Broadway shows to book for your 2017 holiday to NYC

New York City. The Big Apple. The City that Never Sleeps. Whatever you call it, New York is one of the most exciting places in the world, made all the more enthralling by the polished Broadway productions that the city has become most famous for.

We sat down with travel experts, Travelbag, to get the lowdown on which Broadway shows you should add to your NYC agenda if you’re making your way across the pond in 2017.

The Present

Ticket prices: from $79

Cate Blanchett fans, rejoice! The superstar actress made her Broadway debut at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on 47th Street in December 2016. Set in the Soviet Union in the mid-1990s, the play follows the story of headteacher Platonov and his wife, Anna. However, there is an inner turmoil in their seemingly perfect marriage, which is fuelled by decades of denial and regret.

This play is Andrew Upton’s new adaptation of Chekhov’s Platonov.

Cats

Ticket prices: from $59

A Broadway classic, Cats is performed at the Neil Simon Theatre. Composed by musical theatre pioneer, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Cats is the fourth-longest-running show in the history of Broadway, and has been performed across the world in many different languages. Based on T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, Cats tells the story of each cat’s individual quest to ascend to ‘the Heaviside Layer’.

This adaptation stars Mamie Parris as Grizabella, Tyler Hanes as Rum Tum Tugger and Ricky Ubeda as Mistoffelees.

Photo from Flickr under creative commons: Glyn Lowe Photoworks.

Kinky Boots

Ticket prices: from $57

If you’re looking for a Broadway musical that brings Vegas-like glitz and glamour to New York, this is the one for you! Kinky Boots is based on true events, and follows the fascinating story of Charlie Price and Lola, a fabulous drag queen, who gives him some unique ideas for keeping his father’s shoe factory alive and kicking!

Kinky Boots stars Killian Donnelly as Charlie Price, Todrick Hall as Lola and Taylor Louderman as Lauren.

Sunset Boulevard

Ticket prices: from $79

Starring the ever-fabulous Glenn Close, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s critically acclaimed Sunset Boulevard stuns audiences again and again with powerful performances and mesmerizing visuals. Glenn Close stars as Norma Desmond, a deluded silent screen actress who still believes she’s adored by the film industry, when in fact she is way past her prime and hasn’t been employed in decades. She takes in screenwriter, Joe Gillis, which has sinister consequences.

Sunset Boulevard stars Glenn Close as Norma Desmond, Michael Xavier as Joe Gillis and Siobhan Dillon as Betty Shafer.

Aladdin

Ticket prices: from $49.50

Family favourite Aladdin is brought to life in this adaptation, which features stunning musical numbers and an incredible cast. The fabulous Genie delivers two show-stopping songs, which are supported perfectly by the intricate costumes and beautiful stage designs. This stunning show features world-famous songs from the original 1992 film, such as ‘Friend Like Me’, ‘Prince Ali’ and ‘A Whole New World’.

Aladdin stars Adam Jacobs as Aladdin, Courtney Reed as Jasmine and James Monroe Iglehart as the Genie.

Flights to New York from London take approximately 7 hours. However, this varies depending on whether your flight is direct, and weather conditions.