2023-2024 Broadway Season Ranked

I saw every new show that opened on Broadway in the 2023-2024 season. Once more, perfectly normal and not at all cost-prohibitive. Compared to seasons' past, this one was plentiful in new musicals and utterly bereft of quality. Usually I have at least four shows that rewire my entire circuitry, but not this time.

Do you have strong opinions on any of these new shows? Are you filled with unstoppable rage at this list? Do you agree wholeheartedly? Discuss.

Jaja's African Hair Braiding

Written by Jocelyn Bioh

Dir. Whitney White

Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, 2023

This dazzling world premiere welcomes you into Jaja’s bustling hair braiding shop in Harlem where every day, a lively and eclectic group of West African immigrant hair braiders are creating masterpieces on the heads of neighborhood women. During one sweltering summer day, love will blossom, dreams will flourish and secrets will be revealed. The uncertainty of their circumstances simmers below the surface of their lives and when it boils over, it forces this tight-knit community to confront what it means to be an outsider on the edge of the place they call home.

(Photos by Matthew Murphy)

'Jaja's African Hair Braiding,' Hysterical, Fun, Profound

With riotous humor and a profound message, 'Jaja's African Hair Braiding' is one to see.

(L to R): Brittany Adebumola, Dominique Thorne in Jaja’s African Hair Braiding (Matthew Murphy) Jaja’s African Hair Braiding by Jocelyn Bioh in its world premiere at the Manhattan Theatre Club (Samuel J. Friedman Theatre), is a rollicking comedy with an underlying twist that, by the conclusion, turns as serious as a heart attack. Bioah’s characters are humorous, quick studies that deliver the…

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The Tony Awards Eligibility Committee has confirmed the eligibility status of 10 productions this season: Grey House, Once Upon A One More Time, Here Lies Love, The Cottage, Back to the Future: The Musical, The Shark is Broken, Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, Merrily We Roll Along, and Gutenberg! The Musical!

Notably, it has been determined that Daniel Radcliffe and Lindsay Mendez will be eligible for Best Featured Actor/Actress rather than Best Leading Actor/Actress.

It seems most other determinations made decided whether a performer qualified for Leading or Featured Actor/Actress or how Projection Designers were categorized.

Broadway Divas Tournament: Round 3

Anika Noni Rose (1972) is a Tony-winning actress known for Caroline, or Change (2004), A Raisin in the Sun (2014), and the 2013 first workshop of Hamilton where she originated Angelica Schuyler. She is also known for being one of the iconic Dreamgirls in the 2006 film, as well as the voice of Tiana in Disney's The Princess and the Frog. In 2011, alongside Lea Salonga, she was named a certified, official, Disney Legend. Her latest Broadway show, Uncle Vanya, will open this week.

Multi-hyphenate LaChanze (1961) won her first Tony as Celie in The Color Purple (2006) and is known for her fantastic work in shows like Once On This Island (1990), Summer: The Donna Summer Musical (2018), and Trouble in Mind (2021). She is the only Diva to have two Tony Awards for producing, having won both of them last year, one for Kimberly Akimbo and the other for Topdog/Underdog. This season, she has produced Here Lies Love and Jaja's African Hair Braiding, and is co-producing The Outsiders.

NEW PROPAGANDA AND MEDIA UNDER CUT: ALL POLLS HERE

"I continue to remain in awe of this woman's undeniable beauty as I eagerly await the day I see Uncle Vanya."

"LaChanze is a wonderful performer, but she truly is a divine producer. I have loved nearly every single show she's put on since she started a few years back, and I hope she keeps raking in those Tonys for it."

tony award thoughts. glad to see gatsby getting only one nomination, they dont deserve more than that, despite the fact that the cast is quite good. disappointed to not see james monroe inglehart nominated for spamalot he put his whole heart and soul into being as goofy as possible and he deserved it, but happy for leslie rodriguez kritzer finally getting her flowers. also glad to see shaina taub getting her flowers even if i have mixed opinions on suffs as a piece of theater and a concept. im happy for merrily, and am pleasantly surprised that gayle rankin was nominated for cabaret. seeing the list of best musicals and seeing that only one of them is a truly original piece (even then, it's based on a moment in history) is incredibly disheartening. also why was gutenberg nominated but not spamalot (ik its clear i have favorites but it was a much better show and clearly not just a vehicle to bring two stars to the stage and stupid cameos and stuff-- no real hate i think andrew rannells and josh gad are very funny especially together, but :/) I hope that jaja's african hair braiding wins, i was really sad i couldnt see it. cabaret will win best revival, though merrily winning wouldnt be shocking-- in fact i could easily see merrily winning and the cabaret fans being very very upset in the way that people get online lol. i am a best musical category hater, but i guess i can root for suffs on principle, though i am interested in the outsiders and apparently its quite good. the tonys are all one big ad, and every year the nominations (and winners, real ones know what im talking abt *stares forlornly and vindictively at 2017*) prove this, but it doesnt make it any less demoralizing.

NEW!!

Casts of CABARET, THE GREAT GATSBY & More to Join MTC Spring Gala

The event will take place on Monday, May 20 at Cipriani 42nd Street.

