Broadway

Farewell, so long, goodbye. Will Swenson will play his final performance in [*A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/24254-a-beautiful-noise-tickets) on Broadway on October 29.

Swenson currently leads the show at the [Broadhurst Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/broadhurst-theatre) as Neil Diamond - Then, a younger version of the singer-songwriter as an up-and-coming musician. The show follows Diamond as he looks back on his life and career, and his [greatest hits](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/all-the-songs-in-a-beautiful-noise-on-broadway) propel the story of how he went from a poor Brooklyn kid to an award-winning, globally bestselling musician.

Swenson has played Diamond since *A Beautiful Noise* opened in November 2022. The current cast, most of whom are also original members, also includes Mark Jacoby as Neil Diamond – Now, Robyn Hurder as Marcia, 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.

Replacement casting for Swenson has yet to be announced. Nick Fradiani currently serves as Swenson's alternate, playing Neil Diamond - Then for one performance a week; he will continue in this role.

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

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*Photo credit: Will Swenson and the cast of A Beautiful Noise. (Photo by Julieta Cervantes)*

Will Swenson to depart 'A Beautiful Noise' on Broadway

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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

The actor originated the role of a young Neil Diamond in this musical at the Broadhurst Theatre about the Grammy Award-winning musician's life and career.

The heat is going away. [*Some Like It Hot*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/24262-some-like-it-hot-tickets) has set a Broadway closing date of December 30 at the [Shubert Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/shubert-theatre).

The musical will have played for just over a year, having played 483 total performances since November 1, 2022.

*Some Like It Hot* is a musical adapted from the 1959 Billy Wilder comedy of the same name, in which two Prohibition-era jazz musicians, Joe and Jerry, flee the Chicago mob. While stowing away in disguise with an all-female swing band, they find love and learn more about their truest identities.

Matthew López and Amber Ruffin wrote the book, and songs are by Marc Shaiman (music and lyrics) and Scott Wittman (lyrics). Casey Nicholaw directs and choreographs.

Our [four-star review calls *Some Like It Hot*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/reviews/some-like-it-hot-broadway-review) "a bracing, fizzy cocktail garnished with a winning cast... this [adaptation] scores points for not just tracing the source but turning up some fresh ideas of its own."

The show won Best Musical at the Drama League, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Awards, and it was nominated for 13 Tonys, including Best Musical. Among its four wins were Best Choreography and Best Leading Actor in a Musical for [J. Harrison Ghee](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/interviews/j-harrison-ghee-contains-multitudes-in-some-like-it-hot-on-broadway), one of the [first non-binary performers to ever win a Tony Award](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/alex-newell-j-harrison-ghee-become-first-non-binary-tony-winning-actors).

Alongside Ghee as Jerry, the *Some Like It Hot* Broadway cast includes [Christian Borle](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/christian-borle) as Joe, J. Harrison Ghee as Jerry, Adrianna Hicks as Sugar, Kevin Del Aguila as Osgood, NaTasha Yvette Williams as Sweet Sue, Adam Heller as Mulligan, Mark Lotito as Spats, and Angie Schworer as Minnie.

Get [*Some Like It Hot* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/24262-some-like-it-hot-tickets) now.

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*Photo credit: Some Like It Hot on Broadway. (Photo by Marc J. Franklin)*

'Some Like It Hot' sets Broadway closing date

some like it hot-1200x600-NYTG 1

Recommended for 12 + Children under the age of 4 are not permitted in the theatre.

Some Like It Hot on Broadway - NYC

Some Like It Hot on Broadway

The musical adaptation of the 1959 Billy Wilder film at the Shubert Theatre. was the most Tony Award-nominated show of the 2022-23 season with 13 nods.

Sometimes the dividing line between a character and a playwright is a blurry one. So it is with Ossie Davis’s 1961 satirical comedy [*Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/27642-purlie-victorious-tickets), now back on Broadway for the first time since its debut 62 years ago.

The story follows Purlie Victorious Judson, a Black self-made traveling preacher who returns to his segregated Georgia hometown with a mission to buy and rehab its derelict church, Big Bethel. As a Black man, that’s a tall order. The church, like the town, is in the grip of racist tyrant Ol’ Cap’n Cotchipee.

Davis grew up in racially segregated Georgia. Like Purlie, Davis had first-hand experience with discrimination and bigotry, forces that inform the play and fueled his lifelong commitment to civil rights. In a pre-show voiceover, director Kenny Leon notes that the play began as an angry drama. But it evolved to become less autobiographical and funnier. Get people laughing, you get people’s attention. That’s powerful.

Learn more about the political and personal contexts – and the impact of 1960s-era influences – that shaped *Purlie Victorious* below. 

Get [*Purlie Victorious* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/27642-purlie-victorious-tickets) now.

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## The politics of *Purlie Victorious*

Davis situated his play in Georgia in the late 1950s, a time when Jim Crow – which has been called “a racial caste system” – were in effect in the American South. Bottom line: Blacks were second-class citizens.

“Jim Crow was more than a series of rigid anti-black laws. It was a way of life,” according to the [Jim Crow Museum](https://jimcrowmuseum.ferris.edu/), a resource to tell the story of African American resiliency. Jim Crow bolstered the lie that Blacks were inferior to whites. 

Davis shrewdly creates Ol' Cap'n Cotchipee to be the flesh-and-blood manifestation of Jim Crow, a man dressed head to toe in white who won’t hesitate to say he reveres “all that is white and holy” – and that doesn’t include African Americans. He sums the philosophy up in a chilling line: "My ol' Confederate father told me on his deathbed: Feed the Negras first - after the horses and cattle."

Cotchipee is quick to reach for his bullwhip, but he takes a shine to Purlie’s brother Gitlow (that name is no accident), an “Uncle Tom” who’s content being subservient and keeping to the old-plantation-day ways. 

