Broadway

Boop-oop-a-Broadway! [*BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/39187-boop-the-betty-boop-musical) is set to open on Broadway in April 2025, with exact dates and a venue to be announced.

The show had a critically acclaimed world premiere at the CIBC Theatre in Chicago from November to December 2023. *BOOP!* follows Betty as she takes a break from her celebrity life in black and white and steps into the colorful world of New York City for an adventurous day...

'BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical' to premiere on Broadway in April 2025

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The show had a pre-Broadway run in Chicago in November 2023, which starred Jasmine Amy Rogers in the title role and opened to widespread critical acclaim.

This show is still a thriller! [*MJ The Musical*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/23379-mj-the-musical-tickets) has released a new block of tickets through April 27, 2025 in celebration of its 1,000th Broadway performance at the [Neil Simon Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/neil-simon-theatre). Get [*MJ The Musical* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/23379-mj-the-musical-tickets) on New York Theatre Guide.

The musical about Michael Jackson reached the...

'MJ' tickets now available through April 2025

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The four-time Tony Award-winning musical has played the Neil Simon Theatre since 2021, putting a new theatrical spin on the songs and career of Michael Jackson.

Grant Gustin, who currently stars in [*Water for Elephants*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/34684-water-for-elephants-on-broadway) on Broadway, will play his final performance in the show at the [Imperial Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/imperial-theatre) on September 1.

Gustin is best known for playing the title role in the TV show *The Flash*, and he is now making his Broadway debut in the leading role of Jacob Jankowski. Based on the 2006 bestselling historical...

Grant Gustin to depart 'Water for Elephants' this fall

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The star of the TV shows *The Flash* and *Glee* originates the role of Jacob Jankowski in the musical adaptation of Sara Gruen's circus-inspired 2006 novel.

You're gonna hear her roar! Tony Award nominee Jeannette Bayardelle will join the cast of [*& Juliet*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/25598-and-juliet-tickets) on Broadway, playing her first performance June 29 at the [Stephen Sondheim Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/stephen-sondheim-theatre).

Bayardelle will replace [Charity Angél Dawson](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/charity-angel-dawson), who is taking a temporary leave of absence, in the...

Jeannette Bayardelle to join '& Juliet' Broadway cast

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The Tony Award-nominated actress will temporarily join the critically acclaimed pop musical, which has played the Stephen Sondheim Theatre since 2022.

Rejoice! [Christian Borle](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/christian-borle) will join the cast of the new musical [*Tammy Faye*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/37219-tammy-faye) on Broadway this fall, which begins performances on October 19 ahead of a November 14 opening at the [Palace Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/palace-theatre-ny).

Borle, a Broadway veteran, is best known for his Tony Award-winning performances as Shakespeare in *Something...

Christian Borle to star in 'Tammy Faye' on Broadway

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The Tony Award-winning actor, last seen on Broadway in *Some Like It Hot*, will replace Andrew Rannells in the new musical about Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker.

Second Stage Theater will present the New York premiere of *Cult of Love* on Broadway, a new play by Emmy Award nominee Leslye Headland. Performances begin on November 20 ahead of a December 12 opening night at the [Hayes Theater](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/hayes-theater).

*Cult of Love* takes place at a gathering of the Dahl family at Christmastime. Parents Bill and Ginny are deeply Christian and raised their four kids as such, but now, they’re all adults with their own...

New play ‘Cult of Love’ to open on Broadway this fall

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The show is part of the fall season of nonprofit institution Second Stage Theater, which also announced its fall Off-Broadway show, *Lunar Eclipse*.


[*The Hills of California*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/41190-the-hills-of-california-on-broadway) on Broadway has set initial casting ahead of its North American premiere at the [Broadhurst Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/venues/broadhurst-theatre) this fall. Performances begin September 11 ahead of a September 29 opening.

The eight cast members announced all led the play's world-premiere run in London last fall. They include Olivier Award winner and Tony nominee...

'The Hills of California' sets Broadway cast

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The award-winning play written by Jez Butterworth and directed by Sam Mendes features multiple actors from its critically acclaimed world premiere in London.

See it, hear it, feel it — but only for a few more weeks. [*The Who's Tommy*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/36395-the-whos-tommy-tickets) has set its Broadway closing date, playing its final performance on July 21 at the [Nederlander Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/nederlander-theatre). The show will have played 152 performances at the time of closing.

The *Tommy* musical, which premiered on Broadway in 1993, is adapted from British rock band The Who's landmark...

'The Who's Tommy' to close on Broadway

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The Tony Award-nominated production at the Nederlander Theatre is the first revival of The Who's landmark 1993 rock opera, adapted from the band's 1969 album.

Beat the summer heat inside a theatre this July! If you need a break from beaches and barbecues, the theatre is the place to be. The venues are air-conditioned, but the shows there are hot, buzzy productions both on and off Broadway. Thrilling [new Broadway openings](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/whats-on/broadway-shows-opening-soon) are popping up alongside buzzy [Off-Broadway shows](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/whats-on/off-broadway-shows) and [Tony Award-winning...

Top theatre to see in New York in July

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Discover our top picks for Broadway shows and Off-Broadway shows to see this month, including new shows premiering and last-chance shows closing this month.

Top theatre to see in New York in July | New York Theatre Guide

Here are our top picks of New York theatre to check out in July 2023, including summer blockbusters and exciting new Off-Broadway shows across the city.

Pop the bottles, put on your flapper dresses and pinstripe suits, and get ready to party like it's 1920! *The Great Gatsby* on Broadway, the Tony Award-winning musical adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's Jazz Age novel, tells a story of love, class, obsession, and unfulfilled dreams, all set to jazz-pop music that brings the Roaring Twenties into the 2020s.

Tony Award-nominated Broadway favorites [Jeremy Jordan](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/jeremy-jordan) and [Eva...

Everything you need to know about 'The Great Gatsby' on Broadway

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Step back into the 1920s at the first Broadway musical adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic American novel, starring Jeremy Jordan and Eva Noblezada.

Grant Gustin, who currently stars in [*Water for Elephants*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/34684-water-for-elephants-on-broadway) on Broadway, will play his final performance in the show at the [Imperial Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/imperial-theatre) on September 1.

Gustin is best known for playing the title role in the TV show *The Flash*, and he is now making his Broadway debut in the leading role of Jacob Jankowski. Based on the 2006 bestselling historical romance novel by Sara Gruen, the seven-time Tony Award-nominated show follows Jacob as he [runs away with the circus](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/how-water-for-elephants-brings-the-circus-to-broadway) in search of a fresh start. He finds one, along with a new career calling and a forbidden love with the ringmaster's wife.

Replacement casting for the role of Jacob has yet to be announced. Current *Water for Elephants* cast members also include [Isabelle McCalla](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/isabelle-mccalla) as Marlena, Gregg Edelman as Mr. Jankowski, Paul Alexander Nolan as August, Stan Brown as Camel, Joe De Paul as Walter, Sara Gettelfinger as Barbara, and Wade McCollum as Wade.

[Learn more about *Water for Elephants* on Broadway.](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/everything-you-need-to-know-about-water-for-elephants-on-broadway)

Get [*Water for Elephants* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/34684-water-for-elephants-on-broadway) now.

Ages 8+. No children under 4 are permitted in the theater.

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Water For Elephants on Broadway

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Poster image of Water For Elephants in New York

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Immerse yourself in the spectacle and excitement of the traveling circus with *Water For Elephants* on Broadway, the seven-time Tony Award nominated musical based on the critically acclaimed 2006 book and 2011 film of the same name. Get *Water for Elephants* tickets now on New York Theatre Guide, and experience this thrilling Best Musical nominee. 

The *Water For Elephants* musical unfolds through the eyes of Jacob, an older man looking back and reminiscing on his life's adventures. When Jacob was young, amidst the Great Depression, his parents die and he hops a train to seek a new life, inadvertently joining a traveling circus called Benzini Bros Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Jacob, a veterinarian, quickly finds a place within the animal-heavy circus, and love finds him, too, when he falls for Marlena — the jealous ringmaster's wife.

Before its time on Broadway, Jacob's awe-inspiring story began as a novel by Sara Gruen. The New York Times bestseller was such a hit that in 2011, a film adaptation came out, starring Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon, and Christoph Waltz. The film grossed $117 million worldwide, and in 2012, it won the People's Choice Award for Favorite Drama Movie. 

If you're looking for a circus experience even when the circus isn't in town, look no further than this unique Broadway musical featuring show-stopping choreography and circus costumes. It even includes circus acts like puppetry and aerial silk performance.

Get tickets to *Water For Elephants* on New York Theatre Guide.

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Sara Gruen's bestselling novel is now a high-flying musical-meets-circus spectacular. After tragedy strikes, Jacob quits vet school and stows away with a traveling circus — and ends up in a secret love affair with the ringmaster's wife that causes tension under the big top.

The *WATER FOR ELEPHANTS* musical tells the story of a Great Depression-era young man, Jacob, who hops on a train and ends up joining the traveling circus while trying to escape personal tragedy. He fits right into his new life, home, and family, but as he trains a new elephant, he gets more than he bargained for, falling in love with the woman helping him: the wife of the temperamental ringmaster.

The musical is based on the 2006 bestselling novel *WATER FOR ELEPHANTS*, written by Sara Gruen, and the subsequent 2011 award-winning film of the same name. The film, starring Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon, and Christoph Waltz, won the 2012 People's Choice Award for Favorite Drama Movie.

