Broadway

Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter to star in 'Waiting for Godot' on Broadway in 2025

waiting for godot 1200 nytg

Jamie Lloyd will direct this new production. His Olivier Award-winning revival of *Sunset Boulevard* opens on Broadway this fall, starring Nicole Scherzinger.

See photos of Sadie Sink and the cast of 'John Proctor Is the Villain' on Broadway

5 john proctor bway-1200x600-NYTG

The *Stranger Things* star leads Kimberly Belflower's comedy-drama play about teenage girls learning about — and questioning — *The Crucible* in school.

Leslie Odom Jr. to rejoin 'Hamilton' Broadway cast

leslie hamilton new-1200x600-NYTG

The actor won a Tony Award in 2016 for originating the role of Aaron Burr in Lin-Manuel Miranda's blockbuster musical at the Richard Rodgers Theatre.

Everything you need to know about ‘Smash’ on Broadway

5 smash bway-1200x600-NYTG

Loosely based on the same-named NBC comedy-drama series, this musical explores the drama that goes on behind the scenes at a Broadway show-within-the-show.

How ‘Pirates! The Penzance Musical’ got jazz-ified for Broadway

penzance art-1200x600-NYTG

Discover the New Orleans-inspired, reimagined Broadway revival of *The Pirates of Penzance* starring Ramin Karimloo, Jinkx Monsoon, and David Hyde Pierce.

Meet the cast of 'BOOP! The Musical' on Broadway

14 boop bway-1200x600-NYTG

Get to know the actors who play Betty Boop and her friends in her black-and-white cartoon world and the real world, where she travels in this family-friendly show.

See photos of 'Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends' on Broadway

21 old friends bway-1200x600-NYTG

Bernadette Peters, Lea Salonga, and more celebrate the late theatre songwriter Stephen Sondheim in this joyous, spectacular musical revue through June 15.

See new photos of 'Smash' on Broadway

11 smash bway-1200x600-NYTG

The new musical is adapted from the same-named NBC TV show about the behind-the-scenes drama during the creation of a fictional Marilyn Monroe musical.

2025 Tony Awards guide: Nominees, performances, how to watch the Tony Awards, and more

The Tony Awards logo

Learn everything you need to know about this year's Tony Awards ceremony, including how to watch, a list of nominees, eligible shows, and more.

How to watch the 2025 Tony Awards | New York Theatre Guide

Here's everything you need to know about the 2025 Tony Awards, including how to watch the live broadcast, who is hosting, and which shows are up for honors.

See photos of Nick Jonas, Adrienne Warren in 'The Last Five Years' on Broadway

 l5y-1200x600-NYTG

1 l5y-1200x600-NYTG

The Grammy Award nominee and Tony Award winner star in the first Broadway production of Jason Robert Brown's acclaimed romantic drama musical for a limited run.

Wait for it! [Leslie Odom, Jr.](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/leslie-odom-jr) will return to the cast of [*Hamilton*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/384-hamilton-tickets) on Broadway, performing from September 9 to November 23 only. *Hamilton* tickets are now on sale through November 23.

Odom will reprise the role of Aaron Burr, which he originated in [Lin-Manuel Miranda](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/lin-manuel-miranda)'s blockbuster musical both on and off Broadway and won a Tony Award for his performance. He also appeared in the filmed capture of *Hamilton* for Disney+ and was last seen on Broadway in the fall 2023 play *Purlie Victorious*.

“Returning to *Hamilton* is a deeply meaningful homecoming,” Odom said in a statement. “I’m so grateful for the chance to step back into the room — especially during this anniversary moment — and to revisit this brilliant piece that forever changed my life and the lives of so many.”

Odom's return to *Hamilton* comes on the heels of the show's 10th anniversary at Broadway's [Richard Rodgers Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/venues/richard-rodgers-theatre), celebrated on August 6.

Winner of a Pulitzer Prize, a Grammy Award, and 11 Tony Awards including Best Musical, *Hamilton* uses rap and hip-hop music to tell the life story of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton. He begins as a "young, scrappy, and hungry" teenager eager to join the American Revolution and goes on to shape the country's financial system, get embroiled in scandal, and fight an infamous duel with Aaron Burr.

[Learn more about *Hamilton* on Broadway.](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/everything-you-need-to-know-about-hamilton-on-broadway)

Get [*Hamilton* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/384-hamilton-tickets) now.

