Must See Shows on Broadway

A visit to New York wouldn’t be complete without catching a show on Broadway. Anyone who wants to enjoy live theater at its finest must visit this incredible place. With over 40 professional theaters in the district, it can be difficult to choose which show to enjoy. Here are my recommendations.

Hamilton

I don’t think anyone will be surprised that this highly acclaimed musical is on my list of favorite shows on Broadway. On its surface, a story about Alexander Hamilton and the founding fathers sounds pretty dull. The genius of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s work is that he managed to make history both relevant, accessible, and entertaining for the masses. The show appeals to theater goers across the spectrum. The show is one of the rare few to achieve both critical and popular acclaim. Check it out for yourself to see what all the hype is about.

Wicked

See Oz as you never knew it in this musical based on the novel by Gregory Maguire. Wicked has been a hit for over a decade and has now grossed over $1 billion at the Broadway box office. Stephen Schwartz’ now iconic songs provide the perfect soundtrack to the story of the unlikely friendship between the Wicked Witch of the West and The Good Witch.

Hello Dolly

This much loved story is delighting audiences once again. This time the show features Emmy, Tony, Golden Globe and Grammy Award winner Bette Midler in the title role. Dolly Gallagher Levi is a professional matchmaker who has been hired by a rich and cantankerous widower by the name of Horace Vandergelder in 1880’s Yonkers. Horace does not realize that Dolly has the perfect match for him already in mind: herself! All she has to do is make him realize it.

The Book of Mormon

While controversial (what else would you expect from the Emmy Award winning creators of South Park?), The Book of Mormon has proven to be a hit. This outrageously funny musical about a pair of mismatched Mormon missionaries sent to Africa has been an award winning and commercial hit. Complete with 19 original songs and eyebrow raising lines, this show has won over a whole new generation of musical theater fans.

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical

In its third year on Broadway, Beautiful has come to become of the best loved jukebox musicals in the district. The play tells the story of Carole King’s rise to fame as one of pop music’s most enduring songwriters. The story shares the turbulence in her personal life that threatened to stop her musical pursuits. Viewers get to enjoy all of Carole King’s hit songs while sharing in the rollercoaster of emotions that are part of her story.

There are certainly more shows that I can add to this list: The Lion King, Dear Evan Hansen, and Kinky Boots come to mind. There are just too many incredible Broadway shows to choose from! Don’t forget, you can also catch great Broadway shows in L.A. as well!