But Davis leaves room for hope. Cotchipee’s liberal-minded son Charlie has had it with his father’s bigoted ways – and that ultimately leads the way for Purlie to get the last laugh.

## The real-life partnership of *Purlie Victorious*

Purlie’s plan to take ownership of Big Bethel requires a secret weapon – Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins, a follower and love interest of Purlie's who’s game for anything. Ossie Davis played the title role in the comedy’s Broadway premiere, so naturally, his wife, Ruby Dee, played Lutiebelle. 

The couple, who were married for 57 years, previously shared a Broadway stage in 1946 in *Jeb* and 1959 in *A Raisin in the Sun*. *Purlie Victorious* gave them a chance to chomp into two juicy roles together onstage. And their involvement in the show didn't end with the original production: Dee later played the supporting role of Idella in a 2002 reading.

They frequently worked together throughout their careers until he died in 2005 at 87; she died in 2014 at 91. But *Purlie Victorious* gave them a unique chance to shine a bright spotlight on the struggle for equality.

## Famous *Purlie Victorious* reviews

Suffice it to say that the social influencers of 1961 took notice of what Purlie Victorious was preaching. Fellow reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. saw the show. So did Malcolm X. According to Davis, [X said](http://www.columbia.edu/cu/ccbh/mxp/davis.html), “Black folks laughing at White folks was revolutionary — the highest kind of struggle he could imagine.” 

Eleanor Roosevelt also attended. She laughed, and then she [wrote about the experience](https://www2.gwu.edu/~erpapers/myday/displaydoc.cfm?_y=1962&_f=md005050). “Mixed with the humor there is intelligent, incisive commentary on segregation, discrimination, and the slow pace of integration,” she wrote.

“I think it is well for you as an American citizen to see it,” she added, “and ponder our racial problem… as a question affecting our standing and our real sincerity among the peoples of the world.”

Call that a *Purlie* of wisdom.

Get [*Purlie Victorious* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/27642-purlie-victorious-tickets) now.

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*Photo credit: Kara Young, Heather Alicia Simms, Leslie Odom, Jr., Vanessa Bell Calloway, Billy Eugene Jones, and Noah Robbins in Purlie Victorious. (Photo by Marc J. Franklin)*

The real history behind ‘Purlie Victorious’ on Broadway

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12+ is recommended. Children under 4 years old will not be admitted.

Purlie Victorious on Broadway - NYC

Purlie Victorious on Broadway

Discover how real-life people, places, and politics shaped Ossie Davis’s uproarious comedy from 1961, which remains just as fresh and relevant in 2023.

For anyone planning on paying a visit to the Emerald City by seeing [*Wicked*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/1-wicked-musical-tickets) on Broadway, there are tons of ways to turn your entire day into an epic adventure Elphaba herself would approve of. There are many different activities to plan a *Wicked*-themed day in New York City, from learning more about the Gershwin, the theatre where the musical plays (in fact, the 20th anniversary is October 30, 2023), to spending time with another famous green woman. 

We’ve selected a few wickedly exciting activities you can take part in across the city, with ideas for Ozians of all ages. Then, make sure you buy your tickets to see *Wicked* at the [Gershwin Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/gershwin-theatre), and experience the story of *The Wizard of Oz* like never before.

Get [*Wicked* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/1-wicked-musical-tickets) now.

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## Museum of Broadway

Any theatre lover will enjoy a few hours at the Museum of Broadway, which features tons of costumes, set pieces, and props on display from famous performances. You'll also discover fascinating information about the history of the Great White Way and all the people it takes to put on a Broadway show.

*Wicked* fans in particular will love the five-foot scale model of the Gershwin, which shows off just how many people it takes to make the magic happen on stage and what the venue looks like behind the scenes.

Get [Museum of Broadway tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/27223-the-museum-of-broadway) now.

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## Behind the Emerald Curtain

If you’ve ever wondered how Elphaba goes green every night or flies through the air, you’ll want to go on the Behind the Emerald Curtain tour. Cast members lead this 90-minute special behind-the-scenes tour through the *Wicked* museum, which includes special costumes, set pieces, props, scale models and more.

Perhaps the most exciting part of the experience, however, is that guests get to enjoy a candid Q&A with some cast members to ask their burning questions about being in *Wicked* and life as a Broadway performer. Tours operate on select dates only.

## Enchantments

Are you more intrigued by the witchy side of *Wicked*? Pay a visit to Enchantments, the oldest occult store in New York City. Located in the East Village, this store has tons of goodies for anyone trying to get into the magical spirit, with tarot cards, incense, cauldrons, and customized candles tailored toward whatever you hope to manifest. You can also get yourself a talisman to wear to the show and make sure any energy coming toward you is anything but wicked!

## The Statue of Liberty

Spend the day with another famous woman who is green from head to toe: the Statue of Liberty. A trip to this beloved monument (which is actually made of copper!) starts with a ferry ride to Liberty Island. Once there, you can visit the museum to learn more about Lady Liberty or climb up to her crown for an amazing view of the city’s skyline (but you’ll have to book tickets in advance). With [Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Round Trip Ferry tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/31071-statue-of-liberty-and-ellis-island-round-trip-ferry-with-tour-guide), you can also go over to Ellis Island and visit the National Museum of Immigration afterwards.

If you don't want to go out to the island, New York Theatre Guide has tickets to multiple boat cruises that let you get a picturesque view of the statue while you sail by and enjoying onboard drinks and treats. Take a [daytime](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/29471-daytime-statue-of-liberty-and-city-lights-sails-aboard-the-clipper-city-tall-ship) or [evening harbor cruise](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/29469-sunset-sail-aboard-the-clipper-city-tall-ship) on a historic clipper ship, or go on a [60-minute sightseeing cruise](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/30978-statue-of-liberty-&-ellis-island-60-minute-sightseeing-cruise) if you're on a time crunch.

Get [Statue of Liberty tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/31071-statue-of-liberty-and-ellis-island-round-trip-ferry-with-tour-guide) now.

