After some pretty dark days during the COVID-19 pandemic years, Broadway is seeing a rebound. Many Broadway shows are making their mark for the fall 2023 season and are expected to be met with success.
Fashion Reverie has grouped together shows we are excited to see and performances we can’t wait to experience. We took the time to gather some of our favorite selections so we can present for you a roundup of must-see Broadway experiences for the fall 2023 season.
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Merrily We Roll Along
“Merrily We Roll Along” is the story of how a composer’s idealism and friendship were corrupted by success. Not only that, but now the composer must tell his story backwards, starting with a tale that’s down and depressing, and ending with the optimism that came from his college years.
This is a fantastic show to add to your fall 2023 list, as it tells the story of a group of friends who are all artists gaining fame and how things eventually fall apart between them all. This musical was first directed by Maria Friedman at London’s Menier Chocolate Factory. The show is scored by Stephen Sondheim and has a book written by George Furth. The show will begin performances on Sept. 19 at the Hudson Theatre on 139–141 W. 44th St. “Merrily We Roll Along” features actors Daniel Radcliffe as Charley Kringas, Jonathan Groff as Franklin Shepard, Lindsay Mendez as Mary Flynn, and many others.
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Danny and the Deep Blue Sea
Featuring esteemed stars Aubrey Plaza and Christopher Abbot in John Patrick Shanley’s play, “Danny and the Deep Blue Sea” is a portrayal of the near-indistinguishable space between joy and pain. The setting of this show takes place in a rundown bar in the Bronx, where two societal rejects, Danny and Roberta, hit things off after conversing over their drinks. Danny seems incapable of tender love and resorts to violence. Roberta is recently divorced and ridden with guilt over a teenage son she feels is too far gone to be fixed. Roberta naturally isn’t trusting or fond of men, as a sexual incident with her father happened to her in the past. Yet, these two find a way to connect and show compassion to one another while forgiving the wrongs of the world around them and choosing to be less bitter and lonely.
This drama is coming to New York for a limited time only this fall at the Lucille Lortel Theatre in Manhattan’s iconic West Village. With the show’s powerfully enduring message of human connection, it will surely be a show that is sought out.
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Purlie Victorious
If you love Broadway revivals, then you will love “Purlie Victorious.” Tony & Grammy Award winner and Academy & Emmy Award nominee Leslie Odom, Jr. will star in a new Broadway production of this classic American comedy. Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch is the rousing, laugh-filled comedy by Ossie Davis that tells the story of a Black preacher’s machinations to reclaim his inheritance and win back his church. Preview for “Purlie Victorious” opens September 7.
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Is It Thursday Yet?
“Is It Thursday Yet?” is co-created and co-choreographed by Jenn Freeman and Sonya Tayeh. Performances come solely from Freeman, while it is directed entirely by Tayeh. Through dance, live music, and home video footage this show invites you into the unique complexities of a dancer and choreographer (Jenn Freeman) while she goes through her life following her autism spectrum disorder diagnosis at the age of 33. Since her original diagnosis, she has been able to examine memories from her childhood with a new lens and understanding.
Live music from composer and vocalist Holland Andrews and a set by Rachel Hauck, who won a Tony Award for “Hadestown,” make this show a must-see. It’s a testament to the abilities of the everyday human and is truly liberating. The show will take place at the Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC) from Dec. 8-23.
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Waiting for Godot!
Michael Shannon as Estragon and Paul Spark as Vladimir will be leading the cast and starring in this classic. Shannon has played multi-award-winning roles in hit movies like “Knives Out” and “Bullet Train.” In this show, two wanderers are waiting by a lonely tree to meet up with Mr. Godot, whom they believe holds the power to change their lives for the better. Keep in mind that the two men are supposed to have troubled lives, so they believe in their lives changing for the better when they finally meet Mr. Godot. While they wait for the man, they fill their time playing games.
Jeff Biehl will be featured as Lucky, with Ajay Naidu as Pozzo. The show is by Samuel Beckett and will be directed by Arin Arbus at the Polonsky Shakespeare Center in Brooklyn, NY. The show takes place starting Nov.4 and runs until Dec. 3.
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Jaja African Hair Braiding
This world premiere welcomes you into Jaja’s bustling hair braiding salon in Harlem where every day, a lively and eclectic group of West African immigrant hair braiders are creating masterpieces on the heads of neighborhood women. During one sweltering summer day, love will blossom, dreams will flourish, and secrets will be revealed. The uncertainty of their circumstances simmer below the surface of their lives and when it boils over, it forces this tight-knit community to confront what it means to be an outsider on the edge of the place they call home.
Image courtesy of spamalotthemusical.com
Monty Python’s Spamalot
This is a hilarious musical comedy based on the classic “Monty Python and The Holy Grail” film and is making a return to Broadway. The show includes everything from flying cows to killer rabbits. The musical follows King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table on their quest for the Holy Grail.
Directed and choreographed by Josh Rhodes, the show will begin performances on Tuesday, Oct. 31, ahead of the official opening night on Thursday, Nov. 16. The work features a book and lyrics by Eric Idle and John Du Prez, which are rip-offs from the iconic 1975 film. Jeffrey Finn, the artistic director of the series, will produce the revival happening on Broadway.
—Ryan Salfino
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