The 13 Best Broadway Plays in New York 2024
Are you planning your next trip to New York? You have to go to a Broadway show–otherwise, you haven’t truly had the New York City experience. Known as the place for the top-of-the-line of theatre productions in the entire world, Broadway features both musicals and plays for your viewing pleasure.
In this article, I will go through each play on Broadway, so you can decide which show is a must-see for you!
My tip: Don’t forget to check my article about the best musicals and Broadway shows in New York.
All You Need To Know About Current Broadway Plays in NYC
Full List of What’s Playing on Broadway as of May 2023
- A Doll’s House
- Fat Ham
- Good Night, Oscar
- Grey House
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
- Leopoldstadt
- Life of Pi
- Peter Pan Goes Wrong
- Prima Facie
- Summer, 1976
- The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window
- The Thanksgiving Play
What is the difference between a musical and a play on Broadway?
Plays are shows that tell a story with spoken dialogue, while musicals are shows that tell their stories with song and dance included. Both musicals and plays can be adapted from other source materials, such as movies and books.
-
01 One of the best Broadway plays: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Following the conclusion of the book and movie series Harry Potter, the Broadway play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child picks up after the epilogue. Focusing on Harry Potter’s children, a time-traveling journey, and the magic of the wizarding world, this Broadway play is perfect for fans of the series and those who are looking for a show with magical charm and imagination.
The play will have you wondering—what if the original series didn’t quite go to plan? What if things changed?
- Open Since: December 7, 2021
- Closing Date: No Closing Date
- Venue: Lyric Theatre
-
02 Good Night, Oscar: An amazing Broadway plays for date night
Good Night, Oscar is a play set in 1958 that centers on The Tonight Show. The play follows host Jack Paar (played by Sean Hayes) with his favorite guest in a show that will have you laughing more than you’ve ever laughed in just an hour and a half.
A humorous period piece, Good Night, Oscar is a great choice for a Broadway play for date night filled with laughs, great acting, and a small cast, close-knit performance.
Facts & Tickets
- Open Since: April 24, 2023
- Closing Date: August 27, 2023
- Venue: Belasco Theatre
-
03 Leopoldstadt
Leopoldstadt is a dramatic play that spans from 1899 to the 20th century, set in the Jewish quarter of Vienna. It shows fifty years of time in the life of an extended family over two hours and explores themes like love, beauty, endurance, and family. The inspiration behind the piece comes from the writer’s (Tom Stoppard) own family.
This performance is recommended for ages 10 and up and has no intermission. Leopoldstadt is nominated for the 2023 Tony Awards.
Facts & Tickets
- Open Since: October 2, 2022
- Closing Date: July 2, 2023
- Venue: Longacre Theatre
-
04 Life of Pi - CLOSED
A newer addition to the Broadway stage, the best-selling book and award-winning film Life of Pi comes to life. The play is about a young boy named Pi who becomes stranded on a small lifeboat with four animals—a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan, and a Bengal tiger. The show is nominated for the 2023 Tony Awards.
Life of Pi uses gorgeous puppets and puppeteers to bring the animals to life on stage. This show is recommended for ages 10 and up.
Facts & Tickets
- Open Since: March 30, 2023
- Closing Date: No Closing Date
- Venue: Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre
-
05 Prima Facie
The Broadway premiere of Suzie Miller’s Prima Facie is finally here! The play follows Tessa, who is considered to be young and brilliant at her job as a lawyer until she is expected to come to grips with the force of the patriarchy and how sexism plays into law. Prima Facie is nominated for the 2023 Tony Awards.
Be aware that there are references to sensitive subject matters in this show, including sex, violence, and sexual assault.
Facts & Tickets
- Open Since: April 23, 2023
- Closing Date: July 2, 2023
- Venue: John Golden Theatre
-
06 Fat Ham - CLOSED
Have you been waiting to see a queer adaptation of Hamlet? Well, don’t wait a minute longer! Fat Ham is a queer, modern rewrite of the classic Shakespeare play and follows Juicy, a young Black man from the Southern U.S. Visited by the ghost of his father, and he is told that he must avenge his father’s murder—but what if he doesn’t want to?