*Photo credit: Leslie Odom, Jr. in Hamilton on Broadway. (Photo by Joan Marcus)*

Ages 10+. Infants are not permitted in the theater.

Hamilton on Broadway - NYC [384]

Genre: Musical (US and AUS)

NY - Broadway

Broadway shows

New York All Shows

Get last-minute theatre tickets for New York Shows at the best prices, and get exclusive access to our Lottery and Rush tickets.

Last-Minute Broadway Tickets & Theatre in NYC | New York Shows | TodayTix

New York Shows

Get tickets to the best shows at the best prices on Broadway and beyond

Discover New York City 

New York Header Image

Latest New York City Insider Posts 

Explore Broadway and Off-Broadway news and reviews, and book the best NYC events.

New York Theatre Guide Home Page (New York Theatre Guide)

New York Theatre Guide – Official site for theatre tickets & news

See what's on sale on Broadway, from classics to new hits. Get tickets today. Find tickets at New York Theatre Guide, a reliable source for Broadway.

New York Theatre Guide - New York Musicals & Plays

New York

New York Search Results

Search Results

New York Tile Image

NYC App Home

Venues in New York City

New York Home Page (TT Home)

Get the best prices on theatre tickets today and this week in New York, London and more. Read reviews. Win exclusive lottery or rush tickets. Download our app.

TodayTix | Theater Tickets to Musicals, Plays, Broadway, More 

New York Nav Links [NEW]

More shows

New York Home Page (WL)

WL Newsletter

WL NYC Nav

Hamilton on Broadway

Hamilton on Broadway - Hero

Hamilton on Broadway [384] Product Media 

NYC Hamilton on Broadway New Asset 2 3/28/24

Hamilton - Image for Ads

NYC Hamilton on Broadway Video Asset

Three women in 18th-century-style dresses perform on stage, with their arms raised and fingers pointing upward. Two men in similar period costumes pose energetically in the background.

NYC Hamilton on Broadway New Asset 3 3/28/24

NYC Hamilton on Broadway New Asset 4 3/28/24

NYC Hamilton on Broadway Old Asset 1 

NYC Hamilton on Broadway New Asset 5 3/28/24

HAM 015 PA TODAY TIX UPDATE 090221 v02

hamilton nyc square photo

This epic show follows Alexander Hamilton’s rise from nothing to become George Washington’s right-hand man, America’s first Secretary of the Treasury, and friend-turned-enemy of Aaron Burr – the man who would eventually kill him in an infamous duel.

Surrounding *Hamilton* in the musical are plenty of real-life historical figures: Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, the Marquis de Lafayette, and more. They make mischief throughout the show as they navigate the behemoth task of founding a new country and creating a government.

Miranda was first inspired to write an Alexander Hamilton musical in 2008 after reading Ron Chernow’s 700-page biography of the Founding Father on vacation. Miranda had just won the Best Musical Tony Award for *In the Heights* that year, so then-President Barack Obama invited him to perform a song from the show at the 2009 White House Poetry Jam. Instead, Miranda surprised everyone by busting out an early version of his budding musical’s opening number.

The rest, as they say, is history. *Hamilton* premiered off Broadway at The Public Theater in 2015, transferring later that year to the Richard Rodgers Theatre. For writing *Hamilton's* book, music, and lyrics, Miranda would become a household name. 

It seemed ludicrous at first, but to Miranda, Alexander Hamilton embodied hip-hop. *Hamilton* director Thomas Kail later explained in an interview: “You have someone born into very difficult circumstances — profound poverty, no parents, no support — who used words to elevate himself out of those circumstances, and then died violently because of those words. That’s a classic hip-hop story. It’s the story of Tupac or Big.” 

