Now that it’s winter on America’s East Coast, the days are starting to get dark by 4:30 pm. Given the chilly air, there’s nothing like bringing a little cheer to your NYC evenings like a night out on Broadway! A toasty theater, cozy (some call them intimate) chairs, and performances beautiful enough to warm the heart from the inside out.
Below, five shows I’ve seen recently that I highly recommend! From Motown musicals to jaw-dropping dramas, you’ll be in excellent hands at any of these productions.
Ain’t Too Proud: Is the electrifying new musical that follows The Temptations’ extraordinary journey from the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. With their signature dance moves and unmistakable harmonies, they rose to the top of the charts creating an amazing 42 Top Ten Hits with 14 reaching number one. The rest is history — how they met, the groundbreaking heights they hit and how personal and political conflicts threatened to tear the group apart as the United States fell into civil unrest. This thrilling story of brotherhood, family, loyalty and betrayal is set to the beat of the group’s treasured hits, including “My Girl,” “Just My Imagination,” “Get Ready,” “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” and so many more.
Jagged Little Pill: The original story of suburban subversion inspired by Alanis Morissette’s Grammy-Award winning album.
Mary Jane Healy is a high-achieving homemaker who will do anything for her family, including their adopted African-American daughter Frankie, who is struggling to find her place in their lily-white community. But when the Healys’ lives begin to unravel, Mary Jane’s drive to keep her family together threatens to break them apart.
Truffles! The Musical: It’s a dark and stormy night at the Donati family restaurant, as those lovable oddballs Dante and Olga Donati prepare to auction off their legendary 2-pound truffle. When the mushroom is stolen and a murder discovered, it is up to YOU and the rest of the TRUFFLES family to discover “whodunnit” before the legendary mob boss Don Fiola puts the Donatis out of business for good! Enjoy a sit down dinner as YOU the audience participate in this musical murder mystery. From the creators and fans of the original long-running production, this reimagined TRUFFLES invites you to a one of a kind immersive dinner theater experience, an evening of playful jazz, poisoned wine, and proper comedy.
The Sound Inside: A brilliant Ivy League writing professor. A talented yet mysterious student. An unthinkable favor.
Everyone has a story—the question is how it ends. Taking you behind the ivy-covered walls of Yale, and into New York’s literary haven, Greenwich Village, THE SOUND INSIDE is a riveting new American play.
Chicago: A true New York City institution, CHICAGO has everything that makes Broadway great: a universal tale of fame, fortune and all that jazz; one showstopping song after another; and the most astonishing dancing you’ve ever seen.
Jessica Tiare Bowen lives in the juicy Big Apple with her adorable pink-nosed chihuahua, Gillman. He’s the inspiration for her first published children’s book, “Park Avenue Pound Puppy.” The book is the combined result of her two greatest passions: pooches and penning stories.
Her passions include art, urban hikes through Manhattan, drinking coffee with 3 creams and 6 sugars, making extremely detailed itineraries and traveling to far away places, singing along to Broadway shows, Netflix movie nights, discovering incredible treasures at Goodwill and thrift stores, and listening to stories from little people under 7 and big people over 70.
She started her career as New York City Teaching Fellow, teaching elementary school and theater arts at a special education school in the South Bronx for 6 years. She is now a Special Education School Improvement Specialist working in public schools throughout New York City. She is the Editor-In-Chief of the online New York City travel magazine, Used York City. The magazine focuses on finding the best of New York…as used by New Yorkers. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and an ASPCA Ambassador.