FAT HAM IS A 2023 TONY AWARD NOMINATED PLAY AND A DELICIOUS COMEDY YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS!
Facts & Tickets
- Open Since: April 12, 2023
- Closing Date: June 25, 2023
- Venue: American Airlines Theatre
-
07 Peter Pan Goes Wrong - CLOSED
Ever heard of The Play That Goes Wrong? Well, meet Peter Pan Goes Wrong. Also known as a show that actively makes fun of itself, with comedy, mishaps, and inter-cast issues. The fictional Cornley Drama Society tries its best to put on a great show and tell the story of Peter Pan, but everything just seems to keep going wrong!
Peter Pan Goes Wrong is recommended for ages 8 and up and will leave you in stitches.
Facts & Tickets
- Open Since: April 19, 2023
- Closing Date: July 9, 2023
- Venue: Barrymore Theatre
-
08 Grey House
Celebrity Cast Members: Laurie Metcalf, Tatiana Maslany, and Paul Sparks
The star-studded Grey House is a new horror show on Broadway, which follows a couple who gets into a car crash in a remote location. Upon seeking shelter, they find themselves among unusual hosts, who are surprisingly welcoming and offer to shelter them through a snowstorm.
However, the snowstorm doesn’t end, and things only get spookier as the couple gets to know their hosts and the house. This show is appropriate for ages 12 and up.
Facts & Tickets
- Open Since: May 30, 2023 (Previews started April 29, 2023)
- Closing Date: No Closing Date
- Venue: Lyceum Theatre
-
09 Summer, 1976
Celebrity Cast Members: Laura Linney, Jessica Hecht
With stars Laura Linney and Jessica Hecht, the premiere of David Auburn’s Summer, 1976 is finally here. The show is unique in that it features the two stars as the only cast members to show the story of Diana and Alice, two unlikely friends. They navigate major themes like independence, motherhood, ambition, and intimacy while their relationship unfolds.
Summer, 1976 is also nominated for the 2023 Tony Awards.
Facts & Tickets
- Open Since: April 25, 2023
- Closing Date: June 10, 2023
- Venue: Samuel J. Friedman Theatre
-
The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window By Lorraine Hansberry Directed by Anne Kauffman BAM Harvey Theater Brooklyn, N.Y. February 3, 2023 Photo Credit: Julieta Cervantes10 The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window
Celebrity Cast Members: Oscar Isaac and Rachel Brosnahan
The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window is set in 1960s Greenwich Village and is a political drama. It follows Sidney and Iris Brustein as they maneuver their social circle, their marriage, and progressive dreams in a satirical and witty format. The show originally debuted on Broadway in 1964 and, in its resurgence, has been nominated for the 2023 Tony Awards.
Be aware that the show contains content about racism, antisemitism, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, substance abuse, and suicide.
Facts & Tickets
- Open Since: April 27, 2023
- Closing Date: July 2, 2023
- Venue: James Earl Jones Theatre
Broadway Plays for Families
Broadway Plays for Date Night
Funny Broadway Plays
Broadway Plays with Celebrity Cast Members
FAQ
What is the most famous Broadway play?
According to Playbill, the longest-running play in Broadway history is Life with Father which ran from 1939 to 1947. The second longest-running play in Broadway history is Same Time, Next Year, which ran from March 14, 1975, to September 3, 1978.
What is the difference between a musical and a play on Broadway?
Plays are shows that tell a story with spoken dialogue, while musicals are shows that tell their stories with song and dance included. Both musicals and plays can be adapted from other source materials, such as movies and books.
What is the difference between Broadway and off-Broadway?
The difference between Broadway and off-Broadway productions is in the size of the theater – not the location of the theater. Broadway productions typically have 500+ seats.
You'll also love this:
