Buying tickets to a Broadway show can be expensive, so it's important that before you purchase your Broadway ticket, you know you've picked the right play or musical. Consult our Broadway revies guide below to help you determine which Broadway Show is the best choice for your group or family. In each entry, we list the suggested age provided by the theater, as well as our own show summary and recommendations.
You can purchase Broadway tickets by clicking on the link under the name of each Broadway Show.
The 39 Steps
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Age No minimum age is specified by the theater, but babies cannot be brought to the show.
Summary A comic take on the Alfred Hitchcock classic, The 39 Steps is about a suave Londoner who meets a mysterious woman and soon finds himself caught up in her dangerous world.
Our Recommendation Fans of the film will laugh the hardest at this droll spoof, but even Hitchcock neophytes will be impressed by the show's manic energy (over 100 roles are played by just four actors!) and creative staging. |
August: Osage County
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Age May be inappropriate for 14 and under. Children under the age of 4 are not permitted in the theatre.
Summary When the family patriarch, a retired college professor and poet, goes missing, the highly troubled members of the Weston clan must reunite at his Oklahoma home.
Our Recommendation Full of every imaginable issue from drug abuse to incest, this three-hour Broadway play is almost like a grand soap opera, but playwright Tracy Letts' superb writing makes it rise above a dysfunctional family drama to become a great play that is terribly funny and terribly tragic. |
Avenue Q
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Age May be inappropriate for 12 years of age and under. (Avenue Q does employ puppets, however it is not suitable for young children.)
Summary A recent university grad moves into his first apartment and navigates love, work, and friendships in this Sesame Street-style satire of post-college life.
Our Recommendation The combo of human actors and puppets may make Avenue Q look like a kids' show, but songs like "The Internet is for Porn" and "If You Were Gay" point to a more adult sensibility. Clever jokes about everything from racism to the challenge of finding your purpose make this modern musical comedy a particular favorite of twenty and thirtysomethings. But just about anybody who has made the transition to adulthood (and, preferably, has also seen Sesame Street) can relate to the people and puppets of Avenue Q. |
Chicago
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Age May be inappropriate for 12 and under.
Summary Roxie Hart kills her lover and becomes a celebrity in this cynical satire of corruption in the criminal justice system set in 1920s Chicago.
Our Recommendation There is virtually no set in Chicago, so don't go expecting big visuals or bright colors. The appeal of this long-running Broadway revival is the sharp humor, the Bob Fosse-style choreography, and the jazzy tunes by Kander & Ebb (e.g. "All That Jazz"). Skimpy costumes, suggestive dancing, and sassy anti-heroines who murder without remorse make this musical suitable for more mature audiences. |
A Chorus Line
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Age May be inappropriate for 12 and under. (Mature themes.)
Summary While auditioning to be in the chorus of a Broadway musical, a diverse group of professional dancers re-live childhood memories and talk about what made them want to pursue their difficult career path.
Our Recommendation Few shows capture the joy and passion of performing the way that this modern classic does. A Chorus Line puts a spotlight on the individuals who we're used to seeing blend into the background of big Broadway musicals. This is not a flashy show -- much of the time, it's just the cast lined up on stage, talking -- but it is heartfelt, features a thrilling opening dance sequence, and has some wonderful songs by Marvin Hamlisch and Ed Kleban, such as "One" and "What I Did For Love." The show includes some honest discussions of sexuality and adolescent changes. |
Curtains
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Age Appropriate for 10 and over.
Summary In this comic romp, a Broadway-obsessed detective must figure out who is killing the cast and crew of the new musical Robbin' Hood.
Our Recommendation Curtains, from the songwriting team that brought us Cabaret and Chicago, doesn't bring much new to the backstage murder mystery genre, but it's a charming show and has an amazing cast headed by David Hyde Pierce. The script is peppered with racy one-liners, and some of the choreography is playfully suggestive. |
Grease
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Age Children under the age of 4 are not permitted in the theater.
Summary An homage to the teen culture of the 1950s, Grease is about Danny, the classic bad boy, and Sandy, the classic good girl who falls for him. "Summer Nights", "Greased Lightnin", "Those Magic Changes," "Look at Me, I'm Sandra Dee," and "We Go Together" are just a few of the memorable tunes from this sassy Broadway musical, which inspired the famous movie version starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.
Our Recommendation Fans of the NBC reality TV show Grease - You're the One That I Want, which let America choose the two unknowns starring as Danny and Sandy (Max Crumm and Laura Osnes), will want to catch this Broadway revival. The show does have some mature themes, such as teen pregnancy and sexuality, so parents may want to take that into consideration. |
Gypsy
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Age May be inappropriate for 6 and under. Children under the age of 4 are not permitted in the theatre.
Summary Patti Lupone is a larger-than-life stage mother in this legendary Broadway musical based (loosely) on the childhood of famed burlesque queen Gypsy Rose Lee.
Our Recommendation Gypsy tells the hilarious, sometimes heartbreaking story of a woman who will do anything to make her little girls famous, and the show features an amazing score bursting with tuneful songs like "Everything's Coming Up Roses" and "You Gotta Have a Gimmick". This is a good production of one of the greatest musicals of Broadway's Golden Age, but it is Lupone's presence that makes it a true Broadway Event. |
Hairspray
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Age No children under the age of 5 will be admitted.
Summary Music-loving teen Tracy Turnblad vyes for the heart of high school hunk Link Larkin and helps introduce racial integration to a Baltimore TV show in this rollicking 1960s-set Broadway musical comedy based on the John Waters movie of the same name.
Our Recommendation With its lively dancing and infectious doo-wop-inspired showtunes, Hairspray is a big, bright, and colorful crowd pleaser. The musical is a favorite among teenage girls and carries a good message about being proud of who you are and accepting of others. There is also a bit of subversiveness beneath Hairspray's bubble gum exterior, evidenced by the show's sly humor and, most noticably, by the fact that Tracy's doting mother Edna is always played by a man in drag (Harvey Fierstein originated the role). |
The Homecoming
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Age May be inappropriate for 16 and under. (Mature subject matter.) Children under the age 4 are not permitted in the theatre.
Summary In this dysfunctional family drama by English playwright Harold Pinter, curmudgeonly Max lives with his two sons and his younger brother. Tensions arise when Max's oldest son returns home with his alluring new wife.
Our Recommendation Pinter's unique style has made his work very influential, but it can also be very aggravating, especially to those with more traditional tastes. In The Homecoming, the characters and their actions are inscrutable and the dialogue is often repetitive and meandering. However, Pinter's fans love his biting dark humor and the power struggles that his characters engage in. |
In the Heights
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Age We recommend 8 years and older. While In The Heights has very positive family themes, it also contains some strong language and adult situations.
Summary The vibrant northern Manhattan neighborhood of Washington Heights comes to life in this rhythmic, heartfelt new Broadway musical about the denizens of a changing community.
Our Recommendation One of the most exciting new musicals of the last few years, In the Heights has a musical score that includes Latin and hip-hop and old-fashioned Broadway ballads. With electric choreography and terrific performances by a diverse cast, In the Heights brings the flavor of the New York City streets to Broadway. |
Jersey Boys
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Age May be inappropriate for 12 and under. (Strong language.) Children under the age of 4 are not permitted in the theatre.
Summary This biographical Broadway musical tells the story of how a group of tough young guys from Jersey became internationally renowned hitmakers Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.
Our Recommendation Jersey Boys is a smartly-written play about four men chasing after -- and dealing with the pitfalls of -- fame and an unforgettable concert rolled into one. Wonderfully sung and staged versions of all the Frankie Valli/Four Seasons hits are here, from "Walk Like a Man" to "Can't Take My Eyes Off You". |
Legally Blonde
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Age Not recommended for children under the age of 10.
Summary Sorority girl Elle Woods goes to Harvard Law to win back back her boyfriend, but she ends up getting a whole lot more, including a lesson in the importance of being true to yourself.
Our Recommendation This big Broadway musical is a fun, faithful adaptation of the popular film. It's a nice mix of clever and frothy comedy, with a good message that everyone (especially young women) can appreciate. |
The Lion King
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Age Disney recommends its productions for ages 6 and up.
