Author: Brandon Schwartz

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Cover Story Creative

Where’s That Cast Now? The Color Purple Revival Edition

The 2015 Broadway revival of The Color Purple, directed by John Doyle was a landmark production. The show performed at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre and ran for over a year and a half, spotlighting powerhouse work from newcomers and established performers alike. The revival won two Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical and Best Leading Actress for Cynthia Erivo. Since it ended its run in 2017, the cast has moved on to some pretty big projects. Let’s take a look at where the stars of this moving production are now.

Wicked': Cynthia Erivo on Elphaba as a Black Queer Woman

Cynthia Erivo (Celie)

Cynthia Erivo’s star has only continued to rise since her Tony-winning Broadway debut. Shortly after The Color Purple, she transitioned into film with her acclaimed role as Harriet Tubman in Harriet (2019), earning Oscar nominations for Best Actress and Best Original Song. She went on to star in HBO’s The Outsider (2020), play Aretha Franklin in Genius: Aretha (2021), and appear as the Blue Fairy in Disney’s Pinocchio (2022). She took on the iconic role of Elphaba in Wicked: Part One (2024) and will reprise the role for Part Two (2025), opposite Ariana Grande. Erivo sang a moving rendition of ‘Defying Gravity’ from the blockbuster musical at the 2025 Oscars. She is now not only an EGOT nominee but a bona fide Hollywood A-lister. What’s more, she’s hosting this year’s Tony Awards!

Jennifer Hudson celebrates EGOT win after Tony arrives in the mail

Jennifer Hudson (Shug Avery)

Already an Oscar winner by the time she made her Broadway debut as Shug Avery, Jennifer Hudson has continued to thrive. She delivered a soulful turn as Aretha Franklin in Respect (2021), and currently hosts The Jennifer Hudson Show, a daytime talk show that’s won her a Daytime Emmy. She also voiced Young Nana in the animated film Sing 2 (2021). In 2022, JHud got her EGOT when the new Broadway musical she produced, A Strange Loop, won the Tony for Best Musical, proving her GOAT status as the youngest woman to ever achieve that.

The Color Purple' breakout Danielle Brooks on paying homage to Oprah Winfrey and finding her "happy place as an actor” | Features | Screen

Danielle Brooks (Sofia)

Danielle Brooks followed her Tony-nominated Broadway debut with a mix of screen and stage work. She reprised Sofia in the 2023 film adaptation of the Color Purple musical, earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. On television, she played Leota Adebayo in Peacemaker (2022), earning praise for her comedic timing and emotional depth. Brooks also returned to voice acting in Close Enough and remains a vocal advocate for diversity in entertainment.

Isaiah Johnson In The Broadway Revival Of 'The Color Purple' | WAMC

Isaiah Johnson (Mister)

Isaiah Johnson continued his stage career with performances in regional productions and workshops, as well as a turn in Hamilton (Los Angeles production) and the musical adaptation of The Notebook. He’s appeared in television series such as The Good Fight and Bull, and remains an in-demand stage actor.

To Kill a Mockingbird's Kyle Scatliffe on His Self-Care Routine and Talking to Neo-Nazis | Broadway Buzz | Broadway.com

Kyle Scatliffe (Harpo)

After The Color Purple, Kyle Scatliffe took on the emotional role of Tom Robinson in Broadway’s To Kill a Mockingbird (2019–2020). He also appeared in The Prince of Egypt in London’s West End, and continues to perform on national tours and concert stages across the U.S.

Listen to Joaquina Kalukango Sing 'Let It Burn' From the Upcoming Paradise Square Broadway Album | Playbill

Joaquina Kalukango (Nettie)

Joaquina Kalukango has become one of Broadway’s most celebrated leading ladies. In 2022, she won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her electrifying performance in Paradise Square, in which she belted the show’s 11 o’clock number ‘Let it Burn.’ She had previously earned a Tony nomination for Slave Play (2019) and appeared in Regina King’s film One Night in Miami (2020). She also had a six-episode stint as Esme in the TV show Lawmen: Bass Reeves.

