Top theatre to see in New York in July

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.

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 are popping up alongside buzzy Off-Broadway shows and Tony Award-winning shows continuing from earlier this year.

Elsewhere around the city are encore engagements of acclaimed shows, new world-premiere plays, and plenty of entertainment that the whole family will enjoy now that the kids are on summer break. Check out all the can't-miss shows in July below.

Plus, read our complete guide to summer theatre in New York — what to see, where to see it, and how to plan your trip.

Get tickets to a Broadway show on New York Theatre Guide.

Job

Succession's Peter Friedman and Sydney Lemmon lead the psychological thrill ride that is Job, fresh off two hit Off-Broadway runs. When Jane is sent to a therapist after having a public breakdown at work, she's determined to say whatever is necessary to get back to her job. But it's not that simple, and their conversation exposes the dark sides of both their jobs, and of themselves.

Get Job tickets now.

Oh, Mary!

Search Party star Cole Escola's Oh, Mary! brings the White House to New York for a limited time after a hit Off-Broadway premiere. Escola stars as Mary Todd Lincoln during the weeks before Abraham Lincoln's (Conrad Ricamora) asassination. But these aren't the Lincolns of the history books: Escola's versions harbor secrets, addictions, and desires, and are just flat-out wacky for 80 minutes.

Get Oh, Mary! tickets now.

Cats: The Jellicle Ball

You only have until July 28 to see the Cats revival that has everyone talking. Cats: The Jellicle Ball, a reinvention of Andrew Lloyd Webber's classic musical, is steeped in New York ball culture. Queer and transgender "cats" compete in various dance and fashion contests for a chance at new life.

"Cats: The Jellicle Ball is one of the best musicals, revival or otherwise, to be staged in New York," our critic raves, also calling the show "not only refreshing, but revelatory."

Get Cats: The Jellicle Ball tickets now.

N/A

This sharp, 80-minute political drama brings Capitol Hill to Lincoln Center this summer. Holland Taylor and Ana Villafañe respectively star as "N," the first female Speaker of the House, and "A," the youngest Congresswoman in history. Inspired by Nancy Pelosi and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, these two women battle for power and progress as the political tides rapidly shift.

Get N/A tickets now.

From Here

The new musical From Here is a loving homage to the city of Orlando and its queer community. The show centers on Daniel, a 30something gay man rocked by the shooting at the Pulse Nightclub that happened that year. A cast entirely from Orlando leads this show about healing and finding strength in one's chosen family amid tragedy.

Get From Here tickets now.

Empire: The Musical

You know the 102-story building, but do you know the building's story? Empire: The Musical is inspired by the hardworking, visionary, and diverse people that created the Empire State Building. The show takes place in three eras — the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, and the Bicentennial Year of 1976 — in which thousands of people pin their hopes and dreams on the glittering skyscraper and the resilience it represents.

Get Empire: The Musical tickets now.

someone spectacular

This new play by Domenica Feraud is set at an apparently normal group therapy session — except that the counselor who leads it is unexpectedly absent. Without order or structure, the session flies off the rails, leading to unexpected and unique revelations about loss.

Get someone spectacular tickets now.

Six Characters

A group of citizens trespass on a cultural center, and all hell breaks loose. Wigs fly. Archives explode. Wounds open. Who will make it out alive — including among the audience? Phillip Howze’s new play explores abolition, power, and whom our institutions were created for.

Check back for information on Six Characters tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

Photo credit: Sydney Lemmon and Peter Friedman in Job off Broadway. (Photo by Emilio Madrid)