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Finding a Broadway show to see can feel like an overwhelming proposition with so many fantastic options to choose from.
I’ve worked in theater for the past five years, and I’ve seen plenty of plays both on and off Broadway. Some shows I’ve liked, some shows I’d rather forget, and some shows have changed my life. They’ve stayed with me forever, instilling within me a love of theater that has led me to choose to make my living amongst it.
Maybe none of these recommendations will cause you to fall head over heels in love with theater, but I hope I can at least steer you towards a memorable evening. See you at the show!
Before it’s too late, check out “Angels in America”
Find tickets to part one "Angels in America: Millennium Approaches" from $75
Find tickets to part two "Angels in America: Perestroika" from $80
"Angels in America" is toward its end of a limited Broadway run featuring tour-de-force (and newly Tony Award-winning) performances from Andrew Garfield and Nathan Lane. Written by Tony Kushner during the AIDS Crisis in the early 90s, this two-part, 7.5-hour marathon theatrical event places audiences inside the uncertainties of life as a gay man amidst the terrifying unknown that was the early days of HIV/AIDS.
This production commemorates the 25-year anniversary since "Angels in America" first ran on Broadway in its entirety, and it’s a triumphant celebration of how far we’ve come in both the destigmatization of HIV and acceptance of the LGBTQ community. It provides a sobering reminder of who we’ve lost along the way and how far we still have to go. Plus, if you see the show in June, you’ll get a special rainbow Playbill to celebrate Pride Month.
Note: You'll need to purchase tickets for both parts of the show.
If you want your faith in humanity restored, check out “Come From Away”
Find tickets for "Come From Away" from $69
On September 11, 2001, 38 planes containing 7,000 passengers were ordered to land in the tiny town of Gander, Newfoundland. “Come From Away” tells the true story of strangers coming together to make sense of tragedy. It’s a story of hope, compassion, generosity, and the strength of the human spirit in a time of confusion, desperation, and loss.
If it sounds like heavy subject matter, in a way, it is, but “Come From Away” will leave you feeling the most hopeful and joyous you’ve felt in a long time. It’s a cliche to say “I laughed, I cried!” but this remarkable ensemble cast of 18 performers — most of whom have been with the show since its debut at La Jolla Playhouse in 2015 — will take you through the emotional gamut in 100 riveting minutes.
If you’re a nostalgic millennial, check out “SpongeBob SquarePants”
Find tickets for "SpongeBob SquarePants" from $49
"Are ya ready kids?" If you instinctively answered, "Aye aye, captain!" then this show is for you. Every 90s kid’s favorite cartoon has been adapted for the stage where all your Bikini Bottom pals must save the city from being swallowed up by a volcanic eruption.
With music by the likes of David Bowie, Panic! At the Disco, and rapper T.I., to name only a few off the star-studded list of composers, there’s plenty of artistic credibility to keep "SpongeBob" afloat. Plus, you won’t want to miss Squidward’s four-legged, show-stopping tap number. Just don’t be too disappointed that a certain character’s titular pants aren’t exactly right-angled.
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