Stage and Screen Actor Lawrence Clayton Dies at 64

Lawrence Clayton (Ol’ Mister)

Broadway veteran Lawrence Clayton brought depth to Ol’ Mister in The Color Purple, and continued to shine in the national tour of Les Misérables (as Bishop Myriel) and regional theater productions across the country. He made guest appearances on The Last O.G. and Bull, and continued to mentor young performers while remaining active in educational theatre. Clayton sadly passed away in 2020 at the age of 64.

Once on This Island' wins Equity's outstanding chorus award

Grasan Kingsberry (Buster)

A standout dancer and ensemble member he moved on to book big Broadway shows like Once On This Island (2017–2019) and Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations (2019–2022). In 2020, he was in the film The Aerialist. What’s more, he’s found a life in artistic offstage leadership, having recently choreographed and performed in regional productions of Rent and Caroline, or Change.

It’s rare for a show to be the launching catalyst for so many performers. The futures these artists found in TV, Film, and Theatre are proof enough that this revival was pretty incredible, and incredibly cast, rich with talent.

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Broadway's Best

Broadway’s Best Show Anniversaries in 2025: Celebrating the Shows That Shaped the Stage

This year, Broadway’s timeline glitters with gold (and diamond!) anniversaries of the shows that shaped American musical theater — from tap-dancing showgirls to revolutionary rap. From golden age classics to 21st-century defining productions, there are a lot of Broadway milestones worth celebrating this year!

One Singular Sensation: The Design Team of the Original A Chorus Line | Live Design Online

A Chorus Line – 50 Years

Opened: July 25, 1975

The quintessential behind-the-curtain musical, A Chorus Line gives us a vulnerable yet epic look at the hopes and dreams of the artists that make up the lifeblood of Broadway: the ensembles. A chorus line ran for 15 years (breaking the record for longest-running show at the time) and forever changed how we looked at the performers who make up musical theatre ensembles.

Look Back at Chita Rivera and Gwen Verdon in Chicago on Broadway | Playbill

Chicago – 50 Years

Opened: June 3, 1975

Murder, jazz, and razzle-dazzle. Kander & Ebb’s Chicago remains a seductive satire of fame and corruption, with Bob Fosse’s style stamped into every hip roll. While the original had a modest run, the 1996 revival is the longest-running American musical in Broadway history — and it’s still dazzling us with new celebrity castings, such as Pamela Anderson and Jinkx Monsoon, to keep audiences coming through the doors. Here’s to all that jazz!

From the Archives: How The Wiz Went From Nearly Closing on Opening Night to Becoming a Tony-Winning Hit | Playbill

The Wiz – 50 Years

Opened: January 5, 1975

Legacy: This revolutionary, soulful spin on The Wizard of Oz brought an all-Black creative team and cast to Broadway and won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. With songs like ‘Ease On Down the Road,’ a movie adaptation with Diana Ross and Michael Jackson, and a funky, fearless energy, The Wiz paved the way for a more inclusive Broadway. Just before the Wiz had its big 50th birthday, the show celebrated with a limited-run revival last year following a national tour!

Guys and Dolls - Frank Loesser

Guys & Dolls – 75 Years

Opened: November 24, 1950

Damon Runyon’s New York never sounded so good. To say this show rocked the boat is an understatement. Considered one of the best-written musicals of all time, Frank Loesser’s Guys & Dolls is the kind of big musical score you picture when you think of the perfect Broadway show! With gambling, girls, and that classic Broadway sound, we’re keeping our eyes peeled as we hope for a revival soon.

Remembering the Original Broadway Production of Carousel | Playbill

Carousel – 80 Years

Opened: April 19, 1945

A granddaddy of modern Broadway form, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s sweeping second collaboration brought bold operatic voice and tragic romance to the young American theatre industry. With ‘If I Loved You’ and ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ standing out as classic songs we still hum today, Carousel expanded the emotional vocabulary of the art form and remains one of the most revered scores of all time.

