Top theatre to see in New York in April

Here are our top picks of theatre to check out in April 2023.

Spring has officially sprung, and theatre openings have officially sprung into high gear with it. With the Tony Awards just a few months away, tons of new plays, new musicals, and revivals are opening in the hopes of soon getting honored as the year's best theatre. There couldn't be a better month for the height of the theatre season: Children go on spring break, meaning it's the perfect time for a family theatre outing, even if you're traveling to New York. And with the weather getting warmer, you can take yourself or your friends to the theatre without having to brave the cold.

But even though there are plenty of people flocking to Broadway in the spring, there are still plenty of Broadway tickets available this spring. With so many shows going on, there's something for everyone, from classic musicals and plays to adventurous stand-up comedy to burlesque.

Read on to learn about the Broadway and Off-Broadway theatre opening in April. Many shows that started up last month have their official opening nights in April and continue performances through the month, so check out our list of New York theatre in March for even more shows to see this spring.

Broadway shows in April

April is one of the busiest months of the Broadway season. It almost seems like there's a new Broadway show opening every day. That's not quite true, but there are enough new shows — including shows from March that officially open in April — that you can go to the theatre twice a week and not see the same premiere twice. Check out the Broadway shows gearing up in April.

Get tickets to a Broadway show on New York Theatre Guide.

Fat Ham

Revenge is a dish best served with barbecue sauce in this Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy. Playwright James Ijames flips the story of Hamlet on its head, setting the action at a lively cookout where Black, queer college kid Juicy hesitates to avenge his father with murder — but what's the alternative?

Get Fat Ham tickets now.

Summer, 1976

Laura Linney and Jessica Hecht make a perfect pair in this new play by Pulitzer Prize winner David Auburn. As the U.S. celebrates its Bicentennial, two women in Ohio form an unlikely bond and help each other navigate motherhood, ambition, and intimacy.

Get Summer, 1976 tickets now.

New York, New York

Feel like you're king of the hill and top of the heap at this new mega-musical featuring music by Kander and Ebb, along with Lin-Manuel Miranda. New York, New York expands the story of Martin Scorsese's same-named film, spotlighting a group of young artists trying to make it big in a thriving city.

Get New York, New York tickets now.

Good Night, Oscar

Sean Hayes transforms into witty pianist Oscar Levant in this new dark comedy. On his first appearance on Tonight Starring Jack Paar in 1958, Levant changed the rules of live television forever by turning his personal struggles into sharp, shocking humor. Now, Broadway audiences get to relive that singular night at Good Night, Oscar.

Get Good Night, Oscar tickets now.

Prima Facie

Emmy Award winner Jodie Comer made an explosive London stage debut with this new solo play, and she's bringing her tour-de-force performance stateside for her Broadway debut. Witness Comer as Tessa, a brilliant defense lawyer who sees her career in a newly eye-opening light after bringing an assault case of her own to court.

Get Prima Facie tickets now.

Off-Broadway shows in April

Don't forget about Off-Broadway shows amid all the April Broadway openings! This month's Off-Broadway theatre includes a lively new musical, stand-up comedy, a sinfully spectacular variety show, and so much more. If you're looking for a different experience than seeing a traditional play or musical on a Broadway stage, check out these Off-Broadway shows in April.

Get tickets to an Off-Broadway show on New York Theatre Guide.

White Girl in Danger

Soap operas meet satire in this new musical from A Strange Loop award winner Michael R. Jackson. In the soap opera town of Allwhite, white characters are the stars while everyone else remains in the "Blackground" — until Keesha decides to change that. But hijacking someone else's story doesn't go smoothly, inviting plenty of chaos and pointed questions about representation.

Get White Girl in Danger tickets now.

Regretfully, So the Birds Are

Three adopted siblings want to find their parents, stability, and themselves — which is a lot harder than normal when their current family is plagued by incest, murder, and arson counts. This tragicomic farce explores the dark side of self-discovery with an all-Asian cast, writer, and director.

Get Regretfully, So the Birds Are tickets now.

Plays for the Plague Year

Suzan-Lori Parks's theatrical concert born of the pandemic got shuttered last fall, but it returns for a limited spring engagement at The Public Theater. Parks returns to perform as the Writer, who wrote a play every day when Covid-19 first hit. Through these plays, combined into one story and told with music and speech through the lens of one family, she offers insight into the collective grief, hardship, change, and healing humanity experienced.

Get Plays for the Plague Year tickets now.

shadow/land

Erika Dickerson-Despenza premiered this show as an audio play in 2021, and it gets its live premiere at the Public this spring. On the eve of Hurricane Katrina's arrival in New Orleans, a mother struggles to let go of her family business, even though it's almost certain to be destroyed. This generational drama sees her and her daughter grapple with how to preserve one's culture and history.

Get Seven Sins tickets now.

Sorry for Your Loss

Ten years after suffering the unspeakable loss of his daughter, Michael Cruz Kayne tweeted about it — and received over 140,000 messages of support. They inspired him to write Sorry for Your Loss, a comedy show about the silliness of everyday life in the face of grief, and a platitude-free show of outreach to anyone who's experienced loss.

Get Sorry for Your Loss tickets now.

Seven Sins

Company XIV's sinfully spectacular show is back at Théâtre XIV after a hit run last year. Burlesque dance, circus performance, and music bring to life a lush paradise inspired by the Garden of Eden, as well as humanity's fall from grace as they give in to the seven deadly sins. Cocktails and treats are also on offer during the show, letting audiences indulge their own guilty pleasures.

Get Seven Sins tickets now.