Broadway

Stay gold, everyone! [*The Outsiders*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/34093-the-outsiders) on Broadway has set its complete cast ahead of its New York premiere. Performances begin at the [Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/bernard-b-jacobs-theatre) on March 16 ahead of an April 11 opening.

Dan Berry completes *The Outsiders* principal cast as Paul Holden. He joins the previously announced Brody Grant as Ponyboy Curtis, Sky Lakota-Lynch as Johnny Cade, Joshua Boone as Dallas Winston, Brent Comer as Darrel Curtis, Jason Schmidt as Sodapop Curtis, Emma Pittman as Cherry Valance, Daryl Tofa as Two-Bit Mathews and Kevin William Paul as Bob Sheldon.

All but Lakota-Lynch, Boone, Tofa, and Pittman make their Broadway debuts with the show.

*The Outsiders* Broadway cast also includes Jordan Chin, Milena J. Comeau, Barton Cowperthwaite, Tilly Evans-Krueger, Henry Gendron, RJ Higton, Wonza Johnson, Sean Harrison Jones, Maggie Kuntz, Renni Anthony Magee, SarahGrace Mariani, Melody Rose, Josh Strobl, Victor Carrillo Tracey, and Trevor Wayne.

Adapted from the landmark novel by S. E. Hinton, *The Outsiders* follows the complicated brotherhood and coming of age shared among teenage gang members all but abandoned by the world. Danya Taymor directs the musical written by Adam Rapp with Justin Levine, with songs by folk duo Jamestown Revival (Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance) and Levine.

As previously announced, the creative team also includes music superviser, arranger, and orchestrator Levine; choreographers Rick and Jeff Kuperman; scenic designers AMP featuring Tatiana Kahvegian; costume designer Sarafina Bush; lighting designer Brian MacDevitt; sound designer Cody Spencer; projection designer Hana Kim; and music director Matt Hinkley.

Check back for information on *The Outsiders* tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

*Photo credit: Brody Grant, Sky Lakota-Lynch, Brent Comer, Dan Berry, Daryl Tofa, Emma Pittman, Jason Schmidt, Joshua Boone, and Kevin William Paul. (Photos courtesy of production; Boone photo by Drew Gurian)*

'The Outsiders' completes Broadway cast

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The Outsiders on Broadway - NYC

The Outsiders on Broadway

The new musical adaptation of S. E. Hinton's 1967 coming-of-age novel begins New York performances at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre in mid-March of 2024.

Welcome to Fleet Street! Joe Locke will join the [*Sweeney Todd*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/26216-sweeney-todd-on-broadway-tickets) Broadway cast at the [Lunt-Fontanne Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/lunt-fontanne-theatre) beginning January 31.

Locke makes his Broadway debut in the role of Tobias, originated in this production by fellow TV star [Gaten Matarazzo](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/gaten-matarazzo). Locke is best known for playing the starring role of Charlie Spring in the Netflix TV series *Heartstopper*. He is also set to star in Disney+ and Marvel's *Agatha: Darkhold Diaries* next year.

The current cast of *Sweeney Todd* on Broadway features [Josh Groban](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/josh-groban) as Sweeney Todd, [Annaleigh Ashford](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/annaleigh-ashford) as Mrs. Lovett, Daniel Yearwood as Anthony, Ruthie Ann Miles as the Beggar Woman, Maria Bilbao as Johanna, Jamie Jackson as Judge Turpin, John Rapson as Beadle Bamford, Nicholas Christopher as Pirelli/standby for Sweeney Todd, and Jeanna de Waal as the standby for Mrs. Lovett/Beggar Woman.

Beginning February 9, [Aaron Tveit](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/aaron-tveit) and [Sutton Foster](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/sutton-foster) will star as Sweeney and Lovett, respectively.

Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's musical thriller follows the title barber, who concocts a murderous revenge plot on a judge who wronged him — with a little help from pie shop owner Mrs. Lovett. The musical won two Tony Awards in 2023.

[Learn more about *Sweeney Todd* on Broadway.](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/guide-to-sweeney-todd-on-broadway-starring-josh-groban-and-annaleigh-ashford)

Get [*Sweeney Todd* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/26216-sweeney-todd-on-broadway-tickets) now.

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*Photo credit: Joe Locke. (Photo courtesy of production)*

'Heartstopper''s Joe Locke to make Broadway debut in 'Sweeney Todd'

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Recommended for ages 12+. Guests under 5 are not permitted in the theatre.

Sweeney Todd on Broadway - NYC

Sweeney Todd on Broadway

The actor will join the cast of the Tony Award-winning revival of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's musical thriller at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in January.

This makes her larger than life! Charity Angél Dawson will join the Broadway cast of [*& Juliet*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/25598-and-juliet-tickets) on January 2 in the role of Angélique at the [Stephen Sondheim Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/stephen-sondheim-theatre).

Dawson is known for performing on Broadway in [*Chicago*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/22-chicago-tickets) as Matron “Mama” Morton, *Mrs. Doubtfire* as Wanda Sellner, *Waitress* as Becky, and *Side Show* as the Fortune Teller.

Dawson now replaces Melanie La Barrie, who originated the role in *& Juliet*'s London premiere and its subsequent Broadway transfer. La Barrie plays her final performance on December 30.