Pal Joey - 1940 Original Broadway Production - Rodgers & Hammerstein

Pal Joey – 85 Years

Opened: December 25, 1940

The original antihero, Joey, our pal, leads this iconic Rodgers and Hart musical. Ahead of its time, especially in terms of its themes of sexual politics and gritty realness, this show shocked audiences at the time and provoked conversation beyond the typical feel-good escapism of most shows around it. What was once the edgy adolescence of the genre finding its voice is now a pillar of the medium. We’re excited to see the upcoming revisal at Arena Stage in their 75th season, as it revolutionizes the show yet again through its reflection of the 20th century!

Look Back at Heather Headley, Michelle T. Williams, and More in Aida on Broadway | Playbill

Aida – 25 Years

Opened: March 23, 2000

An Elton John-driven Disney Theatricals spectacle, that started as a celebrity-filled concept album based on an Italian Opera, this show transports its leads and audiences to Ancient Egypt in the most fun, pop-filled way. Five Tony noms, four wins, and Time-stamped in the best 10 shows of the year, Aida ushered Disney and Broadway into the 21st century.

Hamilton' Broadway show, performed by original cast, is coming to Disney+ in July

Hamilton – 10 Years

Opened: August 6, 2015

Do we even need to say it? If you’re reading this article, you’ve heard of Hamilton. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hip-hop history lesson redefined what Broadway could be and transcended the genre beyond what any other show ever has. With a cast that looked at America then through a cast made up of America now, Hamilton became a global cultural force, winning 11 Tonys, a Pulitzer, millions of fans, and syndicating to even have a Roblox presence. It’s crazy to think this show is already 10 years old.

From the golden age to the streaming era, these shows have left footprints — and tap marks — all over the stage. Whether you saw them in their original runs, caught a revival, or discovered them through cast albums and TikTok, their stories endure.

Which anniversary are you celebrating this year?

Let us know @bwaysbestshows — and stay tuned for special features on each title throughout the year.

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Long Form

A Play at the Palace: Glengarry Glen Ross Marks a 21st-Century First

If you’ve walked past the Palace Theatre lately and seen David Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross on the marquee, you’re not imagining things — yes, a play is taking over one of Broadway’s most famous musical houses. And not just for a quick run — this revival, scheduled to run for over three months, marks a real Broadway milestone: the longest-running play ever at the Palace.

That’s a bold statement for a theater as legendary as the Palace. Since opening its doors in 1913, the Palace has welcomed the biggest showbiz stars, from vaudeville legends Judy Garland and Fanny Brice to countless blockbuster musicals. Some of Broadway’s biggest musical spectacles — La Cage aux Folles, Beauty and the Beast, Aida, and An American in Paris, to name but a few — have taken up residence in the storied house.

In a photo by Joan Marcus, the original Broadway cast of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, including Susan Egan as Belle, performs the number “Be Our Guest.” Cast members are costumed as various pieces of cutlery or other household objects, and large champagne bottles flank the proscenium and are seen shooting firework-type sparkles in the air. On the apron of the stage are lamps that resemble candles.
Beauty and the Beast ran at the Palace Theatre between 1994 and 1999, before moving to the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. (Joan Marcus)

But plays have popped up here and there — although they didn’t stay long. In 1975, The First Breeze of Summer, a moving family drama first produced by the Negro Ensemble Company, made a move to the Palace but ran for only a month. In 1977, George Bernard Shaw’s Caesar & Cleopatra, starring Rex Harrison, ran a relatively longer 38 performances — although still a blink by Palace standards.

Next was a near-unbelievable string of one-night-only performances. In 1979, Break a Leg, a backstage farce by Ira Levin (of Deathtrap renown) and featuring the great Julie Harris, opened and closed in one night. The next year, A Meeting by the River, a stage adaptation by Christopher Isherwood of his own novel, played only one performance. And in 1981, Frankenstein, Victor Gialanella’s stage version of the classic, starring great John Glover, closed on opening night — the third straight play at the Palace to last for a single performance.