By: Chloe RabinowitzMay. 09, 2024

Manhattan Theatre Club will present its annual Spring Gala on Monday, May 20 at Cipriani 42nd Street. The evening will include performances by the casts of many of this Broadway season's most acclaimed musicals, including Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, Days of Wine and Roses, The Great Gatsby, The Notebook, The Outsiders, The Who's Tommy, and Water For Elephants, with special guest appearances by Tony Award nominees Betsy Aidem, Jocelyn Bioh, Rachel McAdams, Whitney White and more

The MTC Spring Gala co-chairs are Marie T. Gallagher and Thomas F. Secunda.

The Spring Gala begins with cocktails at 7:00pm, followed by dinner and the gala performance. The funds raised by this spectacular event will help Manhattan Theatre Club, one of America's preeminent not-for-profit theatres, continue to develop and produce the highest quality of new work for the stage like this season's Jaja's African Hair Braiding, Prayer for the French Republic, Mary Jane – each honored with a 2024 Tony Award Nomination for Best Play – Poor Yella Rednecks, and Brooklyn Laundry, and help fund its robust Artistic Development program and MTC Education, which brings the power of live theatre into the lives of learners of all ages.

Individual tickets for MTC's Spring Gala, including cocktails, dinner, and the show, are available for $6,000, $4,000, and $3,000.  Tables of 10 are available for $60,000, $40,000, and $30,000. Tickets can be purchased online at manhattantheatreclub.com/events/spring-gala-2024 or by calling (212)-399-3000 ext. 4147.

The Spring Gala creative team includes Jason Michael Webb (music director), Joel Shier (lighting design), Leon Rothenberg (sound design); and James FitzSimmons and Jereme Kyle Lewis (stage managers

I’m not okay, I’m missing them so bad…😞

Andy’s last public appearance was on October 18th, 2023. He was at the Chichester Festival Theatre in West Sussex, England🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 and Danai’s last public appearance was on October 3rd,2023. She was at the opening night of the Broadway play Jaja's African Hair Braiding in New York, USA🇺🇸.

And since then, it's been radio silence. No more news. I miss them so much😭

Words From The Wings: Brittany Adebumola of JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Talks Backstage Rituals, Moments, and More! https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Words-From-The-Wings-Brittany-Adebumola-of-JAJAS-AFRICAN-HAIR-BRAIDING-Talks-Backstage-Rituals-Moments-and-More-20231011

you should all go see jajas african hair braiding. like it genuinely felt like you were apart of the shop

My biggest thrills from this Tony nomination cycle:

Five actor nominations for Stereophonic. Out of the seven-person cast, six were making their Broadway debut, and they are all so good in that show.

Seven Best Featured Actress in a Musical nominees. The race is now anxiety-inducing to an entirely new degree.

Look, we love to see 5/7 be women of color, and the two white women are Jewish, so it is a zero WASP category.

AND SPEAKING OF BEBE NEUWIRTH.

Grey House wasn't forgotten. What a weird little play. I actually kind of loved it.

Steven Skybell continues the streak of Herr Schultz nominations. I've been worried about him, but I'm so glad to see he made it.

All this love for Jaja's African Hair Braiding. Deserved. Favorite play of the season.

Kelli O'Hara, my beloved, keeping her streak strong. She's the only nominee from a closed show, so statistically that's a no-win for her. But she's the strongest contender, and I'll die on that hill.

Important note: in Jaja’s African Hair Braiding (now in previews at the Samuel J. Friedman Theater) they play the “Why are you running? Why are you running!” video in full onstage

Broadway Divas Tournament: Round 1C

Multi-hyphenate LaChanze (1961) won her first Tony as Celie in The Color Purple (2006) and is known for her fantastic work in shows like Once On This Island (1990), Summer: The Donna Summer Musical (2018), and Trouble in Mind (2021). She is the only Diva to have two Tony Awards for producing, having won both of them last year, one for Kimberly Akimbo and the other for Topdog/Underdog. This season, she has produced Here Lies Love and Jaja's African Hair Braiding, and is co-producing The Outsiders.

Beloved character actress Ann Harada (1964) has a lengthy stage career with a propensity for stealing the show and audience's hearts. She's best known for playing Christmas Eve in Avenue Q (2003), and fairytales feature prominently on her resume with shows like Cinderella (2013), Fairycakes (2021), and Into the Woods (2022). She will appear off-Broadway this spring in Atlantic Theatre Company's The Welkin.

PROPAGANDA AND MEDIA UNDER CUT: ALL POLLS HERE

"Not only is she immensely talented onstage, but in her inaugural debut as a producer she won two Tonys in the same damn year. She won Best Musical for my beloved Kimberly Akimbo, and Best Play Revival for Topdog/Underdog, a fucking riveting show. And now she's got three more this season AND she's making her directorial debut with an off-Broadway show. Diva, Icon, That Bitch."

"You know, I see Ann Harada at shows all over the city all the time, in the cheap seats, unbothered, eternally cheerful. She's always happy to be there enjoying the art, and I like that. She had the audiences screaming in Dear World with her imaginary dog who was absolutely real and a vital part of the plot. The schtick she did got some of the most raucous applause of the night."

Jaja's African Hair Braiding: The Perks and Pitfalls of seeing it on Broadway Live via your Computer

For only the third time in Broadway history, you can see a play this weekend live as it’s being performed on stage even if you live thousands of miles away. “Jaja’s African Hair Braiding,” Jocelyn Bioh’s inviting workplace comedy, is  being “simulcast” live online at every performance through this Sunday, November 19, when it closes at Manhattan Theater Club’s Broadway theater, the Samuel J.…

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