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## Trapeze class

One of the most jaw-dropping moments in *Wicked* is when Elphaba takes flight. If you want to get a taste of what it feels like to soar through the air, you can take a flying trapeze class. The Trapeze School of New York at Hudson River Park, for example, teaches you how to hang by your knees, fly through the air, and do a “catch” (when someone on another trapeze bar catches you) all in your first class.

You can also try other gravity-defying activities, like trampoline classes and aerial hoop classes (also known as Lyra). It’s certainly a thrilling way to prepare for *Wicked*!

## *Wicked*

No *Wicked* day would be complete without seeing the iconic musical itself. Learn the history of Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch, long before Dorothy arrives in Oz. Despite being roommates at Shiz University, they're bitter enemies and polar opposites until they ultimately settle their differences and become fierce friends.

Their union is tested, however, when Elphaba falls from the Wizard's good graces, while Glinda is torn between supporting her or tarnishing her image among the people of Oz. *Wicked* a story of the power of female friendship, standing up for what’s right, and finding strength in what makes you different.

Get [*Wicked* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/1-wicked-musical-tickets) now.

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*Photo credit: Wicked on Broadway. (Photo courtesy of production)*

Make a day out of ‘Wicked’ in New York City

Wicked - 1200 - NYTG

Wicked on Broadway [1]

Wicked on Broadway

From exploring Gershwin Theatre history to defying gravity just like Elphaba does, these activities are a great way to spend one short day *Wicked*-style.

Fall is underway and it's time to fall in love with some new theatre — or fall in love with your favorite shows all over again. [Broadway's long-running favorites](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/news-features/see-these-long-running-shows-on-broadway-right-now) are still going strong, but they're joined by plenty of new Broadway plays and musicals, including world-premiere Off-Broadway shows and many offerings with starry casts.

Check out our list of theatre to see in October 2023, and see our list of [New York shows that started in September](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/news-features/new-york-theatre-to-see-in-september) for even more new theatre you can still catch.

## Broadway shows in October

Noteworthy musicals and plays start performances on Broadway this month, including exciting revivals and new shows by award-winning artists. Be sure to check out these widely celebrated shows, many with celebrities in the cast.

[Get tickets to a Broadway show on New York Theatre Guide.](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/whats-on/broadway-shows)

### *Merrily We Roll Along*

Stephen Sondheim’s famous flop-turned-fan favorite about a friendship shattered by showbiz greed and ambition is back on Broadway for the first time since its 1981 premiere. [Daniel Radcliffe](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/daniel-radcliffe), Jonathan Groff, and Lindsay Mendez star as a trio of pals whose relationships fall apart as the days go by in director Maria Friedman’s acclaimed staging.

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

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### *I Need That*

[Danny DeVito](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/danny-devito), an Emmy winner for *Taxi* and a Tony nominee for *The Price*, stars as Sam, a hoarder ordered by government officials to clean up his cluttered home – or else he’s out on his ear. Count on playwright Theresa Rebeck (*Bernhardt/Hamlet*) to sort out the humor and humanity in the Roundabout Theatre Company production co-starring Lucy DeVito (the star’s daughter) and Ray Anthony Thomas.

Get [*I Need That* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/28198-i-need-that-on-broadway) now.

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### *Spamalot* 

Oh, what a knight! Arthurian legend gets soundly spoofed in this Tony-winning Best Musical by John Du Prez and Eric Idle, based on the 1975 comedy film *Monty Python and the Holy Grail*. Back on Broadway for the first time since its 2005 premiere, the show has a stacked cast including Taran Killam as Lancelot, James Monroe Iglehart as King Arthur, and Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer as the Lady of the Lake.

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

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### *Harmony*

During the 1920s and 1930s, the Comedian Harmonists, a German sextet known for their freewheeling stage frolics and tight harmonies, ascended to popularity that spanned the globe. But when the Nazis rose to power, the group, which included three Jewish men, broke apart and fell into obscurity. Barry Manilow (music) and Bruce Sussman (book and lyrics) reclaim the group’s place in history in this show directed by Warren Carlyle. 

[Check back for information on *Harmony* tickets on New York Theatre Guide.](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/24995-harmony-tickets)

## Off-Broadway shows in October

Off-Broadway theatres have it all this month: innovative new plays, comedy shows, and more. Whatever your taste in theatre, you’ll find it off Broadway, so check out these shows starting New York performances this month and find one that's best for you.

[Get tickets to an Off-Broadway show on New York Theatre Guide.](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/whats-on/off-broadway-shows)

### *All the Devils Are Here*

Tony nominee Patrick Page is at his best when his characters are at their worst — such as Hades in [*Hadestown*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/14748-hadestown-tickets) and Scar in [*The Lion King*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/42-the-lion-king-tickets). In this 80-minute solo show subtitled *How Shakespeare Invented the Villain*, author and actor Page inhabits a dozen of the Bard’s notorious baddies – including Macbeth, Richard II, and more.

Get [*All the Devils Are Here* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/34163-all-the-devils-are-here) now.

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### *Covenant*

Did a struggling musician make some sort of devilish deal to make it big in the biz? That’s a burning question throughout York Walker’s play about the power of suspicion and half-truths making its world premiere in a [Roundabout Theatre Company](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/harold-and-miriam-steinberg-center-for-theatre) presentation. 

Get [*Covenant* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/33127-the-covenant) now.

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### *Danny and the Deep Blue Sea*

[Aubrey Plaza](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/aubrey-plaza) (*Parks and Recreation*) and [Christopher Abbott](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/christopher-abbott) (*Girls*) star in this new production of this emotionally charged 1984 two-hander by John Patrick Shanley, the Oscar-winning writer of *Moonstruck*. The revival at the [Lucille Lortel Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/lucille-lortel-theatre) follows down-and-outers who meet at a bar in the Bronx and maybe – just maybe – make the kind of deep connection that could change their lives.  

