New York City Theatre
and Performing Arts

To see New York City theatre is to see some of the best theatre in the world. The city has defined itself as a center for culture and performing arts and attracts extraordinary talent from all over.

Whatever your taste in shows, there is sure to be a performance you will enjoy.

Broadway

Broadway is often the first thing that comes to mind when people think of New York City theatre.

To use an analogy, Broadway is to theatre as the Olympics are to sports. Most major cities have good theatre but Broadway is certainly at the top.

The only other thing in the world that is on par with Broadway is London’s West End Theatre.

"Broadway" refers to a collection of shows that are performed in one of the 39 Broadway theatres in the Theatre District of New York City.

Incomparable Talent

The talent showcased on a Broadway stage is incredible. All performances are live onstage, right in front of you. No do-overs, no cuts.

These artists are true performers. They may not get the same attention as Hollywood stars, but their brilliant ability to belt out a tune, dance, and act night after night in front of a crowd is certainly remarkable. The effects, lighting, and stage design are also top quality.

Broadway Schedule

Broadway is usually “dark” on Mondays, meaning there are no shows, but there are exceptions, so check the show times and schedules. Typically, evening shows are presented every night Tuesday through Sunday and matinees are on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. Tickets to matinees are usually slightly cheaper than to evening shows.

Broadway Shows

There are lot of shows to choose from. Quite a few websites offer good information about Broadway shows. Broadway.com allows you to sort shows based on such criteria such as “musical” and “kid-friendly” and gives good descriptions of each show. Broadway shows may include heavy topics, nudity, and off-color language, so if you’re bringing kids it’s worth a little research to find a show that’s appropriate.

Location

Broadway theatres are all clustered around Times Square. The street named Broadway runs through this area but the theatres are not necessarily located directly on this popular thoroughfare.

Broadway Tickets

Learn how to get cheaper Broadway tickets from the tkts booth.

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts

Broadway isn't the only show in town when it comes to great New York City theatre. Lincoln Center is a true leader in the performing arts arena. The 16 acre complex of elegant performance venues is located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

Twelve organizations make their home at Lincoln Center, including the New York City Ballet, Met Opera, New York City Opera, and New York Philharmonic.

Location: Broadway and Columbus Avenue
Directions: By Subway, take the 1 Train to 66th Street

Performances at Lincoln Center Venues

The Lincoln Center experience is special from start to finish. The performance venues and concert halls at the world’s leading performing arts center are gorgeous, pristine, and state-of-the-art. You will likely want to hang around long after the performance is over, enjoying the atmosphere and taking pictures.

Here is just some of what Lincoln Center has to offer at its 22 New York City theatre performance venues:

Metropolitan Opera (Met Opera)

Venue: Metropolitan Opera House
Season: September - May
Website: www.metoperafamily.org

The Metropolitan Opera is one of the world’s premier opera companies and attracts outstanding talent. Famous names like Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo can be associated with the Met Opera.

Learn more about Metropolitan Opera Tickets.

New York City Opera

Venue: David H. Koch Theatre
Season: November - April
Website: www.nycopera.com

The city's second largest opera (after the Met) has served as a launching pad for the careers of many young stars. City Opera has gained a reputation of being more audacious that the traditional Met Opera and has cheaper tickets too.

New York City Ballet

Venue: David H. Koch Theatre
Website: www.nycballet.com

The New York City Ballet is one of the world’s leading dance companies. Most of the works performed by the company were choreographed by George Balanchine, the famous pioneer of American ballet and co-founder of the NYC Ballet.

New York Philharmonic

Season: September - June
Venue: Avery Fisher Hall
Website: www.nyphil.org

The New York Philharmonic was founded 1842, making it the oldest symphony orchestra in the United Stations. This orchestra is widely acclaimed and gives performances around the U.S. and the world.

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