Summer’s almost over, and for New York City public school students, the first day back to school is approaching (September 5). That makes August the perfect time to explore the city—there’s still time for one last adventure before the homework, hall passes, and homeroom routines kick back in. If you’re a choir kid, a drama club star, or just someone who lives for a good story, August is the perfect time to make one more Broadway memory while seeing characters your age take the spotlight.
Right now, five Broadway shows are diving headfirst into the chaos, comedy, heartbreak, and weirdness of being a teenager. From blockbuster franchise fare to emotionally charged new dramas, these shows offer front-row access to the hopes, fears, and growing pains of adolescence.
So whether you’re gearing up for your freshman year or counting down the days until you’re done with high school, here are five shows to catch before summer ends.
Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Set in 1959 Hawkins, Indiana, The First Shadow is a prequel to the hit Netflix series Stranger Things. The play zeroes in on high-school–aged versions of Jim Hopper and Joyce Maldonado as they navigate strange events before the world turned upside down. When Henry Creel (destined to become the big baddie Vecna) arrives in town, the teen drama spills into horror territory. The production, directed by Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin, plays the Marquis Theatre, which has been outfitted for some truly eye popping effects.
This isn’t just a prequel for superfans, it’s a full-on theatrical event, blending the emotional volatility of adolescence with jaw-dropping stage illusions and projections that immerse the audience in Hawkins’ descent into darkness. If you like scares in your shows, this is the one for you.
Click here for tickets and information.
The Outsiders
S.E. Hinton’s 1967 novel lives on in this fiercely heartfelt musical adaptation, which follows the Greasers and the Socs, two rival teen gangs, through the turbulent streets of Tulsa, Oklahoma. With a roots-rock score by Jamestown Revival and Justin Levine, The Outsiders infuses its high school–aged characters with raw poetry and grit, making this story of loyalty and loss feel timeless.
At its core, The Outsiders is a portrait of boys forced to grow up far too soon. Directed by Danya Taymor (in one of her two entries on this list), the musical leans into its characters’ emotional volatility: their need to protect each other, to lash out, to be seen. This is a back-to-school pick for anyone who knows how hard it can be to just make it through adolescence unscathed, and how friendships formed in that powder keg can last a lifetime.
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Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Technically, Albus Potter and Scorpius Malfoy are at a magical all-ages boarding school instead of high school, but the trials of teenage-hood are the same whether you're facing potions class or peer pressure. In Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the Wizarding World’s next generation navigates time-traveling disasters, shifting identities, and the immense pressure of living up to parental expectations. Now in a streamlined one-part version, the play features jaw-dropping stagecraft and a surprising amount of emotional resonance.
This Tony-winning play by Jack Thorne offers one of Broadway’s most vivid portrayals of adolescent anxiety. It’s about misunderstood boys struggling with legacy, identity, and friendship problems far more universal than any dark wizard. Even if you’ve never read the books, the play casts a powerful charm: it’s high school drama, Hogwarts-style, with all the angst and adventure that entails.
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John Proctor Is the Villain
Now playing at the Booth Theatre through September 7
It’s a new year at Helen County High in rural Georgia, and the AP English class is reading The Crucible. But when real-life #MeToo accusations shake the student body, Arthur Miller’s witch hunt becomes a whole lot more than just homework. In John Proctor Is the Villain, playwright Kimberly Belflower brilliantly captures the volatile cocktail of hormones, hashtags, and moral reckoning that has defined Gen Z’s high school experience.
The production, directed by Danya Taymor, currently stars Chiara Aurelia as Shelby Holcomb, following Sadie Sink’s Tony-nominated run, which concluded July 13. With its sharp wit, aching honesty, and well-placed pop song interludes, John Proctor Is the Villain reframes classroom canon through a modern feminist lens, and demands we reconsider who gets to be the hero. The play's final performance is set for September 7, so act now to see the show before school is back in session!
Click here for tickets and information.
Hell's Kitchen
Alicia Keys’ semi-autobiographical musical takes us back to 1990s Manhattan, where 17-year-old Ali is itching to escape her mother’s rules and find her voice, both literally and figuratively. Directed by Michael Greif (auteur behind another high school-set musical, Dear Evan Hansen), Hell’s Kitchen pulses with the energy of the city and the frustrations of a teenager on the cusp of adulthood. With Keys’ iconic songs and some new music crafted for the stage, Ali’s journey sings loud and clear.
While the setting is nostalgic, the emotions are evergreen: first crushes, longing for independence, finding your voice. Currently, Amanda Reid leads a powerhouse cast, and Keys’ score lends the production propulsive momentum and emotional depth. Back to school might be a time of growing pains, but Hell’s Kitchen proves that sometimes the hardest lessons lead to the strongest voices.
Click here for tickets and information.
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