By Nicole Simon
Broadway has been through a lot in the past few years. The pandemic shut down theaters for 18 months, the longest hiatus in history. The social justice movements sparked by the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor challenged the industry to confront its issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. The economic downturn and the rise of streaming services threatened the viability and relevance of live theater.
But Broadway is not giving up. In fact, it’s coming back stronger than ever, with a lineup of shows that promises to dazzle, delight, and inspire audiences of all ages and backgrounds. From new musicals based on beloved books and movies, to revivals of classic plays with star-studded casts, to original works that tackle timely and timeless themes, Broadway has something for everyone in 2024.
Here are the most anticipated shows of the year, in order of opening date:
Days of Wine and Roses
The new year kicks off with a musical adaptation of the 1962 film Days of Wine and Roses, which starred Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick as a couple whose lives are ruined by alcoholism. The film, based on a 1958 teleplay by JP Miller, was a critical and commercial success, earning five Oscar nominations and winning one for its title song by Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer.
The musical version, which opens on January 28 at Studio 54, features music and lyrics by Adam Guettel, the Tony Award-winning composer of The Light in the Piazza, and a book by Craig Lucas, the Pulitzer Prize-nominated playwright of Prelude to a Kiss. The show stars Kelli O’Hara and Brian d’Arcy James, two of Broadway’s most acclaimed and versatile performers, as Kirsten and Joe, the doomed lovers who succumb to the lure of the bottle. The show is directed by Michael Greif, who helmed the hit musicals Rent, Next to Normal, and Dear Evan Hansen.
Days of Wine and Roses is a rare musical that does not shy away from the dark and tragic aspects of its story, but also offers glimpses of hope and redemption. It is a powerful and poignant exploration of addiction, love, and loss, with a jazzy and melodic score that captures the mood and spirit of the 1950s.
The Notebook
If you’re looking for a more uplifting and romantic musical, look no further than The Notebook, based on the 1996 novel by Nicholas Sparks and the 2004 film starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams. The story follows the decades-long love affair between Allie and Noah, two young people from different backgrounds who meet and fall in love in 1940s North Carolina, but are separated by war, class, and family. The story is framed by the scenes of an elderly man reading from a notebook to a woman suffering from Alzheimer’s, who turns out to be his beloved Allie.
The musical adaptation, which opens on March 15 at the Nederlander Theatre, features music and lyrics by Ingrid Michaelson, the pop singer-songwriter known for her hits such as “The Way I Am” and “Be OK”. The book is written by Bekah Brunstetter, a writer and producer for the popular TV show This Is Us. The show is co-directed by Michael Greif and Schele Williams, who previously collaborated on the Broadway revival of Aida.
The Notebook is a tearjerker that will tug at your heartstrings and make you swoon. The show features a talented and diverse cast, including Joy Woods and Ryan Vazquez as the young Allie and Noah, and John Cardoza and Jordan Tyson as the older versions. The show also boasts a beautiful and catchy score that blends folk, pop, and soul influences, and showcases Michaelson’s knack for writing heartfelt and honest songs.
Mary Jane
Rachel McAdams, who played Allie in the film version of The Notebook, will make her Broadway debut in a very different role: a single mother caring for her chronically ill son. Mary Jane is a play by Amy Herzog, who won the Obie Award for Best New American Play for this work in 2017. The play follows the title character, a former teacher who devotes her life to her son Alex, who suffers from a rare and severe form of cerebral palsy. Along the way, she forms bonds with several women who help her cope with the challenges and joys of motherhood.
Mary Jane, which opens on April 9 at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, is a moving and realistic portrait of a woman who faces adversity with grace and resilience. The play is directed by Anne Kauffman, who also directed the acclaimed off-Broadway production, and features a stellar cast of female actors, including Liza Colón-Zayas, Carrie Coon, Susan Pourfar, and Brenda Wehle. McAdams, who has proven her versatility and charisma in films such as Mean Girls, The Vow, and Spotlight, will surely shine in this complex and nuanced role.
Mary Jane is a play that celebrates the strength and compassion of women, and the power of love and connection. It is a play that will make you laugh, cry, and think, and remind you of the beauty and value of life.
Water for Elephants
Another film star who will grace the Broadway stage for the first time is Aaron Tveit, who played Enjolras in the 2012 film adaptation of Les Misérables. Tveit will star in Water for Elephants, a musical adaptation of the 2006 novel by Sara Gruen and the 2011 film starring Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson. The story is set in the 1930s, during the Great Depression, and follows Jacob, a young veterinary student who joins a traveling circus after his parents are killed in a car accident. There, he falls in love with Marlena, the star performer and the wife of the cruel and abusive ringmaster, August.
Water for Elephants, which opens on March 29 at the Imperial Theatre, features music and lyrics by Craig Carnelia, the Tony Award-nominated composer of Working and Sweet Smell of Success, and a book by Peter Parnell, the Emmy Award-winning writer of The West Wing and The Cider House Rules. The show is directed and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo, who won the Tony Award for Ain’t Too Proud. The show stars Laura Osnes and Aaron Tveit as Marlena and Jacob, and Norbert Leo Butz as August.
