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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The 39 Steps
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Age No minimum age is specified by the theater, but babies cannot be brought to the show.
Summary A comic take on the Alfred Hitchcock classic, The 39 Steps is about a suave Londoner who meets a mysterious woman and soon finds himself caught up in her dangerous world.
Our Recommendation Fans of the film will laugh the hardest at this droll spoof, but even Hitchcock neophytes will be impressed by the show's manic energy (over 100 roles are played by just four actors!) and creative staging.
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9 To 5
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Age Children under the age of 4 are not permitted in the theatre.
Summary Violet, Doralee, and Judy set out to make careers for themselves in the working world. Unfortunately, their boss is the most sexist, bigoted, egomaniacal liar imaginable. When the women finally reach a boiling point, their fantasies about what they would like to do to him turn hilariously real. With the big bad boss tied up, they use the opportunity to change their oppressive office into the kind of establishment where everyone loves to work.
Our Recommendation Based on the 1980 movie, the new Broadway musical 9 To 5 faithfully recreates the look of that era and also features Dolly Parton's hit title song. Dolly has, in fact, written the entire new score, which displays her unmistakable voice, translated by the marvelous Meg Hilty, Stephanie J. Block, and Allison Janney as the mad-as-hell ladies who kidnap their piggish boss (deliciously played by Marc Kudisch). The show is big, brash, a little lowbrow at times, kinda crazy, and never subtle. |
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Avenue Q
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Age May be inappropriate for 12 years of age and under. (Avenue Q does employ puppets, however it is not suitable for young children.)
Summary A recent university grad moves into his first apartment and navigates love, work, and friendships in this Sesame Street-style satire of post-college life.
Our Recommendation The combo of human actors and puppets may make Avenue Q look like a kids' show, but songs like "The Internet is for Porn" and "If You Were Gay" point to a more adult sensibility. Clever jokes about everything from racism to the challenge of finding your purpose make this modern musical comedy a particular favorite of twenty and thirtysomethings. But just about anybody who has made the transition to adulthood (and, preferably, has also seen Sesame Street) can relate to the people and puppets of Avenue Q. |
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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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Blithe Spirit
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Age Appropriate for 4 +
Summary Noel Coward's 1941 play Blithe Spirit is a witty comedy about a novelist who, after participating in a seance, finds that he is being haunted by his his dead first wife (much to the chagrin of his current, living wife).
Our Recommendation This is a wonderful opportunity to see Angela Lansbury (Murder, She Wrote and films like Gaslight) play a wacky medium and to catch Rupert Everett (My Best Friend's Wedding) being droll as ever live onstage. The production starts off a little slow, but once the ghostly shenanigans begin, it becomes increasingly hectic and hilarious. |
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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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The Little Mermaid
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Age Disney recommends its productions for ages 6 and up.
Summary A mermaid is unhappy with her life under the sea and finds love with a handsome human prince.
Our Recommendation A solid successor to the now-closed Disney Broadway musical Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid creates a shiny, magical, underwater world onstage. In addition to memorable songs from the animated Disney film version, such as "Under the Sea" and "Kiss the Girl," the Broadway version of The Little Mermaid features several new tunes, as well as an excellent (and real, live, human!) cast. |
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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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Mary Stuart
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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 This 1800 drama written by the great German poet and dramatist Friedrich Schiller is about the conflict between Queen Elizabeth I of England and her royal rival, Mary, Queen of Scots. The play dramatizes the point in time in which Elizabeth had to decide the fate of Mary, who she had captured and imprisoned.
Our Recommendation Beautifully adapted by Peter Oswald, Mary Stuart is an excellent play that examines a historical period fraught with religious and political tensions, embodied by the main characters of Elizabeth and Mary. Issues of loyalty, love, jealousy, obsession, redemption, and the personal cost of power also come into play in the drama. Directed by Phyllida Lloyd (Mamma Mia), this production boasts a wonderful cast headed by the amazing Janet McTeer and Harriet Walter. |
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The Norman Conquests
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Age Recommended for 12 +. Children under the age of 4 are not permitted in the theatre.
Summary A trio of comedies about three couples spending a crazy weekend at an English country home, each hilarious play in The Norman Conquests trilogy is set in a different location: the dining room in Table Manners, the living room in Living Together, and the garden in Round and Round the Garden.
Our Recommendation Alan Ayckbourn, the prolific British playwright who specializes in wacky romantic comedies with serious undertones, has crafted an intricate comic puzzle with The Norman Conquests, writing each play so that it essentially takes place at the same time as the others. If you see all three (and you can see them in any order), the puzzle will be complete. However, each play is also satisfying on its own, so you don't have to see the entire trilogy. Either way, you're in for at least one great evening of hysterical farce as you watch shaggy playboy Norman trying to seduce the various women at the house. |
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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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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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Shrek the Musical
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Age Appropriate 4+. Children under the age of 4 are not permitted in the theatre.
Summary Based on Shrek's adventures in the William Steig book and the Oscar-winning film, this Broadway version of the story features Shrek, his wisecracking sidekick Donkey, lovely Princess Fiona, vain Lord Farquaad, and a crazy chorus of fractured fairytale creatures, with more layers than ever and an original new score.
Our Recommendation Seeing the cartoonish ogre live on a Broadway stage might be a bit of a shock, but the people behind Shrek the Musical have taken care to enlist Broadway's finest talents. Among them are performers Brian d'Arcy James as Shrek, Daniel Breaker as Donkey, and Sutton Foster as Princess Fiona; bookwriter David Lindsay-Abaire (author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Rabbit Hole); and songwriter Jeanine Tesori (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Caroline or Change). They're sure to provide big fun for the whole family. |
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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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Waiting For Godot
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Age No minimum age is specified by the theater, but babies cannot be brought to the show.
Summary Nathan Lane and Bill Irwin star in this classic existentialist play about two men waiting for someone (or something?) called Godot.
Our Recommendation Though the plot to Waiting For Godot is simple, the play itself - which is full of humor and intriguing ideas - is anything but. Over the years, Samuel Beckett's masterpiece has been interpreted a thousand different ways, and now audiences have another chance to try to decipher it in this top-class Broadway production, also starring John Goodman and John Glover. |
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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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