Summary Based on the Disney animated feature, The Lion King is about Simba, a young lion who flees his home after being convinced that he was responsible for his father's death.
Our Recommendation Though some aspects of this Broadway adaptation of the movie still seem a bit too cartoon-y, the new African-inspired music and director/designer Julie Taymor's breathtaking puppetry and stage effects make The Lion King Disney's most innovative and theaterical show so far. |
The Little Mermaid
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Age Disney recommends its productions for ages 6 and up.
Summary A mermaid is unhappy with her life under the sea and finds love with a handsome human prince.
Our Recommendation A solid successor to the now-closed Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid creates a shiny, magical, underwater world onstage. In addition to memorable songs from the animated film version, such as "Under the Sea" and "Kiss the Girl," the Broadway version of The Little Mermaid features several new tunes, as well as an excellent (and real, live, human!) cast. |
Macbeth
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Age Recommended for 12 +. Children under the age of 4 are not permitted in the theatre.
Summary Patrick Stewart plays a Scottish general who is undone by his own ambition in this great Shakespearean tragedy.
Our Recommendation This bold and bloody production is a solid, if far from definitive take on the Bard's tale. As Macbeth becomes more paranoid and power mad, the body count rises, so be prepared for plenty of violence. And don't let the fact that Macbeth is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy fool you -- the show is still a good three hours long. |
Mamma Mia
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Age May be appropriate for ages 4 and older.
Summary Set in the Greek isles, Mamma Mia incorporates 23 tunes by pop group ABBA into its story about soon-to-married Sophie, her free-spirited single mom Donna, and three men from Donna's past -- one of whom, Sophie hopes to discover, is her father.
Our Recommendation Mamma Mia has become a worldwide smash since its London debut in 1999, and its biggest fans are usually the middle-aged crowd who fondly remember the disco days of ABBA. Women in particular enjoy watching fun-loving Donna and her two best friends reminiscing about their youth, when they were in a singing trio. Since the plot is a bit thin and the tone decidedly silly, the upbeat Mamma Mia is best appreciated as a big Broadway-style ABBA concert. |
Mary Poppins
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Age Disney recommends its productions for ages 6 and up.
Summary A very unusual nanny helps two children connect with their distant parents, and she shows them a bit of magic along the way. Based on the P.L. Travers stories and the Disney film.
Our Recommendation Fans of the books will be happy to see that this adaptation includes characters and adventures the film left out. Fans of the film may miss its simplicity (and a few of the songs). But everyone is sure to appreciate the excellent cast and impressive sets. Be aware that there are a few darker moments in the show that might scare smaller kids. |
November
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Age May be inappropriate for 14 and under. Children under the age of 4 are not permitted in the theatre.
Summary Nathan Lane stars as (fictional) U.S. President Charles Smith in this political comedy by David Mamet. The play unfolds over the course of a couple hijinks-filled days shortly before the incumbent President Smith is up for re-election.
Our Recommendation This election-year trifle deals with timely issues like gay marriage and torture in a mostly farcical manner. Not surprisingly, Mamet has his characters dropping F-bombs right and left, but the coarse language seems pretty out of place in this kind of lightweight play. The comedy doesn't quite land at first, but November builds up steam as it goes along. And it boasts a first-rate cast that also includes Laurie Metcalf and Dylan Baker. |
Passing Strange
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Age May be inappropriate for 14 and under. Children under the age of 4 are not permitted in the theatre.
Summary A young black man leaves his middle-class home in L.A. and goes on a sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll filled journey through Amsterdam and Berlin in this unusual new Broadway musical about an individual searching for his identity.
Our Recommendation Narrated with deadpan wit by musician/performer Stew, Passing Strange is part soulful coming-of-age musical, part rock concert, and part performance art piece. Whatever it is, it's definitely a funky, insightful, and unique experience. |
Phantom Of The Opera
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Age May be appropriate for 4 and older.
Summary A disfigured man who lives beneath the Paris Opera House becomes obsessed with a beautiful singer and "haunts" the owners until they make her the star of the opera.
