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Best Broadway Plays to See (September 2026)

Broadway plays offer powerful dramatic experiences. These 13 productions are the highest-rated plays currently running, from gripping dramas to sharp comedies.

13 shows | Last updated: September 2026

How We Rank

Rankings are based on CriticScore, an aggregate of professional reviews from 400+ outlets including The New York Times, Vulture, and Variety. Top-tier outlets carry the most weight in the composite score. Each show needs a minimum number of reviews to qualify. Scores are recalculated weekly. Learn more about our methodology.

1
Death of a Salesman Broadway play

Death of a Salesman

CLOSEDPLAY

Winter Garden Theatre · 2h 50m

86
Audience:A+

Lane electrifies in Mantello's stark, emotionally powerful revival that finds urgent new relevance in Miller's classic, though a few critics find the production overwrought or the stars miscast.

2
Becky Shaw Broadway play

Becky Shaw

CLOSEDPLAY

Helen Hayes Theater · 1h 15m

84
Audience:A-

Gionfriddo's razor-sharp dark comedy earns raves for its brutally honest dissection of toxic relationships and modern dysfunction. Critics praise the excellent cast and fearless writing, though a few find the caustic characters off-putting.

3
Every Brilliant Thing Broadway play

Every Brilliant Thing

CLOSEDPLAY

Hudson Theatre · 1h 25m

80
Audience:A+

Radcliffe charms in this warmly interactive solo play about depression and life's small joys, though some critics find the audience participation gimmicky and the material slight. Most praise its emotional resonance and life-affirming spirit.

4
Joe Turner's Come and Gone Broadway play

Joe Turner's Come and Gone

CLOSEDPLAY

Ethel Barrymore Theatre · 2h 30m

79
Audience:B+

Wilson's poetic masterwork receives a solid if uneven revival, with critics praising the stellar ensemble cast (especially Santiago-Hudson) and Allen's direction, though some find the production doesn't fully cohere.

5
The Balusters Broadway play

The Balusters

CLOSEDPLAY

Samuel J. Friedman Theatre · 1h 35m

79
Audience:A

Lindsay-Abaire's sharp HOA satire earns widespread praise for its stellar ensemble and biting comedy, though some find the premise familiar and emotional beats underdeveloped. Critics hail it as the season's funniest new play.

6
Giant Broadway play

Giant

CLOSEDPLAY

Music Box Theatre · 2h 20m

78
Audience:B+

Lithgow delivers a towering, ferocious performance as Roald Dahl in this timely but preachy drama about the beloved children's author's antisemitism. Critics praise the acting and relevance while finding the play earnest and heavy-handed.

7
Paranormal Activity Broadway play

Paranormal Activity

NOW PLAYINGPLAY

August Wilson Theatre · 2h 20m

Closes Jan 3, 2027

77
Audience:A-

Critics praise this horror adaptation for delivering genuine scares and technical wizardry, with standout sound design creating an electrifying communal experience. Some find the script thin, but most agree it's a thrilling, surprisingly funny Broadway fright fest.

8
Fallen Angels Broadway play

Fallen Angels

CLOSEDPLAY

Todd Haimes Theatre · 1h 30m

77
Audience:B+

Critics largely embrace this fizzy Coward revival, with Byrne and O'Hara's drunken antics drawing raves, though some find the century-old comedy thin. Most praise the performances over the material itself.

9
Bug Broadway play

Bug

CLOSEDPLAY

Samuel J. Friedman Theatre · 1h 55m

74
Audience:B

Critics praise Carrie Coon's powerful performance in this timely thriller about shared delusion and conspiracy theories, though some find Letts's 1996 play feels dated. The intense psychological descent proves more effective than the pacing.

10
Proof Broadway play

Proof

CLOSEDPLAY

Booth Theatre · 2h 45m

71
Audience:A-

Edebiri earns raves for her captivating Broadway debut in this sturdy revival of Auburn's Pulitzer winner, though critics split on whether the 25-year-old play still resonates or feels dated, with some finding it emotionally shallow.

11
Celebrity Autobiography Broadway play

Celebrity Autobiography

CLOSEDPLAY

Shubert Theatre · 1h 30m

69
Audience:C-

Critics find this celebrity memoir reading show intermittently hilarious but uneven, with laughs dependent on the rotating cast. Some praise its genuine humor mining narcissistic autobiographies, while others criticize it as a pricey Broadway cash grab.

12
The Fear of 13 Broadway play

The Fear of 13

CLOSEDPLAY

James Earl Jones Theatre · 1h 36m

60
Audience:A-

Critics are mixed on this death row drama, praising Adrien Brody's committed Broadway debut but finding the documentary adaptation uneven and less compelling than its source material, with many questioning what the stage version adds.

13
Dog Day Afternoon Broadway play

Dog Day Afternoon

CLOSEDPLAY

August Wilson Theatre · 2h 15m

52
Audience:A-

Critics are divided on this star-driven adaptation, with many finding it tonally confused and unable to justify its existence beyond the film. While some praise Bernthal's performance and Guirgis's New York voices, most fault the uneven mix of comedy and drama.