Broadway

UPDATE: New casting has been announced to replace Tveit, Mendoza, Mutu, and Rojas. New cast members include Tony nominee Derek Klena as Christian,&nbsp;Ashley Loren as Satine, Declan Bennett as the Duke, and Caleb Marshall-Villarreal as Santiago. They will assume their roles May 10.Four principal cast members of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/moulin-rouge-the-musical-on-broadway" target="_blank">Moulin Rouge! The Musical</a>&nbsp;are leaving the world of the bohemians. Aaron Tveit,&nbsp;Natalie Mendoza, Tam Mutu, and Ricky Rojas will all play their final performances in the Tony Award-winning musical on May 8.Tveit, Mutu, and Rojas originated the respective roles of&nbsp;Christian, the Duke of Monroth, and Santiago in the 2018 world premiere of&nbsp;Moulin Rouge! The Musical&nbsp;in Boston. They later originated these same roles when the musical premiered at Broadway's <a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/al-hirschfeld-theatre" target="_blank">Al Hirschfeld Theatre</a> in 2019, and Tveit won a Tony for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for his performance. Mendoza assumed the leading role of Satine from original cast member Karen Olivo when&nbsp;Moulin Rouge! The Musical&nbsp;reopened in 2021 after the Broadway shutdown.New casting for the roles of Christian, Satine, the Duke, and Santiago has yet to be announced.Moulin Rouge! The Musical&nbsp;is an adaptation of Baz Luhrmann's Academy Award-winning movie about love and showbiz in 20th-century Paris. The titular Moulin Rouge nightclub is where the writer Christian falls for the showgirl Satine, but many obstacles lie in the way of their romance. The musical adaptation features all the popular music hits from the 2001 film, like "Your Song" and "El Tango de Roxanne," in addition to dozens of contemporary pop songs from the years since the film was released.Moulin Rouge! The Musical&nbsp;won 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, at the 2020 ceremony.<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/moulin-rouge-the-musical-on-broadway" target="_blank">Get&nbsp;Moulin Rouge! The Musical&nbsp;tickets now.</a>

'Moulin Rouge! The Musical' leads, including Aaron Tveit, to depart Broadway production

Moulin Rouge! The Musical

Moulin Rouge! The Musical on Broadway - NYC

Moulin Rouge! The Musical on Broadway

UPDATE: New casting has been announced to replace Tveit, Mendoza, Mutu, and Rojas. New cast members include Tony nominee Derek Klena as Christian, Ashley Loren as Satine, Declan Bennett as the Duke, and Caleb Marshall-Villarreal as Santiago. They will...

New York Theater Guide News | NewYorkTheatreGuide.com

Natalie Mendoza, Tam Mutu, and Ricky Rojas will also play their final performances in May.

<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/girl-from-the-north-country" target="_blank">Girl From the North Country</a>&nbsp;ain't going nowhere. After going on hiatus from January 23, the musical will reopen April 29 for a limited Broadway engagement at the Belasco Theatre. The show will play 50 performances, closing June 11.The pre-hiatus cast members returning include Todd Almond, Colin Bates, Jeannette Bayardelle, Matthew Frederick Harris, Caitlin Houlahan, Robert Joy, Luba Mason, Matt McGrath, Tom Nelis, Jay O. Sanders, John Schiappa, Austin Scott, Kimber Elayne Sprawl and Mare Winningham. Marc Kudish will be replaced by Craig Bierko.The Belasco Theatre has been the home of Girl From the North Country&nbsp;since the show's first Broadway performances in February 2020. The show&nbsp;initially intended to change venues because&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/to-kill-a-mockingbird" target="_blank">To Kill a Mockingbird</a>,&nbsp;which also went on hiatus in January,&nbsp;planned to reopen at the Belasco from June 1. It is unclear when and where&nbsp;To Kill a Mockingbird&nbsp;is set to reopen, as its old venue, the <a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/shubert-theatre" target="_blank">Shubert Theatre</a>, is occupied by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/potus-or-behind-every-great-dumbass-are-seven-women-trying-to-keep-him-alive" target="_blank">POTUS</a>.Girl From the North Country&nbsp;sets the musical catalogue of Bob Dylan to an original story by Conor McPherson, set in Dylan's hometown of Duluth, Minnesota. The central characters are the guests and owners of an inn there, weathering financial, occupational, and romantic troubles during the Great Depression. The interactions these people have with each other in the course of a few months change their lives for good.The musical officially opened in March 2020 just before the Broadway shutdown, and reopened in October 2021. Because&nbsp;North Country&nbsp;opened so close to the shutdown, the show did not compete in the 2020 Tony Awards and is instead eligible for the 2022 ceremony.<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/girl-from-the-north-country" target="_blank">Check back for information on&nbsp;Girl From the North Country&nbsp;tickets on New York Theatre Guide.</a>

'Girl From the North Country' to return to Broadway April 29

Girl From the North Country

Girl From the North Country on Broadway [20446]

Girl From the North Country on Broadway

Girl From the North Country ain't going nowhere. After going on hiatus from January 23, the musical will reopen April 29 for a limited Broadway engagement at the Belasco Theatre. The show will play 50 performances, closing June 11.

The musical will return to the Belasco Theatre for a limited engagement.

Fasten your seatbelts and get ready for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/how-i-learned-to-drive" target="_blank">How I Learned to Drive</a>. Paula Vogel's Pulitzer Prize-winning play will offer rush tickets for its Broadway-premiere run. Performances run at the <a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/samuel-j-friedman-theatre" target="_blank">Samuel J. Friedman Theatre</a> from March 29 to May 29, and opening night is April 19.How I Learned to Drive rush tickets are $35 and are available <a href="https://www.todaytix.com/nyc/shows/19938-how-i-learned-to-drive-on-broadway-nyc" target="_blank">on the TodayTix app</a>. Rush tickets are same-day tickets for that afternoon's or evening's performance. Users can download the app and "unlock" rush tickets by sharing the rush program on social media before their desired performance day. At 10 a.m. each performance day, a limited number of rush tickets becomes available for purchase on a first-come, first-served basis. Each user can purchase one or two tickets, and seating locations are subject to availability.How I Learned to Drive&nbsp;centers on Li'l Bit, a grown woman who was sexually abused by her Uncle Peck as a girl. In the play, she relives a series of memories of his abuse and of her family from her adolescent years in order to move on and regain control of her life. Vogel's play received numerous awards upon its premiere at Vineyard Theatre in 1998, including acting awards for its stars, <a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/actor-profile/mary-louise-parker" target="_blank">Mary-Louise Parker</a> and <a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/actor-profile/david-morse" target="_blank">David Morse</a>. Now, the two, along with their original director Mark Brokaw, reunite for the play's Broadway debut.<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/how-i-learned-to-drive" target="_blank">Get&nbsp;How I Learned to Drive&nbsp;tickets now.</a>

'How I Learned to Drive' to offer Broadway rush tickets on TodayTix

How I Learned to Drive

How I Learned to Drive on Broadway 

Fasten your seatbelts and get ready for How I Learned to Drive. Paula Vogel's Pulitzer Prize-winning play will offer rush tickets for its Broadway-premiere run. Performances run at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre from March 29 to May 29, and opening...

Mary-Louise Parker and David Morse star.

UPDATE: In addition to digital rush tickets,&nbsp;American Buffalo&nbsp;offers a digital lottery for $35 tickets. The lottery is open for entries between midnight and 3 p.m. the day before each performance, and winners are drawn at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. each day. Winners may purchase up to two tickets for the following day's performance.Hope you've saved up your nickels!&nbsp;The latest revival of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/american-buffalo" target="_blank">American Buffalo</a>, starring <a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/actor-profile/laurence-fishburne" target="_blank">Laurence Fishburne</a>, <a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/actor-profile/darren-criss" target="_blank">Darren Criss</a>, and <a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/actor-profile/sam-rockwell" target="_blank">Sam Rockwell</a>, will offer rush tickets throughout its Broadway run. David Mamet's play begins performances at the <a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/circle-in-the-square-theatre" target="_blank">Circle in the Square Theatre</a> March 22 ahead of an April 14 opening night, and runs through July 10.A limited number of $35 rush tickets will be available each performance day <a href="https://www.todaytix.com/nyc/shows/21057-american-buffalo" target="_blank">on TodayTix</a>.&nbsp;Users must download the TodayTix app and "unlock" the rush program beforehand by posting about it on social media. Each morning at 9 a.m., rush tickets will become available for purchase on a first-come, first-served basis for that afternoon's and/or evening's show. Users can set an alert to be notified when the rush opens each day. Users can request up to two tickets each, and seating locations are subject to availability.American Buffalo&nbsp;centers on the junk shop owner Donny (Fishburne), who sells a buffalo nickel for $90 only to discover it was worth much, much more. Determined to get his rightful share, he enlists his poker buddy Teach (Rockwell) and the gofer Bobby (Criss) to help him steal it back. The 2022 production is the third Broadway revival of Mamet's play about American greed, after productions in 1977, 1983, and 2008.<a href="https://www.todaytix.com/nyc/shows/21057-american-buffalo" target="_blank">Get&nbsp;American Buffalo&nbsp;tickets now.</a>

'American Buffalo' offers Broadway rush tickets on TodayTix

American Buffalo

American Buffalo on Broadway [21057] 

American Buffalo on Broadway

UPDATE: In addition to digital rush tickets, American Buffalo offers a digital lottery for $35 tickets. The lottery is open for entries between midnight and 3 p.m. the day before each performance, and winners are drawn at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. each day....

David Mamet's play begins performances March 22.

Everything you need to know about 'The Lion King' on Broadway

The Lion King

Guests under the age of 2 are not permitted in the theatre.

The Lion King on Broadway [42] 

The Lion King on Broadway

Be prepared to check out The Lion King, Broadway's third-longest-running show. The Disney film captured countless audiences in 1994, and the musical adaptation does the same.

Guide to 'The Lion King' on Broadway | New York Theatre Guide

Get ready to take your place in the circle of life by learning all about the Tony-winning The Lion King on Broadway.

