0
Business is booming on Broadway. Recent figures show that the 2016/17 season (which runs from May to May) attracted a total audience of more than 13.2 million – with just under $1.5 billion spent in the Box Office. It was the highest grossing season in Broadway history and the second best attended on record.
Fans of the theatre right across the world are flocking to New York to see great shows. So,
what’s hot right now? Here are some shows to book to see:
Hello, Dolly!
Described as ‘the best show of the year’ by NPR, Hello, Dolly! is a textbook example of how
to pull off a revival. An all-time Broadway classic, the tale of cantankerous Horace
Vandergelder and professional matchmaker Dolly has been brought back to life for 2017,
smashing house records thanks to the creative genius of four-time Tony winning director
Jerry Zaks. Its four 2017 Tony awards include Best Revival and Best Actress for Bette Midler.
Tuesday night showings have the added bonus of starring stage icon Donna Murphy in the
role of Dolly.
Groundhog Day
The tale of Phil Connors, the weatherman stuck in a time loop reliving the same day over
and over again, has been given the Broadway treatment for 2017. Having opened in
London’s West End to great acclaim, the stage adaptation of the 1993 Bill Murray film is
written by Olivier Award-winning songwriter Tim Minchin and directed by Matthew
Warchus. It has now made the move to New York – and earned seven Tony nominations as
a result.
Kinky Boots
Critics have been raving about Kinky Boots and it’s easy to see why. With a trophy cabinet
including Tony, Grammy and Olivier awards this big-hearted tale of a factory owner who
teams up with a fabulous entertainer in an unlikely but exciting bid to save his business is a
real winner. The combination of 16 songs from Cyndi Lauper with the creative work of
Harvey Fierstein and Jerry Mitchell make this a joy from start to finish and deserves to be
put on your hitlist. In July, it made almost $1.5 million in a single week and while Panic! At
The Disco’s Brendon Urie’s high profile run has come to an end, this remains one of the hottest tickets in town
Waitress
Maybe it’s the music and lyrics from five-time Grammy winner Sara Bareilles, maybe it’s the
direction from Tony Award winner Diane Paulus, maybe it’s the powerful performance of
Jessie Mueller, maybe it’s the all-female creative team or maybe it’s the charming story –
based on a 2007 film – that makes this a success. Or maybe it’s the combination of all of the
above that is the recipe for success. The only way to find out is to try it for yourself.
Frozen
Ok, so this isn’t technically in Broadway yet, but we’re predicting that Disney’s sing-a- long
smash hit is going to take theater audiences by (snow) storm as much as it did with
cinemagoers. You can get a glimpse of what’s to come with a short run of shows for Elsa,
Anna, Olaf and co at the Buell Theatre in Denver during August, September and October.
Then it’s bound for Broadway in Spring 2018.