The current *& Juliet* Broadway cast also includes Lorna Courtney as Juliet, Paulo Szot as Lance, Betsy Wolfe as Anne Hathaway, Austin Scott as Shakespeare, Justin David Sullivan as May, Ben Jackson Walker as Romeo, and Philippe Arroyo as Francois.

Written by David West Read of *Schitt's Creek* and featuring 30 pop hits, *& Juliet* reimagines what would happen if Juliet, of *Romeo & Juliet*, didn't die and instead set out to find new friends and romance after Romeo.

Get [*& Juliet* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/25598-and-juliet-tickets) now.

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*Photo credit: Charity Angél Dawson. (Photo by Darnell Bennett Photography)*

Charity Angél Dawson to join '& Juliet' Broadway cast

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Contains some strong language. Recommended for ages 6+. Children age 4 and under will not be admitted into the theatre. Everyone must have a ticket, regardless of age.

& Juliet on Broadway - NYC 

& Juliet on Broadway

The Broadway veteran will replace original cast member Melanie La Barrie in the jukebox musical at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre beginning in January 2024.

Grail-force laughter alert! [*Spamalot*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/33129-spamalot-tickets), an irreverent spoof of Arthurian legends that won a Best Musical Tony Award in 2005, is back on Broadway just when we could use a reminder from its signature song to “always look on the bright side of life.” 

Created by Eric Idle and John Du Prez, the show is based on the much-loved 1975 satire movie *Monty Python and the Holy Grail*. There are nutty knights, a mighty diva, flatulent Frenchmen, a bloodthirsty bunny, plenty of puns, and more amusements.

Broadway’s first *Spamalot* revival arrives directly from a run in Washington, D.C, with much of its stellar cast intact. Just when you need to LOL, the show is here to make your day — and knight. Learn a lot about *Spamalot* below.

Get [*Spamalot* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/33129-spamalot-tickets) now.

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## What is *Spamalot* about?

In medieval England, newly appointed King Arthur recruits a band of knights to join him on a do-or-die quest for the Holy Grail. 

Along the way they encounter oddball characters, bizarre challenges, goofball jokes, self-enlightenment — and come through the adventure in happy, hummable fashion. Well, except the guy who falls victim to the deadly killer rabbit. 

Like the cinematic source material, the musical cheekily skewers and celebrates Arthurian legends. The musical also pokes fun at Broadway theatrics. The journey leads to an over-the-top joyous conclusion and not one, but two weddings.

## Where is *Spamalot* playing?

*Spamalot* is at the [St. James Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/st-james-theatre), located at 246 West 44th Street between Broadway and Eighth Avenue. The inaugural show at the theatre nearly a century ago was the 1927 production of the musical *The Merry Malones*.

## How long is *Spamalot*?

Spamalot runs 2 hours and 20 minutes, including one intermission. This is a typical Off-Broadway and Broadway musical length, though musicals can average anywhere from 90 minutes to 3 hours. Intermissions are usually 15-20 minutes long.

## What days is *Spamalot* playing?

*Spamalot* plays eight performances a week, with performances usually scheduled every day except Monday and two performances each on Wednesdays and Saturdays. For the complete performance schedule and showtimes, please visit the [*Spamalot* page](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/33129-spamalot-tickets). 

![3 spamalot-1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/5L9XSt8NJHsbIVfA4IRRqu/6d2e59b2d6e160fdd41fd4e7f2e1667b/3_spamalot-1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

## When did *Spamalot* premiere?

The *Spamalot* musical premiered on Broadway in 2005, three decades after the release of the successful big-screen comedy that inspired it. Discover a full timeline of the show’s history below.

- 1969: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin form the British comedy troupe Monty Python. The group rose to fame over the next five years for its sketch comedy series *Monty Python’s Flying Circus*, which aired on BBC.
- 1975: *Monty Python and the Holy Grail*, a big-screen comedy send-up of the Knights of the Round Table created by and starring troupe members, is released. It became a hit. 
- 2004: The musical adaptation of the movie began a pre-Broadway engagement on December 21 at the then-Shubert Theatre in Chicago. Director Mike Nichols’s A-list cast included Tim Curry as Arthur, Hank Azaria as Lancelot, David Hyde Pierce as Robin, Sara Ramirez as Lady of the Lake, and [Christian Borle](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/christian-borle) as Prince Herbert.
- 2005: *Spamalot* began Broadway performances at the Shubert Theatre on February 14 with the Chicago cast intact. The award-winning run lasted until January 11, 2009.
- 2006: The first *Spamalot* U.S. tour launched. Various other national and international productions followed over the years. 
- May 2023: Director and choreographer Josh Rhodes stages *Spamalot* at the Kennedy Center for Performing Art in Washington, D.C., running May 12 to 23. October 2023: With much of the D.C. cast reprising key roles, the first *Spamalot* Broadway revival began performances at the St. James Theatre on October 31. 

## Who wrote *Spamalot*?

The *Spamalot* musical features music by John Du Prez and Monty Python founding member Eric Idle. Idle also wrote the book and lyrics. Some songs are lifted from bits in the movie, while the story is “lovingly ripped off” from the motion picture.