Blow out your candles and make a wish for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/birthday-candles" target="_blank">Birthday Candles</a>&nbsp;tickets! The new play, presented by Roundabout Theatre Company and written by Broadway-debut playwright Noah Haidle, will offer same-day rush tickets on TodayTix throughout its run. Performances begin March 18 ahead of an April 10 opening night, and the show runs through May 29 at the American Airlines Theatre.A limited number of <a href="https://www.todaytix.com/nyc/shows/19885-birthday-candles" target="_blank">$29 rush tickets are available on the TodayTix app</a> each day. Users can download the app and "unlock" the rush program by posting about it on social media before their desired performance day. Each morning at 10 a.m., rush tickets will be made available on a first-come, first-served basis; users can set an alert to be notified when the rush opens each day. Users can request up to two tickets each, and seating locations are subject to availability.In&nbsp;Birthday Candles&nbsp;on Broadway, <a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/actor-profile/debra-messing" target="_blank">Debra Messing</a> stars as Ernestine Ashworth, who grows up 90 years — from age 17 to 107 — in the course of the 90-minute play. In that time, she bakes a single birthday cake the way her mother taught her, and it's the only constant in her life as friends, lovers, and family come and go throughout the different stages of her life. Each scene sees Ernestine on a different birthday, and she continually reevaluates what makes life worthwhile as she experiences love and loss. <a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/news-features/get-to-know-debra-messing-and-the-broadway-cast-of-birthday-candles" target="_blank">Learn more about the&nbsp;Birthday Candles&nbsp;cast and their offstage connections.</a><a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/birthday-candles" target="_blank">Get&nbsp;Birthday Candles&nbsp;tickets now.</a>

'Birthday Candles' to offer $29 Broadway rush tickets on TodayTix

Debra Messing

Birthday Candles - NYC

Birthday Candles

Blow out your candles and make a wish for Birthday Candles tickets! The new play, presented by Roundabout Theatre Company and written by Broadway-debut playwright Noah Haidle, will offer same-day rush tickets on TodayTix throughout its run....

Debra Messing stars in Noah Haidle's new play.

After premiering at Playwrights Horizons in 2019 and making a pit stop in Washington, D.C., Michael R. Jackson's A Strange Loop&nbsp;has circled back to New York for its Broadway debut. Billed as a "Big, Black, &amp; Queer-Ass American Musical," the Pulitzer Prize-winning show centers on Usher, a Black, queer musical theatre writer (created by Jackson, a Black, queer musical theatre writer) who's working on an original show about a Black, queer musical theatre writer. That endless loop gives the musical its name.To succeed as an artist, however, Usher has to overcome the barrage of self-deprecating thoughts in his mind. Jackson buoys his story of struggling with self-doubt with plenty of comedy and catchy songs, which made&nbsp;A Strange Loop&nbsp;a viral hit even before hitting Broadway. This self-referential — not autobiographical, as Jackson is quick to point out — musical isn't a traditional show; it shares a structure with&nbsp;Stephen Sondheim's&nbsp;Company, as the scenes are non-chronological vignettes that center on one character's internal journey. But if you're willing to break out of the box — er, the loop — of traditional musical theatre and see&nbsp;A Strange Loop, you'll see a lively story that anyone struggling with self-doubt can relate to.Learn more about the history, fun facts, and performance location and times of&nbsp;A Strange Loop&nbsp;on Broadway below.

Get *A Strange Loop* tickets now.

[![LT - CTA - 250](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/1t6HRGmhlYl70k6PmR0mOZ/3caac861bc1d4233cd7844652c925623/LT-CTA-250.png)](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/24619-a-strange-loop-tickets)

<h2>What is&nbsp;A Strange Loop&nbsp;about?</h2>A Strange Loop&nbsp;centers on a man named Usher, whose day job is working as a Broadway usher at&nbsp;The Lion King.&nbsp;He doesn't like his job; he wants to be a theatre writer, and he's working on an original musical. He, A Black, queer writer, is writing his musical about a Black, queer writer writing a musical about a Black, queer writer writing a musical, ad infinitum. He struggles to advance in his artistic career, in part because there are few opportunities afforded to a Black, queer, overweight man, and in part because he cannot escape his own self-destructive, self-flagellating thoughts. His thoughts are personified in the musical by a six-person, all-Black and queer ensemble.He does soon receive a writing opportunity: to ghostwrite a new gospel play for Tyler Perry. Usher is reluctant (and his thoughts deride the job), but he takes it to get his foot in the door and to possibly earn the support of his religious family, who don't approve of his sexuality and often tell him that he should be writing Tyler Perry-esque material.&nbsp;A Strange Loop&nbsp;sees him confronting his own self-doubt as he works on the gig in the hopes of achieving something more with his career, and overcoming his difficult relationship with his sexuality and body image.<h2>Where is&nbsp;A Strange Loop&nbsp;playing?</h2>A Strange Loop&nbsp;is at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/lyceum-theatre" target="_blank">Lyceum Theatre</a>, located at 149 W 45th Street, between Seventh and Sixth Avenues. The Lyceum is the oldest continually operating Broadway theatre, having been built in 1903. The theatre most often houses plays; only a handful of musicals have played the venue, including&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/be-more-chill" target="_blank">Be More Chill</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;The Scottsboro Boys.<h2>How long is&nbsp;A Strange Loop?</h2>A Strange Loop&nbsp;runs 1 hour and 40 minutes, with no intermission. This is a shorter running time than a standard a Broadway musical; most tend to run between two and three hours long, with either a 15- or 20-minute intermission between Acts 1 and 2.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/come-from-away" target="_blank">Come From Away</a>&nbsp;is another show that has the same runtime as&nbsp;A Strange Loop.