Get [*Danny and the Deep Blue Sea* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/32606-danny-and-the-deep-blue-sea) now.

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### *Hell’s Kitchen*

Grammy winner [Alicia Keys](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/hear-the-music-of-alicia-keys-in-the-hells-kitchen-musical) makes her Off-Broadway debut at The [Public Theater](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/public-theater) in her semi-autobiographical coming-of-age musical set in her home neighborhood in Manhattan.  Michael Greif (*Rent*, *Dear Evan Hansen*) directs the show, which features a mix of new songs and familiar hits by Keys and a book by Kristoffer Diaz about a 17-year-old girl named Ali, who’s considering life, love, and the future. 

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

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### *Here We Are*

A Sondheim premiere? We’re there. The final musical from the late, great composer-lyricist, created with writer David Ives (*Venus in Fur*) and directed by Joe Mantello (*Wicked*) is drawn from two Luis Buñuel films – *The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie* (1972) and *The Exterminating Angel* (1962) – with dinner parties that go sideways. Tony winners David Hyde Pierce, Rachel Bay Jones, and Denis O’Hare are just a taste of the delicious cast.

Get [*Here We Are* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/28147-here-we-are-tickets) now.

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### *Little Shop of Horrors*

Boy meets girl – and a man-eating plant with a killer appetite. So it goes in this hit revival at the Westside Theatre of the Alan Menken and Howard Ashman cult fave musical that's perfect for Halloween season. [Corbin Bleu](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/corbin-bleu) and Constance Wu currently star as the adorable lovebirds Seymour and Audrey who pour out their hearts in great songs like “Somewhere That’s Green” and “Suddenly Seymour.”

Get [*Little Shop of Horrors* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/24608-little-shop-of-horrors-tickets) now.

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### *Daphne*

Soon after Daphne says goodbye to the city to live with her girlfriend in a woodsy setting, she finds herself confronting a thicket of unsettling events that make her question what’s real and what’s not. Boundaries blur and realities emerge in Renae Simone Jarrett’s play at Lincoln Center.

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

### *The Gardens of Anuncia*

Michael John LaChiusa seizes inspiration for his tango-infused musical at Lincoln Center from the early life of choreographer and director Graciela Danielle, one of his frequent collaborators. In the lead role, Tony winner Priscilla Lopez looks back at her girlhood in Argentina and marvels at the women in her life who helped her become an artist. 

Check back for information on *The Gardens of Anuncia* tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

### *Merry Me*

There’s something about *Merry* – and then some. Restoration comedy shakes it up with Greek drama in a trippy work at [New York Theatre Workshop](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/new-york-theatre-workshop) by Hansol Jung (*Wolf Play*) directed by Leigh Silverman that promises to be “an intoxicating queer cocktail.” The setting is a Navy base, where libidos race, an angel descends with an arresting prophecy, and humanity hangs in the balance. 

Check back for information on *Merry Me* tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

### *Stereophonic*

David Adjmi (*3C*, *Elective Affinities*) flashes back to the groovy, gritty mid-1970s, where a rock band recording its latest studio album is poised to make a quantum leap into the the big leagues. Will they seize the moment for superstardom – or crack like vinyl under the pressure? Original music by Arcade Fire’s Will Butler headlines this Playwrights Horizons presentation.

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

### *I Can Get It for You Wholesale*

Antihero, anyone? *Tootsie* Tony winner Santino Fontana stars as Harry Bogen, an eager-beaver shipping clerk in 1937 New York City whose ambition is rivaled only by his unscrupulousness. This [Classic Stage Company](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/classic-stage-company) production marks the first revival of the 1962 musical in 30 years and is a bit of a family affair. Revisions to Jerome Weidman’s original book, based on his novel, are by his son, John Weidman. Songs are by Harold Rome.

Check back for information on *I Can Get It for You Wholesale* tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

*Photo credit: Spamalot. (Photo by Jeremy Daniel)*

Top theatre to see in New York in October

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Discover our top picks for Broadway shows and Off-Broadway shows to see this month, including new shows premiering and last-chance shows closing this month.

Top theatre to see in New York in October | New York Theatre Guide

Check out our guide to must-see Broadway and Off-Broadway theatre in October 2023, a popular month for the openings of buzzy new Broadway plays and musicals.

They're hitting the dance floor! The new Broadway musical [*How to Dance in Ohio*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/32763-how-to-dance-in-ohio-tickets) has set its complete Broadway cast ahead of its first performance on November 15. Opening night is December 10.

*How to Dance in Ohio* is a musical adaptation of the same-named documentary by Alexandra Shiva. The show follows a group of autistic young adults who come of age and experience newfound love, stress, confidence, and change as they prepare for a formal dance at their group counseling center.

The show comes to Broadway's [Belasco Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/belasco-theatre) after a 2022 world premiere in Syracuse, with multiple cast members returning.

## Who is in the *How to Dance in Ohio* Broadway cast?

Newly announced *How to Dance in Ohio* cast members include Caesar Samayoa as psychologist Dr. Emilio Amigo, Cristina Sastre as Ashley Amigo, and ensemble members Jean Christian Barry, Collin Hancock, Hunter Hollingsworth, Marina Jansen, Ayanna Thomas, and Marina Pires.

They join seven [previously announced cast members](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/new-musical-how-to-dance-in-ohio-to-premiere-on-broadway-this-fall) making their Broadway debuts: Desmond Luis Edwards as Remy, Amelia Fei (Yi-Hsuan Fei) as Caroline, Madison Kopec as Marideth, Liam Pearce as Drew, Imani Russell as Mel, Conor Tague as Tommy, and Ashley Wool as Jessica. All are autistic actors reprising their roles from Syracuse as the autistic adults in the show.

Other previously announced cast members include Haven Burton as Terry, Darlesia Cearcy as Johanna, Carlos L Encinias, Nick Gaswirth, Melina Kalomas, and Martín Solá.

