Theater entertainment in New York City
- Sort by:
- Popular
-
A
New York Theater Workshop
Recently celebrating its 25th year, this innovative production house is a treasure to those seeking cutting-edge, contemporary plays with purpose. It was the originator of two big Broadway hits, Rent and Urinetown, and offers a constant supply of high-quality drama.
It has staged works from Rebecca Gilman (The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter), Geoffrey Cowan and Leroy Aarons (Top Secret) – and even Samuel Beckett, whose quartet of one-act plays was adapted here by director JoAnne Akalaitis and composer Phillip Glass in Beckett Shorts, starring Mikhail Baryshnikov.
reviewed
-
B
Playwrights Horizons
An excellent place to catch what could be the next big thing, this veteran ‘writers’ theater’ is dedicated to fostering contemporary American works. Notable past productions include Saved, a musical by Michael Friedman based on the quirky film, as well as I Am My Own Wife and Grey Gardens, both of which moved on to Broadway.
reviewed
-
C
Union Square Theater
The coolest thing about this theater is that it’s built in what used to be Tammany Hall, seat of the most corrupt Democratic political machine that’s ever ruled the city. Now the theater outrages the public in other ways, by hosting searing works like The Laramie Project, and the side-splittingly funny (and un-PC) puppet show Stuffed and Unstrung (not for children). Campy musicals also pop up sometimes.
reviewed
-
D
Wicked
A whimsical, mythological and extravagantly produced prequel to The Wizard of Oz, this pop-rock musical – a stage version of Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel – gives the story’s witches a turn to tell the tale. Its followers are an insanely cultish crew, attending frequent performances and launching all sorts of fan clubs, fansites and obsessive blogs to keep themselves occupied.
reviewed
-
E
Samuel J Friedman Theater
Formerly the Biltmore Theater, this square, historic building was renamed in 2008; however, its landmarked architectural details remain. Inside you'll find a gorgeous arched dome ceiling, ornate staircases and a gilded 2nd-floor gallery, from its building date in 1925. Notable productions staged here include No Exit in 1946, Billy Budd in 1951 and Hair in 1968.
reviewed
-
F
HERE
An acclaimed and perpetually underfunded theater group that supports the independent, the innovative and the experimental, Here helped develop Basil Twist's Symphonie Fantastique, Hazelle Goodman's On Edge and Trey Lyford and Geoff Sobelle's all wear bowlers. Production times and prices vary, but the onsite cafe offers a great opportunity to check things out.
reviewed
-
G
Cherry Lane Theater
A theater with a distinctive charm hidden in the West Village, Cherry Lane has a long and distinguished history. It was started by poet Edna St Vincent Millay and has given a voice to numerous playwrights and actors over the years. It remains true to its mission of creating 'live' theater that's accessible to the public. Readings, plays and spoken-word performances rotate frequently.
reviewed
-
H
Joseph Papp Public Theater
Every summer the Joseph Papp Public Theater presents its fabulous, and eagerly awaited, Shakespeare in the Park productions at Central Park's Delacorte Theater − one of its many contributions to the city's cultural tapestry. Established by a wealthy progressive more than 50 years ago, the Papp also houses the highly popular Joe's Pub, which has live music and spoken-word performances.
reviewed
-
I
Chicago
This beloved Bob Fosse/Kander & Ebb classic – a musical about showgirl Velma Kelly, wannabe Roxie Hart, lawyer Billy Flynn and the fabulously sordid goings-on of the Chicago underworld – has made a great comeback. This version, revived by director Walter Bobbie, is seriously alive and kicking.
reviewed
-
J
New Amsterdam Theater
If your kids are into theater, watch their eyes pop as they pass through the art deco entrance, into the art nouveau interior of carved and painted plaster, stone, wood, murals and tiles – all of which evoke early-20th-century theater-going – on their way to see Mary Poppins, the musical.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
K
Tribeca Performing Arts Center
A grassroots artists' collective, Tribeca PAC likes to put on performances from local residents on diverse topics related to city life. Works are multidisciplinary and unexpected, like Lost Jazz Shrines, which celebrates New York jazz clubs no longer in existence.
reviewed
-
L
La MaMa ETC
A long-standing home for onstage experimentation (the ETC stands for Experimental Theater Club), La MaMa is now a three-theater complex with a cafe, an art gallery and a separate studio building that features cutting-edge dramas, sketch comedy and readings of all kinds.
reviewed
-
M
Ambassador Theater
Classically horseshoe-shaped, the Ambassador's one of the most intimate large-sized venues on Broadway. If you're in town while Chicago is still playing, you'll feel every kick and hear every note Roxie Hart hits, even if you're in the cheap seats in the back.
reviewed
-
N
Majestic Theater
A fabled performance house that has seen the likes of Angela Lansbury, Julie Andrews and several Barrymores on its stage, the Majestic is still (still!) selling out every night for Phantom of the Opera, 23 years after Andrew Lloyd Webber's creation debuted.
reviewed
-
Mamma Mia!
This musical revue of a mother/daughter/who’s the father? story – based on nearly two dozen hits of the 1970s supergroup Abba (and not much else, honestly) – has been a sugar-pop runaway hit since arriving on the scene in 2001.
reviewed
-
O
Orpheum Theater
A Yiddish theater in the beginning of the 20th century, the Orpheum feeds off creative East Village energy. Currently it's home to Stomp, a dance-happy beat fest.
reviewed
-
P
Second Stage Theatre
Second Stage is well known for debuting the work of talented emerging writers as well as that of the country's more established names. If you're after top-notch contemporary American theater, this is a good place to find it.
reviewed
-
Q
Signature Theatre
Now in its new Frank Gehry–designed home – complete with three theaters, bookshop and cafe – Signature Theatre devotes entire seasons to the body of work of its playwrights-in-residence. To date, featured dramatists have included Tony Kushner, Edward Albee, Athol Fugard and Kenneth Lonergan.
reviewed
-
R
Book of Mormon
Subversive, obscene and ridiculously hilarious, this cutting musical satire is the work of South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone and Avenue Q composer Robert Lopez. Winner of nine Tony Awards, it tells the story of two naive Mormons on a mission to 'save' a Ugandan village.
Book six months ahead for standard-price tickets, or prepare to pay a premium for tickets at shorter notice. If you're feeling particularly lucky, head to the theater 2½ hours before the show to enter the ticket lottery, which offers a limited number of tickets for $32.
reviewed
-
S
PS 122
This former schoolhouse has been committed to fostering new artists and their far-out ideas since its inception in 1979. Its two stages have hosted such now-known performers as Meredith Monk, Eric Bogosian and the late Spalding Gray, and it’s also home to dance shows, film screenings and various festivals for up-and-coming talents.
reviewed
Advertisement