David Margulies, Jack Weston, and Joseph Leon in Break A Leg on Broadway, 1979 (New York Public Library)

Even before that series of short-lived shows, Shaw’s London Assurance — revived in 1974 and starring Donald Sinden and Roger Rees — fared no better than a month of performances, meanwhile having the idol cast to spare. Therefore, while the Palace has dabbled every now and then in straight plays, they’ve been rare visitors to a theatre more famous for showstoppers and overtures rather than snappy dialogue and tempered tension.

Some of that’s just the nature of the venue. The Palace is a big house, and musicals — with their spectacle, dance numbers, and big sound — traditionally have been the obvious choice to fill that room with energy. But Glengarry Glen Ross is defying that trend now, demonstrating that a quick-paced, verbally dexterous play can hold its own in a venue built to accommodate Broadway’s biggest spectacles.

It’s happening at a fascinating moment in the life of the theater. Having been closed for nearly six years for a thorough makeover — including the now-notorious mission of raising the entire theater 30 feet off the ground to make way for new construction beneath it — the Palace reopened in 2024 with a Ben Platt concert residency and Elton John and Jake Shears’ Tammy Faye.

And yet now, Glengarry Glen Ross is bringing a whole new kind of drama to that stage — and making history with it. With its all-star cast led by Kieran Culkin, Bob Odenkirk, Bill Burr, and Michael McKean, this revival of Mamet’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play is bringing incisive dialogue and life-and-death suspense that can pack the Palace in a whole different way than crowds are used to.

So you don’t often see a play take over one of Broadway’s biggest musical houses, but Glengarry Glen Ross is here to remind us that there’s room for any kind of theater at the Palace—and sometimes, a good well-timed insult can hurt as much as a high note.

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Broadway's Best

Broadway’s Best Title Songs

By Alex Kopnick & BBS Staff

Since the beginning of the medium, musicals have had title songs which grabbed audiences and brought out the heart of the art they exist within. It’s almost a requirement for a great musical to have a song that’s named the exact same thing as the show. Let’s take a look through the history of great musicals—past, present and future—and shout out some of the best title songs of all time:

‘Oklahoma’ from Oklahoma

From what is widely considered to be the first ever book musical, ‘Oklahoma’ spells out what makes a great titular song. Coming midway through the second act, this joyous celebration of the song, which happens in the big wedding scene brings out the love the characters have from their home state. With the repeated spelling out of the name of the grand land they belong to, if you’ve ever encountered this show, you’ve certainly never had trouble spelling the state north of Texas since. 

‘Hello Dolly!’ from Hello Dolly!

There may not be a more iconic pair of words sung in the canon of theatre than “Hello Dolly!”? If youre anything like us, you can’t even just read those words without hearing them in tune. This song sticks with you, and it alone makes the show its named after worthy of its place in the history of musical theatre. An iconic character moment, Dolly announces to us, in a way full of the character’s iconic personality, that She. Is. Back. This tune is so good, they even bring it back at the end for a reprise.

‘The Sound of Music’ from The Sound of Music 

One of the few musicals to really transcend the form in popularity, and with a subsequent movie that is one of the most famous of all time, ‘The Sound of Music’ is a stunning opening number that gives us the name of the show and teaches us so much about the journey we’re getting ready for. The joy and vibrance of the song, and Maria who sings it, greets us into the beautiful landscape of this show’s world, and teaches us everything we need to know about how Maria views the world. The hills are alive, and when this song hits, so is the audience.

‘Phantom of the Opera’ from The Phantom of the Opera

I mean come on! Of course ‘Phantom of the Opera’ is here! It’s inside our hearts and probably yours, given that this is one of the most successful shows of all time. With one of the greatest riffs in history from Christine, a boat sequence burned into all of our brains, and an electric score that combines the classical, operatic context with Webber’s modern (at the time) sensibilities, there’s a reason this show was on Broadway for 35 years.

