People have more entertainment options available to them than ever, and yet Broadway theater is still going strong. A recent report from the New York City Comptroller's office found that Broadway theater attendance surpassed last year's levels; more recently, Playbill's grosses report found that 13 of the 26 currently running productions played to 90% or more of their seats filled over the entire week last week, and eight shows earned $1 million or more at the box office. Indeed, Broadway grosses have never been higher.
Cynics say the high grosses are the result of astronomical ticket prices, but there are theater deals to be found. Tickets are now on sale for Broadway Week, which offers two-for-one deals on Broadway shows from September 8-20. The Theater Development Fund (TDF) offers last-minute discounted tickets at the TKTS booth in Times Square, not to mention deep discounts for those in various membership categories including students, teachers, freelancers, union members, retirees, and those under 30. Finally, that's not even counting the lotteries some shows put on themselves.
Moreover, while Broadway has always been thought of the ultimate goal for theatrical productions, AM New York argues that "sometimes Broadway is not the destination. Sometimes it is the detour," citing productions like Little Shop of Horrors, Heathers, and a celebrity-packed production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee as testaments to the success and appeal of off-Broadway productions. One of the most talked-about shows of the summer was a twice-extended off-Broadway production of Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody at The Culture Club, the former home of immersive hit Sleep No More, and a similar fate likely awaits productions for New York City institutions The Public Theater and City Center later this fall. And shortly after Broadway Week ends, the shows participating in Off-Broadway Week will be announced, with two-for-one deals on performances from October 5-18.
Below, we look at ten highly anticipated Broadway and off-Broadway openings taking place this fall.
Broadway Openings
Billy Crystal 860
Previews: October 1
Opening: October 21
Closing: January 3
Buy tickets here
Previews: October 1
Opening: October 21
Closing: January 3
Buy tickets here
Billy Crystal 860 | https://www.billycrystal860.com/
About four years after his Tony-nominated turn in Mr. Saturday Night, celebrated comedian Billy Crystal returns to Broadway with a new solo show that takes its title from the address of the home his family lost in the 2025 Palisades wildfires. It is a sad topic to be sure, but he promises to share happy memories of the nearly half-century he lived there with his family.
The Fantasticks
Previews: October 22
Opening: November 17
Closing: February 7
Buy tickets here
Previews: October 22
Opening: November 17
Closing: February 7
Buy tickets here
The Fantasticks (Second Stage Theatre) | https://fantasticksbroadway.com/
Having run off-Broadway from 1960 to 2002, The Fantasticks is the longest-running musical in the world, and its small cast and minimal set design has allowed it to be performed at such venues as Yellowstone National Park, London's Regent Park, and the White Sands Missile Range. But for all that, it has never played on Broadway until this year, in a production where the fathers in a fake feud will be replaced by a pair of scheming mothers who would like nothing better than to see their sons end up together.
Much Ado About Nothing
Previews: October 31
Opening: November 19
Closing: January 10
Buy tickets here
Previews: October 31
Opening: November 19
Closing: January 10
Buy tickets here
Much Ado About Nothing | https://muchadobroadway.com/
Shortly after the marquee for the Tony Award-winning revival of Death of a Salesman came down at the Winter Garden Theater, colorful new advertising for Much Ado About Nothing went up. Its Broadway run comes on the heels of Tony Award-winning director Jamie Lloyd's production of the show on the West End, and it will reunite the entire cast, including Tom Hiddleston as Benedick and Hayley Atwell as Beatrice. This is a strictly limited engagement that must close in time for Lloyd's acclaimed production of Evita to transfer from the West End to the theater in early 2027, at which time actress Rachel Zegler will reprise her role as the title character.
Galileo
Previews: November 10
Opening: December 6
Buy tickets here
Previews: November 10
Opening: December 6
Buy tickets here
Galileo Musical | https://galileomusical.com/
As TDF observes, the forthcoming season is particularly play-heavy with only four musicals opening. They include a new rock musical about astronomer Galileo, whose discoveries challenged the long-held belief that the sun revolved around the Earth instead of the other way around. The book was written by Emmy Award-winning writer Danny Strong, and a recently announced cast includes Broadway luminaries like Raul Esparza, Joy Woods, Jeremy Kushnier, and Javier Munoz.
Dolly: A True American Musical
Previews: December 7
Opening: January 19
Buy tickets here
Previews: December 7
Opening: January 19
Buy tickets here
Dolly: A True American Musical | https://www.dollymusical.com/
Shortly after Dolly Parton's death on August 25, the producers of her biographical musical announced that it would still open on Broadway on January 19, 2027, which would have been her 81st birthday. It will tell the story of her life, include her greatest hits along with some new songs she wrote for the show, and feature three actresses playing her at different stages of her life.
Off-Broadway
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Previews: October 8
Opening: October 21
Closing: November 22
Buy tickets here
Previews: October 8
Opening: October 21
Closing: November 22
Buy tickets here
The Public Theatre | https://publictheater.org/productions/season/2627/the-curious-case-of-benjamin-button
Over the past 59 years, nonprofit The Public has introduced such shows as Hair, A Chorus Line, Hamilton, Hell's Kitchen, Girl from the North Country, and Suffs to the American theater canon. This year's lineup includes a musical adaptation of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button that debuted to critical acclaim in the West End. The show has not opened yet, but has already been extended.
2:22: A Ghost Story
Previews: October 20
Opening: November 5
Closing: January 17
Buy tickets here
Previews: October 20
Opening: November 5
Closing: January 17
Buy tickets here
Lucille Lortel Theatre | https://lortel.org/222-ghost-story/
If the jump scares of Paranormal Activity aren't your thing but you're still interested in a spooky story, Downtown institution Lucille Lortel Theatre offers an alternative with Olivier Award-nominated 2:22: A Ghost Story. Singer Lily Allen references her time in the London production of the play in her hit single "West End Girl," and the New York production's cast includes Anna Camp and Jasmine Cephas Jones.
In the Heights
Opening: October 28
Closing: November 15
Buy tickets here
Opening: October 28
Closing: November 15
Buy tickets here
New York City Center | https://www.nycitycenter.org/events/2026-2027-in-the-heights
New York City Center's Encores! series presents rarely revived musicals. The 2026-2027 season will include In the Heights, whose origins can be traced back to composer Lin-Manuel Miranda's sophomore year at Wesleyan University. The latest production comes over 16 years after its Tony-winning Broadway run, and five years after a film adaptation was released.
A View from the Bridge
Previews: November 17
Opening: November 27
Closing: February 27
Buy tickets here
Previews: November 17
Opening: November 27
Closing: February 27
Buy tickets here
La MaMa | https://viewfromthebridgeplay.com/
Some theater fans would pay top dollar to see talented performers like Sam Rockwell, Alfred Molina, and Marin Ireland read stock quotes from The Wall Street Journal. But this fall, they will be performing something far more engaging, a revival of Arthur Miller's play A View from the Bridge at experimental venue La MaMa Theatre in the East Village.
Penelope
Opening: December 10
Closing: December 20
Buy tickets here
Opening: December 10
Closing: December 20
Buy tickets here
Classical Stage Company | https://www.classicstage.org/penelope/
Christopher Nolan's film adaptation of The Odyssey was one of the summer's biggest cinematic events. Odysseus' faithful wife Penelope only appears in 16 scenes in the movie, but takes center stage in this musical that previously sold out its run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
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