Broadway

The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear! The musical *Elf* will return to Broadway this holiday season, with performances running from November 9 to January 4 at the [Marquis Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/marquis-theatre), with opening night on November 17.

*Elf* is adapted from the 2003 film of the same name, which stars Will Ferrell as Buddy, a human who was raised as an elf at the North Pole. When he travels to New York City to find his...

‘Elf’ to play limited Broadway run this holiday season

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The musical adaptation of the beloved Christmas film starring Will Ferrell has played two holiday runs in New York before, most recently in the 2012-13 season.

It’s Broadway or nothing! John Mulaney will return to Broadway in the new play *All In: Comedy About Love by Simon Rich*, which will play a limited run at the [Hudson Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/hudson-theatre) for 10 weeks beginning December 11.

Mulaney is a two-time Emmy Award-winning comedian for his stand-up comedy specials *Kid Gorgeous* and *Baby J*. His other best-known works include the stand-up specials *The Top Part*, *New in Town*, and *The Comeback Kid*,...

John Mulaney to star in ‘All In: Comedy About Love by Simon Rich’ on Broadway

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Fred Armisen, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Chloe Fineman, and Richard Kind are also among the cast of this world-premiere play directed by Alex Timbers.

Dreaming of a white Christmas (and a Happy New Year)? Where better to go than the Great White Way? Snow isn't guaranteed to fall on the holidays, but theatre is sure to be there. If you're planning to celebrate the holidays in New York, there are plenty of Broadway shows waiting for you when you get here.

Many shows add extra performances in the weeks leading up to Christmas and New Year's, and plenty even have performances right on the holidays. Catch a Christmas Eve matinee before heading to...

Here are the Broadway shows you can see over the holidays

Lindsay Pearce in 'Wicked' on Broadway. (Photo by Joan Marcus)

Find out the Broadway shows performing on Christmas and New Year's, and see which shows have added additional performances during the holiday weeks.

“Let me entertain you.” That famous line from [*Gypsy*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/41161-gypsy-on-broadway) is an invitation that all 16 shows opening this fall on Broadway are sending out.

While each production is distinct, themes, motifs, and other elements overlap. As the 2024 season approaches, New York Theatre Guide looks ahead at trends – big picture and close-up – playing out on Broadway stages. If you’re keen on a certain trend, use our roundup to find your next great...

Check out the trends appearing throughout Broadway shows this fall

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Every play and musical on stage this season is unique, but some share topics, themes, and details — find one that interests you, and get your tickets.

Welcome to the Moulin Rouge! John Cardoza, Solea Pfeiffer, and Pepe Muñoz will join the cast of [*Moulin Rouge! The Musical*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/15911-moulin-rouge-the-musical-on-broadway-tickets) on Broadway at the [Al Hirschfeld Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/al-hirschfeld-theatre) this fall, playing their first performances on October 15.

Cardoza will star as Christian, a role he previously played on the first national tour of *Moulin Rouge! The...

John Cardoza, Solea Pfeiffer, Pepe Muñoz to join ‘Moulin Rouge! The Musical’ Broadway cast

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They will replace current stars Aaron Tveit, Joanna “JoJo” Levesque, and Ricky Rojas in the musical adaptation of Baz Luhrmann’s Oscar-winning 2001 movie.

All he cares about is love! Award-winning Latin music artist Sebastián Yatra will join the cast of [*Chicago*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/22-chicago-tickets) on Broadway from November 25 to December 22 only.

Yatra is best known for performing the Oscar-nominated song "Dos Orugitas" from the animated Disney film *Encanto*. His music career has earned him a Latin Grammy Award and a Grammy nomination.

"Getting to Broadway was something I had imagined but it seemed impossible and now...

Sebastián Yatra to join 'Chicago' Broadway cast

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The Latin Grammy Award-winning musician will make his Broadway debut as Billy Flynn in the long-running musical at the Ambassador Theatre for four weeks only.

Spooky season is underway, and it's the perfect time to have a frightfully fun night at the theatre. Legend has it that ghosts haunt most Broadway theatres, so you could be in for a fright at any show. If you really want to get into the spirit, though, there are plenty of New York stages showcasing Halloween theatre that celebrates all things witchy, magical, and downright scary.

The whimsical magic of [*Harry Potter and the Cursed...

Top theatre to see in New York for Halloween

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Check out these Broadway and Off-Broadway theatre shows, plus seasonal exhibits and interactive experiences, featuring all things spooky and spellbinding.

It is Audra’s turn. Theatrical legend [Audra McDonald](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/audra-mcdonald) takes on the role of Mama Rose in the hotly anticipated Broadway revival of the classic musical [*Gypsy*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/41161-gypsy-on-broadway). Directed by Tony Award winner George C. Wolfe and choreographed by four-time Tony nominee Camille A. Brown, the production marks McDonald’s first musical role on Broadway since 2017.