![spamalot review-1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/14veoZxsE6Pw1WQfD0nb8P/3642f1586312bb147a718d163f8f563e/spamalot_review-1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

## *Spamalot* characters

The *Spamalot* characters include various people in medieval England including a newly crowned monarch, his trusty sidekick, knights, a mystical woman with special powers, and an array of villagers (alive, dead, and "not dead yet"), courtiers, wizards, a historian who speaks directly to the audience, and others. Here are the characters at the head of the Round Table in *Spamalot*.

- King Arthur: A proud and well-intentioned but comically inept leader on a quest to find the Holy Grail, the chalice used at the Last Supper. 
- Patsy: Arthur’s loyal yet royally underappreciated right hand man. He’s an ace at simulating the sound of hoofbeats by clapping coconuts together.
- Lady of the Lake: A diva with a strong set of pipes, a backup crew (as in, her Laker Girls), and a powerful connection to Arthur.
- Sir Lancelot: A fearless knight in Arthur's court. He’s clueless about his own identity until he gets an unexpected wake-up call. 
- Sir Robin: A "fearless" knight who's really a total scaredy cat. 
- Sir Galahad: A knight who’s handsome and dashing — and that’s plenty.
- Sir Bedevere: Among the knights, he’s the most scholarly — which isn’t saying much. 
- Prince Herbert: A reluctant royal who desperately doesn’t want to marry a woman but appears quite taken with Lancelot.

## Who is in the cast of *Spamalot*?

The *Spamalot* cast includes several stage favorites, like Christopher Fitzgerald as Patsy, James Monroe Igleheart as King Arthur, Taran Killam as Lancelot (a role Alex Brightman takes over in January), Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer as the Lady of the Lake, Ethan Slater as Prince Herbert, Jimmy Smagula as Bedevere, Michael Urie as Brave Sir Robin, and Nik Walker as Sir Galahad. 

*Spamalot* “gives every one of its principal cast members a chance to shine,” according to New York Theatre Guide’s four-star [review](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/reviews/spamalot-broadway-review). And not just in their main roles — a number of these actors also cover smaller parts.

![2 spamalot-1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/4XwBPqecob7cnJluurJaJ0/636dc9e08582f27dbf21b15f8c289155/2_spamalot-1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

## *Spamalot* songs

Du Prez and Idle wrote the bulk of the *Spamalot* score expressly for the musical, though some songs predate the show. “Brave Sir Robin” and “Knights of the Round Table” were in the 1975 film, while “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” is from the 1979 Monty Python movie *Life of Brian*. Here are all the songs you’ll hear in *Spamalot* on Broadway.

### Act 1

- “Fisch Schlapping Song”
- “King Arthur’s Song”
- “I Am Not Dead Yet”
- “Come With Me”
- “The Song That Goes Like This”
- “All for One”
- “Knights of the Round Table”
- “Find Your Grail”
- “Run Away”

### Act 2

- “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” 
- “Brave Sir Robin”
- “You Won’t Succeed on Broadway”
- “Diva’s Lament”
- “Where Are You?”
- “His Name Is Lancelot”
- “I’m All Alone”
- “The Song That Goes Like This” (Reprise)
- “The Holy Grail”
- “Find Your Grail Finale”

## What awards has *Spamalot* won?

The *Spamalot* musical has earned widespread acclaim and numerous awards since its premiere. Critics and audiences alike praise its clever humor, catchy tunes, and stellar performances. The revival will be up for awards in 2024, but here are all the major awards the original production won.

- Tony Awards: The show won for Best Musical, Best Director, and Best Featured Actress, and was nominated for 11 additional Tonys, in 2005.
- Drama Desk Awards: *Spamalot* won Outstanding Musical, Lyrics, and Costumes, and earned nine more nominations in 2005.
- Grammy Awards: *Spamalot* won the award for Best Musical Show Album in 2006.
- Olivier Awards: The 2007 production of *Spamalot* in London's West End was nominated for seven Oliviers.

![4 spamalot-1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/4b8F1PgIIJjWxWQB4wvAZ5/487caa6fcf11a5dbeb682c7d6838ce90/4_spamalot-1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

## Major productions of *Spamalot*

Since its Broadway premiere, *Spamalot* has received a number of high-profile productions. Here are the most major stagings of the *Spamalot* musical.

- Broadway premiere: Director Mike Nichols’s production of Spamalot opened on Broadway at the Shubert Theatre in February 2005. The run ended on January 11, 2009 after 1,575 performances. 
- West End premiere: Nichols’s staging opened in October 2006 at the Palace Theatre in the West End. Tim Curry and Christopher Sieber reprised their Broadway roles as Arthur and Galahad, and Hannah Waddingham joined as Lady of the Lake. The show closed on January 3, 2009.
- First national tour: *Spamalot*'s only U.S. tour to date ran from March 2006 to October 2009, making just shy of 100 stops in that time.
- Kennedy Center revival: Director/choreographer Josh Rhodes’s revival of *Spamalot* at the Kennedy Center for Performing Art in Washington, D.C. ran May 12-23, 2023.
- First Broadway revival: Rhodes’s production began performances in October 2023 with much of the D.C. cast. 

## Fun facts about *Spamalot*

Did you know that *Spamalot* was set to repeat its shenanigans in a movie adaptation? Or that *RuPaul’s Drag Race* inspires a fun moment in the new Broadway revival? And that the title has nothing to do with junk e-mail? Learn more about the musical.

