Broadway Buzz, News, Updates and Recommendations
Broadway is having a moment.
Big stars are arriving, long-running favorites are taking their final bows, and a new crop of shows is generating plenty of buzz. For teachers planning a student trip to New York, the challenge isn’t finding a Broadway show. It’s figuring out which one is worth your students’ time and your parents’ money.
We’ve been paying close attention. Here are five lists to help you navigate the choices — updated for what’s actually on stage right now, what closes after the holidays, and what’s coming in 2027.
What’s Buzzing
The latest news about cast updates
Hamilton
Christopher Jackson’s return as George Washington — he began performances September 8 and stays through January 3, 2027 — has given the long-running hit a fresh jolt of excitement and made an already tough ticket even hotter. Still one of the strongest history-and-theatre picks on Broadway.
Hadestown
A new principal cast led by Norbert Leo Butz, Amber Iman, and Jasmin Savoy Brown began September 1 and has made this seven-year-old favorite feel newly energized. Kayko is Orpheus and Ben Davis is Hades. Theatre students still respond strongly to the score and the storytelling.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Tom Felton’s return as Draco Malfoy (through January 3, 2027, with a few blackout weeks) has created renewed buzz around a show that remains one of Broadway’s most impressive displays of stage magic and technical wizardry.
Wicked
Keri René Fuller and Emma Flynn are the current Elphaba and Glinda pairing, in place since March. Combined with the continued momentum from the films, this Broadway staple still feels surprisingly fresh. A reliable crowd-pleaser for middle and high school groups.
The Outsiders
The Tony-season frenzy may be over, but students are still responding strongly to the show’s raw energy, physical staging, and unforgettable rain-soaked rumble. Especially good for groups that already know the novel.
Worth Seeing Now
These shows opened last spring and are going strong.
The Lost Boys
Michael Arden’s musical adaptation of the cult vampire film opened in April at the Palace Theatre and became a genuine visual spectacle. Shoshana Bean and Ali Louis Bourzgui are among its Tony-winning performers.
Schmigadoon!
The Broadway adaptation of the Apple TV+ series won Best Musical at the 2026 Tonys. It sends up classic Golden Age musicals while still delivering a full-scale musical of its own.
School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play
Denée Benton and Patina Miller lead Jocelyn Bioh’s sharp comedy about friendship, competition, beauty standards, and colorism at a Ghanaian boarding school.
The Rocky Horror Show
still running at Studio 54 through February 28, 2027. It is a high-profile revival with a much more adult, irreverent tone than most student-group choices. We do not recommend it for standard school trips.
Last Chance
Wrapping up after the holidays, get tickets now before they are gone.
Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Closes January 3, 2027
SIX
Closes January 3, 2027
& Juliet
Closes January 3, 2027
Paranormal Activity
Closes January 3, 2027
Much Ado About Nothing
Closes January 10, 2027
Coming Soon
This is the section we are most excited about!
DOLLY: A True Original Musical
Previews December 7 and opens January 19, 2027 (what would have been Dolly Parton’s 81st birthday) at the St. James Theatre. Dolly’s life comes to Broadway through classics like Jolene, 9 to 5, Coat of Many Colors, and I Will Always Love You, plus new songs written for the production.
Previews February 27 and opens March 25, 2027 at the Winter Garden. Jamie Lloyd’s revival, with Rachel Zegler. This could be one of the spring’s hottest tickets, especially for theatre and history students.
Previews begin in March and the show opens in April 2027 at the Lunt-Fontanne. Lin-Manuel Miranda and Eisa Davis bring the cult 1979 film to Broadway. The pedigree alone makes this one of the season’s most anticipated new musicals. Expect intensity.
Previews March 12 and opens April 12, 2027 at the Majestic. Prince’s music comes to Broadway in a new musical based on the 1984 film. Strong interest likely among music and theatre groups.
Previews March 30 and opens April 18, 2027 at the Al Hirschfeld. The London hit comes to Broadway after winning seven Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical. The most natural younger-middle-school option on the incoming list.
Under the Radar
For teachers looking for something unique.
Maybe Happy Ending
A great pick for drama and musical-theatre students who appreciate intimate storytelling, inventive design, and a show that feels genuinely different from the usual Broadway spectacle. Six-time Tony winner, including Best Musical. Still running at the Belasco.
Operation Mincemeat
Best for high-school theatre or history groups who will appreciate five actors playing dozens of roles while turning a bizarre true WWII espionage story into a fast, funny musical.
Buena Vista Social Club
An inspired choice for music, dance, or Spanish-language students, with extraordinary live musicianship and movement that blurs the line between concert and musical theatre.
Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
Best for older high-school theatre students who like smaller, character-driven musicals with charm, humor, and strong chemistry rather than huge spectacle.
WANTED
Best for history, social studies, and drama groups interested in a new musical built around the little-known story of two Black sisters who became 19th-century outlaws.