IT'S SHOW TIME
10 Broadway Shows You Must See in 2016
It's time to start planning a year of Broadway viewing. Here are our top picks of 2016
input by NY.com
Dozens of shows play on Broadway at a time, and while it would be amazing to see them all, that’s not exactly realistic. So, we took a look at the 2016 calendar and pulled out 10 shows that really should not be missed. We previously laid out the shows you must see in 2015 (all of which are still worthy), and just like last year, the 2016 lineup is an eclectic mix. Here are our picks, including heart-wrenching dramas with eye-popping casts, brand new musicals with serious pedigree and long-running hits that you really shouldn’t ignore.
James Monroe Iglehart in ‘Aladdin’ (Photo: Cylla von Tiedemann)
Aladdin
Disney’s screen-to-stage adaptation of Aladdin was a hit as soon as it opened in March of 2014, thanks in large part to original cast members Adam Jacobs, Courtney Reed and James Monroe Iglehart, who won a Tony for his high-energy performance as the Genie. While, with most shows, original cast members stay for about a year after opening night, Aladdin‘s fab three are still singing and dancing through Agrabah (their contracts are through at least February 21, 2016). Go now to see Iglehart and the cast tear up “Friend Like Me.” From $65pp, get tickets
Blackbird
Michelle Williams and Jeff Daniels return to the New York stage to star in the Broadway debut of Blackbird, an award-winning drama by David Harrower. Williams plays Una, a woman who appears unannounced at the office of the older man (Daniels) she had a relationship with when she was 12. This is the Broadway premiere of the play and is directed by Joe Mantello. The Tony winner also helmed the play Off-Broadway in 2007 in a production that also starred Daniels. Previews begin February 5, 2016, through June 11, from $83pp, get tickets
Cirque du Soleil Paramour
Cirque du Soleil makes its Broadway debut with this new show combining musical theater with amazing acrobatics. Set in the Golden Age of Hollywood, Paramour stars Ruby Lewis (making her Broadway debut) as an actress caught in a love triangle between a composer and a director. The show will play at the Lyric Theatre, one of Broadway’s largest houses, which gives the cast room to wow the crowd with high-flying antics, as well as high notes. Previews begin April 16, 2016, from $84pp, get tickets
Shuffle Along Or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
Shuffle Along first took Broadway by storm back in 1921, starring Josephine Baker and featuring a jazz score with now-standard tunes like “I’m Just Wild About Harry.” While in hindsight it’s not surprising that it was a smash hit, remember that this was back when diversity — both on stage and in the audience — was not commonplace. This version of Shuffle Along is not a straight revival, but instead a behind-the-scenes look at how it came to be, and how it changed Broadway. The cast is a who’s who of stars, including six-time Tony winner Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Billy Porter, Brandon Victor Dixon and Joshua Henry, with choreography by Savion Glover. Previews begin March 15, 2016
Waitress
Jessie Mueller won a Tony for her last turn on Broadway, originating the role of Carole King in Beautiful. She’s back on the Great White Way in 2016 to front another new musical — Waitress, based on the 2007 indie movie. The show follows Jenna (Mueller), a waitress at a small-town diner that finds herself pregnant and in an unhappy marriage. She deals with her sadness by baking her emotions into her famous pies. Tony winner Diane Paulus directs the production, which has a score by Grammy nominee Sara Bareilles. Previews begin March 25, 2016
Kinky Boots
The exuberant musical Kinky Boots took home many Tonys in 2013, including Best Musical and Best Score (by Cyndi Lauper). The show, based on the movie of the same name, concerns a shoe factory owner who needs a big idea to save the business, which he gets thanks to a drag queen named Lola. Star Billy Porter also took home Best Actor in a Musical for his turn Lola, and just officially departed the show in November 2015. Now filling his stiletto boots is Wayne Brady, who is getting raves for his performance. No official end date has been announced for his run, but don’t delay. From $79pp, get tickets
A scene from ‘Les Miserables’ on Broadway (Photo: Michael Le Poer Trench)
Les Miserables
The current revival of musical theater classic Les Miserables opened in March 2014 with an all-new staging that first played in London. The run has been filled with a diverse cast performing the show’s iconic tunes like “On My Own,” “Master of the House” and “Bring Him Home” at the Imperial Theatre. Alas, the revival is closing on September 4, 2016, giving you just a few months more to see the production. Alfie Boe is now performing the role of Jean Valjean through the end of February, when John Owen-Jones takes over the central role. From $83pp, get tickets
Hamilton
How can you have a must-see list without Hamilton? It was immediately the hottest ticket on Broadway when it opened in the fall of 2015, and that will continue through 2016 (especially since it’s expected to win many Tonys in June). In case you didn’t already know it, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hip hop masterpiece tells the amazing tale of founding father Alexander Hamilton through his triumphs and scandals, with a cast of characters including George Washington, King George III and, of course, Aaron Burr. Check here for tickets
Long Day’s Journey Into Night
One of Eugene O’Neill’s greatest works, the Pulitzer Prize winning Long Day’s Journey Into Night takes place over the course of one day in the tumultuous Tyrone family, modeled after O’Neill’s own. It’s a heavy play to say the least, dealing with addiction, disease and disappointment. An amazing cast has been assembled to do the play justice, including Jessica Lange and Gabriel Byrne as the matriarch and patriarch. Their two adult sons are played by Oscar nominee Michael Shannon and Tony winner John Gallagher, Jr. Previews begin March 31, 2016, through June 26, from $83pp, get tickets
Wicked
Even after 12 years, Wicked continues to be a hot ticket and one of the biggest crowd-pleasers on the Great White Way. Yes, it’s the story of the witches of Oz before Dorothy arrived, but its central themes of being true to yourself and standing up for what you believe in are as important today as they have ever been. This particularly resonates with young teens, who, to put it in perspective, were toddlers when the show first debuted. It’s the perfect time for the next generation to experience the show. From $119pp, get tickets
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