Broadway’s Best of 2024: A Year of Emotion, Innovation, and Unforgettable Performances
New York, NY — This year, Broadway once again proved its power to captivate, challenge, and inspire. From daring revivals to groundbreaking originals, 2024 delivered a feast of theatrical brilliance. As we reflect on the highlights of this extraordinary year, these ten standout productions remind us why the Great White Way continues to shine.
1. Mary Jane
Rachel McAdams made an indelible Broadway debut in Mary Jane, a poignant exploration of resilience, motherhood, and the human spirit. Amy Herzog’s masterfully written play followed a single mother navigating the complexities of caring for a chronically ill child, striking a delicate balance between heartbreak and hope. McAdams’ disarming wit and raw vulnerability made her performance one of the year’s most talked-about, leaving audiences at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre emotionally shattered and deeply moved. Though it closed in June, its profound impact lingers, cementing Mary Jane as the crowning achievement of 2024.
What it’s about: A single mother struggles to balance work, caretaking, and her own emotional well-being as she raises her chronically ill son. The play delves into themes of love, endurance, and the invisible sacrifices made by caregivers.
2. Oh, Mary!
Cole Escola’s Oh, Mary! turned history into comedy gold, transforming Mary Todd Lincoln into a hilariously unhinged antihero. At the Lyceum Theatre, Escola’s biting humor and razor-sharp script reimagined Lincoln as a paint-thinner-drinking recluse with dreams of stardom. With Conrad Ricamora as her closeted husband, the 80-minute satire was both wildly entertaining and oddly touching. Playing through June 28, Oh, Mary! is a sensational blend of chaos, wit, and heart.
What it’s about: The play portrays a fictionalized, absurdly comedic version of Mary Todd Lincoln as she navigates her dysfunctional marriage, wild ambitions, and penchant for self-destruction, offering a satirical take on historical narratives.
3. Maybe Happy Ending
Original musicals are rare gems on Broadway, and Maybe Happy Ending is a glittering example of why we need them. This futuristic love story between two androids, played by Darren Criss and Helen J Shen, was a visual and emotional masterpiece. Brimming with humor, heartache, and stunning visuals, the show at the Belasco Theatre captured the fleeting nature of connection and the timeless longing for love.
What it’s about: In a futuristic world where androids serve humans, two outdated robots meet, fall in love, and explore the human-like emotions of connection, longing, and loss before their expiration dates.
4. Sunset Boulevard
Nicole Scherzinger’s breathtaking performance as Norma Desmond electrified the St. James Theatre in Sunset Boulevard. Jamie Lloyd’s minimalist revival traded traditional grandeur for stark, haunting visuals, placing Scherzinger’s raw vocals and desperate intensity front and center. This bold reimagining of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Hollywood tragedy stood out as one of Broadway’s most daring productions.
What it’s about: A faded silent film star clings to dreams of a Hollywood comeback, manipulating a young screenwriter into her web of delusion and obsession.
5. Gypsy
Audra McDonald delivered a career-defining performance as Mama Rose in Gypsy, a blazing revival that reclaims its place as one of Broadway’s great classics. McDonald’s powerful rendition of “Rose’s Turn” brought audiences at the Majestic Theatre to tears, breathing new life into the story of ambition, sacrifice, and the perils of showbiz. Already a frontrunner for next year’s Tony Awards, Gypsy continues to captivate.
What it’s about: A stage mother’s relentless pursuit of fame for her daughters drives her to make sacrifices that ultimately strain her relationships and lead to her own reckoning.
6. Illinoise
Justin Peck’s dance-driven Illinoise was a revelation, weaving heartbreak and healing through the ethereal music of Sufjan Stevens. At the St. James Theatre, performers like Ricky Ubeda and Rachel Lockhart delivered wordless but deeply emotional performances that redefined storytelling on Broadway. Though it closed in August, its impact is still felt, and its innovative choreography remains unmatched.
What it’s about: This abstract, dance-based musical uses Sufjan Stevens’ songs to tell a story of love, loss, and healing, portraying the stages of grief through breathtaking movement.
7. Cult of Love
Leslye Headland’s Cult of Love at the Hayes Theater captured the beauty and pain of family dynamics with searing insight. Zachary Quinto and Barbie Ferreira anchored the production, while Rebecca Henderson and Roberta Colindrez shone as the family’s compassionate outsiders. The play’s exploration of faith, identity, and love struck a universal chord, and it remains a must-see through Feb. 2.
What it’s about: A volatile family reunion exposes hidden secrets and old wounds, testing the bonds of loyalty, faith, and love within a deeply fractured family.
8. Death Becomes Her
The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre became a haven for camp and comedy with Death Becomes Her, a wildly entertaining adaptation of the 1992 cult film. Megan Hilty and Jennifer Simard brought larger-than-life performances to the roles of vain rivals obsessed with eternal youth, while dazzling illusions added to the spectacle. Marco Pennette’s witty script turned vanity into high art, making it one of the year’s most riotous productions.
What it’s about: Two lifelong frenemies discover a magical potion that grants eternal youth, leading to outrageous, over-the-top rivalry as they face the consequences of immortality.
9. An Enemy of the People
Jeremy Strong’s riveting performance in An Enemy of the People earned him a Tony Award and transformed Henrik Ibsen’s classic into a modern allegory of truth and resistance. Sam Gold’s immersive staging at the Circle in the Square Theatre invited audiences to confront the play’s timeless themes of misinformation and power. Though it closed in June, this production remains one of the most powerful of the year.
What it’s about: A doctor’s warnings about environmental dangers in his town are met with resistance and backlash, exposing societal flaws in truth, trust, and power dynamics.
10. The Heart of Rock and Roll
A Huey Lewis jukebox musical that turned an unlikely premise into pure joy, The Heart of Rock and Roll was a crowd-pleaser that defied expectations. Set at a packing supplies conference, the show brought inventive staging, clever humor, and standout performances—especially McKenzie Kurtz’s show-stealing turn. Though it closed in June, its infectious energy made it a delightful surprise of the season.
What it’s about: A quirky romantic comedy set at a corporate conference, where unexpected love blooms amid the catchy backdrop of Huey Lewis’s greatest hits.
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