The world premiere of the stage adaptation was met with similar success, selling out its 2023 run at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia.

## What to watch for

- Amid the high-flying acts, *WATER FOR ELEPHANTS* comments subtly on the cruelties of the circus industry, such as extracting a lion's teeth or feeding animals rotten meat.
- The lighting, set, and stage design are truly next-level. The rolling platforms, projections, and lighting all work together to make it seem like the actors are on a train, and lighting signifies the passing of time. 
- Circuses are known for their animals, and while this performance doesn't have live animals, you'll have the opportunity to witness masterful puppetry in action instead. Ray Wetmore, JR Goodman, and Camille Labarre are behind the animal puppetry design. Labarre's work has appeared in *Shrek*, *Into the Woods*, and *Sesame Street*. Wetmore and Goodman's work is in spring 2024 shows like *The Notebook*, *Hell's Kitchen*, and *Cabaret*.
- The *WATER FOR ELEPHANTS* book won numerous awards, including Book Sense No. 1 pick for June 2006 and the 2007 BookBrowse award for Most Popular Book. The novel was on the New York Times Best Seller list for 12 weeks and was number one on July 8, 2007. 
- Lighting designer Bradley King won Tony Awards for his work on *Natasha, Pierre, & The Great Comet of 1812* and *Hadestown*, and he earned a nomination for *Flying Over Sunset*.

__Important information__

Children under 4 are not permitted in the theatre. 

No weapons permitted on the premises. No outside food or beverages, electric scooters, e-bikes, or battery-powered transportation devices, except when medically necessary. 

All items are subject to inspection. Anything brought into the theatre must fit on your lap or completely under your seat without blocking any aisles. 

The use of cameras, cell phones, and other recording devices during the show is strictly prohibited by law, except when used for accessibility services.

Water for Elephants - NYC - TT

The circus comes to town in this new musical adaptation of Sara Gruen's bestselling novel. When a young man named Jacob leaves his old life behind and joins a traveling circus, he finds a home he never dreamed of — and a forbidden romance with the jealous ringmaster's wife.

Grant Gustin makes his Broadway debut as Jacob in [*Water for Elephants*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/34684-water-for-elephants-on-broadway) at the [Imperial Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/imperial-theatre) from February 24, 2024.

Gustin is best known for playing the title role of Barry Allen/The Flash on *The Flash* TV series on the CW from 2014-23. That show was one of multiple in the Arrowverse, a group of superhero-centric TV shows that featured many of the same characters. Gustin also appeared on the Arrowverse shows *Supergirl* and *Arrow*.

He also has multiple theatrical performance credits, including playing Sebastian Smythe on the musical TV show *Glee* and performing in the 2010 national tour of *West Side Story*.

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Isabelle McCalla stars as Marlena in [*Water for Elephants*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/34684-water-for-elephants-on-broadway) on Broadway at the [Imperial Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/imperial-theatre) from February 24, 2024.

McCalla is best known for her extensive work in modern musicals. After making her Broadway debut as Jasmine in [*Aladdin*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/105-disneys-aladdin-tickets), she rose to prominence for originating the role of Alyssa Greene in *The Prom*, both in 2018. She later starred in the 2023 Broadway musical *Shucked* as Maizy.

She has also appeared in high-profile musical productions around the U.S., including *Footloose* at the Kennedy Center in D.C. and *Clue* and *Hercules* at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey.

Isabelle McCalla - NY

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Designed by Herbert J. Krapp, the Imperial Theatre was built for the Shubert Organization and officially opened on December 25, 1923 with the musical *Mary Jane McKane*.

It was the Shuberts' 50th New York venue and was constructed as a replacement for their 20-year-old [Lyric Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/lyric-theatre) (which stood partly on the site of the current Lyric Theatre). The Imperial Theatre also held the first Ms. Globe Pageant in 1951.

## How to get to the Imperial Theatre on Broadway

The Imperial Theatre, located on the corner of 45th Street and Eighth Avenue, is closest to the 42nd Street - Port Authority Bus Terminal subway stop on the A, C, and E lines. The closest bus stops are 8th Ave/W 46th St. on the M20 and M104 lines and 8th Ave/W 43rd St. on the M20, M104, and M34A-SBS line.

## Restaurants near the Imperial Theatre

The Imperial Theatre in NYC is one block southwest of Restaurant Row, located on 46th Street between Eighth and Ninth Avenues. Popular restaurants on this stretch include Joe Allen (American), Becco (Italian), Le Rivage (French), Dim Sum Palace (Chinese), and a variety of others.

The theatre is also located one block east of Marseille (French), Nizza (Italian), and Five Napkin Burger (American), three popular restaurants for the theatregoing crowd all located between 44th and 45th Streets on Ninth Avenue.

Grant Gustin to depart 'Water for Elephants' this fall

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