Our Recommendation This romantic musical tends to be especially liked by female audiences, but in its 20-year Broadway run it has become popular with viewers of all kinds. The lush Andrew Lloyd Webber score boasts modern classics "Music of the Night" and "All I Ask of You". Despite the Phantom's penchant for singing seductive ballads, he is a really disturbed guy, so be aware that this often eerie musical does feature kidnapping and murder. |
Rent
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Age Not recommended for children under 14.
Summary Aspiring filmmaker Mark, his musician roommate Roger, and their bohemian friends encounter love, sorrow, and hope in New York City's East Village neighborhood. The show is loosely based on the opera La Boheme.
Our Recommendation With a youthful, energetic cast and a rock-driven score, Rent has been a major hit with teens since it opened on Broadway in the mid-'90s. The characters in the story, of varied ethnicities and sexual preferences, are meant to reflect the diversity of downtown NYC. Though the show deals with some heady issues (a few characters are HIV-positive), Rent is a life-affirming musical that celebrates the power of love and friendship. |
Spamalot
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Age May be inappropriate for children age 8 and under.
Summary King Arthur and his knights go in search of the Holy Grail and end up trying to create a Broadway musical in this glitzy and goofy adaptation of the British sketch comedy group's cult film Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Our Recommendation Spamalot is a mix of zany Monty Python wit (many scenes are basically lifted right out of the movie) and Broadway razzle dazzle. "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" and "Knights of the Round Table" have been turned into bombastic production numbers, and most of the new songs are parodies of other musicals. There's nothing very original in Spamalot, but it can be a ton of fun for Python or Broadway fanatics, or better still, folks who have had little exposure to either. |
Spring Awakening
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Age May be inappropriate for 13 and under. (Spring Awakening is recommended for mature audiences - for strong language, brief nudity, and adult themes.)
Summary Based on Franz Wedekind's controversial 1891 play, Spring Awakening charts the elation, confusion, and frustration experienced by a class of German teenagers struggling with adolescence.
Our Recommendation Spring Awakening is a thrilling fusion of period drama and modern youth culture, where well-behaved kids in breeches and dresses suddenly break out into punk anthems and beautiful pop ballads by rock tunesmith Duncan Sheik and writer Steven Sater. The show is hugely popular with young Broadway theatergoers, but it does deal graphically with themes like teen sexuality, child abuse, and other physical and emotional trauma. |
Sunday in the Park with George
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Age No minimum age is specified by the theater, but babies cannot be brought to the show.
Summary Inspired by French artist Georges Seurat's most famous painting, this Broadway revival is about a troubled artist who struggles to create his masterpiece while trying to maintain relationships with the people around him.
Our Recommendation As the obsessive artist of the title, English import Daniel Evans brings a humanity not seen often enough in this musical about art and life. Composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim's score is spectacular, but this production's talented yet way-too-tiny band struggles to do the ravishing music justice. |
Wicked
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Age Recommended age for children is 8 years and up. There is nothing of a vulgar or sexual nature, but there are adult themes.
Summary In this Broadway musical based on Gregory Maguire's novel (a "prequel" to The Wizard of Oz), we learn how Elphaba, a sensitive and misunderstood college student in Oz, came to be known as the Wicked Witch of the West.
Our Recommendation This popular Broadway musical is especially loved by tweens, who can relate to its tale of a young woman struggling to fit in, but audiences of all ages can appreciate the themes about prejudice and friendship, as well as the pop-infused score by Stephen Schwartz. If you're thinking of bringing your pre-tweens, bear in mind that, as in The Wizard of Oz itself, there are some scary scenes. |
Young Frankenstein
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Age There is a Four Year minimum age requirement for the Hilton Theatre.
Summary A new Broadway musical version of the 1974 Mel Brooks film, Young Frankenstein is a comic take on the horrific tale of a scientist whose mad experiments result in the creation of a monster.
Our Recommendation Mel Brooks' sense of humor may not be for everyone (certain key parts of the male and female anatomy figure into about 90% of the jokes), but for those who enjoy his lowbrow wit and giddy absurdism, Young Frankenstein will provide a monstrous good time. The songs are ho-hum, but the performances, sets, and effects are all fantastic. |
