A Dolly Parton musical, 11 more must-see Broadway shows for fall
"Dolly: A True Original Musical" was written and produced by Dolly Parton, who also wrote the music. Credit: Getty Images/Matt Cardy
The fall Broadway season always means plenty of big names on theater marquees, and this year is no exception. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Tom Hiddleston, Rosamund Pike and Raúl Esparza are just a few of the performers who will amp up the star wattage on those marquee lights.
Of course, no name on Broadway will shine as brightly as that of Dolly Parton, who died in August, just months before "Dolly: A True Original Musical" was set to open.
While "Dolly" is sure to be one of the hottest tickets of the season, it's not the only show to look forward to. Here are 11 others that will take center stage this fall (and early winter).
SCHOOL GIRLS: OR, THE AFRICAN MEAN GIRLS PLAY (Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, 261 W. 47th St., begins previews Sept. 8, opens Sept. 28 and runs through Nov. 1, manhattantheatreclub.com) Another biting comedy from the team that created "Jaja's African Hair Braiding." In this one, the queen bee of the Aburi Girls Boarding School is determined to take the crown of Miss Ghana, thing turns ugly ahead of the beauty pageant when a transfer student from the U.S. arrives with an eye on the prize.
OTHER DESERT CITIES (Hudson Theatre, 141 W. 44th St., begins previews Sept. 29, opens Oct. 18 and runs through Jan. 17, otherdesertcitiesbroadway.com)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus makes her Broadway debut in "Other Desert Cities." Credit: Getty Images/Jamie McCarthy
Julia Louis-Dreyfus makes her Broadway debut in this revival of Jon Robin Baitz's drama about a former actor turned politician (Ed Harris) who's not too happy about the memoir his daughter has penned. Rounding out the stellar cast are Allison Janney, Lily Rabe and newcomer Joe Keery.
860 (Imperial Theatre, 249 W. 45th St., begins previews Oct. 1, opens Oct. 21 and runs through Jan. 3, billycrystal860.com)
"860" is a one-man show written and performed by Billy Crystal. Credit: Brian Bowen Smith
Long Beach native Billy Crystal wrote and stars in this one-man show that takes its title from the address of the Pacific Palisades home he and his wife, Janice, lost in the California wildfires in January 2025. Expect plenty of laughs and a few tears, too.
THE IMAGINARY INVALID (Todd Haimes Theatre, 227 W. 42nd St., begins previews Sept., 25, opens Oct. 22 and runs through Nov. 22, roundabouttheatre.org) Moliere's 17th century comedy centers on a hypochondriac who plots to eliminate his medical bills by marrying off his daughter to a doctor. Unfortunately, she thinks the good doctor is a pill.
A FEW GOOD MEN (Vivian Beaumont Theater, 150 W. 65th St., begins previews Oct. 8, opens Oct. 28 and runs through Jan. 10, lct.org) You can handle the truth, which is that Bradley Whitford and Tom Blyth head the cast in this revival of Aaron Sorkin's drama about a military trial involving two U.S. Marines accused of murder.
WANTED (James Earl Jones Theatre, 138 W. 48th St., begins previews Oct. 15, opens Nov, 8, wantedmusical.com) Set in 1893 Texas, this is the true tale of Black twins Mary and Martha Clarke, who pass for white and go on the lam in a bid to save their family's legacy and clear their mother's debts. Incidentally, it's a musical.
THE FANTASTICKS (Hayes Theatre, 240 W. 44th St., begins previews Oct. 22, opens Nov. 16 and runs through Feb. 7, 2st.com) Off-Broadway's longest-running show (it ran from 1960 to 2002 and then again from 2006 to 2015) makes its long-awaited Broadway debut. It's a simple boy meets girl, boy's dad and girl's dad fake a feud, boy and girl fall in love story. The glorious score includes "Try to Remember."
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (Winter Garden Theatre, 1634 Broadway, begins previews Oct. 31, opens Nov. 19 and runs through Jan. 10, muchadobroadway.com)
Hayley Atwell, Tom Hiddleston and the rest of the cast in “Much Ado About Nothing.” Credit: Marc Brenner
This version of Shakespeare's classic comic romance shifts the action from Renaissance Italy to the dance club scene of the 1990s and stars Tom Hiddleston and Hayley Atwell. There was much ado about this show when it ran in London last year.
INTER ALIA (Music Box Theatre, 239 W. 45th St., begins previews Nov. 10, opens Dec. 1 and runs through Feb. 21, interaliabroadway.com)
Rosamund Pike reprises her London stage role in "Inter Alia." Credit: Manuel Harlan
Rosamund Pike makes her Broadway debut in this London import about a Crown Court judge who's far more successful dealing with courtroom cases than the trials of her personal life, in particular, rape accusations made against her teenage son.
