Top Broadway Shows to See This Year

There is much uncertainty in the world of entertainment at the moment because of the restrictions placed on public gatherings by the authorities due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Below is a list of some of the exciting shows that should be on Broadway this year. However,it is quite likely they will be postponed until the emergency has passed.

Whether you love musicals, murder mysteries or a Shakespeare comedy or tragedy, with over 40 different theaters to choose from, Broadway has it all. If you’re a theater buff you’ll know that to be considered as being ‘on Broadway’, traditionally the theaters have 500 seats or more. Off-Broadway shows cater for between 100 and 499 people, and off-Broadway venues seat less than a 100.

In the run-up to the Tony Awards, springtime sees a new wave of performances take to the stage alongside, of course, the return of many evergreen favorites. Often, it’s the big-name actors who play the lead roles that get all the publicity and plaudits but, of course, any theater production, especially one as high profile as a Broadway show, relies on a large experienced backstage team to get the production up and running every single day.

One of the most important, yet perhaps overlooked, roles is that of the producer, and Louise Gundis a perfect example of someone who fulfills this role. With a history of award-nominated hit shows including Sylvia, Head Over Heels and Six Degrees of Separation, she proves that often it’s those who don’t have their names up in lights who are responsible for making a hit Broadway show.

Feeling spoilt for choice? Here are our recommendations of the top shows to see this year.

The Minutes – The Cort Theatre

Sparks fly in this record-breaking hit show. Written by and starring the renowned award-winning playwright Tracy Letts alongside Armie Hammer, Ian Barford and Blair Brown, The Minutes takes us behind the scenes of a seemingly innocent council meeting in the small town of Big Cherry. Electrifying from start to finish, the self-serving dealings, hypocrisy and greed of the characters seamlessly combine with sharp, bittersweet comedy that easily translates into the wider sphere of today’s national and international politics. Its twists and turns will keep you guessing right to the end.

Girl from the North Country – The Belasco Theatre

For fans of Bob Dylan, Girl from the North Country is a must-see. Cleverly used by the playwright-director Conor McPherson as dramatic brackets, it is 20of Dylan’s songs that give atmosphere and life to the darkness of America during the Great Depression. Set in a boarding house in Dylan’s hometown of Duluth, Minnesota in 1934, songs such as ‘Hurricane’, ‘Blowin’ in the Wind’ and ‘Make You feel My Love’ add to the chilling portrayal of this period.

To Kill a Mockingbird – Shubert Theatre

Known for his witty and humorous dialogue in on-screen hits such as The West Wing and The Newsroom, Aaron Sorkin’s stage adaptation of Harper Lee’s classic novel lives up to the lofty expectations we have of him. Now starring Ed Harris as Atticus Finch, the elegant direction of this play by Bartlett Sher allows you to fall in love with this 1960s novel all over again.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – Lyric Theatre

Immerse yourself in epic duels with your favorite characters once again. This Tony award winning show is a spectacular piece of theatre. As the author J.K. Rowling herself once said: “There’s something about live theatre that you cannot replicate in any other form.” It’s been 20 years since Harry, Ron and Hermione saved the wizarding world, and this grand piece of storytelling transforms the Lyric Theatre into Hogwarts where the magic continues.

Come from Away – Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre

Directed by Christopher Ashley, just a dozen highly versatile actors in this uplifting musical tell a true story born from the aftermath of 9/11. Perhaps an unlikely topic for a musical, this sensitively written production centers on the 38 planes that were forced to land in the small town of Gander in Newfoundland. Stranded for days, more than 6,000 passengers were cared for by the residents of a town, who totaled approximately 9,000, and it is the generosity, decency and hospitality of these people that reassures you of your faith in human nature.

Mean Girls – August Wilson Theatre

Skillfully adapted by Tina Fey from her own hit movie, this new musical shines the light on an exciting cast of young performers. Brimming with anguish at the limits that young women continue to place not only on themselves but also on each other, this updated narrative of the cult 2004 film now reflects the sometimes uncomfortable realities of smartphones and social media. For fans of the original, the film’s most famous lines are still very much present. However, it’s the news jokes that get this fearless new cast the biggest laughs.