![strange loop 1-750](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/3aLhI77cWta6eiPJyz1fuW/14fdafce43e75d17a9024717d2772b6a/strange_loop_1-750.jpg)

<h2>What days is&nbsp;A Strange Loop&nbsp;playing?</h2>A Strange Loop&nbsp;plays eight performances a week at the Lyceum Theatre. The show typically runs Tuesday to Sunday, with two performances on Saturdays and Sundays.&nbsp;A Strange Loop&nbsp;does not perform on Monday. For the complete performance schedule and up-to-date weekly show times, please visit the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/a-strange-loop" target="_blank">A Strange Loop&nbsp;page</a>&nbsp;to learn more.<h2>When did&nbsp;A Strange Loop&nbsp;premiere?</h2>A Strange Loop&nbsp;had been in the works for more than a decade before its 2019 professional premiere, but the show had a meteoric rise to fame from there. The Off-Broadway premiere was a critical hit, and the release of the cast album online let the show reach an even wider, and equally adoring, audience. Rather than looping back around to obscurity,&nbsp;A Strange Loop&nbsp;has been on a straight-line trajectory upward.

- 2002-2005: Michael R. Jackson writes a monologue called "Why I Can't Get Work" during his last year as an undergraduate playwriting student at New York University. The monologue, which centered on a Black, gay man wondering why his life was terrible while wandering around New York. Right after finishing undergrad, he entered NYU's Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program, where he wrote&nbsp;"Memory Song," the eventual penultimate number of&nbsp;A Strange Loop.
- 2006-2007: Jackson combined the&nbsp;"Why I Can't Get Work" monologue with some songs and presented it as a one-act, one-man show called&nbsp;Fast Food Town. It played for one night only at Ars Nova and "twenty people came, two people walked out," Jackson told <a href="https://slate.com/culture/2020/08/evolution-michael-r-jackson-strange-loop.html" target="_blank">Slate</a>. Fast Food Town was the first draft of what would eventually expand into&nbsp;A Strange Loop.
- 2017:&nbsp;A Strange Loop&nbsp;had its first developmental workshop with Musical Theatre Factory, a nonprofit organization to support new theatre.&nbsp;The workshop was staged at MTF's warehouse above the Drama Bookshop's former location in Times Square, near Port Authority.
- May-July 2019:&nbsp;A Strange Loop&nbsp;had its official world premiere off Broadway at Playwrights Horizons. Larry Owens, who led the workshop as Usher, starred in the production, which received positive reviews.
- September 2019: The&nbsp;A Strange Loop&nbsp;Off-Broadway cast recording is released for streaming online and becomes an internet hit. The album peaked at&nbsp;number 6 on the Billboard Cast Albums chart.
- 2020:&nbsp;A Strange Loop&nbsp;receives prizes from multiple major Off-Broadway awards ceremonies, and Jackson wins the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his work.
- 2021: A pre-Broadway production opens at Woolly Mammoth Theatre in Washington, D.C. to critical acclaim.
- 2022:&nbsp;A Strange Loop&nbsp;premieres on Broadway at the Lyceum Theatre with the cast and creative team from the D.C. production.

<h2>Who wrote&nbsp;A Strange Loop?</h2>Michael R. Jackson wrote the book, music, and lyrics for&nbsp;A Strange Loop.&nbsp;A Strange Loop&nbsp;is his most well-known show, as it earned him tons of awards and made him the first openly gay Black writer, and the first Black musical writer, to win the Pulitzer Prize. He's also only the 10th musical writer to do so.&nbsp;A Strange Loop&nbsp;is semiautobiographical, as Jackson, like Usher, is a Black and queer male musical writer who has struggled with many of the same artistic insecurities as his character.His previous work includes writing the book and lyrics for&nbsp;Only Children, presented at NYU's Frederick Loewe Theatre; writing the lyrics and co-writing the book for&nbsp;Teeth,&nbsp;a musical adaptation of the same-named film; and writing the song cycle&nbsp;The Kids on the Lawn&nbsp;for The New York Times Magazine.<h2>A Strange Loop&nbsp;characters</h2>All the main characters in&nbsp;A Strange Loop&nbsp;are extensions of the protagonist, Usher, as they're personifications of his inner thoughts. These thoughts, however, all do double duty as other people in Usher's life, including family members, celebrities, and more. Here are the major characters in&nbsp;A Strange Loop.

