A Broadway fan's guide to New York Comic Con

Discover a complete roundup of theatre-related panels and events, and find answers to FAQs about the massive pop culture convention at the Javits Center.

Caroline Cao
Written byCaroline Cao

Look, it’s Anne Boleyn! It’s Beetlejuice! It’s Elphaba! Among the many pop culture fandoms represented at New York Comic Con, Broadway fans can find communion. I have taken selfies with bedazzled cosplayers dressed as the Queens of the Six: The Musical at fan conventions, and New York Comic Con has plenty of theatre panels for current, upcoming, and perpetual fan-favorite shows.

If you’re a Broadway fan dropping into New York Comic Con, check out our roundup of all the theatre panels taking place, listed in chronological order. Some center on plays and musicals you can get tickets to right now, if you want to catch a Broadway show while you're in NYC for the convention! Additionally, at the bottom of this article, we've answered your frequently asked questions about New York Comic Con to help plan your visit.

Get Broadway tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

Summary

  • New York Comic Con 2025 takes place at the Javits Center from October 9-12
  • There are over a dozen theatre-related panels showcasing current shows like Death Becomes Her; Little Shop of Horrors; and Stranger Things: The First Shadow
  • Various Broadway actors will appear at panels for either their theatre work or latest film and TV projects

The Lost Boys: Adapting the Film for Broadway with Producer Patrick Wilson

Playbill presents: Little Shop of Horrors on Broadway

Betty Boop: The 100-year evolution from Animation to Broadway and Beyond

Playbill presents: The Big Broadway Nerd Panel

Playbill presents: Death Becomes Her on Broadway

Puppetry in Film: Meet the Puppeteers Bringing Your Favorite Characters to Life

Wayne Brady: Improv Nerdvana (18+)

Pop Culture Puppets!

Prime Video’s Hazbin Hotel

Playbill presents: Beetlejuice on Broadway

Stranger Things: The First Shadow - Bringing iconic characters & the World of the Upside Down to Life on the Stage

Broadway To Hollywood: A Look at the New Age of Musicals

The World Turned Upside Down: Bringing Hamilton to Life Across the Globe

The World Turned Upside Down: Bringing Hamilton to Life Across the Globe

Date and time: October 9 from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. at North - Room 409

This panel celebrates Hamilton's journey to becoming a national and global phenomenon, featuring current Broadway cast members Trey Curtis (Alexander Hamilton), Morgan Anita Wood (Eliza Hamilton), Tamar Greene (George Washington), Jisel Ayon (Angelica Schuyler), and Cherry Torres (Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds).

Get Hamilton tickets now.

Get tickets
The World Turned Upside Down: Bringing Hamilton to Life Across the Globe

Broadway To Hollywood: A Look at the New Age of Musicals

Date and time: October 9 from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at North - Room 406.2

This panel spotlights onscreen musical productions like Miley Cyrus's visual album Something Beautiful, the movie musical Joker: Folie à Deux, and Barbie The Movie In Concert.

One of the most anticipated inclusions, though, is the Kiss of the Spider Woman film adaptation starring Jennifer Lopez, releasing October 10. The panel features the film’s editor, Brian A. Kates.

Stranger Things: The First Shadow - Bringing iconic characters & the World of the Upside Down to Life on the Stage

Date and time: October 9 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. at North - Room 409

The small town of Hawkins always seems to be cursed with something. The cast of Stranger Things: The First Shadow on Broadway will discuss the stagecraft of the show, a prequel to Netflix’s blockbuster supernatural series. Don’t count on the panel revealing the secrets behind the unbelievable illusions, but you’ll never know until you’re there.

Get Stranger Things: The First Shadow tickets now.

Get tickets
Stranger Things: The First Shadow - Bringing iconic characters & the World of the Upside Down to Life on the Stage

Playbill presents: Beetlejuice on Broadway

Date and time: October 10 from 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. at North - Room 406.1

Hey folks, let’s talk about the whole "being dead" thing! The Beetlejuice musical returns to Broadway on October 8, and actors Justin Collette (Beetlejuice) and Isabella Esler (Lydia) are just two of the panelists discussing the spooktacular show.

Get Beetlejuice tickets now.

Get tickets
Playbill presents: Beetlejuice on Broadway

Unlock your 24-hour New York City itinerary

Unlock your exclusive guide, full of the best attractions, food, free events and more.

09:00

Breakfast at Liberty Bagels

Regularly named one of the city’s best bagel shops, the unassuming Liberty Bagels is the perfect spot to get a classic NYC breakfast sandwich.

10:00

Macy’s Herald Square

One of the world’s largest stores, Macy’s is a sight to behold, especially when it’s decked out for the holidays.

Prime Video’s Hazbin Hotel

Date and time: October 10 from 2:15-3:15 p.m. at Hall 1D: Main Stage

A breakout YouTube musical pilot earned the adult animated cartoon Hazbin Hotel a massive fandom before its first season on Prime Video. It boasts a cast of Broadway favorites, including panel members Jessica Vosk (now in Hell's Kitchen), Lilli Cooper (in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee this fall), Erika Henningsen (Mean Girls and Just in Time), Blake Roman (Harmony), Kimiko Glenn (Waitress), and Alex Brightman (Beetlejuice).

The panel highlights the second season, dropping October 29 on Prime Video. Additional theatre performers in the cast (though not on the panel) include The Great Gatsby's Jeremy Jordan, Miss Saigon’s Liz Callaway, and Shucked Tony Award winner Alex Newell.

Pop Culture Puppets!

Date and time: October 10 from 2:45-3:45 p.m. at North - Room 406.1

It’s time to light the lights and spotlight the puppeteers for stage musicals like Little Shop of Horrors and Avenue Q. The panel features Avenue Q alums Rick Lyon and Jennifer Barnhart, Sesame Street's Kathleen Kim, and Noel MacNeal, an understudy puppeteer for the scene-stealing talking plant in Little Shop.