Based on the memoir...

All the songs in 'Gypsy' on Broadway

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Six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald takes on the iconic role of Mama Rose in visionary director George C. Wolfe’s revival of the classic showbiz musical.

Fall is upon us in New York. The cool fall breezes have blown in not just color-changing leaves, but a cornucopia of seasonal events all across the city. And there's a show or event out there for you no matter how you like to ring in the fall season.

Is the pumpkin patch at the top of your itinerary? Stop at a show set in the countryside on the way to the actual farm. Prefer to stay cozied up inside with a warm sweater? You can do that in a Broadway theatre. Can't wait for Halloween? Celebrate...

Plan a fall day in New York with these shows and events

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Whether your fall vibe is spooky, cozy, or outdoorsy, New York has plenty of attractions and shows to suit your interests — check out our itineraries here.

A haunting story of survival, brotherhood and redemption, the new Broadway musical [*Swept Away*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/31122-swept-away) recounts the impossible choices faced by four sailors after a shipwreck casts them adrift in a small lifeboat. 

The songs of *Swept Away* are drawn from the catalog of folk-rock band The Avett Brothers, including several tunes [first...

All the songs in 'Swept Away' on Broadway

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The stirring new survival-adventure musical from The Avett Brothers draws on the folk-rock band’s 2004 album *Mignonette* and other tunes from its catalog.

He's running away with the circus! Kyle Selig will join the cast of [*Water for Elephants*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/34684-water-for-elephants-on-broadway) on Broadway beginning September 3 at the [Imperial Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/imperial-theatre).

Selig is best known for playing Aaron Samuels in the original Broadway cast of the *Mean Girls* musical and Elder Price in [*The Book of Mormon*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/127-the-book-of-mormon-tickets). His screen credits include appearances on *Monster High*, *Madam Secretary*, and *Evil*.

In *Water for Elephants*, he will play the lead role of Jacob Jankowski, replacing original star [Grant Gustin](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/grant-gustin), who departs the production September 1.

Continuing *Water for Elephants* cast members 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.

Adapted from Sara Gruen's bestselling 2006 [novel](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/from-page-to-stage-how-bestselling-books-became-broadway-blockbusters), *Water for Elephants* follows vet school dropout Jacob as he, seeking a fresh start, hops a train carrying a [traveling circus](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/how-water-for-elephants-brings-the-circus-to-broadway). He finds a new calling as well as a forbidden romance with Marlena, a horse whisperer and the jealous ringmaster's wife.

[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.

*Photo credit: Kyle Selig. (Photo courtesy of production)*

Kyle Selig to star in 'Water for Elephants' on Broadway

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Ages 8+. Children under 4 are not permitted in the theater.

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Water For Elephants on Broadway

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Best new musical : water for elephants

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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.

Kyle Selig stars as Jacob Jankowski 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).

Selig made his Broadway debut in [*The Book of Mormon*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/127-the-book-of-mormon-tickets) in 2015 and went on to originate the role of Aaron Samuels in the 2018 Broadway musical adaptation of the hit film *Mean Girls*.

On screen, he played Mr. Komos in *Monster High: The Movie*.

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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.

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The Imperial Theatre is an iconic Broadway theatre located in the heart of New York's theater district. Established in 1923 and built by the Shubert Organization, it boasts of a spectacular architectural design conceived by Herbert J. Krapp. The interior charm is harmonized by comfortable seating for around 1,417 spectators. Throughout its illustrious history, the theatre has hosted countless notable performances, including 'Les Misérables', 'Annie Get Your Gun', and the debut of 'Billy Elliot'.

### Getting to the Imperial Theatre ###

The theatre is conveniently sited at 249 West 45th Street, making it easy to reach by taxi, bus or subway. The nearest subway stations are 42 St - Port Authority Bus Terminal on lines A, C and E and Times Sq - 42 St on lines N, Q, R, W, S, 1, 2, 3, and 7. If you prefer a bus ride, M42 and M50 are the most proximate bus stops. There are multiple paid parking garages in the theater’s vicinity for those who decide to drive.


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Imperial Theatre

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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.

Imperial Theatre - New York Theatre Guide

Imperial Theatre, designed by Herbert J. Krapp, opened on December 25, 1923 with the musical Mary Jane McKane. Nearby are popular restaurants.

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The Imperial Theatre in New York is a historic venue which hosts significant performances. It's easily accessible by taxi, subway, or bus.

He will replace Grant Gustin in the lead role of the critically acclaimed musical adaptation of Sara Gruen's bestselling circus-inspired romance novel.

Kyle Selig to star in 'Water for Elephants' on Broadway

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