- Usher: The main character of&nbsp;A Strange Loop, who begrudgingly works a day job as a Broadway usher but wants to be a writer. The whole show takes place inside his head, with his thoughts narrating the action. Written by Jackson, a Black, queer man, Usher is a Black, queer man who's writing a musical about a Black, queer man (the cycle continues) in his free time. However, he's not a direct representation of Jackson.
- The Thoughts: Thoughts 1-6 compose the rest of the&nbsp;A Strange Loop&nbsp;cast. They're personifications of Usher's inner thoughts, which are often self-critical. Fittingly, the Thoughts are candid and raucous, and they don't hold back from biting commentary about the heteronormative, white world surrounding Usher and the decisions he makes. Each of the thoughts also transforms into other characters for scenes here and there, like Usher's family and Tyler Perry. Like Usher, the entire ensemble of Thoughts are Black and queer, though they are of various genders.

![strange loop 2-750](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/4qnX78UjXChN6S25e5r1OT/8580b6eef0d6f7c4b9fae79513fee7fa/strange_loop_2-750.jpg)

<h2>A Strange Loop&nbsp;songs</h2>Most of the songs in&nbsp;A Strange Loop&nbsp;are sung by Usher and his thoughts, and they narrate his complex inner feelings toward his day job, the musical he's writing, and his own self. The musical owes a lot of its widespread success to the songs, as the Off-Broadway cast album was released for streaming and became a viral hit among fans who couldn't make it to New York. The tracklist includes a mix of funny songs, like "Inner White Girl," and serious ones, like "AIDS Is God's Punishment," which pushes back against HIV/AIDS-related stigma and honors a real-life friend of Jackson's who died from HIV. Below are all the songs in&nbsp;A Strange Loop.

- "Intermission Song" - Usher, Thoughts
- "Today" - Usher, Thoughts
- "We Wanna Know" - Thoughts
- "Inner White Girl" - Usher, Thoughts
- "Didn't Want Nothin'" - Thought 5, Thoughts
- "Exile in Gayville" - Usher, Thoughts
- "Second Wave" - Usher
- "Tyler Perry Writes Real Life" - Usher, Thought 3, Thoughts
- "Writing a Gospel Play" - Usher, Thoughts
- "A Sympathetic Ear" - Thought 1
- "Inwood Daddy" - Usher, Thought 6, Thoughts"Boundaries" - Usher
- "Periodically" - Thought 4, Usher
- "Didn't Want Nothin' Reprise" - Thought 5
- "Precious Little Dream / AIDS Is God's Punishment" - Usher, Thoughts
- "Memory Song" - Usher, Thoughts 2-6
- "A Strange Loop" - Usher, Thoughts

<h2>What awards has&nbsp;A Strange Loop&nbsp;won?</h2>A Strange Loop&nbsp;was an awards favorite in the Off-Broadway circuit upon its premiere. Even before the show announced a Broadway transfer,&nbsp;A Strange Loop&nbsp;had already racked up plenty of accolades. Here are the major awards&nbsp;A Strange Loop&nbsp;has won so far.

- Pulitzer Prize: Michael R. Jackson won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for&nbsp;A Strange Loop, becoming the 10th musical writer to ever do so. He's also the first Black musical writer and the first openly gay Black writer to win the award.
- Drama Desk Award:&nbsp;A Strange Loop&nbsp;received seven Drama Desk Award nominations and won five: Best Musical, Outstanding Actor in a Musical (for Larry Owens), Outstanding Director of a Musical (for Stephen Brackett), and the Outstanding Music, Lyrics, and Book of a Musical awards.
- Obie Award:&nbsp;A Strange Loop&nbsp;received the 2020 Obie Award for playwriting and a special citation for the work of the entire cast and creative team.
- Lucille Lortel Award: Larry Owens and John-Andrew Morrison won the Best Lead and Featured Actor in a Musical Awards, respectively.&nbsp;A Strange Loop&nbsp;received five additional nominations, including Outstanding Musical.
- Outer Critics Circle Award:&nbsp;A Strange Loop&nbsp;won all six of the&nbsp;Outer Critics Circle Awards it was nominated for. They include&nbsp;Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical,&nbsp;Outstanding Book of a Musical,&nbsp;Outstanding New Score,&nbsp;Outstanding Director of a Musical (for Brackett),&nbsp;Outstanding Choreographer (for Raja Feather Kelly), and Outstanding Actor in a Musical (for Owens).
- Tony Awards:&nbsp;A Strange Loop&nbsp;was nominated for 11 Tony Awards — the most in its season — and won two awards: Best Musical, and Best Book of a Musical (for Michael R. Jackson).

![strange loop 3-750](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/54CMzuBXEc9FhYcnRYyS6g/4e6592dd59eec623622eb2094bae0002/strange_loop_3-750.jpg)

<h2>Major productions of&nbsp;A Strange Loop</h2>A Strange Loop&nbsp;hasn't had tons of productions, but each one in small but mighty group has made waves and gained widespread acclaim. The show has only been performed in the U.S. thus far, but if the show continues to succeed, it could very well go farther. Here are all the major productions of&nbsp;A Strange Loop&nbsp;up to and including its highly anticipated Broadway premiere.

