There’s nothing like dressing up and going to the theatre. The grandeur of the event and the thrill of becoming engrossed in someone else’s story is a can’t-miss experience. This fall, invest in a classic New York City night and see one of these spectacular shows!
1. Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812
This romantic musical’s Broadway debut is nine years in the making, each one worth the wait. Title character, Natasha, is played by Denée Benton, an African American actress who is brand new to Broadway. Her fresh face, plus Josh Groban as Pierre, is already enough to make this musical adaptation of War and Peace a star. Time Out New York and the New York Times raved about its Off-Broadway performances, so one can only imagine its beauty on a big Broadway stage.
2. The Humans
Tony Award-winning play, The Humans, is a constantly comedic family story. Relatives gathered around for Thanksgiving get overrun with mysterious circumstances. The play is natural, unforgiving and reminds audiences of their own home. The concept is easy to follow, but the action never ceases or bores. The mundane actually fuels the fire.
3. The Encounter
Hearing is believing when it comes this amazing Complicite production. Simon McBurney takes the “one man show” to a completely new level as he portrays an entire cast of people using different sound effects. A binaural head becomes a portal to the Amazon rainforest, following a National Geographic photographer as he goes back in time. This Edinburgh Festival instant-favorite leaves heads reeling and faint whispers in ears.
4. Les Liaisons Dangereuses
Another big name on Broadway, Liev Schreiber (Ray Donovan) takes the stage in a Christopher Hampton classic. This play has been all around the world and on the movie screen, so rest assured that there will be no need for mid-show escape routes. The main themes—sex and revenge—are both elegant and sensual. However, the title should be taken as a warning: the faint-hearted should stay away.
5. Matilda
Matilda is what happens when some of the greatest minds for storytelling come together. Every single thing on stage comes alive. It’s the perfect Christmas present for younger siblings. Kids are guaranteed to fall in love with musical theatre, as they imagine themselves on stage. Matilda tugs on heartstrings like no other, reminding audiences not to lose their inner child or forget what makes them special. It closes January 1st, but that’s perfect way to end 2016—full of heart and optimism.
6. Waitress
Waitress is a girlfriends kind of a musical! Sorority sisters and best friends alike will scramble to see this. It’s heartwarming, empowering and literally full of pie. Buy one during intermission and let that be the beginning of an amazing sugar binge. The excuse? Midterms are over and so is swimsuit season. Bring on the big coats!
7. La Boheme
Calling all RENT fans! Consider straying off of Broadway and seeing the musical that inspired it all. The Metropolitan Opera and Franco Zeffirelli (director of Hamlet, starring Mel Gibson) set the Italian opera in Paris, a most romantic setting for a tragic love story. La Boheme is a perfect first opera for anyone even remotely interested in the artform. Zeffirelli’s beautiful sets speak for themselves, meaning no knowledge of Italian necessary.
8. Yokes Night
Still sad that Edinburgh Fringe is over? The 2016 festival loans NYC a play describing a night in Dublin where all drugs have become legal for 24 hours. Movement and dialogue fuse, creating a wholly original play with familiar ideas. A boy becomes infatuated with a girl and they have a wild time falling in love and into mischief. The simply narrative allows for a powerful, one-of-a-kind experience.
9. Plenty
The Public Theater (conveniently close to NYU) is reviving a beloved David Hare play about a British secret agent who has a hard time adjusting to life after World War II. The play peels back layer after layer of an incredibly tough woman who just wants peace. The theatre’s reputation speaks for itself. Plenty, starring Rachel Weisz and Corey Stoll, is not just a throwback, but a takeover.
10. Something Rotten!
Nominated for 10 Tony Awards, this Elizabethan musical won the hearts of theatre aficionados everywhere. Two hilarious playwrights attempt to rival William Shakespeare himself. They call on tactics used in all the current greats, including Les Miserables, Cats and RENT. From start to finish, the musical is lively and energetic, renewing passion for theatre and its origins. Something Rotten! is set to close in early January so the time to see it is now!