Check back for information on *How to Dance in Ohio* tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

*Photo credit: Amelia Fei, Ashley Wool, Conor Tague, Desmond Edwards, Imani Russell, Liam Pearce, and Madison Kopec. (Photos courtesy of production)*

'How to Dance in Ohio' completes Broadway cast

how to dance in ohio-1200x600-NYTG

How to Dance in Ohio on Broadway - NYC

How to Dance in Ohio on Broadway

The new musical, based on Alexandra Shiva's Peabody Award-winning documentary about autistic adults, begins performances at the Belasco Theatre in November.

Their name is Lancelot! Taran Killam and Alex Brightman join the cast of the upcoming [*Spamalot*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/33129-spamalot-tickets) Broadway revival, playing at the [St. James Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/st-james-theatre) from October 31. Opening night is November 16.

Killam returns to Broadway after playing King George III in [*Hamilton*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/384-hamilton-tickets) in 2017. He is better known, however, for his onscreen comedy performances on *madTV* and *Saturday Night Live*, in addition to multiple sitcoms. He will play Lancelot through January 7 only.

Brightman will step into the role from January 9. He is currently starring as Richard Dreyfuss in [*The Shark Is Broken*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/28737-the-shark-is-broken-tickets) on Broadway, and he is also known for leading the Broadway musical adaptations of *Beetlejuice* and *School of Rock*. Brightman also played Lancelot at the Kennedy Center, where this *Spamalot* revival production premiered earlier this year under director/choreographer Josh Rhodes.

As [previously announced](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/spamalot-sets-broadway-cast-and-creative-team), multiple other cast members from that production will also return for the Broadway transfer: Christopher Fitzgerald as Patsy, James Monroe Iglehart as King Arthur, Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer as The Lady of the Lake, Jimmy Smagula as Sir Bedevere, Michael Urie as Sir Robin, and Nik Walker as Sir Galahad. Ethan Slater also stars as The Historian/Prince Herbert.

*Spamalot* is the seven-time Tony Award-winning musical adaptation of *Monty Python and the Holy Grail*, written by John Du Prez and founding Monty Python member Eric Idle. The show is an irreverent sendup of Arthurian legends.

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

[![Book Tickets CTA - LT/NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/3qAtGOdQq9x3k1WcHlaJnw/90ece91bbe47ed07e142c2e43c7a7a3f/BookTickets-250.png)](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/33129-spamalot-tickets)

*Photo credit: Taran Killam and Alex Brightman. (Photos courtesy of production)*

Taran Killam, Alex Brightman join 'Spamalot' Broadway cast

lancelots-1200x600-NYTG

Spamalot on Broadway - NYC

Spamalot on Broadway

The actors join a cast that also includes Broadway favorites James Monroe Iglehart, Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer, Ethan Slater, and more at the St. James Theatre.

Ease on down to Broadway! A revival of [*The Wiz*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/27115-the-wiz-tickets) will begin performances this spring at the [Marquis Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/marquis-theatre). The first performance is March 29, and opening night is April 17.

The announcement of the New York production comes as *The Wiz* opened its pre-Broadway national tour in Baltimore, Maryland — where the Tony Award-winning original 1975 production premiered — last night.

*The Wiz* is an all-Black retelling of *The Wizard of Oz*, infusing it with jazz, pop, ballet, and Black cultural influences. The show features a book by William F. Brown and a Tony Award-winning score by Charlie Smalls and others, including Luther Vandross. The 2023 revival features additional material by Amber Ruffin, also represented on Broadway with *Some Like It Hot*.

Schele Williams directs the 2023 production, which features choreography by JaQuel Knight, scenic design by Hannah Beachler; costume design by Sharen Davis; lighting design by Ryan J. O’Gara; sound design by Jon Weston; projection design by Daniel Brodie; wig design by Charles LaPointe; makeup design by Kirk Cambridge-Del Pesche; music supervision, orchestrations, and music arrangements by Joseph Joubert; vocal and music arrangements by Allen René Louis; and dance music arrangements by Adam Blackstone.

## Who is in *The Wiz* Broadway cast?

As [previously announced](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/complete-cast-set-for-broadway-bound-the-wiz-revival), the Broadway cast of *The Wiz* stars [Wayne Brady](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/wayne-brady) as The Wiz alongside Nichelle Lewis as Dorothy, Deborah Cox as Glinda, Melody A. Betts as Aunt Em and Evillene, Kyle Ramar Freeman as the Lion, Phillip Johnson Richardson as the Tinman, and Avery Wilson as the Scarecrow.

The ensemble includes Maya Bowles, Shayla Alayre Caldwell, Jay Copeland, Allyson Kaye Daniel, Judith Franklin, Michael Samarie George, Collin Heyward, Amber Jackson, Olivia Jackson, Christina Jones, Polanco Jones, Kolby Kindle, Mariah Lyttle, Kareem Marsh, Anthony Murphy, Cristina Rae, Matthew Sims Jr, Avilon Trust Tate, Keenan D. Washington, and Timothy Wilson.

*The Wiz* Broadway cast carries over from the national tour.

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

*Photo credit: The Wiz in Baltimore. (Photo by Jeremy Daniel)*

'The Wiz' to open on Broadway in March

the wiz-1200x600-NYTG

The Wiz on Broadway - NYC

The Wiz on Broadway

Wayne Brady will star in the latest revival of the seven-time Tony Award-winning musical, which just launched a national tour prior to its New York opening.

The career paths of Josh Gad and [Andrew Rannells](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/andrew-rannells) happily keep on colliding – and paralleling. Right now, they’re at the [James Earl Jones Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/james-earl-jones-theatre) in [*Gutenberg! The Musical!*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/31399-gutenberg-the-musical-tickets), a show with two actors and just as many exclamation points. The comic duo play musical theatre composers writing a show about the inventor of the printing press.

