Make a day out of 'Chicago' in New York City

The record-breaking Broadway mainstay is tailor-made for fans of jazz, true crime, and musical classics — check out more New York attractions they'll enjoy, too.

Gillian RussoJune 13, 2024, 04:00

For 25-plus years and counting, Chicago on Broadway has brought razzle dazzle to millions of audience members. Now the longest-running show currently on Broadway, and second-longest-running show in Broadway history, John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Bob Fosse's musical may be named for a city in Illinois, but it's a New York institution.

In 1920s Chicago, housewife Roxie and vaudeville star Velma get jailed for murdering their lovers. The only way to (literally) save their necks is to win the favor of the press and the public — and get Billy Flynn, a silver-tongued lawyer, on their case. And so a competition between the women begins.

Chicago in New York is far from the only NYC attraction for fans of jazz, true crime, or even the title city. If you want to plan a full itinerary of exciting activities around Chicago on Broadway, here are some spots we recommend checking out in the Theatre District and beyond.

Get Chicago tickets now.

The Second City New York

With theatres like Steppenwolf and the Goodman, which regularly move their shows to Broadway, Chicago established itself as a theatre hub before the Chicago musical even came out. But since 1959, when The Second City opened, it's been a comedy hub, too.

The Second City is a training center and comedy club that launched the careers of people like Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Steve Carell. Its name is a joking reference to how Chicago was always in New York's shadow as a "second city" for entertainment. But as of 2023, The Second City has a location in the First City — and you'll never know what future comedy star you could see at the Brooklyn hotspot.

Learn more about The Second City New York.

Address: 64 N. 9th St., Brooklyn
Price: $$

"The Bean" sculpture in NYC

Another Chicago landmark that made the leap east is the iconic "bean" sculpture. The original Chicago one, officially titled "Cloud Gate," is nicknamed for its bean-like shape and is reflective, making it a popular spot for photo ops.

The untitled New York "bean" has a similar shape and mirrored surface. It's not just a faux knockoff of the Chicago one, though: The same artist, Anish Kapoor, designed both sculptures.

Address: 56 Leonard St.
Price: Free

Emmett's Pizzeria

Although we believe New York-style pizza is the best, we understand that if you want the full Chicago experience, you'll have to get it Chicago style. Deep dish pizza is a rare find in the city, but one of the best places to get it is Emmett's. Located in Greenwich Village (a 15-minute subway ride south of the Theatre District), this casual joint also serves drinks, apps, salads, and sandwiches.

Prefer to go uptown? You can also get Chicago-style pizza at the well-known restaurant chain UNO, which has a location on Columbus Avenue and 81st Street across from the American Museum of Natural History. But when in NYC, we'd always recommend visiting eateries and attractions you can't find in your hometown.

Address: 50 Macdougal St.
Price: $

Don't Tell Mama

If Velma and Roxie were around today, they'd be popular fixtures of NYC's nightlife and cabaret scene. One place we'd expect to see them is Don't Tell Mama, a restaurant, cabaret, and piano bar just three blocks from the Ambassador Theatre.

The venue, popular among theatre folk, hosts live entertainment nearly every night of the week, including singing, comedy, and variety acts. Velma and Roxie's double act would fit right in.

Additionally, a live pianist plays each night from 5-9 p.m. at the piano bar, after which the stage gets handed over to the singing waitstaff — or you. Open mic hours are 9:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. daily if you want to channel your own inner vaudevillian.

Address: 343 W. 46th St. between Eighth and Ninth Avenues
Price: $

Jazz at Lincoln Center

To get your Jazz Age fix in a more upscale setting, head to Frederick P. Rose Hall, home to Jazz at Lincoln Center. Ride a special elevator up and be greeted with stunning views of Columbus Circle and Central Park below before your show even begins.

The Rose Hall comprises three venues: the grand Rose Theater for mainstage events; the intimate Dizzy's Club for cabaret-style performances over food and drink; and the sleek Appel Room, modeled after a Greek amphitheatre.

Whichever you choose, you'll be treated to a world-class performance by an esteemed jazz orchestra, with groups coming from all over the world to perform.

Address: 10 Columbus Circle, inside The Shops at Columbus Circle
Price: $$

True Crime: The Musical

Did you know Chicago was inspired by real-life events? Roxie and Velma are based on actual '20s murderesses Beulah Annan and Belva Gaetner, making Chicago a true-crime pioneer before the genre became hugely popular.

True Crime: The Musical at the Players Theatre is another New York show that will satisfy crime junkies. It's not exactly "true," though: Audience members suggest a victim, a weapon, and a location, and improv duo Beautiful Dreamers (Jillian Vitko and Maggie Lalley) invent a musical on the spot in which they solve the invented case.

Get True Crime: The Musical tickets now.

Address: 115 Macdougal St.
Price: $$

Perfect Crime

In many ways, Perfect Crime at The Theater Center is like Chicago's fraternal twin. The main difference is that Perfect Crime is an Off-Broadway play instead of a Broadway musical — and the perpetrator in Warren Manzi's show, having possibly committed the "perfect crime," might not get caught at all, unlike Roxie and Velma.

Both, however, tell thrilling crime stories and have been running for decades. In fact, Catherine Russell, lead actress of Perfect Crime, holds the Guinness World Record for playing the most performances in the same female role. She's only missed a handful since the show opened in 1987.

Get Perfect Crime tickets now.

Address: 210 W. 50th St. between Eighth Avenue and Broadway
Price: $$

Chicago

Now that you've experienced the best of jazz, true crime, and Chicago in New York, it's time to go to the one place where it all comes together: the Ambassador Theatre, home of Chicago on Broadway. Even if you haven't seen the musical yet, you might recognize songs like "Cell Block Tango," "Razzle Dazzle," and "All That Jazz" from the Oscar-winning film adaptation starring Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Richard Gere.

None of them appear on stage, but Chicago regularly features a rotating lineup of celebrities in the lead roles, from Hollywood actors to chart-topping musicians to reality TV favorites. Even without famous faces, though, Chicago's longevity speaks to its quality. If you're looking to experience a staple of New York's theatre scene, it would be a crime to miss Chicago on Broadway.

Learn more about Chicago on Broadway.