## What to watch for

- Miranda initially conceived *Hamilton* as a record called *The Hamilton Mixtape*, but Kail encouraged him to develop a full musical. *The Hamilton Mixtape* was later released as a companion album to the show.
- *In the Heights*, about a small community in New York’s Washington Heights, has lots of parallels with *Hamilton*. Miranda’s longtime collaborators Kail and Andy Blankenbuehler (*Hamilton*’s choreographer) were involved in that production, and *In the Heights* also played at the Richard Rodgers Theatre.
- The show has real cred in the music industry: Questlove and Black Thought of The Roots executive produced the show’s original cast recording.
- *Hamilton* is full of homages to other shows. The lyric “Nobody needs to know” comes directly from Jason Robert Brown’s *The Last Five Years*. George Washington’s line “I’m the model of a modern major general” is from Gilbert and Sullivan’s *Pirates of Penzance*. *Hamilton* also quotes a line from *Macbeth*: "Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow creeps in this petty pace from day to day."
- *Hamilton* made history musicals cool and fresh, but Miranda’s isn’t the first musical about the American Revolution. His show is predated by the 1969 Best Musical winner *1776*, which follows John Adams as he tries to convince his fellow politicians to declare independence from Britain. 

Hamilton on Broadway [384] - TodayTix

Hamilton on Broadway Tickets | New York | TodayTix

How does a show about an American Founding Father go on to revolutionize Broadway? Experience Lin-Manuel Miranda's Pulitzer- and Tony-winning hip-hop musical about how Alexander Hamilton fought, feuded, and financed his way into the history books.

Leslie Odom Jr. rejoins the cast as Aaron Burr from from September 9 to November 23!

Hamilton on Broadway is the smash hit of the century. After premiering off Broadway at The Public Theater in February 2015 for a sold-out limited engagement, Lin-Manuel Miranda's juggernaut musical quickly made the leap uptown and revolutionized theatre. Get Hamilton tickets now and see what the non-stop hype is all about.

The Hamilton musical is about Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, who most people know as the face of the $10 bill. What they might not know is how he fought alongside George Washington in the Revolutionary War, shaped the American financial system as we know it, and even became the first politician involved in a sex scandal.

The key story, however, is that of Hamilton and fellow politician Aaron Burr. In Miranda's reimagining, which takes some liberties with history, had a fraught, on-and-off friendship that would eventually lead to their famous duel. All this and more is dramatized in Hamilton on Broadway, which is almost entirely sung and rapped through and features a diverse cast to reflect the makeup of modern-day America.

The show's creator and original leading man, Lin-Manuel Miranda, made his mark in the Broadway theatre community for his work on In The Heights&nbsp;in 2008 and Bring It On in 2012,&nbsp;but Hamilton made him a household name&nbsp;in&nbsp;mainstream American pop culture. Hamilton also made top Broadway stars out of original cast members Leslie Odom, Jr., Renée Elise Goldsberry, and Daveed Diggs (who each took home a Tony Award in their respective categories), as well as Phillipa Soo, Christopher Jackson, and Okieriete Onaodowan. All original principal cast members have now left the Broadway production, but that hasn't stopped fans who continue to flock to the theatre for sold-out performances.

Miranda's idea to tell the story of Alexander Hamilton through hip hop, rap, and R&amp;B,and with a multi-racial cast, captured the imagination of Americans coast to coast. For students, Hamilton would become the most revolutionary and exciting history lesson they would ever attend. The musical combines 18th-century-inspired, Tony-winning costumes by Paul Tazewell and slick, modern, Tony-winning choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler to create a fresh&nbsp;Broadway production to appeal to those outside the Broadway community and hardened theatregoers in equal measure.

## When did *Hamilton* come out on Broadway?

Hamilton on Broadway premiered in July 2015, a few months after receiving its Off-Broadway world premiere. The show went on to earn a record-breaking 16 Tony Award nominations in 2016 and tied with The Producers for most Tony wins with a total of 11, including Best Musical. (That year's ceremony was dubbed "The Hamil-Tonys" since the musical had so much success.) Miranda also won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and the original Broadway cast recording&nbsp;won a Grammy after reaching number 3&nbsp;on the Billboard charts at one point. Its companion album, The Hamilton Mixtape, later debuted at the top spot in December 2016.

## How long is *Hamilton* the musical?

*Hamilton* runs 2 hours and 45 minutes, including an intermission.

If you have yet to witness "The Story of Tonight," then take your shot and get Hamilton Broadway tickets today.

Photos by Joan Marcus

Hamilton - NYC - New York Theatre Guide

Get tickets to Hamilton on Broadway from the official New York Theatre Guide. Be in the room where it happens for Lin-Manuel Miranda's historic musical.