Especially with the Muppets making their Broadway debut in Rob Lake Magic with Special Guests The Muppets this fall, this panel will bring you closer to appreciating the performers behind the puppets.

Wayne Brady: Improv Nerdvana (18+)

Date and time: October 10 from 3:45-4:45 p.m. at North - Room 408

This music-fueled improv show combining concert, sketch comedy, and cosplay elements is led by stage veteran Wayne Brady, who currently stars as Harold Zidler in Moulin Rouge! The Musical on Broadway.

Get Moulin Rouge! The Musical tickets now.

Get tickets
Wayne Brady: Improv Nerdvana (18+)

Puppetry in Film: Meet the Puppeteers Bringing Your Favorite Characters to Life

Date and time: October 10 from 7:15-8:15 p.m. at North - Room 406.1

It takes human hands to bring felt and fabric to life. While this panel focuses on the film medium, many of the panelists have presented their work onstage. Julia Schemmer founded Puppetry on Broadway, James Ortiz designed the beloved Milky White cow puppet for the 2022 Into the Woods revival, Phillip Huber stole hearts with his Pudgy the pup marionette in BOOP! The Musical, and Jon Riddleberger is on the puppeteering team for Little Shop of Horrors off Broadway.

Puppetry in Film: Meet the Puppeteers Bringing Your Favorite Characters to Life

Playbill presents: Death Becomes Her on Broadway

Date and time: October 11 from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. at North - Room 406.3

Adapting the cult classic movie, the Death Becomes Her musical has roused audience laughter as two dueling divas (Megan Hilty and Jennifer Simard) who take a youth potion provided by the secretive Viola Van Horn (Grammy winner Michelle Williams). Panelists are TBD.

Get Death Becomes Her tickets now.

Get tickets
Playbill presents: Death Becomes Her on Broadway

Betty Boop: The 100-year evolution from Animation to Broadway and Beyond

Date and time: October 11 from 8:15-9:15 p.m. at North - Room 408

If you missed BOOP! The Musical while it was on Broadway, have no fear. Jasmine Amy Rogers, a Tony nominee for playing the iconic cartoon flapper on stage, will come to New York Comic Con, just as Betty does in the show. She'll help unpack the storied history of Betty Boop's good looks and cottequish cadence, from the black-and-white animated shorts of the 1930s to the Broadway musical.

Betty Boop: The 100-year evolution from Animation to Broadway and Beyond

Playbill presents: Little Shop of Horrors on Broadway

Date and time: October 12 from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. at North - Room 408

Legendary composer Alan Menken will grace this panel to discuss the fan-favorite musical Little Shop of Horrors, currently enjoying a long run off Broadway. Current cast members Thomas Doherty (Seymour), Madeline Brewer (Audrey), and Major Attaway (Voice of Audrey II) will join Menken.

Get Little Shop of Horrors tickets now.

Get tickets
Playbill presents: Little Shop of Horrors on Broadway

The Lost Boys: Adapting the Film for Broadway with Producer Patrick Wilson

Date and time: October 12 from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. at North - Room 405

Two-time Tony Award-winning director Michael Arden (Maybe Happy Ending, Parade) will share an exclusive first look into the highly anticipated The Lost Boys Broadway musical, adapting Joel Schumacher's cult classic vampire film. If you’re thirsting for news, you'll want to attend the event, which will feature a discussion along with the first public performance from the cast.

Check back for information on The Lost Boys tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

Learn more
The Lost Boys: Adapting the Film for Broadway with Producer Patrick Wilson

Frequently asked questions

What is New York Comic Con?

New York Comic Con is a convention where television, movie, literary, comic, music, and theatre artists discuss past and current projects and deliver updates on upcoming projects. It's also a massive meetup of people from different fandoms, and many come in cosplay.

New York Comic Con 2025 runs for four days, from October 9-12.

Where is New York Comic Con?

New York Comic Con is located in the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center at 429 11th Ave., stretching between 34th and 38th Streets. The 7 subway line is the most direct way to get to the Convention Center by public transit.

Be prepared for large crowds and congestion in the subway station and in and around the venue. The Javits Center is massive, with many different rooms and event spaces; discover a map of the venue and vendors.

The venue contains accessible ramps and restrooms, and elevators are available throughout the venue. For additional accessibility information, visit the Javits Center website.

What is the New York Comic Con schedule?

The New York Comic Con schedule spans hundreds of panels, signings, screenings, meet-and-greets, fan meetups, and more events across the four days of the convention. Browse the full schedule of events.

What Broadway stars and celebrities will be at New York Comic Con?

While most of the celebrities at Comic Con will be promoting their film and TV projects, many have performed in major Broadway shows. They include James McAvoy (Cyrano de Bergerac off Broadway), Laurence Fishburne (American Buffalo), Charlie Cox (Betrayal), Peppermint (Head Over Heels), George Takei (Allegiance), Tatiana Maslany (Grey House), and Jon Bernthal, The Bear star who makes his Broadway debut this spring in Dog Day Afternoon.

Where can I eat near New York Comic Con?

The Javits Center, where New York Comic Con is held, is located near the Hudson Yards neighborhood of midtown Manhattan, which boasts various popular restaurants. Our guide to the nearby performance venue The Shed has plenty of recommendations for restaurants near the Javits Center.

Where can I stay near New York Comic Con?

New York Comic Con, at the Javits Center in midtown Manhattan, is located a short distance from the heart of the Theatre District and Times Square, and staying there will put you right in the bustling heart of the city. Read our guide to where to stay in the Theatre District to find hotel recommendations in Midtown.