‘Sunset Boulevard’ from Sunset Boulevard 

For those of you on tiktok, this song isn’t just stuck in your head, but a video of a man marching down Shubert Alley, in the 2024 revival, singing it accompanies the tune. That is a good representation of just how sensational this show’s titular number is, and the way this show took over Broadway each time it’s run on the great wide way. It’s not as cheery as the other title songs on this list; Foreboding, intense, and grand, this opening track really gives you a sense of the Hollywood thriller in store for you as this musical begins.  

‘Rent’ from Rent

While growing up is looking at this musical and saying, “Why don’t those damn kids just pay their rent!?”, this opening number title song gives us the context we need to buy in to Jonathan Larson’s sensational grungy, 90s-set adaption of La Boheme. The drums! The electric guitar! THE ANGST! This number introduced audiences to the unique voice of its writer and its revolutionary stylistic additions to the canon shaped a generation of musical theatre writers. 

’Mamma Mia!’ from Mamma Mia!

Here we go again! What started as ABBA’s iconic song became the anthem for one of the most beloved and successful musicals of all time. Pure joy in the form of pop music, Mamma Mia, both song and show, are a hoot and a half. The show and this song brings us in to the central drama of the story, and into the party that is this show’s complicated, messy, and loving family dynamic. There’s a reason the movie adaptation is the 15th highest grossing movie-musical of all time. And most exciting of all, Mamma Mia is returning to broadway this Summer!

‘In the Heights’ from In the Heights

The second the claves hits, you know In the Heights isn’t your grandma’s classic, Jazz-derived musical. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s pre-Hamilton Broadway outing is flourishing with the vibrant musical culture of its world. Lin brought hip hop, authentic latin styles, and pop to musical theatre with this show, and as Usnavi raps us through a warm welcome to a day in the life of the Washington Heights community, he builds a framework for what this show has in store. From the dissatisfaction that exists in the community to the routines we will soon see disrupted, Lin proved himself a true scholar of the form, building an outstanding, bullet proof, and innovative titular number to open one of the best musicals of the 21st century. 

‘Maybe Happy Ending’ from Maybe Happy Ending

‘Maybe Happy Ending’ (the song) brings out everything that makes the show it’s named after great! A simple, yet deeply meaningful and evocative duet sung by two robots, this number reinforces the themes of the show and brings us into the home stretch of the journey in a truly perfect way (NO SPOILERS). By the time this song ends, there isn’t a dry eye in the audience, and it’s no wonder people are running back to see this show more than 10 times. 

‘Smash’ from Smash

NBC’s short-lived television series Smash is making the leap to the Broadway stage this spring, bringing with it many of the big, brassy showtunes written for the show-within-a-tv-show Bombshell, including the appropriately titled ‘Smash’ about dreaming to be a hit star in a hit show. Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman’s earworm of a score plays even better made meta, coming off the stage as opposed to through the screen.

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Capsule Reviews

Redwood

Redwood on Broadway

Idina Menzel swings and sings from the treetops in Broadway’s new tree-centric musical, Redwood. With a soaring pop-infused score by Kate Diaz, Menzel stuns in this emotionally charged production. She’s joined by standouts Zachary Noah Piser as her late son and Khaila Wilcoxon as a Redwood botanist and fellow tree lover, both delivering powerhouse performances that match Menzel’s formidable belt. Under Tina Landau’s direction, this tale of grief, growth, and connection is as sweeping as the towering trees it celebrates.

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Creative

To Run or Not To Run?: The Rise of Limited Engagements on Broadway

Think of the days when Neil Simon comedies like Barefoot in the Park or The Odd Couple could settle into their Broadway houses for years, or thrillers like Sleuth and Deathtrap kept audiences gasping and guessing night after night. Plays used to aim for open-ended runs, hoping to join the rarefied air of the longest-running shows. But in recent seasons, a new trend has emerged: plays aren’t sticking around forever anymore. Instead, limited engagements—where a show announces its closing date before it even opens—have become the Broadway standard for plays.