Out there? Sure. Then again, the story of misbegotten Mormon missionaries in Uganda is also wacky. That’s what the long-running, Tony Award-winning musical [*The Book of Mormon*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/127-the-book-of-mormon-tickets), in which Gad and Rannells first performed together, is about.

Even when they haven’t shared a stage, their theatre careers have overlapped in various ways. Find out more about the duo’s careers in our timeline below.

Get [*Gutenberg! The Musical!* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/31399-gutenberg-the-musical-tickets) now.

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## 2005 and 2006: Broadway debuts

In January 2005, Rannells took over as high school student Fender in *Hairspray*. Like a ’60s beehive hairdo, the actor ascended high to the lead role of teenage heartthrob Link Larkin. Rannells has stepped into key roles in other Broadway shows including Bob Gaudio in *Jersey Boys*, the title role in *Hedwig and the Angry Inch*, and King George in [*Hamilton*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/384-hamilton-tickets). 

A year later, in January 2006, the musical *The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee* introduced Gad to Broadway audiences. He took over the role of allergy-prone William Barfee, a kid who uses his “magic foot” to write out words before spelling them.

![gad rannells mormon-1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/2wabPKWHjEvZjHR3cwfnyN/fe6243997f341e93bba3320f9ea06708/gad_rannells_mormon-1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

## 2011: *The Book of Mormon*

In 2011, Rannells and Gad landed the lead roles in the irreverent, sometimes profane musical by Robert Lopez (*Frozen, Avenue Q*) and *South Park* creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. Rannells and Gad starred as Elders Price and Cunningham: Mormon missionaries in Uganda who are young, eager, in over their head, and making things up as they go along. Both got Best Actor Tony nominations for the still-running hit at the [Eugene O’Neill Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/eugene-o-neill-theatre). 

Get [*The Book of Mormon* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/127-the-book-of-mormon-tickets) now.

[![Book Tickets CTA - LT/NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/3qAtGOdQq9x3k1WcHlaJnw/90ece91bbe47ed07e142c2e43c7a7a3f/BookTickets-250.png)](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/127-the-book-of-mormon-tickets)

## 2006 and 2016: The William Finn connection

Gad belted the kicky tune “Magic Foot” by William Finn in his Broadway debut in *The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee*. Rannells earned his second Tony nomination – Best Actor in a Supporting Role, as the ailing Whizzer – in the 2016 revival of *Falsettos*, a show with music, lyrics, and a book by Finn.

## 2013 and 2016: The Disney connection

Beyond the stage, Disney is common ground for the pair. For episodes of the animated TV series *Sofia the First*, Rannells voiced Morris, a goblin. Meanwhile, Gad voiced Olaf, the fan-fave snowman in the *Frozen* film franchise.

## 2023: *Gutenberg! The Musical!*

As Bud and Doug in this musical by Scott Brown and Anthony King, the actors wear a lot of hats – and that’s not a metaphor. They play the authors of a show about Johannes Gutenberg, which they pitch to potential investors with the means to finance the project. They act out the show playing characters whose names are on baseball caps.

See how it all goes down through January 28 only. Who knows when Rannells and Gad will share the stage next?

Get [*Gutenberg! The Musical!* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/31399-gutenberg-the-musical-tickets) now.

[![Book Tickets CTA - LT/NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/3qAtGOdQq9x3k1WcHlaJnw/90ece91bbe47ed07e142c2e43c7a7a3f/BookTickets-250.png)](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/31399-gutenberg-the-musical-tickets)

Learn about the careers of 'Gutenberg! The Musical!' stars Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells

gutenberg-1200x600-NYTG

Recommended for 12+. Children under 4 not admitted.

Gutenberg! The Musical on Broadway - NYC

Gutenberg! The Musical on Broadway

The acclaimed comic theatre actors made their names with *The Book of Mormon* more than a decade ago, and they now share the stage for the first time since.

Fall is upon us in New York. The cool fall breezes have blown in not just color-changing leaves, but a cornucopia of seasonal events all across the city. And there's a show or event out there for you no matter how you like to ring in the fall season.

Is the pumpkin patch at the top of your itinerary? Stop at a show set in the countryside on the way to the actual farm. Prefer to stay cozied up inside with a warm sweater? You can do that in a Broadway theatre. Can't wait for Halloween? Celebrate the holiday all autumn long at spooky shows and attractions. You don't have to escape the city to get the most out of autumn — there are plenty of options right here.

We've planned out a few roundups of New York fall events and shows to get you started, based on various fall vibes. Pick the one that best suits you, and get tickets to these experiences to make the most of your fall in the city.

Get [tickets to Broadway shows](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/whats-on/broadway-shows) on New York Theatre Guide.

[![Book Tickets CTA - LT/NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/3qAtGOdQq9x3k1WcHlaJnw/90ece91bbe47ed07e142c2e43c7a7a3f/BookTickets-250.png)](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/whats-on/broadway-shows)

## Spooky fall

If "fall" and "Halloween" are one and the same to you, you're in the right place. Get your tricks and treats, chills and thrills at these shows and events. And this is only a small selection — read our full [guide to theatre to see in New York for Halloween](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/top-theatre-to-see-in-new-york-for-halloween) for even more scary good options.

![7 sweeney-1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/7gzSXonAWlHmzrQwwduBA/552327f1ea1cae3882fcea9649ba1ee8/7_sweeney-1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

### *Sweeney Todd*

*Sweeney Todd* serves up both tricks and treats, though perhaps not the kind you'll want to eat. This bloody entertaining Stephen Sondheim thriller follows the title "demon barber," whose vengeful plot to murder a corrupt judge grows into a desire to kill just about everyone in London. And with the help of pie shop owner Mrs. Lovett, the evidence mysteriously disappears into the tastiest baked goods she's ever made. [Josh Groban](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/josh-groban) and [Annaleigh Ashford](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/annaleigh-ashford)'s sinister performances might give you nightmares, but their vocals are the stuff of dreams.

