Broadway Show Reviews
Broadway Show Review - Content, Age Restrictions and Our Broadway Show Recommendations
Buying tickets to a Broadway show can be an expensive proposition, so it's important that before you purchase your Broadway ticket, you know you've picked the right play or musical. Consult our Broadway reviews guide below to help you determine which Broadway Show is the best choice for your group or family. In each entry, we list the suggested age provided by the theater, as well as our own show summary and recommendations.
You can purchase Broadway tickets by clicking on the link under the name of each Broadway Show.
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Billy Elliot
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Age May be inappropriate for 8 and under. (It contains strong language and some scenes of confrontation between policemen and miners.) Children under the age of 4 are not permitted in the theatre.
Summary Set against the backdrop of a coal miners' strike that took place in Northern England in the mid-1980s, Billy Elliot is about a motherless young boy who wants to give up boxing and learn to be a dancer.
Our Recommendation A musical version of the British film of the same name, Billy Elliot has been a huge hit in London and is now wowing Broadway. Lee Hall has written a solid and sometimes pleasantly surprising adaptation of his own screenplay, and together he and composer Elton John have created a functional score that is pretty good, though seldom soars. Billy Elliot's greatest strengths are its stars (three extraordinarily talented boys alternate in the title role), director Stephen Daldry's often inspired staging, and Peter Darling's electric choreography. |
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Chicago
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Age May be inappropriate for 12 and under.
Summary Roxie Hart kills her lover and becomes a celebrity in this cynical satire of corruption in the criminal justice system set in 1920s Chicago.
Our Recommendation There is virtually no set in Chicago, so don't go expecting big visuals or bright colors. The appeal of this long-running Broadway revival is the sharp humor, the Bob Fosse-style choreography, and the jazzy tunes by Kander & Ebb (e.g. "All That Jazz"). Skimpy costumes, suggestive dancing, and sassy anti-heroines who murder without remorse make this musical suitable for more mature audiences. |
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God of Carnage
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Age May be inappropriate for 16 and under. (Strong language.) Children under the age of 4 are not permitted in the theatre.
Summary The play deals with the aftermath of a playground altercation between two boys and what happens when their parents meet to talk about it.
Our Recommendation Yasmina Reza's latest Broadway play, starring Marcia Gay Harden, James Gandolfini, Hope Davis, and Jeff Daniels, is a very funny but very dark look at marriage and manners. Though the ultimate point of God of Carnage - other than perhaps to illustrate that seemingly proper adults can behave with as much unthinking cruelty as their children - is unclear, it is a delight to watch its four stars throw themselves into verbal and physical combat with such relish.
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Hair
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Age Hair may not be appropriate for young theatergoers under the age of 12. The production contains scenes that briefly depict profanity, nudity and simulated drug use.
Summary Led by the charismatic Berger, a group of young people live spirited lives of free love and pacifism in the East Village, but they are soon faced with the harsh realities of the Vietnam War.
Our Recommendation Even the most jaded theatergoer can't help but to enjoy classic songs like "Age of Aquarius," "Good Morning Starshine," "Hair," and "Let the Sunshine In" in this sensitively directed and well-choreographed production of the 1967 classic musical about New York City hippies. Although many of the other songs are less-than-classic, and the humor can be sophomoric at times, the show resonates emotionally. And the Baby Boomers just love it - especially the part where the audience is invited onstage to dance with the cast at the end of the show! |
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In the Heights
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Age We recommend 8 years and older. While In The Heights has very positive family themes, it also contains some strong language and adult situations.
Summary The vibrant northern Manhattan neighborhood of Washington Heights comes to life in this rhythmic, heartfelt new Broadway musical about the denizens of a changing community.
Our Recommendation One of the most exciting new musicals of the last few years, In the Heights has a musical score that includes Latin and hip-hop and old-fashioned Broadway ballads. With electric choreography and terrific performances by a diverse cast, In the Heights brings the flavor of the New York City streets to Broadway. |
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Jersey Boys
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Age May be inappropriate for 12 and under. (Strong language.) Children under the age of 4 are not permitted in the theatre.
Summary This biographical Broadway musical tells the story of how a group of tough young guys from Jersey became internationally renowned hitmakers Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.
Our Recommendation Jersey Boys is a smartly-written play about four men chasing after -- and dealing with the pitfalls of -- fame and an unforgettable concert rolled into one. Wonderfully sung and staged versions of all the Frankie Valli/Four Seasons hits are here, from "Walk Like a Man" to "Can't Take My Eyes Off You". |
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The Lion King
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Age Disney recommends its productions for ages 6 and up.
Summary Based on the Disney animated feature, The Lion King is about Simba, a young lion who flees his home after being convinced that he was responsible for his father's death.
Our Recommendation Though some aspects of this Broadway adaptation of the movie still seem a bit too cartoon-y, the new African-inspired music and director/designer Julie Taymor's breathtaking puppetry and stage effects make The Lion King Disney's most innovative and theatrical show so far. |
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A Little Night Music
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Age May be inappropriate for 8 and under. Children under the age of 4 are not permitted in the theatre.