Hamilton Broadway Tickets | The Official NY Theatre Guide

A sensation that made Lin-Manuel Miranda a household name, *Hamilton* made history with 11 Tony wins. A diverse cast and hip-hop music reimagine the story of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton for today. Sharp wordplay, an evocative story, and emotional performances make *Hamilton* revolutionary. Experience history anew and get *Hamilton* tickets.

I saw *Hamilton* Wednesday last at the Richard Rogers Theatre. Last night I went to bed with *Hamilton*. I had Lin-Manuel Miranda's script all to myself and devoured it. There is so much information, not to mention plain old smarts, that is packed into this show that reading the text is an exercise in pure pleasure. And once again I came away with the same conclusion. This is a story ABOUT Alexander Hamilton while at the same time it is the story OF Aaron Burr.

Burr (Leslie Odom, Jr.) welcomes us to the evening almost purring:

How does a b*st*rd, orphan, son of a wh*re And a Scotsman dropped in the middle of a forgotten spot In the Caribbean, by Providence impoverished, to squalor Grow up to be a hero and a scholar?

Who did this immigrant Hamilton (Lin-Manuel Miranda) think he was? Burr was the son of money. Hamilton was the son of chance and fortune. Burr was willing to wait for his just rewards; Hamilton preferred the direct route.

... I'm just like my country I'm young, scrappy and hungry And I'm not throwing away my shot

Hamilton arrives from Nevis in the Bahamas just as the country is splintering into a new incarnation. He lands in New York, the center of everything, and works his way up the revolutionary ladder. He sits at the right hand of God in the person of George Washington (Christopher Jackson) and pines for a command that is denied him until there is no other option.

Hamilton did not live in a vacuum, however. Events and people were moving around him like a hurricane. The women in his life were a match in every way to the men. "The Schuyler Sisters," Angelica (Renée Elise Goldsberry), Eliza (Phillipa Soo), and Peggy (Alysha Deslorieux on the night I was there), are the center of New York's solar system. While Washington in planning battle, there is a social life to be created. Angelica is looking for a mind at work, and when both she and her sister, Eliza, are smitten by Hamilton, she steps aside in a scene that is tragic and gallant.

As each element is added to the story, the tapestry becomes richer and more dense. Family brings new responsibility but does not alter Hamilton's trajectory. As the new country is formed, he stays in the inner circle, annoying Thomas Jefferson (Daveed Diggs) who was in France for most of the war, and drives Burr just a little mad. Burr's thirst for the power that Hamilton has is palpable, and as his frustration explodes in the second act with "The Room Where It Happens," the experience is visceral for us all and becomes a showstopper.

Over and over again we see the tragedy that is coming. The rules of dueling are spelled out more than one time. The future is seen as a place where these folks may not walk but in which they will be remembered. The tension and terror of the time fill the theatre. This is balanced by Miranda's eye for the absurd, the ridiculous and the insidious which evoke belly laughs, winces and mental high-fives. He gives a generous nod to King George (Jonathan Groff, who is the only white person playing a main character) who smiles and winks through three pop numbers that remind us in the nicest possible way that the little people are just that:

Cus when push comes to shove I will kill your friends and family to remind you of my love

Hamilton was smart and driven - and he was a writer. It was his pen that got him out of his home, and it would be his pen that brought him to the side of Washington. Today he would have been tweeting (as is Miranda) several times a day. If the telegraph had been around he would have been tapping until the machine melted in his hands. But these were the days of longhand, quills, ink, and parchment. And delivery was by foot or, if you were lucky, horseback. Still, what Hamilton managed to crank out was not only impressive, it was world-altering. His accomplishments are listed like it was an awards banquet. He crafted a financial system. Created the national debt to save the country. Wrote *The Federalist Papers*. He wrote as if he were running out of time. And he was.

The last moments of Hamilton's life are perhaps the most delicately crafted. "I imagine death so much it seems like a memory," Hamilton sings as the bullet travels through time and relationships to reach him. And when it does, we hear the lament of Aaron Burr, still at the center of the tale, who didn't realize the world was wide enough for them both, and the chorus that delivers us back into our seats singing and asking us, "Who lives? Who dies? Who tells your story?"