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

[![Book Tickets CTA - LT/NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/3qAtGOdQq9x3k1WcHlaJnw/90ece91bbe47ed07e142c2e43c7a7a3f/BookTickets-250.png)](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/26216-sweeney-todd-on-broadway-tickets)

![wicked record-1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/33IsBjCX6G9Pt8wbpynzhg/f4408e276ad198a3f6bfe93f03845770/wicked_record-1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

### *Wicked*

The iconic witch hat and broom are the centerpieces of many a Halloween costume. Ever wonder why? This musical provides one origin story and more, offering an alternate take on who Glinda and Elphaba were before they became the Good Witch and the Wicked Witch of the West in *The Wizard of Oz*. This show isn't scary, but it's filled with bewitching stage magic and supernatural characters.

Get [*Wicked* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/1-wicked-musical-tickets) now.

[![Book Tickets CTA - LT/NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/3qAtGOdQq9x3k1WcHlaJnw/90ece91bbe47ed07e142c2e43c7a7a3f/BookTickets-250.png)](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/1-wicked-musical-tickets)

![met-1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/5Kl3OwNexDdwp9z80mxVMP/ec7576b9feb977ae02aabf0d4f3751f5/met-1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

### Ghost Stories: A Mysterious, Macabre Interactive Tour at the Met

This tour focuses on works of art that depict all sorts of scary creatures from various cultures and time periods. In addition to just looking at spooky creations, attendees will participate in activities and discussions about what makes people afraid and why. The tour takes place all year round, but during the fall, it incorporates extra art and other surprises only included during the Halloween season.

Get [Ghost Stories tour tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/29084-ghost-stories-a-mysterious-macabre-interactive-tour-at-the-metropolitan) now.

[![Book Tickets CTA - LT/NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/3qAtGOdQq9x3k1WcHlaJnw/90ece91bbe47ed07e142c2e43c7a7a3f/BookTickets-250.png)](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/29084-ghost-stories-a-mysterious-macabre-interactive-tour-at-the-metropolitan)

## Harvest fall

This itinerary is for those who like to spend their fall days leaf-peeping, apple-picking, and pumpkin patch-hopping. Even if you can't make it to New England or upstate for the foliage and the farms, these shows and events provide all the harvest vibes you're looking for.

![2 shucked-1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/5C8ZI7ghBbkqnTIBgwsnlr/f658093e1d4c60713a8527ad2216cd07/2_shucked-1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

### *Shucked*

Fans of corn mazes will feel right at home in Cob County, the central location of this corny (literally) musical. When the town's prized corn crop starts dying, farmgirl Maizy finds an outsider to help, but all isn't at it seems. This show, by Tony-winning bookwriter Robert Horn and Grammy-winning songwriters Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, delivers a cornucopia of country-infused tunes and nonstop corn puns.

Get [*Shucked* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/26987-shucked-tickets) now.

[![Book Tickets CTA - LT/NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/3qAtGOdQq9x3k1WcHlaJnw/90ece91bbe47ed07e142c2e43c7a7a3f/BookTickets-250.png)](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/26987-shucked-tickets)

![Little Shop of Horrors Skylar Astin - 750 - NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/6H4AR98BqLvUGbu3IcM5qt/79e8283b1a46f0dabbcc454ae86774ce/skylar_1-750.jpg)

### *Little Shop of Horrors*

The monstrous, Venus flytrap-esque plant in this musical is one you might not want to harvest. Flower shop worker Seymour finds this out the hard way, as the plant promises him fame and fortune in exchange for human flesh and blood. Straddling the line between horror, comedy, and botany, this cult-classic favorite is the perfect autumn watch.

Get [*Little Shop of Horrors* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/24608-little-shop-of-horrors-tickets) now.

[![Book Tickets CTA - LT/NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/3qAtGOdQq9x3k1WcHlaJnw/90ece91bbe47ed07e142c2e43c7a7a3f/BookTickets-250.png)](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/24608-little-shop-of-horrors-tickets)

![falloween-1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/12w2kC6bHYOabTRDUoPlp5/cff33a7da1d13a561467a10f4bb1c39c/falloween-1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

### Fall-O-Ween at the New York Botanical Garden

What better place to spend a harvest-themed fall day than at the New York Botanical Garden, where you're surrounded by flora and fauna? A natural oasis in the middle of the Bronx, it'll make you feel like you've escaped the city. Participate in pumpkin carving and costume contests, sample treats featuring classic fall flavors, and take part in activities both festive and frightful, all while exploring the grounds' 50 gardens featuring over a million wildlife species.

Get [Fall-O_Ween tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/34402-fall-o-ween) now.

[![Book Tickets CTA - LT/NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/3qAtGOdQq9x3k1WcHlaJnw/90ece91bbe47ed07e142c2e43c7a7a3f/BookTickets-250.png)](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/34402-fall-o-ween)

## Cozy, romantic fall

If you spend your fall pretending you're the protagonist of a Nora Ephron rom-com — cozying up with a good book and a soft sweater, perhaps by the fireplace with your boo — then these idyllic, romantic experiences are perfect for you.

![cottage review-1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/7IpSiOpEcmTSOTm8NqA54F/809e3f7439b96c9377519ec2db23a880/cottage_review-1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

### *The Cottage*

*The Cottage* delivers cozy romance with a twist. The play opens with a couple having a romantic morning in a beautiful country cottage — but we soon learn they're both cheating on their spouses, who are in turn cheating on them. Confusion, hilarity, and a tangled web of relationships arise. This farce may not be your average romance, but it's an endlessly entertaining one.

Get [*The Cottage* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/27834-the-cottage-tickets) now.

