Summer may be winding down (not the musical Summer mind you—it was just extended through next August!), but there’s still plenty of time to catch a Broadway show!
And among three new musicals that opened this summer, there’s something for everyone! We’ve put together our recommendations for what NYC activities to pair with each one. Whether you’re a rock and roller, a romantic film buff, or a drag enthusiast—there’s something for you!
Gettin’ the Band Back Together
Mitch always wanted to be the next Bruce Springsteen, but he left those daydreams behind for a day job as a big-shot banker. When he is handed a pink slip on his 40th birthday, he’s forced to move back in with his mom in New Jersey. With the threat of foreclosure, he dusts off his guitar, gathers his old gang, and sets out to win the Battle of the Bands to stop it—and maybe even win back the high school sweetheart he left behind.
Once you’ve watched Mitch live out his childhood dreams in Gettin’ The Band Back Together, you’re going to want to revisit your own! Head over to Guitar Center Times Square (218 West 44th Street) to bring your rock and roll dreams to life as you peruse the drum kits, amps, and of course, guitars. You’ll getting your own band back together in no time.
The classic film comes to life on stage as Samantha Barks (Les Misérables film) makes her Broadway debut as Vivian alongside Broadway vet Andy Karl (Groundhog Day, Rocky) as Edward, the wealthy businessman who hires the charming Vivian as a sex worker, only to quickly—and understandably—fall in love with her.
In an iconic scene from the film recreated in the new musical, Vivian returns to a shop that snubbed her after going on a shopping spree elsewhere. (“Big mistake. Huge.”) Though Vivian’s shopping spree happened on Rodeo Drive, New York has no shortage of iconic shopping destinations. Take a stroll down Fifth Avenue and visit Bergdorf Goodman, Tiffany & Co., and of course Saks Fifth Avenue. Then head down to the Nederlander Theatre for Pretty Woman: The Musical.
An Elizabethan romp set to the music of The Go-Go’s, Head Over Heels is a hilarious and sexy celebration of love in all its infinite varieties. Follow a royal family as they embark on an extravagant journey to save their beloved kingdom—and find love and acceptance.
Catch RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 9 contestant Peppermint in the show—then catch the Broadway Drag Brunch at Lips NYC (227 East 56th Street) on Sunday. For over 20 years, New York’s most beloved Queens have performed your favorite showtunes in a boozy Broadway brunch performance at Lips. This NYC drag tradition is the perfect pairing for Broadway’s newest gender-bending musical!
There you have it. Three shows to catch as the summer winds down. And with a whole host of new shows opening this fall, you’d better book your tickets now. You don’t want to get too far behind!