Best Broadway Shows for the Holidays!

The holiday season is approaching, and that means that New Yorkers and tourists alike will bond together on Broadway: seeing great shows to escape the cold. Even a pro can be at a loss when deciding what to see, but I’m here to help you out by giving you a list of the best Broadway shows this winter.

• Avenue Q: The first show to start off our list technically isn’t a Broadway show. This hilarious, off-Broadway musical stars puppets and their puppeteers, much in the same manner as classic shows like Sesame Street. Although, these puppets don’t play nice. Nearly all of their songs are NSFW, so don’t bring the kids along.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7N6KrVrG8I

• The Book of Mormon: Much like with Avenue Q, I do have to caution that this show should probably be viewed as PG-13 at the least. Even though a lot of swear words are dropped (and many in reference to religion), the play ends up having a kind of heart and sentimentality that older, more classic plays could only hope for. It’s my favorite show that I’ve seen this season and I couldn’t recommend it highly enough.

• Elf: This musical reopens just in time for the holidays! It has all the holiday cheer and charm of the original Will Ferrell movie, plus the added cozy Broadway feelings. This musical is taken for granted, but it’s often a guilty pleasure.

• The Heiress: The only non-musical on the list, this drama is set to alight Broadway anew. What better to see than a period drama starring Jessica Chastain (The Help) and Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey)? Previews began for this show only a few days ago, and the word on the street is that this play will be a hot ticket this year.

• Jersey Boys: This musical is a staple. Of course, the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons is incredibly catchy and for some of us nostalgic, but I think this musical is special because it weaves an intriguing plot around really cool sets and catchy tunes. As far as older musicals go, I prefer this over Wicked, Mamma Mia!, and Phantom of the Opera.

• Matilda: This musical based on the Roald Dahl book of the same name comes to us from across the pond. The music and lyrics come from the great mind of musical comedian Tim Minchin. In the field of musicals about small girls, its only competition is Annie, and while the new production of Annie has been well-reviewed so far, the show has been overdone. Matilda is a new musical fresh from winning seven Oliviers – the British equivalent of a Tony. You won’t want to miss this.

• Once: Once is a fabulous musical, because it walks the thin line between being an intimate rock concert and a big, flashy Broadway musical. All of the cast members play their own instruments, and when they aren’t on stage, they serve as the orchestra. The love story will warm you up inside, and you get to listen to some insanely talented people. It’s a win-win.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb6-HdfvWZQ

I already have my tickets purchased for The Heiress and Matilda, and I’m hoping to see more of the shows on this list as well! Lots of good stuff to see. Don’t miss out!

Caroline