Our Favorite Broadway Productions

Come From Away – This incredible show is one where you can still see the majority of the original Broadway cast perform which is always a huge treat. It tells the story of a small Canadian town that was turned upside down when 38 planes had to land at their airport on the morning of 9/11. The story is uplifting and this show is great for people of all ages.
The Lion King
Can you feel the love tonight? You definitely will when you take advantage of Broadway buy one get one deals and take in the spectacular sights of this Disney classic come to life. With unforgettable music by the iconic duo of Elton John and Tim Rice, unforgettable direction and costume design by Tony Award winner Julie Taymor, and incredible choreography by renowned artist Garth Fagan, you’ll be swept up in this larger-than-life story of love and perseverance. The modern dance elements brought by Fagan and the music by Elton John, that you already know, make this show familiar yet still otherworldly.
Phantom of the Opera
Open up your mind, let your fantasies unwind when you experience this must-see with your sweetie. There’s a good reason why this iconic musical is the longest-running in Broadway history. In fact, there are several. Tragic love triangles, soaring vocals, and breathtaking feats (like the infamous chandelier!) will leave you gasping, crying, and applauding for more. Phantom of the Opera is a full on spectacle of a musical. Bright, loud and bombastic, it is the perfect encapsulation of the gothic literature foundation of the source material. The largess of the production has attracted some unusual personalities to the stage, most notable of which is Paul Stanley, lead singer of KISS. Stanley portrayed the Phantom in the Toronto production in the late 90s. Rumor has it he was thrilled to be in a more subtle stage stage production.

Anastasia
Take a journey to the past with this stage adaptation of two well-loved films that features plenty of romanticism and fantasy. From the musical team known for hits like Seussical, Once on This Island, and Ragtime and book writer Terrence McNally, you’ll witness the tale of the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia, who has survived her family’s execution. Even if you and your S.O. aren’t familiar with the story, you’ll be swept away with this incredible story. Unfortunately, the Broadway production omits the character of Rasputin. Did you know Rasputin was stabbed, poisoned, shot three times, and accused of being behind mass hypnosis? The lavish musical number writes itself!
Waitress
With music written by Sara Bareilles, who skyrocketed to fame when she refused to write a “Love Song,” this is a quirky tale of a pie diner waitress who finds love in a very unexpected way. Based on the movie of the same name (written, directed, and starring the late great Adrienne Shelly) you’ll actually witness a few different love connections when you purchase Broadway play tickets for this production. Plus, the theatre smells just like pie (seriously). There’s no better way to work up an appetite for love than this. Make sure you eat first though, all that pie is going to make you hungry.
Aladdin
It’s a whole new world when you accompany Aladdin, Jasmine, Genie, and the entire crew on this magical carpet ride. You might think Disney adaptations are just for kids, but you’ll be in for a romantic adventure when you take advantage of Broadway shows tickets on sale and choose to see this show. With a score by Alan Menken and five Tony Award nominations to its name, it’s easy to see why the love story between a princess and a street rat has remained so popular over the years. Don’t let the recent live action version of the original film discourage you, Broadway is the ideal location for a musical adventure. Unfortunately, Genie is not painted blue in the production. In spite of the clear lack of realism, you’ll find yourself caught up in the spectacle and humming those sweet Menken tunes all night.

Once On This Island – This show may be brand new to the 2018 Broadway stages, but it is technically a revival show since it premiered back in the early 1990s. It features some incredible Broadway veteran talent as well as a few newcomers that are already making a name for themselves. The music varies from power ballads to beats that involve rhythmic dancing from the chorus. It is a crowd pleaser for sure! The story revolves around villagers on a Carribean island attempted to soothe a fearful young girl by telling her a story. The production is a dramatization of the story the villagers tell.