GALILEO (Shubert Theatre, 225 W. 44th St., begins previews Nov. 10, opens Dec. 6, galileomusical.com) Good heavens! Raúl Esparza stars in this new rock musical about the famed Italian astronomer and his clashes with the Catholic Church over his scientific theories.
AWAKE AND SING! (Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, 261 W. 47th St., begins previews Dec. 15, opens Jan. 7, manhattantheatreclub.com) The members of a poor Jewish family try to cope while living together in their cramped apartment in the Bronx during the Great Depression in this revival of Clifford Odets' drama. The top-caliber cast includes Broadway veterans Danny Burstein and Jessica Hecht.
DOLLY: A TRUE ORIGINAL MUSICAL (St. James Theatre, 246 W. 44th St., begins previews Dec. 7, opens Jan. 19, dollymusical.com) Dolly Parton may be gone, but her legacy lives on in this musical about her life that she also wrote, produced and did the music for. No word yet on who'll be playing the country music legend. And in a bittersweet note, the show is opening on what would have been her 81st birthday.
A dozen great show to see on Long Island stages
If you don't feel like heading into the city this fall, you can find plenty of great theater close to home. Here are a dozen reasons why Long Island is a mecca for theater lovers.
DEAR EVAN HANSEN (John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport, Sept. 10-Oct. 25, engemantheater.com) When an awkward high schooler pens a letter that is mistaken for a classmate's suicide note, it causes no end of complications for both him and his classmate's family.
ON YOUR FEET (The Argyle Theatre, 34 W. Main St., Babylon, Sept. 17-Oct. 25, argyletheatre.com) The rhythm is gonna get you as songs like "Conga" and "Get On Your Feet" are performed in this is a jukebox musical about Cuban American pop star Gloria Estefan and her musician-producer husband, Emilio Estefan.
CABARET (Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jerfferson, Sept. 19-Oct. 25, argyletheatre.com) The Kit Kat Club is open for business with Sally Bowles inviting everyone to come to the title venue in this Berlin-set musical set against the rise of Nazism in the 1930s.
A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (South Shore Theatre Experience, 115 S. Wellwood Ave., Lindenhurst, Oct. 9-17, southshoretheatre.com) It's not often that Tennessee Williams' heated drama gets performed on Long Island, so this is a rare chance to hear Stanley Kowalski's mating call of "Hey, Steeeeellllllaaaa!!!"
FRANKENSTEIN (Manes Studio Theatre of Long Island, 141 S. Wellwood Ave., Lindenhurst, Oct. 9-25 and 31, studiotheatrelongisland.com) Dr. Frankenstein has created a monster, and he's terrorizing everyone in Tim Kelly's adaptation of the Mary Shelley horror classic.
BURIED CHILD (Strongbox Theater, 40 Main St., East Rockaway, Oct. 30-Nov. 15, studiotheatrelongisland.com) Long Island's newest theater, which used to be a bank, goes for broke with Sam Shepard's Pulitzer Prize-winning dark family drama set at a decaying Illinois farmhouse during the 1970s.
WHERE THERE'S A WILL (Landmark on Main Street's Jeanne Rimsky Theater, 232 Main St., Port Washington, Nov. 1, landmarkonmainstreet.org) Done in the style of an old radio program — including commercials — this 1950s-set play deals with a crotchety aunt, her will and her greedy nieces and nephews.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson, Nov. 7-Dec. 27, argyletheatre.com) It just wouldn't be the holiday season without the Dickens perennial, not to mention the return of Jeffrey Sanzel as Ebenezer Scrooge.
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (Modern Classics Theatre Company of Long Island, BACCA Arts Center, 149 N. Wellwood Ave., Lindenhurst, Nov. 7-22, modernclassicstheatrecompanyoflongisland.net) Harper Lee's classic coming-of-age story come to life on stage.
DR. SEUSS'S HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! THE MUSICAL (John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport, Nov. 12-Dec. 27, engemantheater.com) He's mean, he's green and he hates Christmas. That would be the Grinch who plots to steal all the presents and holiday trimmings in Whoville. Will his plan succeed? What do you think?
MARY POPPINS (The Argyle Theatre, 34 W. Main St., Babylon, Nov. 12-Jan. 3, argyletheatre.com) Everyone's favorite supernanny works her magic on a London household in this family favorite that goes down easier than a spoonful of sugar.
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET CHRISTMAS (The Gateway, 215 S. Country Rd., Bellport, Nov. 27-Jan. 3, thegateway.org) Things are merry and bright in this follow-up to "Million Dollar Quartet" which finds Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins reunited for a Sun Records studio session and rocking out to songs for the holiday season.
—DANIEL BUBBEO
Most Popular
Top Stories
