8 Broadway Shows to See This Fall in NYC

Ask any native New Yorker and they’ll tell you: fall is the perfect time of year in the Big Apple. The leaves changing in Central park, the weather cooling from the relentless summer heat, pumpkin spice lattes on every street corner — it’s all magic straight out of a Nora Ephron fantasy.

The arrival of autumn also means it’s time for a new chapter on Broadway, with the fall slate of theater including electrifying new musicals, revivals with a modern twist, and major names from the worlds of music and entertainment stepping into the spotlight to star in crowd-pleasing favorites.

Below, we’ve rounded up eight of the best NYC Broadway shows for the whole family to enjoy starting this fall—from long-running Disney classics to new musicals from the likes of Jack Antonoff and Elton John. Scroll through the discovery guide and check out our picks for this season’s can’t-miss shows. You can also find some frequently asked questions about Broadway towards the end.

Death Becomes Her

Based on the 1992 comedy starring Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn and Bruce Willis, Death Becomes Her is a hilarious new musical that will have heads turning all the way around! The stage adaptation tells the hysterical story of Madeline, a fading actress, and her, shall we say, complicated friendship with acquiescent author Helen. After Madeline steals Helen’s fiancé away, the two frenemies get a new lease on life (and death!)—thanks to a magical potion that just might help their grudge match last for all eternity. Starring Megan Hilty, Jennifer Simard, Christopher Sieber and Michelle Williams, Death Becomes Her begins previews October 23 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.

Get tickets to Death Becomes Her.

Elf the Musical

He’s on Broadway and he’s SINGING! Elf the Musical returns to the Broadway stage for the first time in over a decade this holiday season for a strictly limited engagement at the Marquis Theatre. Starring Grey Henson as Buddy the Elf, the crowd-pleasing show sends a human adopted by the elves of the North Pole on a hilarious and heartwarming journey to find his birth father in New York City and teach him to believe in Santa Claus. Featuring songs like “World’s Best Dad” and “Sparklejollytwinklejingley,” the revival the whole family will love will run from November 9 to January 4, so get in the Christmas spirit and grab tickets now!

Get tickets to Elf the Musical.

Romeo + Juliet

Shakespeare’s timeless tale of star-crossed love and doomed romance gets a modern update in the new Broadway adaptation opening at Circle in the Square Theatre on September 26. Starring Kit Connor and Rachel Zegler, Romeo + Juliet will be directed by Sam Gold and feature music by Jack Antonoff and movement by Sonya Tayeh as the young lovers once again break conventions amid the never-ending war between the Montague and Capulet families.

Get tickets to Romeo + Juliet.

Tammy Faye

Arriving in New York after a run on London’s West End, Tammy Faye will be the first new musical to open at the iconic Palace Theatre since its reopening this summer. With previews beginning October 19, the biographical musical tells the groundbreaking story of Tammy Faye Bakker (played by Katie Brayben), her husband Jim Bakker (played by Christian Borle) and the couple’s rise in the world of televangelism as they built an empire on their personalities and evangelist values — only to be marred by scandal, jealousy and behind-the-scenes machinations. With music by Elton John and lyrics by Jake Shears of Scissor Sisters, Tammy Faye is ultimately a testament to Tammy Faye’s resilience, one-of-a-kind character and determination to lead with love.

Get tickets to Tammy Faye.

Aladdin

There’s a party going on in Agrabah, and it’s happening eight times a week at the New Amsterdam Theatre. The Broadway re-telling of the 1992 animated Disney classic brings the story of Aladdin, Princess Jasmine, the Genie and more to vivid life with favorite songs like “A Friend Like Me,” “Prince Ali,” and “A Whole New World,” plus multiple musical numbers written by the late Howard Ashman and Tim Rice that were cut from the original film like sentimental tearjerker “Proud of Your Boy.”

Get tickets to Aladdin.

The Lion King

Hakuna matata! Now the highest-grossing Broadway production of all time, The Lion King has enchanted generations of kids since it first debuted on the Great White Way in 1997. The lavish production incorporates giant puppets and mind-boggling costuming as the actors on stage transform into Simba, Nala, Rafiki, Scar, Timon, Pumbaa, Mufasa and more. It’s a perfect show to introduce kids to the magic of Broadway, and the whole family will recognize songs like “Can You Feel The Love Tonight,” “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” and “Circle of Life.”

Get tickets to The Lion King.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Return to the Wizarding World as the next generation of Harry Potter stars make their mark at Hogwarts…and the very history of magic. Albus Severus Potter may be the younger son of the Boy Who Lived, but his experience at school is far from his famous father’s glory days. Not only does Albus get sorted into Slytherin, his only friend is Scorpius Malfoy — son of Harry’s old rival Draco — and the pair find themselves relentlessly bullied at the very bottom of Hogwarts’ social hierarchy. Getting their hands on a powerful prototype of a Time-Turner, Albus and Scorpius are determined to rewrite the past and travel back to a time filled with familiar faces like Cedric Diggory, Dumbledore, Snape and even the return of He Who Must Not Be Named.

Get tickets to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

Hadestown

Based on the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, Hadestown tackles themes of romance, tragedy, politics, freedom and even climate change as the ill-fated lovers travel to hell and back and face off against Hades, god of the underworld. With music by Anais Mitchell, the tragic tale won eight Tony Awards — including Best Musical — in 2019 and has been playing at the Walter Kerr Theatre ever since.

Get tickets to Hadestown.

What’s the best show on Broadway right now?

While the absolute best Broadway show is of course a matter of personal opinion, Aladdin, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and Hamilton are just some of the top shows you can see on Broadway this season.

What is the most popular Broadway show?

The popularity of a show can be determined by a number of factors, including tenure and star power. Shows like Aladdin, Hamilton and Wicked continue to be bestsellers into 2024, along with The Lion King, which sits at the top of the list of highest-grossing musical theater productions of all time.

What are some new Broadway shows?

Death Becomes Her is one of the top new Broadway shows that you’ll be able to see this year, along with Romeo + Juliet, which opens in September 2024, and Tammy Faye, for which performances begin in October 2024.

How much is a Broadway show in NYC?

Ticket prices for Broadway shows depend on a variety of factors, including the show, seat location, performance date and time, and when the tickets are purchased. The average ticket for a Broadway show can cost between $50 and $300.