- 2017 workshop:&nbsp;A Strange Loop&nbsp;was developed at the Musical Theatre Factory, a nonprofit organization that hosts early readings and stagings of new musicals. The warehouse where it was first staged was located above the old Drama Bookshop in Times Square, right near Port Authority. Five of the seven cast members from that workshop, including Larry Owens as Usher, would all go on to the Off-Broadway production.
- 2019 Off-Broadway premiere: Playwrights Horizons staged the first professional&nbsp;A Strange Loop&nbsp;production. This production put the musical and Michael R. Jackson's name on the map, winning numerous awards and receiving critical acclaim.&nbsp;John-Michael Lyles replaced Elijah Caldwell as Thought 3, and Jason Veasey replaced Chris White as Thought 5.
- 2021 Washington, D.C. production: The production at D.C.'s Woolly Mammoth Theatre served as the pre-Broadway tryout for&nbsp;A Strange Loop, and it received critical acclaim, too. All the cast members from the Playwrights Horizons productions performed in D.C. except Owens; Jaquel Spivey replaced him as Usher.
- 2022 Broadway production:&nbsp;A Strange Loop&nbsp;makes its Broadway debut in 2022 with the entire cast from the D.C. production. Spivey is making his Broadway debut as Usher, and&nbsp;A Strange Loop&nbsp;joins just over a dozen other musicals to play the Lyceum Theatre in the venue's nearly 120-year history.

<h2>Fun facts about&nbsp;A Strange Loop</h2>Did you know that&nbsp;A Strange Loop&nbsp;takes its title from a rock song and a scientific phenomenon, and its wide-ranging influences don't stop there? Here are some facts about&nbsp;A Strange Loop&nbsp;and the relationship of its writer, Michael R. Jackson, to his semiautobiographical main character.

- Multiple figures from history and pop culture appear in Usher's thoughts, joining the Thoughts in giving him pep talks or dressing-downs. Some of these figures include Harriet Tubman, James Baldwin, Whitney Houston, and Tyler Perry. Similarly, A Strange Loop's songs and structure&nbsp;borrows from an eclectic mix of musical influences, from Joni Mitchell to Stephen Sondheim to George C. Wolfe.
- One notable musical influence among them is rock artist Liz Phair, whose song "Strange Loop" inspired the musical's name. A "strange loop" is also a scientific phenomenon, in which a person can move up or down the ranks of a hierarchical system but always ends up at the level they started. This idea calls to how Usher feels stuck in his artistic career and as a Black, gay man who doesn't get as many opportunities as his straight and/or white counterparts.
- Tyler Perry and his work feature heavily in&nbsp;A Strange Loop.&nbsp;Rather than paying homage to Perry, though, Jackson's musical challenges and critiques the way he saw queerness stigmatized in Perry's work. For example, Jackson wrote the song "AIDS Is God's Punishment" as a direct, satirical response to Perry's&nbsp;Confessions of a Marriage Counselor, which he felt demonized people living with HIV/AIDS, to break down that stigma.
- Besides their professions, Michael R. Jackson shares another thing in common with Usher: the way he's named. Just as Jackson's name brings the internationally famous King of Pop, Michael Jackson, to mind, Usher's name references the chart-topping R&amp;B and pop musician. Jackson did that on purpose.

<h2>How to get&nbsp;A Strange Loop&nbsp;tickets</h2>If you missed&nbsp;A Strange Loop&nbsp;upon its New York premiere, don't miss it this time now that it's looped back here for a Broadway premiere. Anyone who's struggled with self-doubt or pursuing their dreams may see themselves in&nbsp;A Strange Loop, but the raucous (adult) comedy and music make&nbsp;A Strange Loop&nbsp;not a dismal experience, but a vibrant, celebratory one, centered on a voice — that of a Black, fat, queer man — seldom seen on stage.

A Strange Loop&nbsp;tickets are available now. Get tickets to&nbsp;A Strange Loop&nbsp;on New York Theatre Guide today.</a>

[![LT - CTA - 250](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/1t6HRGmhlYl70k6PmR0mOZ/3caac861bc1d4233cd7844652c925623/LT-CTA-250.png)](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/24619-a-strange-loop-tickets)

Top image: Jaquel Spivey as Usher in A Strange Loop. (Photo credit: Marc J. Franklin)

Everything you need to know about 'A Strange Loop' on Broadway

A Strange Loop

Children under 4 are not permitted in the theatre.

A Strange Loop on Broadway - NYC

A Strange Loop on Broadway

Michael R. Jackson's A Strange Loop has circled back to New York for its Broadway debut and won Tony Awards. Learn more about the plot, characters, and showtimes.

Guide to 'A Strange Loop' on Broadway | NewYorkTheatreGuide.com

Don't go in circles looking for information about this new Broadway musical — find it all right here.