Hamilton is a magnificent tapestry where all the elements of theatre are called upon to be their very best. The choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler is nothing short of mesmerizing. His work makes the entire piece pulse. Alex Lacamoire's musical direction and orchestration lifts us into the stratosphere. The scenic design by David Korins, costumes by Paul Tazewell, and lights by Howard Binkley are seamlessly integrated and a visual feast. Finally, Thomas Kail's direction is impeccable. Under his guidance this show has been pieced together into a living, breathing entity. *Hamilton* is not just a show, it is an experience - which is always the goal of art. This is not a show that you sit and watch. It is a show that takes you by the hand and pulls you into its embrace.

The end result is something much more than the story of one man. It is the story of how we each create our destiny and our mark on the world. You leave the theater thinking about what you would like to do that you have not done. You leave the theatre filled with possibility.

(Photo by Joan Marcus)&nbsp;<hr />"'Hamilton' makes us feel the unstoppable, urgent rhythm of a nation being born." Ben Brantley for New York Times"With 'Hamilton,' Broadway is officially the coolest place on the planet. And the smartest. And most exhilarating." Joe Dziemianowicz for New York Daily News"Lin-Manuel Miranda's 'In the Heights' may have been a hit — but his 'Hamilton' is a phenomenon." Elisabeth Vincentelli for New York Post"The greatest American musical in decades." David Cote for Time Out New York"It was phenomenal off-Broadway. It's even better now. 'Hamilton' is that rare musical that fires on all cylinders, even ones we never knew existed." Roma Torre for NY1"This is a musical often stunning in its audaciousness." Mark Kennedy for Associated Press"This enormously ambitious and entertaining musical history lesson is even more impressive on a second viewing." Frank Scheck for The Hollywood Reporter"This innovative show is shaping up to be just as much of a phenomenon uptown, playing in a Broadway house with four times the seating capacity, and to a more traditional but no less enthusiastic audience. That universal appeal to crossover audiences is one unmistakable sign of a groundbreaking show." Marilyn Stasio for VarietyExternal links to full reviews from popular press...<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/07/theater/review-hamilton-young-rebels-changing-history-and-theater.html?_r=0" target="Top">New York Times</a> - <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/theater-arts/hamilton-musical-mint-condition-broadway-article-1.2316761" target="Top">New York Daily News</a> - <a href="http://nypost.com/2015/08/06/hamilton-isnt-quite-revolutionary/" target="Top">New York Post</a> - <a href="http://www.timeout.com/newyork/theater/hamilton-1" target="Top">Time Out</a> - <a href="http://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/lifestyles/2015/08/6/ny1-theater-review---hamilton-.html" target="Top">NY1</a> - <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/lin-manuel-mirandas-hamilton-theater-813145" target="Top">Hollywood Reporter</a> - <a href="http://variety.com/2015/legit/reviews/hamilton-review-broadway-1201557679/" target="Top">Variety</a>

'Hamilton' review

HamiltonReview760x300.jpg

Read our five-star review of *Hamilton* on Broadway at the Richard Rodgers Theatre.

The Richard Rodgers Theatre, named after one of the most influential composers in American history, is a Broadway theatre located in New York City. It was originally opened in 1925 as 'Chanin's 46th Street Theatre' and was later renamed in honor of prolific composer Richard Rodgers in 1990. At over 14,000 square feet, it is the highest grossing venue on Broadway, with a seating capacity for an audience of over 1,300 people. Offering a variety of shows, it is best known for the ongoing run of the critically acclaimed musical, 'Hamilton'. Not only does this theatre provide top-notch entertainment, but it also offers an array of amenities for its guests, including wheelchair accessible seating, assistive listening devices, and more. 

*How to get there*: The Richard Rodgers Theatre is conveniently located at 226 W 46th Street, near Times Square. Access to the theatre is easy and convenient with several modes of public transportation available. The nearest subway stations are 49th Street (N, R, and W lines) and 42nd Street - Times Square (A, C, E, N, R, W, 1, 2, 3, 7, and S lines). Alternatively, visitors can take a bus to West 46th Street and 8th Avenue, which is just a short walk to the theatre.

Richard Rodgers Theatre - NY

Richard-Rodgers-Theatre-NY-1600x1200px

Richard Rodgers Theatre

The Richard Rodgers Theatre was built by Irwin Chanin, and it originally opened as Chanin's 46th Street Theatre in 1925.

A number of different owners have operated the theatre. The Shubert brothers purchased the building in 1932, renaming it the 46th Street Theatre. Robert W. Dowling took over in 1945, producer Lester Osterman took the reigns in 1960, and producers Stephen R. Friedman and Irwin Meyer gained control in 1978.

