still thrills audiences.
Conclusion
Based on an analysis across popularity, acclaim, talent, storytelling and innovation, the current Broadway show that rises above the rest is Hamilton. Hamilton’s sheer artistic achievement combined with its cultural impact make it the standout show on Broadway right now. It checks every box:
- Popular – Continues to gross over $2 million per week and sell out every performance years into its run. Tickets are extremely difficult to come by.
- Acclaimed – Won 11 Tony Awards, a Pulitzer Prize and universal rave reviews from critics.
- Talented – Lin-Manuel Miranda’s book, music and lyrics are widely considered to have reinvented musical theatre. The original cast included breakouts like Leslie Odom Jr., Renee Elise Goldsberry and Daveed Diggs.
- Innovative – Integrating hip-hop and R&B into historical biography was groundbreaking. The diverse casting provides a contemporary perspective on historical figures.
- Well-rounded – Excellent singing, acting, dancing, set design and costumes.
For these reasons, Hamilton stands in a class of its own and is the best Broadway show running in New York City right now. As Eliza Hamilton sings, it’s the greatest show in town! Of course, theatre fans are rewarded by experiencing as many of these stellar productions as possible when visiting New York City. But if you see just one, make it Hamilton for a breathtaking Broadway experience.