Top Off-Broadway shows to see in New York

Discover Off-Broadway shows playing now, including long-running favorites and new shows on for a limited time.

New York is a huge city, and every neighborhood in every borough is teeming with theatre. The 41 Broadway theatres in the Theatre District sound like a lot, but there are tons more, even, than that beyond Broadway. For the adventurous theatregoer, Off-Broadway theatres are havens for all types of entertainment: shows that differ from traditional plays and musicals, family-friendly theatre, comedy specials, and the next big Broadway hits before they hit Broadway.

If you're interested in Off-Broadway shows but are unfamiliar with the New York theatre landscape, you might not know where to start. Luckily, you're in the right place. Here's our guide to the top Off-Broadway theatre to catch right now, which includes long-running Off-Broadway hits and new shows that are only off Broadway for a limited time. Multiple Off-Broadway shows have stars attached to them, too, so you could see your favorite screen actor or musician's work live in an intimate venue.

Get tickets to an Off-Broadway show on New York Theatre Guide.

Off-Broadway shows playing now

We couldn't even begin to name all the Off-Broadway theatre playing right now, because there are shows in New York everywhere you look. We've rounded up some of the major Off-Broadway shows on now to get you started, including shows that have been on for years. They might have been right under your nose all this time without you realizing it!

The Play That Goes Wrong

The Play That Goes Wrong did something right, because the show got a second life off Broadway after ending its acclaimed Broadway run. This show sees a skilled cast of actors do the hardest task of all: playing hapless amateurs, who are stumbling through opening night of their new murder mystery play. Props go missing, people go missing, and the set falls down — and that's not even the half of it. The Play That Goes Wrong has provided New York audiences with nonstop laughter since 2017, and the only way you could go wrong is by not getting a ticket.

Get The Play That Goes Wrong tickets now.

Gazillion Bubble Show

This bubblicious spectacular is the perfect family-friendly entertainment. At only 60 minutes, it's short enough to hold the attention of even the youngest children, and that time is filled with an assortment of bubble tricks, high-energy music, and colorful light effects. The members of the Yang family have been performing Gazillion Bubble Show for over a decade, delighting countless families with their un-bubble-lievable skills.

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Little Shop of Horrors

Buy your token and go down to Skid Row! Little Shop of Horrors, the cult classic horror-comedy musical by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, has taken root at the Westside Theatre for an acclaimed Off-Broadway revival. Stars like Jonathan Groff, Jeremy Jordan, Conrad Ricamora, and Skylar Astin have all stepped into the role of the nebbish flower shop worker Seymour. When Seymour comes upon a mysterious talking plant, the plant promises him everything his heart desires — if he's up to provide the plant with human flesh to eat.

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The Office! A Musical Parody and Friends! The Musical Parody

The Theater Center is home to two homages to your favorite sitcoms, playing on alternate nights so you can catch one right after the other. Bob and Tobly McSmith are the creators behind The Office! A Musical Parody and Friends! The Musical Parody, unauthorized send-ups set to original music. The Office! A Musical Parody mashes up all the best moments from the Dunder Mifflin office on the hit TV show, while Friends! The Musical Parody incorporates classic Friends references into an all-new storyline about a runaway bride crashing the gang's ordinary day at Central Perk.

Get The Office! A Musical Parody tickets now.

Get Friends! The Musical Parody tickets now.

Drunk Shakespeare

At Drunk Shakespeare, the Bard has never been so boozy. You may have fallen asleep during your Shakespeare lesson in high school, but you might find that his plays are much more interesting when one of the actors performing them has taken five whiskey shots beforehand. The remaining four sober actors are on hand to keep the drunk one on track, but also run with that actor as they take the story in potentially new directions. You'll probably find yourself laughing as the antics unfold anyway, but drinks are available for the audience to buy, too, if you want to join in the fun.

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Titanique

This Off-Broadway hit is anything but a sinking ship. Audiences have kept Titanique afloat since June, and the show has extended its limited run through February. Titanique has something for everyone: Celine Dion fans, Titanic film fans, theatre fans, and general pop culture followers. The musical spoofs the plot of James Cameron's iconic film, as told in Dion's words and with her greatest hit songs. Our critic describes this buoyant show as "a boatload of campy fun."

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Sleep No More

A story from one of history's greatest playwrights meets the world of one of history's greatest filmmakers at Sleep No More. This immersive show is an adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth, with scenes unfolding on five floors of the McKittrick Hotel and numerous secret experiences to discover as you walk through. The story is presented with a vintage noir twist inspired by the films of Alfred Hitchcock.

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Perfect Crime

Perfect Crime is New York's longest-running play, with more than 12,000 performances in its holster since 1987. And its lead actress, Catherine Russell, is a Guinness World Record holder for having played the same role for all that time: the psychiatrist Margaret Brent, who is suspected of killing her husband. But a disturbed former patient of Brent's is a suspect, too, and things get even more complicated when the detective assigned to the case starts falling for Brent. The twists and turns of this thriller will keep fans of Law & Order and true crime podcasts guessing until the last gunshot.

Get Perfect Crime tickets now.