The Nederlander Organization purchased and renovated the theatre in 1981, rechristening it in honor of the American composer Richard Rodgers (of Rodgers and Hammerstein) in 1990.

## How to get to the Richard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway

The Richard Rodgers Theatre is nearest to the 42nd Street - Times Square subway stop on the 1, 2, 3, 7, N, Q, R, W, and S subway lines. Theatregoers can also take the the 1 line to the 50th Street station; or the N, R, or W lines the 49th Street station. All are located about four blocks from the theatre on 46th Street between Eighth Avenue and Broadway.

The nearest bus stop to the Richard Rodgers Theatre is 8th Ave/W 46th St. on the M20 and M104 lines.

## Restaurants near the Richard Rodgers Theatre

The Richard Rodgers Theatre is located one block directly east of Restaurant Row, the stretch of 46th Street between Eighth and Ninth Avenues lined with a diverse array of restaurants. Some popular eateries there include Frankie and Johnnie's Steakhouse, Becco (Italian), Hold Fast (American), and Sushi of Gari 46 (Japanese).

## Where is *Hamilton* on Broadway playing?

*Hamilton* on Broadway plays the Richard Rodgers Theatre at 226 West 46th St. The Pulitzer- and Tony Award-winning hit by Lin-Manuel Miranda has been at the theatre since 2015. *Hamilton* holds the record for most Tony nominations in history (16), is the 26th-longest-running show in Broadway history, and is the longest-running show to ever play at the Rodgers.

Richard Rodgers Theatre - New York Theatre Guide

The Richard Rodgers Theatre, built by Irwin Chanin in 1925, has changed hands multiple times, been renovated, and renamed. It's currently home to 'Hamilton'.

Richard Rodgers Theatre - TodayTix

Richard Rodgers Theatre Seating Plan - NYC - 900 x978 

Richard Rodgers Theatre is a historic Broadway venue in New York, notable for Hamilton performances. Easy access via subway or bus.

Leslie Odom, Jr. plays Purlie Victorious Judson in [*Purlie Victorious*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/27642-purlie-victorious-tickets) at the [Music Box Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/music-box-theatre) through February 4. 

Odom made his Broadway debut at the age of 17 in *Rent*. In 2012, he was nominated for a Drama League Award for *Leap of Faith*. He created the role of Aaron Burr in the Off-Broadway production of [*Hamilton*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/384-hamilton-tickets) in 2015, and he won a Tony Award when the show transferred to Broadway. *Purlie Victorious* marks his first Broadway return since.

Odom was nominated for Academy Award for his performance as soul singer Sam Cooke in *One Night in Miami*. Other film and television credits include *Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, The Many Saints of Newark,* Apple TV+’s *Central Park*, *Abbott Elementary*, *Smash*, and *The Exorcist: Believer*.

As a recording artist, Odom, Jr’s solo albums include *The Christmas Album*, *Mr*, *Simply Christmas*, *Leslie Odom Jr.*, and the recent *When a Crooner Dies*.

Odom is also a New York Times bestselling author with *Failing Up: How to Take Risks, Aim Higher, and Never Stop Learning*. He was honored with a star on the Walk of Fame in his hometown of Philadelphia by the Philadelphia Music Alliance.

Leslie Odom, Jr. - NY

12+ is recommended. Children under 4 years old will not be admitted.

Purlie Victorious on Broadway - NYC [27642]

Purlie Victorious on Broadway

Purlie Victorious on Broadway - NYC Product Media

Flat-out hilarious and stacked with topflight performances led by [Leslie Odom, Jr.](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/leslie-odom-jr-theatre-roles-we-love) and Kara Young, [*Purlie Victorious*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/27642-purlie-victorious-tickets) is also a triumph when it comes to timing. Suffice it to say the play speaks directly to today’s racial tumult.

Considering Ossie Davis’s satirical melodrama premiered on Broadway in 1961, that says something about the stubbornly enduring bigotry and prejudice this broad satire has squarely in its crosshairs. Without saying the actual contemporary phrase, Davis, a writer, actor, director, and civil rights activist, declared to audiences 62 years ago in this work that Black lives matter.