At first glance, this might seem disappointing. If a play is great, shouldn’t it be able to run indefinitely like Wicked or The Lion King? But there’s a method to the madness. First, there’s the star factor. Big-name actors—think Sarah Paulson in Appropriate or Jessica Chastain in A Doll’s House—often commit to Broadway for a set number of weeks because they have other projects lined up.

Several upcoming productions exemplify this trend. Sadie Sink, celebrated for her role in Stranger Things, is set to lead the upcoming play John Proctor Is the Villain in a strictly limited engagement. The revival of Glengarry Glen Ross boasts a star-studded cast, including Kieran Culkin, Bob Odenkirk, and Bill Burr, all committed to a limited run. Similarly, the finite run of Othello will feature the powerhouse duo of Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal, while Good Night and Good Luck, an adaptation of the 2005 film, marks George Clooney’s Broadway debut for a matter of weeks. These productions, with their all-star lineups, are designed as limited engagements, ensuring that performances remain exclusive events.

Limited runs also create urgency. When a play only has 16 weeks to dazzle audiences, people are more likely to snap up tickets fast, leading to a sold-out, buzzy hit rather than a slow-burn success.

Meanwhile, Oh, Mary!, a surprise downtown-sensation-moved-uptown, has bucked the trend by extending multiple times, something that’s become increasingly rare for plays. Originally slated for a short Off-Broadway run, Cole Escola’s darkly hilarious take on Mary Todd Lincoln’s life has proven so popular that it’s made the jump to Broadway with a string of extensions already in place, breaking box office records almost week to week. But this is the exception, not the rule. While extensions are more common for musicals, it’s a rare feat for a play to keep building momentum like this. Most plays, no matter how well-reviewed, close when they originally say they will.

And then there are the outliers—plays that still opt for the old-school open-ended model, usually because they have a built-in audience or added appeal. Stranger Things: The First Shadow is set to join the very short list of non-musicals launching an open-ended Broadway run, following in the footsteps of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Apparently, if you want to go for the long haul, it helps to have a massive pop-culture franchise behind you. The recent revival of To Kill a Mockingbird and last season’s new play Grey House were among the few other recent examples of plays to open without a closing date set.

For Broadway fans, this shift means that plays have become more of an event—something you need to catch while you can. If a show is a limited run, you know it’s now or never. And while some plays do extend, most close exactly when they say they will, making each production feel a little more special. It’s a different model from the past, but in a world where theatergoers have more entertainment options than ever, Broadway has found a way to make plays must-see experiences again.

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Creative

The Most Anticipated Broadway Shows of Spring 2025

It is that time of year again! A rush of new Broadway shows is about to begin performances seemingly all at once. With so much hitting the New York boards in the next three months, we are narrowing the pack to the things we can wait the least to see!

With honorable mentions to The Jonathan Larson Project and Goddess, both playing Off-Broadway venues this spring, here’s the breakdown of the most anticipated coming to Broadway:

“Purpose”
Opening February 25
Branden Jacobs Jenkins’ new play comes from Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre after his previous play Appropriate nabbed the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play in 2024. Directed by Phylicia Rashad, the cast includes LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Tony Award winner Kara Young, Glenn Davis, and more.

“Buena Vista Social Club”
Opening March 19
Cuban musical stylings will make their Broadway debut when this new musical lands on Broadway after debuting last season at the Atlantic Theatre Company.

“Othello”
Opening March 23
Denzel Washington. Jake Gyllenhaal. Kenny Leon. Shakespeare. Barrymore Theatre. This Spring.

“Glengarry Glen Ross”
Opening March 31
Hollywood hotshots Kieran Culkin, Bill Burr, and Bob Odenkirk form the headlining trio of sleazy real estate agents in this Patrick Marber-helmed revival of David Mamet’s foul-mouthed Pulitzer Prize-winning play.