Water for Elephants is a musical that transports you to a bygone era of glamour and danger, of love and betrayal, of dreams and illusions. It is a musical that features stunning circus acts, breathtaking costumes, and a soaring and romantic score that blends Americana, jazz, and pop styles.
An Enemy of the People
One of the most anticipated plays of the year is An Enemy of the People, a revival of the 1882 drama by Henrik Ibsen, the Norwegian playwright who is widely regarded as the father of modern drama. The play tells the story of Dr. Thomas Stockmann, a physician who discovers that the water supply of his town, which relies on tourism for its economy, is contaminated and poses a serious health risk. He tries to expose the truth, but faces opposition from his brother, the mayor, and the majority of the townspeople, who accuse him of being an enemy of the public interest.
An Enemy of the People, which opens on May 4 at the American Airlines Theatre, is a timely and relevant play that explores the themes of truth, democracy, corruption, and environmental justice. The play is adapted by Rebecca Lenkiewicz, who also adapted Ibsen’s A Doll’s House for the West End in 2012, and directed by Thomas Ostermeier, the artistic director of the Schaubühne Berlin and one of the most influential theater directors in Europe. The play stars Jeremy Strong and Matt Smith as the Stockmann brothers, who are both known for their roles in the Emmy Award-winning TV shows Succession and The Crown, respectively.
An Enemy of the People is a play that will challenge you to think and question your own beliefs and values. It is a play that will provoke debate and discussion among audiences and critics alike. It is a play that will show you why Ibsen is still one of the most relevant and influential playwrights of all time.
Girl from the North Country
One of the most acclaimed musicals of the year is Girl from the North Country, which transfers from the West End after winning rave reviews and awards. The musical features the songs of Bob Dylan, the legendary singer-songwriter and Nobel laureate, and is set in Depression-era Minnesota, where a group of lost souls converge at a rundown guesthouse. The musical weaves together the stories of Nick, the owner of the guesthouse and his wife Elizabeth, who suffers from dementia; their son Gene, who dreams of becoming a writer; their adopted daughter Marianne, who is pregnant and unwanted by her father; Mr. and Mrs. Burke, a couple who are on the verge of bankruptcy; Joe Scott, a boxer who is on the run from the law; and Reverend Marlowe, a preacher who is hiding a secret.
Girl from the North Country, which opens on June 7 at the Belasco Theatre, is written and directed by Conor McPherson, the Irish playwright and director who is known for his works such as The Weir, The Seafarer, and The Night Alive. The musical is not a jukebox musical or a biographical musical, but rather a unique and original work that uses Dylan’s songs to create a rich and poetic atmosphere and to illuminate the characters’ inner lives. The musical features a cast of 20 actors and musicians, who perform live on stage, and a score that includes classics such as “Like a Rolling Stone”, “Make You Feel My Love”, and “Forever Young”.
Girl from the North Country is a musical that will transport you to a different time and place, and touch you with its humanity and emotion. It is a musical that will make you appreciate the genius and artistry of Dylan, and the power and beauty of his music. It is a musical that will stay with you long after the curtain falls.
Doubt
One of the most acclaimed plays of the 21st century is Doubt, written by John Patrick Shanley, who won the Pulitzer Prize and the Tony Award for this work in 2005. The play is set in 1964, in a Catholic school in the Bronx, where Sister Aloysius, the strict and conservative principal, suspects Father Flynn, the charismatic and progressive priest, of abusing a young black student. She enlists the help of Sister James, a naive and impressionable teacher, and Mrs. Muller, the boy’s mother, to confront and expose him. But as the play unfolds, the truth becomes more elusive and ambiguous, and the characters are forced to question their own certainties and convictions.
Doubt, which opens on July 11 at the Walter Kerr Theatre, is a revival of the play that was also adapted into a film in 2008, starring Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, and Viola Davis, who all received Oscar nominations for their performances. The play is directed by Doug Hughes, who also directed the original Broadway production, and features a stellar cast of Viola Davis and Bryan Cranston as Sister Aloysius and Father Flynn, and Celia Keenan-Bolger and Adrienne Warren as Sister James and Mrs. Muller.
Doubt is a play that will keep you on the edge of your seat, as it explores the themes of faith, morality, justice, and power. It is a play that will make you wonder and debate, as it challenges you to confront your own biases and assumptions. It is a play that will show you why Shanley is one of the most brilliant and provocative playwrights of our time.
The Wiz
One of the most beloved musicals of all time is The Wiz, a retelling of The Wizard of Oz with an all-black cast and a contemporary twist. The musical, which premiered on Broadway in 1975, features music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls, and a book by William F. Brown. The musical follows Dorothy, a shy and lonely girl from Harlem, who is whisked away by a tornado to the magical land of Oz, where she meets the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Lion, who join her on her quest to find the Wiz, a mysterious and powerful wizard who can help her return home. Along the way, they encounter various obstacles and enemies, such as the Wicked Witch of the West, the Flying Monkeys, and the Poppy Girls.