Subtitled *A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch*, the play unfolds in the late 1950s. Self-made traveling minister Purlie Victorious Judson (Odom) returns to segregated small-town Georgia with a plan to buy and rehab the broken-down local church, Big Bethel, and “preach freedom in the cotton patch.” But first, he must trick Ol Cap’n Cotchipee (Jay O. Sanders) – a whip-lashing Jim Crow tyrant who believes in “all that is white and holy” – into handing over $500 that was bequeathed to Purlie’s family. 

Key to Purlie’s plan is his besotted follower from Alabama, Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins (Young). She pretends to be his Cousin Bee, who’s in line for the inheritance. Reluctantly drawn into the ruse is Purlie’s brother, Gitlow (Billy Eugene Jones), whose adherence to the old plantation ways leads Cotchipee to cheer him as a “solid, hard-earned Uncle Tom.” Purlie’s sister-in-law Missy (an ace Heather Alicia Simms), who shares the dream of breathing life back into Big Bethel, lends her own source of support. 

Lutiebelle is game for anything to help, but she’s unprepared to pull off the high-stakes impersonation, so the Bee sting eventually – and riotously – goes pear-shaped at the plantation.

But Purlie persists. He finds an ally in Cotchipee’s liberal-minded son Charlie (Noah Robbins), who supports court decisions to void segregation. After his mother died in childbirth, Charlie was raised by Idella (Vanessa Bell Calloway), and he believes in the rights of African Americans. That comes in handy.

Zipping along in a fleet-footed 100 streaming minutes, the staging by Kenny Leon (*Topdog/Underdog, Ohio State Murders*) boasts terrific work across the board. Before the show begins, a rack of clothes on the otherwise bare stage is visible. In a rush, the actors slip into costumes by Emilio Sosa, as if to announce they’ll be playing parts. 

Derek McLane’s deceptively rustic-looking set nimbly moves the action from the Judson home to Cap’n Cotchipee’s place and back and, finally, undergoes a holy-mackerel, amen-worthy transformation. 

Odom, a Tony winner for [*Hamilton*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/384-hamilton-tickets), is a blast to watch – and hear – as he dives deep to deliver what Davis is preaching. Following back-to-back Tony-nominated performances in the dramas *Cost of Living* and *Clyde’s*, Young shows off delightful comic chops and proves again that she makes every project burn brighter.

In a play filled with barbed grenades, one standout seems so simple, but it’s so complex. “Life is so good to us – sometimes,” says Lutiebelle. “Oh, child,” says Missy, “being colored can be a lotta fun when ain’t nobody looking.” Sixty-two years later, the line still zings and, sadly, stings. 

[*Purlie Victorious* is at the Music Box Theatre through January 7. Get *Purlie Victorious* tickets on New York Theatre Guide.](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/27642-purlie-victorious-tickets)

*Photo credit: Leslie Odom, Jr. and Kara Young in Purlie Victorious. (Photo by Marc J. Franklin)*

'Purlie Victorious' review — hilarious satire still zings after 60 years

Read our five-star review of *Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch*, starring Leslie Odom, Jr., playing at the Music Box Theatre.

The **Music Box Theatre** is a beautifully arranged Broadway venue, poised for epic performances at the heart of New York City. Built in 1921 by playwright, producer, and composer Irving Berlin, the theatre possesses a fascinating history with a capacity of 1,022 seats. Decorated intrically with an azure blue ceiling painted with stars, the theatre's ambiance is known for its grace and elegance. The theatre is home to multiple Tony Award-winning shows. Current and past productions impress with their artistic directions, stunning sets, and outstanding performances. Whether it's an enchanting musical or a dramatic play, each exquisite performance magnetizes audiences from all over the world.

 _**How To Get to The Venue**_

The Music Box Theatre is conveniently located at 239 West 45th Street. By Subway, you can take N, Q, R, or W to 49th Street and walk down, A, C, or E to 42nd Street and walk up, or 1, 2, or 3 to Times Square 42nd Street. Multiple bus routes also stop nearby. If driving, there numerous parking garages in and around Times Square. It's a bustling area, so allow extra time for traffic.

Music Box Theatre - NY

Music Box Theatre

The Music Box Theatre, a historic Broadway venue in NYC, is known for its artistic productions and elegant ambiance.

Leslie Odom Jr. to rejoin 'Hamilton' Broadway cast

Subscribe to our newsletter to unlock exclusive New York theatre updates!