Summary Romances and revelations arise when friends, family, enemies, and lovers all get together for a weekend in the country in this witty musical, based on Ingmar Bergman's film Smiles of a Summer Night.
Our Recommendation This Trevor Nunn-directed revival of the Stephen Sondheim / Hugh Wheeler Broadway musical (which features Sondheim's best known song, "Send in the Clowns") is a bit too slow and colorless, which is an unwelcome reminder that A Little Night Music has always been lacking in warmth. Frustration, elation, jealousy, hurt, and longing are all displayed prominently in this tryst-filled comedy of romantic entanglement, but love barely figures into it. However, the production does include fine performances by its most prominent stars, Catherine Zeta-Jones as a glamorous but aging actress, and Angela Lansbury as her disapproving mother.
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Mamma Mia
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Age May be appropriate for ages 4 and older.
Summary Set in the Greek isles, Mamma Mia incorporates 23 tunes by pop group ABBA into its story about soon-to-married Sophie, her free-spirited single mom Donna, and three men from Donna's past -- one of whom, Sophie hopes to discover, is her father.
Our Recommendation Mamma Mia has become a worldwide smash since its London debut in 1999, and its biggest fans are usually the middle-aged crowd who fondly remember the disco days of ABBA. Women in particular enjoy watching fun-loving Donna and her two best friends reminiscing about their youth, when they were in a singing trio. Since the plot is a bit thin and the tone decidedly silly, the upbeat Mamma Mia is best appreciated as a big Broadway-style ABBA concert. |
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Mary Poppins
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Age Disney recommends its productions for ages 6 and up.
Summary A very unusual nanny helps two children connect with their distant parents, and she shows them a bit of magic along the way. Based on the P.L. Travers stories and the Disney film.
Our Recommendation Fans of the books will be happy to see that this adaptation includes characters and adventures the film left out. Fans of the film may miss its simplicity (and a few of the songs). But everyone is sure to appreciate the excellent cast and impressive sets. Be aware that there are a few darker moments in the show that might scare smaller kids. |
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Memphis
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Age May be inappropriate for 9 and under. (The show includes a depiction of violence against one of the lead characters.) Children under the age of 4 are not permitted in the theatre.
Summary Inspired by the real-life story of a 1950s rock 'n' roll deejay, Memphis is about the man who brought black music to white listeners in the segregated South.
Our Recommendation Chad Kimball finally gets the breakout role he deserves as Huey Calhoun, a guy who is going nowhere until his love of "race music" - combined with his brash style and quick wit - makes him the most popular radio personality in town. Both his ego and his refusal to acknowledge the barriers of a racist society threaten his relationship with a black singer (Montego Glover). Though David Bryan's score is not nearly as strong as the real rock 'n' roll and blues music of that era, it is enjoyable and includes some standout songs; Joe DiPietro's book, with the exception of a few predictably cheesy moments, is generally smart, funny, and well-constructed; Christopher Ashley's direction is superb. Overall this is a great new Broadway musical with a good look, a hot band, an engaging story, and an excellent cast of performers to bring it to life.
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Phantom Of The Opera
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Age May be appropriate for 4 and older.
Summary A disfigured man who lives beneath the Paris Opera House becomes obsessed with a beautiful singer and "haunts" the owners until they make her the star of the opera.
Our Recommendation This romantic musical tends to be especially liked by female audiences, but in its 20-year Broadway run it has become popular with viewers of all kinds. The lush Andrew Lloyd Webber score boasts modern classics "Music of the Night" and "All I Ask of You". Despite the Phantom's penchant for singing seductive ballads, he is a really disturbed guy, so be aware that this often eerie musical does feature kidnapping and murder. |
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Present Laughter
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Age Teens and Up. Children under the age of 4 are not permitted in the theatre.
Summary In this classic Noel Coward comedy, Victor Garber stars as a self-absorbed actor whose life is turned chaotic by the arrival of a number of troublesome characters (including a crazy playwright, a cheating producer, and his own ex-wife) to his London apartment.
Our Recommendation This Roundabout Theatre Company production is a solidly enjoyable revival of Noel Coward's witty 1939 send-up of showbiz folks. Garber is good (if not quite perfect) in the lead role originally played by Coward himself, and Brooks Ashmanskas is the audience favorite, playing a mincing playwright who is as mad as a hatter. |
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Race
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Age May be inappropriate for children 12 and under. Children under the age of 4 are not permitted in the theatre.
Summary A law firm takes on a racially charged case in this hard-edged new Broadway play written and directed by David Mamet. James Spader and David Alan Grier play law partners, with Kerry Washington as their young associate and Richard Thomas as the famous client charged with the rape of a black woman.
Our Recommendation Race is an engaging play with a very good cast, and Mamet has some interesting observations about the subject matter. But the drama ultimately does little more than serve as an overview of the current state of racial relations (as per the cynical Mamet), without really offering much of anything new on the topic. |
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Rock of Ages
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Age Appropriate for 14+ (Strong language). Children under the age of 4 are not permitted in the theatre.