- *Spamalot*’s title came about by tweaking a “Nights of the Round Table” lyric: “We eat ham and jam and Spam a lot.”
- Steve Martin supplies the voice of God in the Broadway revival. John Cleese covered that in the original run.
- *Spamalot* isn’t the only Broadway musical that revolves around King Arthur. Lerner & Loewe's *Camelot* had that covered in 1960, but that's a much less irreverent retelling.
- An iconic moment from *RuPaul’s Drag Race*, involving famous drag queen Sasha Velour and rose petals, gets a sly nod in “His Name Is Lancelot.” Keep your eyes peeled for the cascade.
- A *Spamalot* movie directed by Casey Nicholaw was on the works, but the project was canceled. Stars reportedly up for roles included Peter Dinklage as Patsy and Tiffany Haddish as Lady of the Lake.
- Stars are eating up the *Spamalot* Broadway revival. Ariana Grande, Bowen Yang, and Todrick Hall all checked out the show.

## How to get *Spamalot* tickets

*Spamalot* is a full-tilt comedy packed with hummable songs that takes familiar stories and churns them into belly laughs. For anyone who’s in the mood for a giggle, and that means everyone, *Spamalot* will have you in stitches. And looking on the bright side of life.

Get [*Spamalot* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/33129-spamalot-tickets) now.

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*Photo credit: Spamalot on Broadway in 2023. (Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman)*

Everything you need to know about 'Spamalot' on Broadway

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Spamalot on Broadway - NYC

Spamalot on Broadway

Like its source material, the movie *Monty Python and the Holy Grail*, this Tony Award-winning musical mockery of Arthurian legend is on a quest for laughs.

The name on everybody's lips is gonna be Ariana! Ariana Madix will make her Broadway debut in [*Chicago*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/22-chicago-tickets) next month, beginning performances in the long-running musical at the [Ambassador Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/ambassador-theatre) on January 29. She will play a limited engagement through March 24.

Madix is best known for starring on the Bravo reality TV show *Vanderpump Rules* and being a finalist in the most recent season of *Dancing With the Stars*.

In *Chicago*, she will replace Charlotte d'Amboise in the starring role of Roxie Hart. Madix joins a cast that also currently includes Kimberly Marable as Velma Kelly, Lili Thomas as Matron "Mama" Morton, Max von Essen as Billy Flynn, James T. Lane as Amos Hart, R. Lowe as Mary Sunshine, and Max Clayton as Fred Casely.

John Kander and Fred Ebb's *Chicago* follows housewife Roxie and vaudeville performer Velma, who compete for the attention of the press and a high-powered lawyer in order to get acquitted of their murder charges. Running since 1996, *Chicago* is the longest-running revival and second-longest-running show in Broadway history.

Get [*Chicago* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/22-chicago-tickets) now.

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*Photo credit: Ariana Madix. (Photo by Kelly Puleio)*

Ariana Madix to make Broadway debut in 'Chicago'

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May be inappropriate for 12 and under. Children under the age of 4 are not permitted in the theatre.

NYC Chicago on Broadway [22] 

Chicago on Broadway

The star of *Vanderpump Rules* and *Dancing With the Stars* will step into the musical's starring role of Roxie Hart for an eight-week limited engagement.

He's the pinball wizard! Ali Louis Bourzgui will star in the first Broadway revival of [*The Who's Tommy*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/36395-the-whos-tommy-tickets), which begins performances at the [Nederlander Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/nederlander-theatre) on March 8 ahead of a March 28 opening.

Bourzgui reprises the leading role of Tommy Walker from the production's pre-Broadway run at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago earlier this year. He won Chicago’s Jeff Award for his performance, and he now makes his Broadway debut.

Additional Broadway casting for *The Who's Tommy* has yet to be announced. The Chicago cast featured, alongside Bourzgui, Adam Jacobs as Captain Walker, Alison Luff as Mrs. Walker, John Ambrosino as Uncle Ernie, Bobby Conte as Cousin Kevin, and Christina Sajous as the Acid Queen.

The Tony Award-winning *The Who's Tommy* follows a young boy, catatonic from childhood trauma, as he discovers a knack for pinball, and with it local stardom, on his road to healing.

Des McAnuff, who directed the original Broadway production in 1993, returns to direct, and he also co-wrote the show with The Who's Pete Townshend. *The Who's Tommy* features the hit songs from the rock band's groundbreaking 1969 album, including "Pinball Wizard," “I'm Free,” and "We're Not Gonna Take It."

Check back for information on *The Who's Tommy* tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

Ali Louis Bourzgui to star in 'The Who's Tommy' on Broadway

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The Who's Tommy on Broadway - NYC

The Who's Tommy on Broadway

Bourzgui will reprise the title role in the musical revival after playing the part in its pre-Broadway run at Chicago's Goodman Theatre earlier this year.

They've got a good thing going! The first revival of [*Merrily We Roll Along*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/27417-merrily-we-roll-along-tickets) on Broadway has extended a second time, with performances now running through July 7, 2024. The production was previously running through March 24, and *Merrily We Roll Along* tickets for the extension will go on sale to the public this Friday, December 8.

[Jonathan Groff](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/jonathan-groff), [Daniel Radcliffe](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/daniel-radcliffe), and [Lindsay Mendez](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/lindsay-mendez) currently star in the musical alongside Krystal Joy Brown, Katie Rose Clarke, and Reg Rogers; all are slated to perform through the July extension.

