New York City has long been home to a variety of cultural entertainment. In Manhatten alone you could in one day see a taping of Wendy Williams in the morning, catch a Broadway show in the afternoon, go to the Opera in the evening and a jazz or burlesque show at night. There is everything you could ever want and a million options to choose from. Below is a list of what I believe are the must-do theatres to go to both their legacy and up-coming performances.
See a show on Broadway
Broadway is truly iconic. As one of two biggest theatre districts that are world renowned (the other being the West End), many of the most successful, longest running shows have called Broadway their home. The Phantom of the Opera is the longest running show at 29 years. Some of the biggest shows you can currently see on Broadway include Hamilton, Chicago, Cats, Les Miserables, The Lion King and Book of Mormon.
See a Talk Show being filmed.
If you get the opportunity, take advantage of the abundance of chat / variety shows that film in New York from Saturday Night Live to Jimmy Fallon and for which tickets are free. It is quite a process to get them though so click here to read my article on how to get tickets to the Late Night Talk Shows.
See a show at Madison Square Garden
Manhattan on Seventh Avenue between 31st and 33rd Streets
Madison Square Garden, The World's Most Famous Arena, hosts everything from huge concerts to basketball games.
I went to see the Red Hot Chilli Peppers at MSG and the venue is truly incredible. It is both huge yet intimate. Compared to the O2 or other huge arenas, you feel so much closer to the artist.
To book a show or see what is coming up CLICK HERE.
Tickets to events at Madison Square Garden are available at the Garden Box Office, and Ticketmaster online, phones and outlets.
See a show at Carnegie Hall
881 7th Ave, New York, NY 10019
For over a century, Carnegie Hall has been the place where distinctive artists of all stripes have come to make their names in New York City or make live albums including Glenn Miller, Billie Holiday, Judy Garland, Ike & Tina Turner and Nina Simone. This tradition of excellence has made Carnegie Hall an essential part of the city’s cultural fabric and the world’s most famous concert hall.
See a show at Radio City Music Hall
1260 6th Ave, New York, NY 10020
For decades, America's most popular entertainers have thrilled audiences here. Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Sammy Davis, Jr., Johnny Mathis, Ray Charles and BB King have all appeared on the Great Stage. Today, the Music Hall continues to attract celebrities from the worlds of entertainment, sports, the media and national life. Shows starring Bette Midler, Stevie Wonder and Riverdance pack the house. Their reopening gala featured Tony Bennett, Billy Crystal, The Eurythmics, Barry Manilow, Liza Minnelli, Sting, The Radio City Rockettes...and many others. In the past decade, Radio City has hosted the Grammy's and the Tony's, The MTV Video Music Awards and the ESPY Awards. It has been the site for TIME Magazine's celebration of its 75th year, complete with a visit from the President, and a host of benefit events. It has remained a magical place for people in the spotlight.
See a show at Apollo Theatre
253 W 125th St, New York, NY 10027
The phrase "Live From The Apollo" is in everyone's phycse, whether you have seen a show filmed from there or not.
Since opening its doors in 1914 and introducing the first Amateur Night contests in 1934, the Apollo has played a major role in the emergence of jazz, swing, bebop, R&B, gospel, blues, and soul — all quintessentially American music genres. The Apollo was one of the first venues that many performers ever performed in and thus helped launch the careers of Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, James Brown and Lauryn Hill.
See a show at the Lincoln Center
10 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023
The Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts hosts many notable performing arts organizations, which are nationally and internationally renowned: the New York Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Opera, and the New York City Ballet, Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Film Society of Lincoln Center (sponsor of the New York Film Festival), Juilliard School, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts and the School of American Ballet.
See a show at the Metropolitan Opera House
30 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023
The Metropolitan Opera is a vibrant home for the most creative and talented singers, conductors, composers, musicians, stage directors, designers, visual artists, choreographers, and dancers from around the world. The Summer 2017 season includes the 'Summer Recital Series' and after reading the program I am incredibly devastated to not be attending! So if you are in New York this summer, make sure you add an incredible bit of culture to your trip.