As the summer season of standing ovations and impressive box office records draws to a close, the anticipation for the upcoming fall season on Broadway is reaching a fever pitch. With seasoned Broadway veterans, A-list artists, and cultural celebrations poised to take center stage, this autumn will also see some shows bid farewell to their Broadway run. The Messenger is here to offer you a sneak peek into what you can expect to grace the Broadway stages in the coming months.
Premiering on the Great White Way:
1. Purlie Victorious (Opening Night: Sept. 27)
- Location: The Music Box Theatre
This comedic play, billed as a “non-confederate romp through the cotton patch,” marks the Broadway return of Tony Award winner Leslie Odom, Jr. From the creative minds of Kennedy Center honoree Ossie Davis and director Kenny Leon comes the story of a Black preacher’s quest to reclaim his inheritance and save his congregation.
2. Melissa Etheridge: My Window (Opening Night: Sept. 28)
- Location: Circle in the Square Theatre
Music legend Melissa Etheridge is gracing Broadway with a limited engagement, where she will seamlessly blend her singing and songwriting talents with an intimate storytelling journey chronicling her remarkable life and career.
3. Jaja’s African Hair Braiding (Opening Night: Oct. 3)
- Location: Samuel J. Friedman Theatre
In this world premiere, audiences are invited into Jaja’s Harlem-based hair-braiding shop, where a vibrant group of West African immigrant hair braiders create stunning masterpieces on the heads of neighborhood women. However, drama and conflict are never far from their close-knit community. This original play is penned by the award-winning Ghanaian-American playwright Jocelyn Bioh and directed by Obie winner Whitney White.
4. Merrily We Roll Along (Opening Night: Oct. 10)
- Location: Hudson Theatre
A star-studded cast featuring Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff, and Lindsay Mendez takes the helm of the first Main Stem revival of the Stephen Sondheim classic. This musical inventively revisits the tale of three artist friends whose relationships and careers are tested by the allure of fame and fortune.
5. Gutenberg! The Musical! (Opening Night: Oct. 12)
- Location: James Earl Jones Theatre
The original dynamic duo from “The Book of Mormon,” Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells, reunite in this musical comedy directed by Tony winner Alex Timbers. Written by Scott Brown and Anthony King, the show follows two best friends as they attempt to create a musical centered around the inventor of the printing press.
6. I Need That (Opening Night: Nov. 2)
- Location: American Airlines Theatre
Danny DeVito takes the stage alongside his daughter, Lucy DeVito, and Ray Anthony Thomas in this comedic and heartfelt play. It delves into the life of a hermit hoarder forced to confront the value of his possessions. The limited run concludes on Dec. 23.
7. Harmony (Opening Night: Nov. 13)
- Location: Ethel Barrymore Theatre
With a score by Barry Manilow and lyrics and book by Bruce Sussman, “Harmony” brings to life the true story of The Comedian Harmonists, a Berlin-based singing group formed in 1927. The musical questions why the world seemingly forgot about them less than a decade after they soared to stardom.
8. Spamalot (Opening Night: Nov. 16)
- Location: St. James Theatre
The celebrated musical comedy “Spamalot” returns to Broadway with a star-studded cast. Based on the classic 1975 film “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” it humorously spoofs King Arthur’s legendary quest. This production comes fresh off a successful run at the Kennedy Center.
9. How to Dance in Ohio (Opening Night: Dec. 10)
- Location: Belasco Theatre
Based on the award-winning HBO documentary, this new musical revolves around a group counseling center in Columbus. Here, seven autistic young adults prepare to step significantly outside of their comfort zones to attend a formal dance.
10. Appropriate (Opening Night: Dec. 18)
– Location: Hayes Theater
Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actress Sarah Paulson graces the stage in Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ “Appropriate.” Paulson takes on the role of Toni, who visits her late father’s Arkansas home to handle his affairs, only to uncover dark family secrets and long-buried grievances among her two younger brothers.
Your last chance to see what’s closing:
- The Jason Alexander-directed The Cottage, starring Eric McCormack, Laura Bell Bundy, and Lilli Cooper, concludes its run on Oct. 29.
- The Shark Is Broken, a play diving into the challenges of filming “Jaws” starring Alex Brightman, Colin Donnell, and Ian Shaw, ends on Nov. 19.
Stars headed to the stage:
- The successful Off-Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors welcomes Corbin Bleu and Constance Wu to the Westside Theatre as Seymour and Audrey, beginning Sept. 26.
- Emmy and Golden Globe Award nominee Aubrey Plaza makes her stage debut opposite actor Christopher Abbott in a revival of Danny and the Deep Blue Sea at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, officially opening Nov. 13.
- Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt star Tituss Burgess returns to Broadway in the Tony Award-winning Moulin Rouge! The Musical for a limited engagement from Oct. 10 through Dec. 17.