This Broadway production of [Stephen Sondheim](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/a-history-of-stephen-sondheim-musicals-on-broadway-and-beyond) and George Furth's musical is the first since its 1981 premiere. *Merrily We Roll Along* follows, in reverse, how the bond between three friends in the entertainment business unravels over 20 years.

New York Theatre Guide's four-star [*Merrily We Roll Along* review](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/reviews/merrily-we-roll-along-broadway-review-jonathan-groff-daniel-radcliffe-lindsay-mendez) reads, "You’re going to want to preserve the riches flowing throughout this hurts-so-good musical about growing up and growing apart."

[Learn more about *Merrily We Roll Along* on Broadway.](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/everything-you-need-to-know-about-merrily-we-roll-along-on-broadway)

Get [*Merrily We Roll Along* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/27417-merrily-we-roll-along-tickets) now.

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*Photo credit: Reg Rogers, Katie Rose Clarke, Jonathan Groff, Daniel Radcliffe, and Lindsay Mendez in Merrily We Roll Along. (Photo by Matthew Murphy)*

'Merrily We Roll Along' tickets on sale through July 2024

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Merrily We Roll Along on Broadway - NYC

Merrily We Roll Along on Broadway

Tickets for the coming spring and summer will go on sale later this week for the production starring Jonathan Groff, Daniel Radcliffe, and Lindsay Mendez.

This show is on fire! [*Hell’s Kitchen*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/37579-hells-kitchen-broadway), the new musical featuring the songs of 15-time Grammy Award winner Alicia Keys, is really cooking. Immediately after wrapping its world-premiere run at The Public Theater, the show is moving to Broadway, beginning performances on March 28.

Marking Keys's debut as the creator of a theatrical production, *Hell’s Kitchen* is loosely based on her adolescent experiences in the New York City neighborhood that gives the show its title. The musical features a mix of Keys's existing and new songs as it follows 17-year-old Ali (you see what they’re doing there) as she awakens to the world around her — good, bad, artistic, and full of opportunity.

Working in concert with Keys’s evocative, emotionally charged music is an urban coming-of-age story by playwright Kristoffer Diaz and a dynamic staging by director Michael Greif. Before Hell’s Kitchen begins performances at the Shubert Theatre in March, learn more about the show’s cast, history, and production information.

[Check back for information on *Hell's Kitchen* tickets on New York Theatre Guide.](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/37579-hells-kitchen-broadway)

## What is *Hell's Kitchen* about?

In 1990s NYC, 17-year-old Ali is on the brink of becoming an adult, of finding her passion, and of making her own decisions. “Ali sees her city as a place of opportunity,” New York Theatre Guide’s four-star [review](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/reviews/hells-kitchen-off-broadway-review-alicia-keys) reads.

That includes the chance for romance. Ali is looking for love – and it looks like she’s found it thanks to a hunky older bucket drummer. He pounds out his beckoning beats outside her apartment at Manhattan Plaza, a federally subsidized housing complex for artists.

Ali pursues her crush, much to his surprise and to the chagrin of her fiercely protective mother, Jersey. She aims to keep her daughter from following her bumpy life’s path. One of those bumps was Davis, Ali’s long-gone father. Amid the discordant mother-daughter drama and twists and turns of first love, Ali discovers her gift for music, one that’s bright enough to light her future.

## Where is *Hell's Kitchen* playing?

*Hell's Kitchen* is playing off Broadway at [The Public Theater](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/public-theater) through January 14. The theatre complex is located at 425 Lafayette Street in Manhattan.

On March 28, *Hell’s Kitchen* begins Broadway performances at the [Shubert Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/shubert-theatre), located at 225 W. 44th Street between Broadway and Eighth Avenue.

## How long is *Hell's Kitchen*?

*Hell's Kitchen* runs 2 hours and 30 minutes, including one intermission. This is a typical off-Broadway and Broadway musical length, though musicals can run anywhere from 90 minutes to 3 hours. Intermissions are usually either 15 or 20 minutes long.

## What days is *Hell's Kitchen* playing?

Hell's Kitchen plays eight performances a week at The Public Theater and will do likewise at the Shubert Theatre, with performances usually scheduled every day except Monday. For the complete performance schedule and showtimes, please visit the [*Hell’s Kitchen* page](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/37579-hells-kitchen-broadway).

![3 hells kitchen -1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/awJvQY0Si1N25N0wWU9Ek/6c0f85b8c9eed1a11918428ecd750d08/3_hells_kitchen_-1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

## When did *Hell's Kitchen* premiere?

The *Hell's Kitchen* musical had its world premiere off Broadway at the Public Theater in October 2023 after being in the works for over a decade. Discover a full developmental timeline of the show’s history below.