[![Book Tickets CTA - LT/NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/3qAtGOdQq9x3k1WcHlaJnw/90ece91bbe47ed07e142c2e43c7a7a3f/BookTickets-250.png)](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/27834-the-cottage-tickets)

![2 & juliet-1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/4uRxS4JCAwq28qRsfLQYse/a3e7a49d37437ce5ce8b0c37b59d75ed/2___juliet-1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

### *& Juliet*

Juliet, of *Romeo & Juliet*, finds love in the big city in this new musical — except the big city is Paris, and she spends just as much time finding herself after Romeo dies. This twist on the classic play is as empowering as it is romantic, and it also features another love story: that of William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway, who rekindle their own flame by co-writing Juliet's new story together.

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

[![Book Tickets CTA - LT/NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/3qAtGOdQq9x3k1WcHlaJnw/90ece91bbe47ed07e142c2e43c7a7a3f/BookTickets-250.png)](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/25598-and-juliet-tickets)

![central park-1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/6JRicOt0Rsj6szai9tyQ4e/7ee32e86f002fea209a5499f8b51b72e/central_park-1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

### Secret Places of Central Park

Is it really a New York rom-com if the lovers don't stroll through Central Park? Recreate that vibe with this walking tour. You might have seen landmarks like the Bow Bridge on screen, but this tour provides a look into the park's lesser-known hidden gems, including secluded gardens, historic sites, and more. You might find your new favorite spot to go on an autumn date.

Get [Secret Places of Central Park tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/29268-secret-places-of-central-park-walking-tour) now.

[![Book Tickets CTA - LT/NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/3qAtGOdQq9x3k1WcHlaJnw/90ece91bbe47ed07e142c2e43c7a7a3f/BookTickets-250.png)](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/29268-secret-places-of-central-park-walking-tour)

Plan a fall day in New York with these shows and events

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Whether your fall vibe is spooky, cozy, or outdoorsy, New York has plenty of attractions and shows to suit your interests — check out our itineraries here.

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Hamlet - General Entry - Free Shakespeare in the Park - NYC

Genre: Play

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Hamlet - General Entry - Free Shakespeare in the Park

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It's the summer of [*Hamlet*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/29013-hamlet-general-entry-free-shakespeare-in-the-park). The Public Theater set the stage to revisit Shakespeare's familial tragedy last year by putting up [*Fat Ham*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/27141-fat-ham-tickets), a comedic send-up of *Hamlet* that wraps a Tony Award-nominated Broadway transfer this weekend. Forty blocks uptown, the Public now mounts the original play — with a few cuts and updates — as this year's Free Shakespeare in the Park offering.

Beowulf Boritt's set depicts a finely furnished present-day house with a Stacey Abrams poster out front and a car with the license plate ELS NOR (a clever nod to Elsinore, the name of the Danish palace in Shakespeare's text) off to the side. The whole scene is half-buried and askew, suggesting a world turned upside down even before the events of the play begin.

Quick recap of said events: King Hamlet gets murdered by his brother Claudius before the play starts. Prince Hamlet (the title character, played here by Tony nominee Ato Blankson-Wood) gets a visit from his dad's ghost, who urges revenge. The young prince pretends to go mad while secretly plotting to kill his uncle. Additional deaths — a lot of them – ensue.

Director Kenny Leon doesn't unearth much new insight into this story from the modern setting, however, instead electing to stage a fairly run-of-the-mill *Hamlet* that happens to be in contemporary dress (costumes are by Jessica Jahn) and feature (truly beautiful) gospel and rap music to ground this production in Black culture.

Strong performances buoy the production: Blankson-Wood, on the [Delacorte Theater](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/delacorte-theater) stage for the second summer in a row following last year's *As You Like It*, is a sharp Hamlet, exhibiting the perfect blend of boyish petulance and thoughtful introspection. Solea Pfeiffer, even in her comparatively little stage time, matches his skill as an Ophelia who demands to be heard. Daniel Pearce provides delightful comic relief as Polonius, and the masterful John Douglas Thompson almost makes the audience sympathize with Claudius before turning on a dime, ending Act 1 with a perfect line delivery and commanding exit.

Even with multiple smart scene cuts, *Hamlet* still runs close to 3 hours, and you'll feel it in the second act — it's slower compared to the first. Greg Hildreth runs away with the act in his single scene as the wisecracking gravedigger, and just beforehand, Pfeiffer especially stands out in Ophelia's tour-de-force fit of madness. She not only gets to show off her gorgeous singing voice, but a blazing torrent of deep, enraged sorrow.

She's not overbearing with it, though — one of the strongest moments sees her laying flowers upon the other characters like graves as she speaks in controlled, bitter tones. It reads as somber foreshadowing. In Pfeiffer's performance, it also suggests more mental clarity than the characters believe Ophelia to have — everyone on that stage is complicit in their fates. Following her father, she's among the first to be collateral damage.

And such does Leon's *Hamlet* subtly reinforce the parallel between her and Hamlet — of being haunted by their fathers, of being caught between grief and anger as they try (and ultimately fail) to find a path forward.

*Fat Ham*'s influence on this production looms large (Public Theater director Oskar Eustis has [specifically mentioned it](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/12/theater/shakespeare-in-the-park-hamlet.html)) — that brilliant play of Ijames's vividly explores the effects of cycles of violence and grief getting passed down, specifically among Black families. This seems to be the intention behind Leon's majority-Black casting, too.

On its own, his direction fails to strongly deliver that vision (or any other), but together, the two shows invite a more full-bodied conversation about old-fashioned notions of death as liberation and how, and why, a new way of thinking is necessary now. This *Hamlet*'s final stage picture, of these many Black bodies lying dead on the floor, makes that clear.

[*Hamlet* is at the Delacorte Theater through August 6.](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/29013-hamlet-general-entry-free-shakespeare-in-the-park)

*Photo credit: Ato Blankson-Wood in Hamlet. (Photo by Joan Marcus)*

'Hamlet' review — strong casting is king in this production of the classic tragedy

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Read our review of the Free Shakespeare in the Park production of *Hamlet*, presented by The Public Theater at the Delacorte Theater through August 6.

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'Hamlet' review — strong casting is king in this production of the classic tragedy