Broadway – the best musicals, tickets, theaters – [GUIDE]

Is it worth going to Broadway?

This question is always asked, although in the case of Broadway it is often the case that it is the main reason for coming to New York. Writing these words, I realized at the same time that the most frequently asked question, namely: is it worth going to Broadway, is completely pointless. Because when I actually found myself on Broadway I understood that you shouldn't ask "is it worth it". The question should be "how to get a ticket to Broadway?". Here, no one asks if it is worth it. Here, crowds of people are rather looking for a way to get a ticket!
There are raffles, sweepstakes, contests, and a million other ways to give yourself a small chance of winning a ticket. Broadway is such a popular attraction that tickets often serve as the grand prize in contests. Oh yeah. Can't you just buy a ticket?
Of course you can! However, it is worth knowing that buying a ticket at the box office before the performance is practically impossible, because tickets are often sold out months in advance. However, you can do the same thing online well in advance. However, when you get to this stage, you will ask yourself again: is it worth going to Broadway? Why is this question coming up again?
Prices! Your euphoria will be cooled down a bit by the prices. Ticket prices for Broadway shows are rather high. That is why, among other things, they work well as prizes in contests and lotteries. After buying the tickets, I myself had mixed feelings and wondered what it would be like after the show? Would I consider it a good spend of money?

The quality of Broadway shows is evidenced by the fact that even very high prices do not change the answer that probably everyone who has been to Broadway will give. Yes! It is worth going to Broadway and it is worth spending the money! What's more! I want to go again! What happens on the stages of Broadway theaters is a completely different dimension of musical stage art. There is probably no other place in the world where you will see something of such a high standard. And it is not only about vocal, dance, etc. art. Here, everything is perfect: stage design, lighting, audio and video setting, new technologies ... everything is boiling with perfection pushed to the limits. So it is not an experience only for lovers of this art. It is a real experience for anyone who wants to experience something unique in every way. It knocked me out of my shoes!

How to choose a theater?

Once you decide to go to a Broadway show, you'll quickly realize that the choice isn't so easy. There are dozens of theaters here, and some of them have several different shows on. The choice is huge, and therefore not easy at all. There's a ton of information on the internet about legendary shows that you have to see, but upon closer inspection, it turns out that they're no longer being performed. I know because I've been there.
So I'm not going to describe the entire Broadway offer. You'll get some key information from me and, as usual, a few links that make life easier.

Theatre District

First, if you want to see something in a real Broadway theater, you need to limit your search area to the so-called Theater District. This is the area within the field bounded by the streets: 40th Street, 6th Avenue, 53rd Street, and 9th Avenue. As of 2024, the Vivian Beaumont Theater (part of Lincoln Center) is the only Broadway theater that is not located in the Theater District. I have roughly marked the area of ​​the Theater District on the map below. For better orientation, I have also marked the location of Times Square, which can be considered almost the center point of the Theater District.

By the way, you need to know that not every theater located in the so-called Theater District is a Broadway theater. There are about 41 venues that meet the criteria of a Broadway theater. Walking the streets of the Theater District, you will pass countless theaters. Some of them are theaters defined as Off-Broadway, i.e. they do not meet the criteria of a Broadway theater (e.g. minimum 500 seats in the audience, etc.). Even if you knew all the rules for evaluating theaters, you would not be able to tell from the street which theater is Broadway and which is not. Therefore, you must choose the theater and the show in advance, preferably in the comfort of your home.

Broadway Theatre Tickets

Tickets for the best shows sell out even months in advance. You can often still buy a ticket at the last minute, but these are usually the worst-located seats in terms of visibility, etc. A reasonable time in advance to buy a ticket is at least three months. Then you usually still have a choice of well-located seats.
Broadway tickets are not cheap. All online sales systems show prices starting from the lowest available, e.g. prices from $70. You probably won't decide on the cheapest option (usually seats with poor visibility). Be prepared to pay twice as much for one ticket in a decent place.

Below you will find several links. The first one leads to the list of currently available performances available on GetYourGuide. Productions that are not available automatically disappear from this list. Use it. It is very convenient because it saves a lot of time.

check out: list of Broadway shows – [click] (GetYourGuide)

The following links (or rather advertising posters with the current ticket availability calendar) lead to a few specific, highest rated and most popular shows currently in theaters, selected by me on GetYourGuide. The productions with the highest ratings are at the beginning, although this hierarchy is a bit forced. All the shows I selected are the very top and top league of Broadway.

MJ the Musical – [click]

A story about Michael Jackson's life with lots of brilliantly recreated songs. It has won awards and is currently the highest rated show on Broadway.

Moulin Rouge! Musical – [click]

Moulin Rouge is a spectacle filled with an atmosphere of stunning Baroque splendor, romance, glitz, luxury. A world of aristocracy, champagne and pleasure without limits.

The Lion King – [click]

The well-known and beloved Disney story with Oscar-winning songs by Elton John and Tim Rice. A colorful and moving story in a unique edition.

Aladdin [click]

Another Disney tale brought to the Broadway stage. The stunningly colorful production rightly garners top ratings.

Chicago – [click]

Travel back to the days of prohibition and crime, accompanied by the captivating sounds of music. Illegal deals, greed and murders make the atmosphere as dense as possible.

How to Dress for a Broadway Theater

Most theaters don't require any special attire. In practice, audience members dress for the occasion in a moderately formal manner, and some in evening wear.

I don't know English

If your English is poor, choose a show where the narration plays a secondary role (e.g. MJ the Musical) or one that tells a story you already know well (e.g. The Lion King, Aladdin, or Chicago). Language limitations are then of little consequence.

Hotels and lodging near the Theatre District

Below I have included several links to hotels located near the Theatre District. Do not treat them as specific indications of the hotels that I recommend. Treat them as a good start for further searches. The links I have included use the search engine mechanism, which, in addition to a specific hotel, always offers other, similar offers, often more attractively priced. Additionally, the links contain filters that I have prepared. They prevent the display of many offers that could unnecessarily clutter the search results and appropriately narrow the search area to the area that interests us. So you do not have to do it manually every time. I recommend using these links, because they make searching easier and save time.

45 Times Square Hotel – [click]

CIVILIAN Hotel – [click]

Mayfair Hotel – [click]

New York City Sightseeing Plan

This entry is part of a large guide to New York, which is available at: New York - sightseeing plan [click].
If you are here and have skipped the main post, then definitely I recommend that you read it first. It contains a lot of practical advice related to moving around the city, access to attractions, organizing sightseeing, access to the Internet, etc. It contains additional maps with the location of all attractions, supporting the creation of your own routes and sightseeing plans, and a lot of helpful information allowing for quick orientation in the area.

In the main post you will find plans and descriptions of tours of some of the most interesting neighborhoods in New York:
- Central Manhattan
- Upper Manhattan
- Lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty
- Brooklyn (neighborhoods: Brooklyn Heights, Dumbo, Williamsburg)

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