- 1981: Keys, the daughter of a white mother and Black father (like her alter ego Ali), was born in NYC and grew up at Manhattan Plaza, a housing complex largely home to artists located in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood. Drawn to the arts, Keys became a classically trained pianist who began writing songs as a teen.
- 2001: After graduating at the top of her Professional Performing Arts School class and studying briefly at Columbia University, Keys released her debut album, *Songs in A Minor*. The album featured the hit single, "Fallin’," which appears in the score of *Hell’s Kitchen*. Keys has since released eight more studio albums. 
- 2011: Keys co-produced and wrote original music for the Broadway production of Lydia R. Diamond’s family dramedy *Stick Fly*. The project “ignited this desire” to venture into theatrical storytelling, Keys said in an interview. *Hell’s Kitchen* bookwriter Kristoffer Diaz joined the project around the same time. 
- 2018: Michael Greif, the seasoned musical theatre director of *Rent* and *Dear Evan Hansen*, joined the project. He directed the show at both The Public Theater and on Broadway.
- 2023: *Hell’s Kitchen* is announced as part of the Public Theater’s 2023-2024 season. The show began performances on October 24, 2023. 
- 2024: *Hell’s Kitchen* transfers to Broadway, beginning performances at the Shubert Theatre on March 28.

## Who wrote *Hell's Kitchen*?

The *Hell's Kitchen* musical features a score by Alicia Keys that combines her famous hits, lesser-known songs, new tunes written for the stage, and previously unreleased music. 

The *Hell's Kitchen* book is by Kristoffer Diaz, whose play about a professional wrestler, *The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity*, was a 2010 finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

![hells kitchen-1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/2Hx9rRxE5tMryXifA8kJBu/864f7410e719fc44a38eafb103a1e83f/hells_kitchen-1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

## *Hell's Kitchen* characters

The Hell's Kitchen characters include various people in 1990s New York City. They include teenagers who, like Ali, are high school students, as well as members of her family, her love interest, and her piano teacher. Below are the main characters of the *Hell's Kitchen* musical.

- Ali: A 17-year-old girl awakening to first love, the desire for independence, and the possibility of becoming an artist.
- Jersey: Ali’s single mom who works two jobs and toils overtime to protect her daughter from repeating poor choices she made as a teenager. 
- Knuck: Ali’s older crush. He is a building painter and street drummer who uses an area near Manhattan Plaza as his stage.
- Davis: Ali’s absentee dad, a pianist who can turn on the charm and play 88 keys like nobody’s business.
- Miss Liza Jane: Ali’s strict but compassionate piano teacher, whose tutorials go beyond chord progressions to be invaluable life lessons.
- Other characters: Supporting players include Ali’s friends, Knuck’s fellow percussionists, and Ali’s watchful doorman.

## Who is in the cast of *Hell's Kitchen*?

The cast of the Off-Broadway premiere of the Hell's Kitchen musical features a combination of theatre veterans and newcomers, including Maleah Joi Moon as Ali, Shoshana Bean as Jersey, Chris Lee as Knuck, Tony winner Brandon Victor Dixon as Davis, and Kecia Lewis as Miss Liza Jane. 

The *Hell's Kitchen* Broadway cast has yet to be announced. Check back for updates on casting for *Hell's Kitchen* on Broadway. 

## *Hell's Kitchen* songs

The songs in the *Hell’s Kitchen* musical are all by Keys, who wrote both the music and the lyrics. The score features a mix of existing songs and three new tunes: "The River," "Kaleidoscope" (both written prior to *Hell's Kitchen* but never released) and "Seventeen" (written for the show). Here are all the songs in *Hell's Kitchen* off Broadway; this song list is subject to change ahead of the Broadway opening.

### Act 1

- "The Gospel"
- "The River"
- "Seventeen"
- "You Don't Know My Name"
- "Kaleidoscope"
- "Gramercy Park"
- "Not Even the King"
- "Teenage Love Affair"
- "Un-thinkable (I'm Ready)"
- "Girl on Fire"
- "Perfect Way to Die"

### Act 2

- "Authors of Forever"
- "Heartburn"
- "Love Looks Better"
- "Work on It"
- "Authors of Forever (Reprise)"
- "Fallin’"
- "If I Ain't Got You"
- "Pawn It All"
- "Like You'll Never See Me Again"
- "When It's All Over"
- "Hallelujah/Like Water"
- "No One"
- "Empire State of Mind"

![2 hells kitchen -1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/677Zja7uli7CWq3mBdKA5l/0e2b0a3a4d36592855da85aa74f73599/2_hells_kitchen_-1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

## What awards has *Hell's Kitchen* won?

*Hell's Kitchen* just premiered in the 2023-24 theatre seasons and has yet to be nominated for awards. The musical will be eligible for awards toward the end of the 2023-2024 season in late spring.

The musical's individual creators, however, have all earned nominations and wins for many awards. Songwriter Keys has 15 Grammy Awards among dozens of other honors, bookwriter Diaz is a Pulitzer Prize finalist, and director Greif has four Tony Award nominations.

## Major productions of *Hell's Kitchen*

The 2023 Off-Broadway and 2024 Broadway stagings of *Hell's Kitchen* are the show's only major productions thus far. Should the musical continue to succeed, national and international productions could bring *Hell's Kitchen* far beyond the neighborhood it's named for.

## Fun facts about *Hell's Kitchen*

Did you know that Keys isn't the only famous artist to have called Hell's Kitchen home, and she's also in the company of fellow NYC locals on the *Hell's Kitchen* creative team? Learn more fun facts about the title neighborhood and the musical it inspired.