“Stranger Things: The First Shadow”
Opening April 22
Netflix’s big hit series has spawned a thriller play, which premiered in London and now makes its way to New York stages.

“The Picture of Dorian Gray”
Opening March 27
Succession star Sarah Snook plays more than 25 characters in the one-person adaptation of this perennial story. The production has previously played to sold-out audiences in the UK and Australia.

“Floyd Collins”
Opening April 21
Adam Guettel’s musical will play Broadway at Lincoln Center Theater, led by Jeremy Jordan and Lizzy McAlpine. Tina Landau, who wrote the book and directed the original productions in the ’90s, is back in the director’s seat for this revival.

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Interviews

The Broadway Career of Marcus Choi

Marcus Choi is one of four actors in the original Broadway cast of Maybe Happy Ending, now running at the Belasco Theatre. He plays a number of characters in the musical, including helperbot Oliver’s (played by Darren Criss) former owner James, his son Junseo, a motel clerk, a ferry worker, and more! This wide range is no doubt a result of his lengthy Broadway career leading up to this point. Here’s a look at the roles Choi has taken on over the past 2+ decades!

Flower Drum Song

Choi was in the original Broadway cast of the musical Flower Drum Song in the 2002-2003 season. He was in the ensemble and served as an understudy for the role of Chao, performing alongside Lea Solanga, Jose Llana, Telly Leung, and fellow Maybe Happy Ending cast member Daniel May!

Wicked

Later in 2003, the new witchy musical Wicked opened with none other than Marcus Choi a member of the ensemble! An iconic member of the original company, he also joined the Los Angeles company of Wicked a few years later in 2007.

Sweet Charity

In 2005, Choi joined the company of the Christina Applegate-led revival of Sweet Charity.

Allegiance

Approximately 10 years later, Choi appears in the Broadway company of Allegiance, a new musical based on George Takei’s own experiences with Japanese American internment camps during World War II. In this production, Choi reunites with some of his Flower Drum Song co-stars, including Solanga and Leung.

Miss Saigon

In 2017, Choi stepped into the revival of Miss Saigon at the Broadway Theatre. He was in the ensemble, also understudying the Engineer. 

Maybe Happy Ending

Following a long stint on the national tour of Hamilton as George Washington, Choi has returned to the Broadway stage, originating a principal role in a new Broadway show for the first time. Choi is a grounding force as some of the few human characters in the show, putting his years of Broadway training to use.

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Broadway's Best Cover Story

Broadway’s Best Shows’ Best Shows of 2024

As we at Broadway’s Best Shows celebrate the start of another wonderful year of theater, we want to take a moment to reflect on some of the Best Shows of 2024. So without further ado, here is Broadway’s Best Shows’ Best Shows of 2024 (in alphabetical order)…

All In

A series of hilarious short stories written by Simon Rich, performed by a rotating cast of some of the funniest people in show biz, with direction from Alex Timbers, and you get a wonderful evening of theater. Playing through February 16th at the Hudson Theatre.

Cats: The Jellicle Ball

One of the hottest tickets of the summer was the radically reimagined production of one of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s most famous works at PAC NYC. Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch’s retelling of Cats within the context of ballroom culture was a revelation and has a well-deserved spot on this list.

Elf the Musical

The musical adaptation of the beloved movie played a limited engagement on Broadway through the holidays. The high energy, hilarious musical comedy with a delectable score from Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin was a festive standout of the year. 

Mary Jane

MTC’s production of Mary Jane was a standout of the 2023-2024 season. With seamless direction by Anne Kauffman, Rachel McAdams gave one of the most emotional stirring performances of the year in her Broadway debut.

Maybe Happy Ending

The new musical that is taking Broadway by storm. Will Aronson and Hue Park’s Robot Romcom Adventure opened in November to resounding critical acclaim. Expertly directed by Tony Award winner Michael Arden, Maybe Happy Ending perfectly balances humor and heart in a way few Pixar movies even achieve.

