Here’s my list of recommended Broadway, off-Broadway, and out-of-town shows, updated weekly. In all cases, I gave these shows favorable reviews (if sometimes qualifiedly so) in The Wall Street Journal when they opened. For more information, click on the title.
BROADWAY:
• An American in Paris (musical, G, too complex for small children, most performances sold out last week, reviewed here)
• Fool for Love (drama, R, most performances sold out last week, closes Dec. 13, reviewed here)
• Fun Home (serious musical, PG-13, virtually all performances sold out last week, reviewed here)
• A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder (musical, PG-13, many performances sold out last week, closes Jan. 17, reviewed here)
• Hamilton (musical, PG-13, all performances sold out last week, reviewed here)
• Hand to God (black comedy, X, absolutely not for children or prudish adults, closes Jan. 3, reviewed here)
• The King and I (musical, G, perfect for children with well-developed attention spans, reviewed here)
• Matilda (musical, G, reviewed here)
• Les Misérables (musical, G, too long and complicated for young children, reviewed here)
• Spring Awakening (musical, PG-13/R, closes Jan. 24, reviewed here)
OFF BROADWAY:
• Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps (comedy, G, ideal for bright children, remounting of Broadway production, original production reviewed here)
• Eclipsed (drama, PG-13, closes Nov. 29, reviewed here)
• The Fantasticks (musical, G, suitable for children capable of enjoying a love story, reviewed here)
• The Flick (serious comedy, PG-13, too long for young people with limited attention spans, reviewed here)
IN CHICAGO:
• The Price (drama, PG-13, closes Nov. 22, reviewed here)
CLOSING SOON OFF BROADWAY:
• First Daughter Suite (serious musical, PG-13, extended through Nov. 22, reviewed here)
CLOSING NEXT WEEK IN CHICAGO:
• The Tempest (Shakespeare, PG-13, closes Nov. 8, reviewed here)
CLOSING SATURDAY IN NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, ONTARIO:
• Sweet Charity (musical, PG-13, reviewed here)
CLOSING THIS WEEKEND IN ASHLAND, OREGON:
• Sweat (drama, PG-13, closes Saturday, reviewed here)
• Guys and Dolls (musical, G, closes Sunday, reviewed here)
CLOSING THIS WEEKEND OFF BROADWAY:
• A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare, PG-13, remounting of Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival production, closes Saturday, original production reviewed here)
• Unseamly (serious comedy, R, closes Sunday, reviewed here)