- Famous former residents of the Manhattan Plaza apartment complex (besides Keys) include Larry David, Christian Slater, Angela Lansbury, and Tennesee Williams. Plus, Samuel L. Jackson worked as a security guard there.
- *Hell’s Kitchen* marks Kristoffer Diaz's Broadway debut.
- The show’s lead creators are all New York natives. Keys grew up in Manhattan, Diaz hails from Yonkers and now lives in Brooklyn, Grief is a Brooklyn boy, and choreographer Camille A. Brown is from Queens.
- Ali’s two maternal influences loom large in *Hell’s Kitchen*: her single mom, here called Jersey, and her piano teacher, called Miss Liza Jane. Jersey's mantra: “Sit and eat.” Miss Liza Jane’s: “Come sit. Play.”
- *Hell's Kitchen* is one of two musicals coming to Broadway via the Public in spring 2024; the other is Shaina Taub's [*Suffs*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/24495-suffs-musical-tickets), about the suffrage movement. They join a long line of Public-to-Broadway shows, which also includes [*Hamilton*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/384-hamilton-tickets).

## How to get *Hell's Kitchen* tickets

*Hell's Kitchen* is an urban coming-of-age musical inspired by the life and the music of its creator: superstar singer/songwriter Alicia Keys. Motored by Keys’s emotionally charged music, the show’s story of following a passion and finding oneself has far-reaching appeal.

[Check back for information on *Hell's Kitchen* tickets on New York Theatre Guide.](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/37579-hells-kitchen-broadway)

*Photo credit: Hell's Kitchen at The Public Theater. (Photos by Joan Marcus)*

Everything you need to know about Alicia Keys’s musical 'Hell's Kitchen'

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Hell's Kitchen on Broadway - NYC 

Hell's Kitchen on Broadway

After a world-premiere run at The Public Theater, the show, loosely inspired by Keys's own experiences in the title Manhattan neighborhood, comes to Broadway.

Good casting never seemed so good! Amber Ardolino will join the cast of *A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical* from January 2 at the Broadhurst Theatre.

Ardolino currently plays Linda McFly in *Back to the Future: The Musical* on Broadway, and her past credits include [*Moulin Rouge! The Musical*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/15911-moulin-rouge-the-musical-on-broadway-tickets) and [*Hamilton*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/384-hamilton-tickets).

She will now step into the role of Marcia Murphey, Diamond's second wife, in *A Beautiful Noise*. Ardolino replaces original cast member and Tony Award nominee Robyn Hurder, who departs the production on December 17.

The current *A Beautiful Noise* Broadway cast includes Nick Fradiani as Neil Diamond – Then, Mark Jacoby as Neil Diamond – Now, Chita Rivera Award winner, Shirine Babb as Doctor, Jessie Fisher as Jaye Posner, Michael McCormick as Fred Weintraub/Tommy O’Rourke, Tom Alan Robbins as Bert Berns/Kieve Diamond, and Bri Sudia as Ellie Greenwich/Rose Diamond.

*A Beautiful Noise* tells the story of how Diamond rose from an unknown Brooklyn songwriter to a bestselling, internationally famous musician. The show features dozens of Diamond's hit songs, including "Sweet Caroline" and "I Am... I Said."

Get [*A Beautiful Noise* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/24254-a-beautiful-noise-tickets) now.

[![Book Tickets CTA - LT/NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/3qAtGOdQq9x3k1WcHlaJnw/90ece91bbe47ed07e142c2e43c7a7a3f/BookTickets-250.png)](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/24254-a-beautiful-noise-tickets)

*Photo credit: Amber Ardolino. (Photo by Michaelah Reynolds for A Beautiful Noise)*

Amber Ardolino to join 'A Beautiful Noise' Broadway cast

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Children under 4 are not permitted in the theatre.

A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical on Broadway - NYC

A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical on Broadway

Ardolino will replace original cast member Robyn Hurder, who will depart the Neil Diamond bio-musical on December 17, in the role of Marcia Murphey.

There's nothing you can't do, now you're on Broadway! Alicia Keys's musical [*Hell's Kitchen*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/37579-hells-kitchen-broadway) will transfer to Broadway in spring 2024, beginning performances at the [Shubert Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/shubert-theatre) on March 28 ahead of an April 20 opening night.

*Hell's Kitchen* is loosely based on Keys's upbringing in the title Manhattan neighborhood. The main character, a teenage Ali, comes of age and discovers hard truths about love, race, and defiance alongside her mother — but she also finds her passion for music and unlocks her future.

The musical features [Keys's hit pop songs](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/hear-the-music-of-alicia-keys-in-the-hells-kitchen-musical), including "Fallin'," "No One," and "Empire State of Mind," alongside previously unheard songs from the musician. *Hell's Kitchen* marks [Keys's first return to Broadway](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/all-the-times-alicia-keys-did-theatre) since she composed the music for the play *Stick Fly* in 2011.

The musical also features a book by Pulitzer Prize finalist Kristoffer Diaz, direction by four-time Tony Award nominee Michael Greif, set design by Robert Brill, costume design by Dede Ayite, lighting design by Natasha Katz, sound design by Gareth Owen, projection design by Peter Nigrini, hair and wig design by Mia Neal, orchestrations by Tom Kitt and Adam Blackstone, arrangements by Keys and Blackstone, and music consultation by Kitt.