The Wiz, which opens on August 15 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, is a revival of the musical that was also adapted into a film in 1978, starring Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Richard Pryor, and Lena Horne. The musical is directed by Kenny Leon, who won the Tony Award for A Raisin in the Sun, and features Alicia Keys as the musical supervisor, who will also perform some of the songs live on stage. The musical stars Cynthia Erivo and Leslie Odom Jr. as Dorothy and the Wiz, and Norm Lewis, Joshua Henry, and Amber Riley as the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Lion, respectively.
The Wiz is a musical that will make you smile, dance, and sing along, as it celebrates the culture and spirit of black America. It is a musical that features catchy and soulful songs, such as “Ease on Down the Road”, “Home”, and “Brand New Day”. It is a musical that appeals to audiences of all ages and backgrounds, as it delivers a universal message of courage, friendship, and self-discovery.
The Notebook of Trigorin
One of the most intriguing plays of the year is The Notebook of Trigorin, a play by Tennessee Williams based on Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull, one of the masterpieces of Russian literature and theater. The play is set in a country estate in late 19th century Russia, where a group of artists and aristocrats gather for a summer of love, art, and drama. The play focuses on the relationship between Trigorin, a famous writer, and Nina, a young actress who is the muse and lover of Konstantin, a struggling playwright and the son of Irina, a famous actress and Trigorin’s mistress.
The Notebook of Trigorin, which opens on September 12 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, is a rare opportunity to see one of Williams’ lesser-known works, which was first staged in 1981, but never on Broadway. The play is directed by Michael Mayer, who won the Tony Award for Spring Awakening, and features a stellar cast of Steve Carell and Annette Bening as Trigorin and Irina, and Lucas Hedges and Florence Pugh as Konstantin and Nina.
The Notebook of Trigorin is a play that will fascinate you with its complex and layered characters, its witty and poetic dialogue, and its insightful and poignant exploration of the themes of love, art, and fame. It is a play that will show you how Williams, one of the greatest American playwrights, reimagined and reinvented Chekhov, one of the greatest Russian playwrights, and created a work that is both faithful and original, both classic and modern.
The Devil Wears Prada
One of the most anticipated musicals of the year is The Devil Wears Prada, based on the 2003 novel by Lauren Weisberger and the 2006 film starring Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway. The musical follows Andy Sachs, a young and aspiring journalist who lands a job as the assistant to Miranda Priestly, the ruthless and demanding editor-in-chief of a prestigious fashion magazine. Andy soon finds herself in a world of glamour and pressure, where she has to balance her career, her relationships, and her identity.
The Devil Wears Prada, which opens on October 17 at the Marquis Theatre, features music by Elton John, the legendary singer-songwriter and composer of The Lion King, Billy Elliot, and Aida, and lyrics by Shaina Taub, the rising star and recipient of the Jonathan Larson Grant. The book is written by Paul Rudnick, the acclaimed playwright and screenwriter of Jeffrey, In & Out, and Sister Act. The musical is directed by Anna D. Shapiro, the Tony Award-winning director of August: Osage County, and choreographed by James Alsop, who has worked with Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, and Jennifer Lopez. The musical stars Beth Leavel and Krysta Rodriguez as Miranda and Andy, and features a cast of Broadway veterans and newcomers.
The Devil Wears Prada is a musical that will make you laugh, gasp, and cheer, as it satirizes and celebrates the fashion industry and its culture. It is a musical that features catchy and stylish songs, such as “The Devil Wears Prada”, “The Job of Your Dreams”, and “Everybody Wants to Be Me”. It is a musical that appeals to fans of the book and the film, as well as anyone who loves a good story of ambition, transformation, and empowerment.
The Bodyguard
One of the most thrilling musicals of the year is The Bodyguard, based on the 1992 film starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner. The musical follows Rachel Marron, a pop superstar who receives death threats from a stalker, and Frank Farmer, a former Secret Service agent who is hired to protect her. As they spend more time together, they develop an attraction and a romance, but also face danger and complications from their different lifestyles and backgrounds.
The Bodyguard, which opens on November 21 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, features music by Whitney Houston, the legendary singer and actress who passed away in 2012, and other pop hits, such as “I Will Always Love You”, “I Wanna Dance with Somebody”, and “One Moment in Time”. The book is written by Alexander Dinelaris, the Oscar-winning co-writer of Birdman. The musical is directed by Thea Sharrock, who also directed the West End production, and choreographed by Karen Bruce, who won the Olivier Award for Pacific Overtures. The musical stars Deborah Cox and Norm Lewis as Rachel and Frank, and features a cast of talented singers and dancers.
The Bodyguard is a musical that will make you feel the adrenaline, the passion, and the emotion, as it combines suspense, romance, and music. It is a musical that features stunning visuals, costumes, and effects, and a spectacular and powerful score that showcases the voice and legacy of Houston. It is a musical that appeals to fans of the film, as well as anyone who loves a good story of love and courage.
hello there and thank you for our information