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Best Broadway Shows Right Now (September 2026)

Broadway is currently home to 19 productions spanning musicals, plays, revivals, and world premieres. Our rankings combine scores from top critics including The New York Times, Vulture, and Variety to identify the very best shows playing right now.

19 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
CATS: The Jellicle Ball Broadway musical

CATS: The Jellicle Ball

CLOSEDMUSICAL

Broadhurst Theatre · 2h 25m

86
Audience:A

Critics largely celebrate this inventive reimagining that sets the musical in ballroom culture, calling it a joyous, galvanic transformation that breathes new life into Lloyd Webber's divisive show through spectacular choreography and queer artistry.

2
Death of a Salesman Broadway play

Death of a Salesman

CLOSEDPLAY

Winter Garden Theatre · 2h 50m

85
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.

3
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.

4
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.

5
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.

6
The Balusters Broadway play

The Balusters

CLOSEDPLAY

Samuel J. Friedman Theatre · 1h 35m

79
Audience:A

Critics praise Lindsay-Abaire's sharp, hilarious satire of a neighborhood association as the season's funniest new play, with stellar ensemble work. Some find it underdeveloped or heavy-handed, but most celebrate its biting social commentary.

7
Schmigadoon! Broadway musical

Schmigadoon!

NOW PLAYINGMUSICAL

Nederlander Theatre · 2h 30m

Closes Apr 4, 2027

79
Audience:A-

Critics largely embrace this affectionate Golden Age musical parody, praising its spot-on references, infectious joy, and sharp choreography. Some find the meta-humor strained on stage, but most agree it's irresistible fun for theater lovers.

8
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.

9
Paranormal Activity Broadway play

Paranormal Activity

NOW PLAYINGPLAY

August Wilson Theatre · 2h 20m

Closes Jan 3, 2027

77
Audience:A-

Critics praise this high-tech horror adaptation for delivering genuine scares and thrills through superior stagecraft, though some find the story thin. The immersive sound design and special effects create Broadway's best horror experience in years.

10
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.

11
Titanique Broadway musical

Titanique

NOW PLAYINGMUSICAL

St. James Theatre · 1h 40m

Closes Sep 20, 2026

76
Audience:A

Critics find this campy Titanic/Céline Dion parody hilariously unhinged and deliriously fun, though some worry its scrappy Off-Broadway charm gets diluted in a larger venue. Most agree it delivers nonstop laughs and high-energy performances.

12
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.

13
The Lost Boys Broadway musical

The Lost Boys

NOW PLAYINGMUSICAL

Palace Theatre · 2h 30m

72
Audience:A+

This visually spectacular vampire musical breaks Broadway's undead curse with thrilling stagecraft and strong performances, though critics note the score and book don't quite match the dazzling production values.

14
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.

15
The Rocky Horror Show Broadway musical

The Rocky Horror Show

NOW PLAYINGMUSICAL

Studio 54 · 1h 50m

Closes Feb 14, 2027

71
Audience:A

Critics find this Studio 54 revival energetic and well-performed, led by Luke Evans' magnetic Frank-N-Furter, but many question whether the once-shocking material still resonates or if nostalgia alone justifies the return.

16
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.

17
The Fear of 13 Broadway play

The Fear of 13

CLOSEDPLAY

James Earl Jones Theatre · 1h 36m

61
Audience:A-

Critics find this true-life death row drama well-acted but dramatically uneven, with Brody's Broadway debut praised though the adaptation from documentary to stage adds little beyond star power.

18
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.

19
Beaches, A New Musical Broadway musical

Beaches, A New Musical

CLOSEDMUSICAL

Majestic Theatre · 2h 20m

44
Audience:C+

Critics find this long-gestating musical adaptation largely waterlogged and misguided, with a forgettable score and maudlin book drowning the story's emotional potential, though Jessica Vosk's performance earns consistent praise.