*Hell's Kitchen* is currently premiering off Broadway at [The Public Theater](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/public-theater), where it runs through January 14. New York Theatre Guide's four-star [review](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/reviews/hells-kitchen-off-broadway-review-alicia-keys) reads, "Under Michael Greif's direction, Keys's home neighborhood is a living, pulsing, vibrant soundscape."

The cast of *Hell's Kitchen* off Broadway includes Shoshana Bean as Jersey, Chad Carstarphen as Ray, Brandon Victor Dixon as Davis, Vanessa Ferguson as Tiny, Crystal Monee Hall as Crystal, Chris Lee as Knuck, Jackie Leon as Jessica, Kecia Lewis as Miss Liza Jane, Maleah Joi Moon as Ali, Mariand Torres as Maria, and Lamont Walker II as Riq.

Casting for the Broadway production has yet to be announced.

Get [*Hell's Kitchen* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/31750-hells-kitchen) now.

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*Photo credit: The cast of Hell's Kitchen at The Public Theater. (Photo by Joan Marcus)*

'Hell's Kitchen' to transfer to Broadway in the spring

hells kitchen-1200x600-NYTG

The musical, inspired by the experiences of and featuring songs by Alicia Keys, will play the Shubert Theatre after its Off-Broadway run at The Public Theater.

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Get *Plays for the Plague Year* tickets now.

On March 13, 2020, as theaters shut their doors and so many of us went into lockdown, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and The Public’s Writer-in-Residence Suzan-Lori Parks picked up her pen and set out to write a play every day. What emerged is a breathtaking chronicle of our collective experience throughout the troubling days and nights that followed. Performing in the intimate Joe’s Pub, PLAYS FOR THE PLAGUE YEAR is at once a personal story of one family's daily lives, as well as a sweeping account of all we faced as a city, a nation, and a global community. Working in collaboration with Niegel Smith as director, Parks' groundbreaking new work is brimming with humanity, bears witness to what we’ve experienced, and offers inspiration as we look ahead.

*Photo credit: Suzan-Lori Parks by Stephanie Diani*

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The band came on stage first, setting up their instruments amid a chair and bookshelf and coffee table that turned the [Joe's Pub](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/public-theater) stage into a cozy living room. They warmed up. They chatted with each other. They waved at their friends in the audience. At Suzan-Lori Parks's [*Plays for the Plague Year*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/26089-plays-for-the-plague-year-tickets), a theatrical concert chronicling the early days of the pandemic, these ordinary actions were celebrations of community.

Pulitzer Prize winner Parks assembled this three-hour production from a year-plus's worth of short plays she wrote, one per day, from March 13, 2020 to April 13, 2021. In 2023, that seminal year simultaneously feels long ago and recent enough that we might not want to relive it.

*Plays for the Plague Year* has moments that elicit both responses. The phrase "Keep your six," shouted repeatedly by a frazzled TV producer in an early scene, now feels like a blast from a distant past. And scenes portraying Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, and Breonna Taylor still feel like they could have been in yesterday's news — as [similar stories](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ralph-yarl-hard-mornings-recovering-well-shot-ringing-wrong-doorbell-m-rcna80222) were.

But Parks isn't here to make us relive traumatic times for their own sake. The pandemic's impact, of course, lingers — ironically, a spate of Covid cases in the company derailed this show's premiere run this past fall. So it's no surprise that *Plays for the Plague Year* is written compassionately, for both its subjects and its audience, wrapping difficult experiences and feelings in earnest dialogue, wry humor, and gorgeous folk music. The language of the mini-plays and songs is simple and stream-of-consciousness, reflective of the fact that we were figuring out what to make of our changed world as we went — and acknowledges that perhaps we still are.

Some of the strongest scenes are her plays "for" various figures who died that year (and one, her former teacher James Baldwin, that died in 1987). She doesn't just animate them; Parks — who also stars in her own show as The Writer — converses with them and lets them express their frustration at having died.

Seven actors play these figures and more, including notable living people as well as Parks's loved ones. The story of her immediate family's daily life threads throughout the show's vignettes, tying them all together as the story of how one person, Parks, perceived and reacted to that year's happenings.

And yet, *Plays for the Plague Year* is a show about all of us, as evidenced by the casting of each performer as many people. Parks invites us to bear collective witness to her experience and open our minds to others' experience of the events of 2020 — and beyond. Even beyond gathering in person or singing in unison or taking a collective breath, that's the way, the show reminds us, to really be a community.

[*Plays for the Plague Year* is at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater through April 30. Get *Plays for the Plague Year* tickets on New York Theatre Guide.](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/26089-plays-for-the-plague-year-tickets)

*Photo credit: Suzan-Lori Parks (center with guitar) and the company of Plays for the Plague Year. (Photo by Joan Marcus)*

'Plays for the Plague Year' review — a compassionate chronicle of the pandemic

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Read our four-star review of *Plays for the Plague Year*, the theatrical concert by Pulitzer Prize winner Suzan-Lori Parks at The Public Theater through April 30.

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Get tickets to Plays For the Plague Year from the official New York Theatre Guide. See Pulitzer winner Suzan-Lori Parks's theatrical concert born of the pandemic.

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Pulitzer Prize winner Suzan-Lori Parks returns with her theatrical concert. Born of her challenge to write a play each day at the start of the pandemic, this show explores our collective experience of that time through the lens of one family, and aims to heal. Get tickets to this unique show now.

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