Welcome to the rock,&nbsp;Gene Weygandt!&nbsp;Weygandt will join the Broadway cast of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/come-from-away" target="_blank">Come From Away</a>&nbsp;in the role of Claude and others beginning March 22. He replaces original cast member Joel Hatch, who has played Claude since the pre-Broadway runs of&nbsp;Come From Away&nbsp;beginning in 2015.Weygandt has previously appeared in two other Broadway shows:&nbsp;Big, as Paul, and&nbsp;Wicked, as the Wizard.&nbsp;Come From Away&nbsp;marks his first Broadway outing since 2005.Come From Away&nbsp;tells the true story of how the residents of Gander, Newfoundland welcomed 7,000 displaced plane passengers at a moment's notice in the wake of 9/11, and formed lifelong bonds in the week that followed. The show opened at Broadway's <a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/gerald-schoenfeld-theatre" target="_blank">Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre</a> in March 2017 and received seven Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical. Christopher Ashley won the award for Best Direction of a Musical.<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/come-from-away" target="_blank">Get&nbsp;Come From Away&nbsp;tickets now.</a>Photo credit: Joel Hatch (left) and&nbsp;Gene Weygandt.

Gene Weygandt joins 'Come From Away' Broadway cast

Joel Hatch and Gene Weygandt

Come From Away on Broadway [3481]

Come From Away on Broadway

Welcome to the rock, Gene Weygandt! Weygandt will join the Broadway cast of Come From Away in the role of Claude and others beginning March 22. He replaces original cast member Joel Hatch, who has played Claude since the pre-Broadway runs of Come From...

He replaces original cast member Joel Hatch.

Everything you need to know about 'Hamilton' on Broadway

Hamilton

Hamilton on Broadway [384]

Hamilton on Broadway

How does a bastard, orphan, son of a whore and a Scotsman become the subject of a bestselling musical? Find out with our complete guide to Hamilton.

Guide to Hamilton on Broadway | New York Theatre Guide

Here's your guide to all things Hamilton, which went from a beach read to a musical that blew audiences away around the world.

