Student Blog: The Lights are Still Bright on Broadway

With a new year comes a new opportunity to see Broadway shows. Since the re-opening of Broadway in September of 2021, several productions from Hamilton to Wicked have continued to perform eight shows a week to eager audiences. Although these past few weeks have been difficult, Broadway productions have remained open despite the many challenges that the Omicron variant has presented. While it is difficult to foresee how the rest of the pandemic will play out, it becomes clear that the best time to see a Broadway show is now, especially since crowds are smaller, tickets are easier to attain, and the logistics are easier to navigate. With this in mind, compiled below is a list of some of the shows to see right now, presenting the theatrical highlights of 2022 so far.

One of the exciting opportunities each year is to witness new original productions and revivals develop and open on Broadway. There are quite a few productions to experience that have recently opened or are about to open. For instance, fans of David Byrne and "The Talking Heads" can see American Utopia at the St. James Theatre. In this theatrical concert, David Byrne and eleven other artists take the stage to perform some of his chart-topping hits. Fans of the late Stephen Sondheim will enjoy the recently opened revival of Company. This wonderful production is a must-see with show-stopping performances from Katrina Lenk and the legendary Patti LuPone. For those who love golden age musicals, the much anticipated The Music Man revival with Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster has begun previews and is scheduled to open on February 10, 2022. Having opened in October, the all female pop musical, Six, which tells the story of the six wives of Henry VIII, has garnered critical acclaim and praise from audiences of all ages.

In addition to the significant number of new shows opening on Broadway this season, there are also several thrilling events happening within existing productions. Specifically, a few days ago, the longest-running Broadway show, The Phantom of the Opera celebrated its 34th anniversary on Broadway. The production added to the significance of this celebration by introducing the first Black actress to play the lead role of Christine on Broadway, Emilie Kouatchou. Furthermore, in the popular musical Wicked, Brittney Johnson is set to take over the role of Glinda on February 14th, making history as the first Black woman to play the role. Although the play already opened before the pandemic, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has changed its formatting, condensing its two part production into one three-hour production. Moreover, the recent Tony-award winning Moulin Rouge! The Musical continues its run, welcoming new cast members such as Eric Anderson as Harold Zidler and Jessica Lee Goldyn as Nini. Take note that the dazzling original cast member, Robyn Hurder, will play her last performance as Nini on February 20th. With so many new and existing productions to see, it certainly makes 2022 an exciting time for Broadway and theatre lovers. Despite the unprecedented times we live in, there is always something to look forward to when the lights stay bright on Broadway!

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