Summary Former American Idol contestant Constantine Maroulis stars as an aspiring rocker who arrives on L.A.'s Sunset Strip with dreams of fame and hard rock glory, but finds heartbreak and hard times instead in this tribute to the era of "hair" bands.
Our Recommendation From the lighter-shaped lights they hand you when you walk into the theater to the beer being served by vendors during the performance, Rock of Ages has the feel of a rock concert. Oh, yeah, and then there's the music. If you lived through the '80s (and have happy memories of listening to the radio or watching MTV during that time), then you're likely to be grinning like an idiot and desperate to sing along as the energetic cast belts out melodic rock hits like Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead or Alive," Whitesnake's "Here I Go Again," and Foreigner's "I Want To Know What Love Is". Sure, the story and dialogue is silly (sometimes deliciously, sometimes cringingly), but when they start singing "Don't Stop Believing," you'll be waving your lighter in the air with everyone else. |
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South Pacific
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Age May be inappropriate for 7 and under. Children under the age of 5 are not permitted in the theatre.
Summary Set during World War II, this classic Rodgers & Hammerstein musical is about a U.S. Navy nurse who finds love with a French plantation owner on an island in the South Pacific.
Our Recommendation A wonderful production that truly does justice to one of the finest musicals of the Golden Age of Broadway, South Pacific deals with love, war, racism, and loyalty - and it does it with classic songs like "Some Enchanted Evening," "Younger Than Springtime," "This Nearly Was Mine," and "There's Nothing Like a Dame". |
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Time Stands Still
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Age May be inappropriate for 12 and under. Children under the age of 4 are not permitted in the theatre.
Summary Sarah, a photographer, and her partner of several years, James, a journalist, have traveled the world documenting the tragedies of war. But following an injurious accident, the couple must face the challenge of settling down to a more conventional life back in the U.S.
Our Recommendation Donald Margulies's new play Time Stands Still is a well-written and well-acted drama (the stellar cast is headed by Laura Linney and Brian d'Arcy James) that examines a couple as they try to adjust to the unadventurous life and to each other in this ordinary context. Most of the questions that Margulies poses - In a world full of pain, is it okay for us to find happiness for ourselves? Is it morally acceptable for a photojournalist to only document tragedy and not intervene to help the injured? - have been asked in similar dramas, so the subject doesn't exactly feel novel, but Time Stands Still does provide a very engaging and emotional evening in the theater.
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A View From the Bridge
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Age May be inappropriate for 16 and under. (Strong language, adult subject matter, violence.) Children under the age of 4 are not permitted in the theatre.
Summary In this tragic drama by Arthur Miller, a hard-working Brooklyn man finds that his developing obsession with his wife's niece leads to his downfall.
Our Recommendation Liev Schreiber and Scarlett Johansson (in her Broadway debut) star as Eddie Carbone and the orphaned niece that Eddie and his wife have raised in this excellent revival, and both give award-worthy performances. They are supported by an equally fine cast, including Jessica Hecht as Eddie's wife, Morgan Spector and Corey Stoll as the illegal immigrant relatives whose arrival at the Carbone household sets the tragedy in motion, and Michael Cristofer as the neighborhood lawyer who narrates the tale. They just don't make plays like this anymore, and Miller's writing is so good that he invests these working class characters' 1950s Brooklyn-based story with all the poetry and drama of a great Greek tragedy.
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West Side Story
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Age Recommended for children of 13 years of age and older.
Summary West Side Story transposes William Shakespeare's tragedy Romeo and Juliet to the gang-ridden streets of 1950s Manhattan. Instead of warring families, there are warring Jets and Sharks. Instead of Romeo and Juliet, we have Tony and Maria, two teenagers who are torn between ethnic loyalty and their intense love for each other. The amazing score includes "Tonight," "Somewhere," and "Something's Coming."
Our Recommendation This exciting new production of the Broadway classic features an energetic young cast and faithfully re-creates Jerome Robbins' iconic choreography and Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim's extraordinary score. It is directed by the show's bookwriter, Arthur Laurents, who has added a bit of a twist (and authenticity) by having the Sharks speak and sometimes sing in Spanish. |
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Wicked
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Age Recommended age for children is 8 years and up. There is nothing of a vulgar or sexual nature, but there are adult themes.
Summary In this Broadway musical based on Gregory Maguire's novel (a "prequel" to The Wizard of Oz), we learn how Elphaba, a sensitive and misunderstood college student in Oz, came to be known as the Wicked Witch of the West.
Our Recommendation This popular Broadway musical is especially loved by tweens, who can relate to its tale of a young woman struggling to fit in, but audiences of all ages can appreciate the themes about prejudice and friendship, as well as the pop-infused score by Stephen Schwartz. If you're thinking of bringing your pre-tweens, bear in mind that, as in The Wizard of Oz itself, there are some scary scenes. |
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