Two years ago,&nbsp;the company of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/birthday-candles" target="_blank">Birthday Candles</a>&nbsp;was preparing to debut the play on Broadway when the pandemic ground theatre to a halt. Now, they've picked up right back where they left off as though 2020 was mere seconds ago, and&nbsp;Birthday Candles&nbsp;is going up at the <a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/american-airlines-theatre" target="_blank">American Airlines Theatre</a> on March 18. Neither the cast nor playwright Noah Haidle initially knew whether Roundabout Theatre Company would reschedule&nbsp;Birthday Candles&nbsp;at all,&nbsp;making those two years feel like forever.&nbsp;But in retrospect,&nbsp;they've seemingly flown by in a snap — not to mention the four years since&nbsp;the play made its world premiere in Detroit.The play, too, literally breezes through years in minutes. Birthday Candles centers on Ernestine Ashworth, who celebrates 90 years of birthdays during the 90-minute show. In all those years, Ernestine bakes a single birthday cake, representative of a yearly ritual. That cake is one of the only constants in the play, as everything else in Ernestine's life changes: Her friends, family, desires, and ambitions come and go. In each scene, we revisit her at a different birthday between her 17th and her 107th, and her idea of what makes life worth living changes each time as she experiences love and loss.As you might guess, the show isn't perfectly naturalistic in its handling of time. That single cake blurs the lines between years, and most of the supporting cast plays multiple generations' worth of characters. Even Ernestine, played by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/debra-messing" target="_blank">Debra Messing</a>,&nbsp;is almost like multiple characters in one — her 17-year-old self is surely not the same as her 107-year-old self, nor is any age in between. For Messing, that's one of the best reasons to see&nbsp;Birthday Candles: "The thing that will be most interesting to people who like my work is to literally watch me age 90 years without the help of a wig or a costume or lighting or anything, just acting."Birthday Candles&nbsp;marks Messing's first Broadway outing since 2014, giving audiences who know her from TV shows like&nbsp;Will &amp; Grace&nbsp;and&nbsp;Smash a chance to see her in a whole new setting and experience love, loss, comedy, and change together. "They will see me in my favorite place in the world, which is on stage in front of a live theatre telling a story," Messing said of the audiences. "They will see me at ages they've never seen me at before. They will laugh. But I think that there will be some big feelings to be had by all."The Birthday Candles&nbsp;cast and creative team shared some "big feelings" — joy, fear, and everything in between — among themselves behind the scenes, as the show reconnected them with old friends, past traditions, and new skills.<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/birthday-candles" target="_blank">Get&nbsp;Birthday Candles&nbsp;tickets now.</a><h2>Birthday Candles&nbsp;is inspired by Thornton Wilder and Shakespeare.</h2>It's fitting that a show about the passage of time calls back to plays from the past. Noah Haidle said he got the idea for&nbsp;Birthday Candles&nbsp;from Wilder's 1931 play&nbsp;The Long Christmas Dinner. Like&nbsp;Birthday Candles, that play follows multiple generations of a family as they change, though Wilder's work traces 90 years' worth of Christmas dinners instead of birthdays.Haidle said that, although Birthday Candles&nbsp;isn't a direct adaptation of the play, he got the Wilder estate's blessing anyway. "It has the full sanction and blessing of the Wilder family as an extension of what he started and the type of non-naturalistic theater that he was all about," Haidle said. Copies of&nbsp;The Long Christmas Dinner&nbsp;will even be sold at the show.As it happens,&nbsp;Birthday Candles's Broadway debut coincides with the Broadway revival of a different Wilder play,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/the-skin-of-our-teeth" target="_blank">The Skin of Our Teeth</a>, and Wilder's would-be 125th birthday on April 17.Haidle also cited Shakespeare as an inspiration for Birthday Candles. His favorite Shakespeare quote is one from&nbsp;King Lear&nbsp;that begins, "So we'll live, and pray, and sing, and tell old tales, and laugh at gilded butterflies...," talking about different meaningful ways to pass time. He imagined a 17-year-old girl reciting the monologue as an audition for a fictional "Queen Lear,&nbsp;a feminist adaptation," and that's how the idea for Ernestine, who starts out at age 17 and passes through 90 years of life, came to be.<h2>Debra Messing went to grad school with director Vivienne Benesch.</h2>The two were classmates at New York University, where they both attended grad school for acting. They even performed in a 1993 pre-Broadway workshop of Tony Kushner's&nbsp;Angels In America: Perestroika&nbsp;there together; Messing played Harper, and Benesch played Hannah. At the tail end of their time at NYU, they met Yale student Enrico Colantoni when they all performed their senior showcases together in 1993. That was the last time the three all worked on the same project prior to&nbsp;Birthday Candles, nearly 30 years later, though they all followed each other's careers from afar in the meantime.<h2>Benesch and Enrico Colantoni wish each other happy birthday every year.</h2>In fact, birthday phone calls are the only way they've kept in touch in the past 28 years! Like Messing, Benesch met Colantoni in grad school; Colantoni had attended Yale, and NYU and Yale's graduate schools were presenting their senior showcases together. Benesch and Colantoni became instant friends, but Colantoni moved to L.A. to pursue screen acting, while Benesch stayed put in New York. They never worked together again or communicated any other time besides their birthdays — until now."It was that sort of hair-raising moment when the Roundabout casting office said to me, 'Do you know Enrico Colantoni?' And I was like, oh my god, this was meant to be because we have for, close to 30 years now, been calling each other only on each other's birthdays," Benesch said. "So I got to call him and say, 'Hey, can I send you this play? You're not going to believe this, but the entire play takes place on a birthday over 100 years. So I just think this was meant to be.'" Colantoni was soon cast as Kenneth, Ernestine's high school boyfriend and lifelong friend.<h2>John Earl Jelks had a similar birthday tradition to Ernestine's in Birthday Candles.</h2>John Earl Jelks is the newest addition to the Broadway cast, but he&nbsp;isn't new to Broadway. His role as Ernestine's husband Matt is his fifth Broadway gig; he received a Tony nomination for performing in&nbsp;Radio Golf&nbsp;and&nbsp;performed in Lynn Nottage's Pulitzer Prize-winning&nbsp;Sweat, among others.&nbsp;He took over the role of Matt from Emmy-winning&nbsp;Brooklyn Nine-Nine&nbsp;star Andre Braugher, who was initially set to make his Broadway debut in the role.When Braugher had to depart Birthday Candles after it was postponed, Jelks got the call from his agent, and he was immediately drawn to the play. Ernestine's central act of baking a birthday cake reminded him of his own family's traditions: "My family always baked cakes for us on birthdays; everybody got their own special cake made their own special way," Jelks recalled. "And I was like, oh, how special is that? It's simple, but ... a lot of life happens in this play."<h2>Messing bakes a real cake during every performance of&nbsp;Birthday Candles.</h2>Messing's character, Ernestine Ashworth, bakes a golden butter cake every year on her birthday, using a recipe her mother passed down. All these years of baking are rolled into one in&nbsp;Birthday Candles, as Ernestine bakes a singular cake over the course of the play. But Messing doesn't just act that out: She has real cake ingredients on stage, and she actually bakes a cake from scratch during the course of each 90-minute performance.Messing had to perfect the recipe at home before doing it on stage, and it was a learning curve. "It scared the bejesus out of me — I don't even know how to make a salad!" she said. "My first attempt at making the cake was a catastrophe. Took me two days to clean my oven. But then I finally prevailed, and now the cake that is needed for the play, I am able to make. It still has to be done within the course of this play, so everybody wish me luck."Photo credit: Jeremy Daniel

Get to know Debra Messing and the Broadway cast of 'Birthday Candles'

Two years ago, the company of Birthday Candles was preparing to debut the play on Broadway when the pandemic ground theatre to a halt. Now, they've picked up right back where they left off as though 2020 was mere seconds ago, and Birthday Candles is...

Get to know Debra Messing and the Broadway cast of 'Birthday Candles' | New York Theatre Guide

The cast and creative team share their birthday traditions and how they reconnected after many years for this Broadway production.

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

1 beautiful noise-1200x600-NYTG

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

purlie victorious 1-1200x600-NYTG

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

spamalot dc-1200x600-NYTG

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.

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

Taran Killam, Alex Brightman join 'Spamalot' Broadway cast

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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.

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## 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

nyc autumn-1200x600-NYTG

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.

Find out the latest Broadway news on New York Theatre Guide. Read all about Broadway shows, cast updates, new Broadway seasons, extra performances, and show closures. 

Subscribe to our [New York Theatre Guide newsletter](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/info/newsletter) to stay up to date on Broadway news. 


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