A blood-covered Norma Desmond and a bloodied Joe Gillis may have ridden off into the Sunset (Boulevard), but there are still plenty of Broadway productions ready to send chills up audiences' spines during the Halloween season.
Below are five shows that are all currently casting their own magical spells on New York crowds, offering mischievous spirits, darkly glamorous transformations, and more (with plenty of sweet treats available at the concession stands). Be advised, you are entering the worlds of ghosts, witches, and the wonderfully weird at your own risk!
(Some shows may run a modified schedule during the week of Halloween, so check Playbill's schedule of Halloween week performances to make sure the show you want to see is running on the day you want to see it.)
Wicked
This long-running Broadway hit, which has spawned a two-part film adaptation (the second half arrives next month), is a perfect choice for any time of the year, but it feels especially enchanting in October with its themes of witchcraft, destiny, and rebellion. A story of friendship between the not-so-Wicked witch Elphaba and the curly-locked Glinda explores what it means to be misunderstood in a world obsessed with appearances. There are levitating broomsticks, witches' incantations, flying monkeys, and evil lurking behind seemingly kind characters, but it may be the emotional magic from Stephen Schwartz's score—which includes "The Wizard and I," "Defying Gravity," "No Good Deed," and "For Good"—that lingers with you the longest after you have left the Gershwin Theatre.
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Death Becomes Her
This Tony-nominated stage adaptation of the campy 1992 film of the same name offers a glossy and ghoulish tale of vanity, immortality, and revenge. Like the film that co-starred Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn, the Christopher Gattelli-directed (and choreographed) Broadway musical at the Lunt-Fontanne follows two fierce rivals who discover a potion promising eternal youth—at a deadly cost. Broadway favorites Jennifer Simard and Megan Hilty—Tony-nominated for their performances as, respectively, Helen Sharp and Madeline Ashton—revel in the campy glamour, witty dialogue, and tuneful score. And, yes, the gnarly side effects of the eternal youth potion seen in the film are on full display on Broadway, including a gaping hole in Helen's stomach. And when Simard pushes Hilty down the stairs, her body tumbles and her bones break in a slow motion showstopper. This may be Broadway at its most decadently dark, simply an undead delight.
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Beetlejuice
He's baaaaaack... again! Beetlejuice the Musical is currently enjoying its third Broadway engagement, this time at the famed Palace Theatre. This perennially perfect choice for the Halloween season has returned to the Main Stem, and audiences are again cheering for the mischievous demon from the underworld who haunts a suburban house and its new inhabitants, the Deetz family. Adapted from the cult-favorite 1988 film by book writers Scott Brown and Anthony King and songwriter Eddie Perfect, Beetlejuice premiered on Broadway in 2019, then returned for a second go in 2022 before launching a national tour later the same year. It is this multitalented national touring company, led by Justin Collette in the title role and Isabella Esler as Lydia, that is currently drawing screams as well as fits of laughter from Broadway crowds. And, in addition to the eye-popping stage effects and spooky spectacle—including a giant sandworm, levitation, and a stage full of Beetlejuices—there is a surprisingly sweet story about love, loss, and finding joy in life, even after death.
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Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Stranger Things: The First Shadow, the stage prequel to the long-running, hit Netflix series, is currently scaring theatregoers eight times a week on Broadway at the Marquis after working similar magic on London audiences (it continues in the West End at the Phoenix). With chilling theatrical flare, and some how-did-they-do-that stage magic, the drama takes audiences to Hawkins before it became a hotbed of horror. The play explores when Henry Creel first moves to the Indiana town in 1959 and follows his eerie road to become the eventual ruler of the Upside Down. Most of the play is set in high school (which is scary in its own right), and audiences get the chance to witness younger versions of Stranger Things characters Jim Hopper, Bob Newby, and Joyce Maldonado. Expect astonishing visual effects, clues to the mystery that sparked the series, supernatural suspense, and more. Also, plan to be on the edge of your seats since there's plenty of jump scares that seem tailor-made for Halloween lovers.
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Harry Potter and Cursed Child
The Tony-winning Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is filled with witches, wizards, and magical thrills. Created by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany, the play picks up years after the famed books and follows Harry’s son, Albus, as he wrestles with legacy, friendship, and a few spells gone awry. More than seven years since its first Broadway bow, audiences continue to be in awe of the thrilling stagecraft, including levitating wands and breathtaking illusions. But it's not only the magic, the fire, or the flying Dementors that leave attendees on a theatrical high. It is also the themes of destiny, family, and redemption. There is a reason why the production won six 2018 Tony Awards, including Best Play. Go see for yourself this Halloween season why Harry Potter's magic remains a true wonder.
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Plus, show off your love for Broadway by purchasing Playbill stickers. We have a wide range of stickers from various shows past and present, including some for popular revivals such as ART, Chicago, and more. Buy 10 or more single stickers and get two free stickers! Visit PlaybillStore.com.