Dear Evan Hansen – This show opened in late 2016 and was a hard ticket to score ever since. Actor and musician Ben Platt originated the role of Evan Hansen who is a teenager who struggles with anxiety and self confidence. The story follows Evan as he grapples with how to continue fabricating a lie that he told about being close friends with a classmate who had recently committed suicide. The music in this show is emotional and raw – it will be a story you will never forget. Dear Evan Hansen was a critical hit, scoring several Tony wins for Best Musical, Best Score, and Best Actor. Interestingly, the musical was adapted into a young adult novel. Usually, productions get built in the other direction, but when the source material is this strong what’s important is getting the story out.

Spongebob Squarepants – Yes, this is a show based on the goofy cartoon character who lives under the sea, but kids and adults are raving about it. From the huge amounts of color to interactive audience numbers and tons of fun costumes and set design, the entire audience feels like they are playing along with the entire cast. The show is currently no longer on Broadway, however, the touring company will begin performances in September of 2019. The show treads similar ground as the beloved animated series with meta elements and the kind of noisy chaos both kids and adults love. As an added bonus, for those who think themselves too hip to enjoy musical theater, some songs were co-written by Wayne Coyne from The Flaming Lips. And for you pirate fans (the old-timey lunatics not the baseball team) supposed Spongebob fan “Patchy the Pirate” repeatedly interrupts the show and causes a scene. That’s the kind of fun we can all get behind. Spongebob Squarepants was a critical hit with 12 Tony nominations in 2018, including Best Actor, Best Score and Best Musical.

Cabaret – One of our favorite broadway productions is also arguably Bob Fosse’s greatest stage work. Although the film version, starring American treasure Liza (no last name necessary) is best known these days, the stage production is frequently revived for traveling productions. Adapted from the Christoper Isherwood novel Goodbye To Berlin the story involves a free spirit named Sally Bowles and her relationship with an America writer named Cliff at the dawn of the Nazi Party’s political ascendence. Known for a score that has entered the American songbook, and Fosse’s distinctive choreography, Cabaret is one of the most iconographic productions in Broadway history with revivals in 1987, 1998 and 2014. Fun Fact: in the original 1966 production the role of Cliff was portrayed by Bert Convy, future host of Win, Lose or Draw and singer of all time classic rock and roll “hit” The Gorilla.

Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 – Commonly referred to as just The Great Comet of 1812, this show gives a modern twist to the Russian novel War and Peace. Dave Malloy, the composer and lyricist of the show, brings an electronic flair to a 70 page segment of War and Peace, combining the modern electronics with classic Russian folk music. This show is originally directed by Rachel Chavkin (the same director as Hadestown), and the duo is also teaming up on a musical based on Moby-Dick. In the vein of experimentation, the musical was originally performed with the set extending out into the house, adding seating to the stage to allow the performers to interact with the audience. This show will be doing a limited US tour soon, and if it’s coming near you, you’d be sorry to miss it.

Be More Chill – Be More Chill is a very modern musical, sharing the scene with musicals like Heathers, Dear Evan Hansen, and Mean Girls. Just like these shows, Be More Chill takes place in high school, following the main character, Jeremy, as he struggles with being the “Loser, Geek, or Whatever” while courting his beloved Christine. Things take a turn when he takes a “SQUIP.” This Super Quantum Unit Intel Processor implants in Jeremy’s brain and instructs him how to Be More Chill. As you may guess, implanting computers into our brain can cause some problems. This show stuns with amazing lighting and sound design, and great music featuring a theremin. If you’re looking for a fun(almost silly), awe-striking show, and overall entertaining show, you can’t go wrong with Be More Chill.

Hadestown – Hadestown is a new musical based on the ancient Greek story of Orpheus and Eurydice. While Greek mythology might not be everyone’s cup of tea, Hadestown differentiates itself by mashing this mythological story in a Great-depression era, almost post-apocalyptic world with a touch of folk music. This show premiered on Broadway in March 2019 and was promptly nominated for 12 Tony Awards, winning 8 of them, including Best Musical and Best Original Score. The show takes you through a heart-wrenching journey with incredible actors such as Patrick Page and André De Shields, leaving you in tears with Orpheus’s beautiful melody. This show is great for those who enjoy digging deep and finding deeper themes and messages behind the singing and dancing. Grab a friend and go see how the world could be, in spite of the way that it is. You won’t be let down.