Oh, Mary!

The new comedy from Cole Escola broke the box-office record in its first full week at the Lyceum theater. The hilarious, entirely fictional, portrayal of Mary Todd Lincoln as a wannabe cabaret star was one of the funniest performances of the year and remains one of the hottest tickets of the season.

Our Town

From Tony Award-winning director Kenny Leon, the revival of Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play that played at the Barrymore Theatre was a masterful reimagining of a timeless classic. With Jim Parsons as the iconic Stage Manager, the cast of 28 also featured Katie Holmes, Zoey Deutch, Billy Eugene Jones, Ephraim Sykes, Richard Thomas, Michelle Wilson, and more.

Table 17

The new play from playwright Douglas Lyons kicked off MCC’s 2024-2025 season.  Starring Tony Award winner Kara Young, the romantic comedy about two exes reflecting on their relationship over drinks was the perfect addition to a stacked year of Off-Broadway plays.

The Outsiders

Dark, gritty, and full of gravel, the musical adaptation of S.E. Hinton’s coming-of-age novel is the reigning winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical. Directed by Danya Taymor, who won the Tony for Best Direction of Musical, The Outsiders is intimate and yet larger than life.

Ragtime

New York City Center’s production of the Flaherty & Ahrens musical as part of their Encores! Series was a resounding success, masterfully balancing the massive ensemble and orchestra, which created the most beautiful wall of sound emanating from the stage.

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Broadway's Best

Broadway’s Best Debuts this Season

There is an undeniable energy in the theater when a performer is making their Broadway debut. Something about witnessing a hardworking artist achieve their dream and do their thing on such a coveted stage is unlike anything else. Broadway is lucky enough to welcome new entrants to the roster of performers’ past and present every season. Here are some of the most exciting new performers to grace the stage in the 2024-2025 Broadway season!

Helen J Shen

Maybe Happy Ending, the brand new musical about Helperbots in love, also introduced audiences to newcomer Helen J Shen, who plays Claire. Shen’s crystal clear vocals and emotional range made her a breakout star of the season, after years of developing and performing new musicals Off-Broadway.

George Clooney

Hollywood man George Clooney is set to make his debut this year in a peculiar fashion. Clooney will reprise his screen role as Walter Cronkite in a stage adaptation of the 2005 film Goodnight and Good Luck, which he wrote, directed and starred in.

Charli D’Amelio

TikTok breakout star Charli D’Amelio brought her dance skills to the dance-heavy hit & Juliet this fall! 

Dez Duron

Fans of The Voice season 1 saw it first, but Broadway has welcomed Dez Duron’s classy crooning by way of Gil Brentley, his character in Maybe Happy Ending. His buttery voice on those jazzy tunes will have any theatergoer swooning.

Zoey Deutch

Known previously for her onscreen work, Zoey Deutch brought her rom-com know-how to the stage as Emily in Thornton Wilder’s Our Town. She fulfilled a lifelong dream by being on a Broadway stage, and particularly in this role in this play, which has been on her bedside table since her early teenagedom. 

Lizzy McAlpine

Popstar Lizzy McAlpine will join Jeremy Jordan in the upcoming production of Floyd Collins, fulfilling a prophecy that she tweeted years ago about performing alongside him one day.

Sarah Snook

Succession’s Sarah Snook will follow her onscreen siblings to the Broadway stage this spring, transferring her one-woman adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Grey following its smash success in the UK and Australia.

Bill Burr

Rolling Stone named him one of the 50 Best Standup Comics of All Time, and now he has his sights on the Broadway boards. Bill Burr is set to star as Dave Moss in the revival of David Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross.

The cast of English

After its Pulitzer Prize-winning premiere at the Atlantic Theater Company, the full Off-Broadway cast of English will transfer to Broadway, all making their Broadway debuts together.

Michelle Williams

Kicking off the Destiny’s Child to Broadway pipeline is Michelle Williams, who stars in Death Becomes Her this season. Maybe Beyonce is next?