I have two musical theater fans. I fully admit it and embrace it. Since I took them to see Hamilton at the Orpheum in San Francisco, they have been infatuated with the art form. My daughter heard about SIX, and when she realized we would be in New Jersey, she found and purchased tickets for us to go using her graduation gift money. I was so proud of her for that. But I thought, if we are going to New York to see SIX, why not make it a day for Musical Theater Nerds. A little bit of internet research and we found the perfect itinerary to make it a day in New York focused on the amazing art. Check out our itinerary and how you too can have a musical theater-based New York City Day.
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The Ultimate NYC Broadway Day Itinerary
Located on 45th Street just off time’s square, this immersive museum is quite the find. You start with a movie talking about how Broadway ended up where it is. Then you go through 3 floors of Broadway history, mostly in chronological order. You see original costumes from the Ziegfeld Follies, set recreations for West Side Story, and how the backstage works, including a to scale replica of the Gershwin Theater where Wicked is based. Of course, there are several Instagram-able photo spots along the way and some spectacular work by artists inspired by the famous shows. At the end you see costumes from shows on Broadway today, including original costumes from SIX, Hamilton, and even boots signed by Lin Manuel Miranda! Make sure to give yourself 90 – 120 minutes to really enjoy the experience.
Afterwards we went to Theatre Circle. This is a small gift shop a few blocks away that is known for carrying the merch for all the shows that are on Broadway currently. You can get a t-shirt from Heathers, a key chain from The Outsiders, and there was even a Hamilton water bottle I really wanted but didn’t want to carry around all day. However, the real treat is in the backroom. There are several books and sheet music for all sorts of plays, musicals and more. If you are a theater fan, it’s a great place to pick up sheet music for pieces you want to work on. You need 30 – 45 minutes here, unless you have someone who is searching for just the right book or music, then you might need more time.
Owned by Lin-Manuel Miranda, this place is an oasis south of people who love books and theater. It’s part art, with the dramatic books on the ceiling and sheet music painted over display cases, and part book lovers’ paradise. All over there are shelves of books, some are books for musicals, some are sheet music, some are plays. Some are books that these were based on. There is a whole section for young adults and children about theater and the theater world. But it’s also a coffee shop with a cozy vibe. You are invited to find a place to sit and read, enjoy a cup of coffee or an espresso and a treat, while immersing yourself in a book about the musical theater world you never knew. If you are just shopping for books, maybe 30-60 minutes, but if you are getting a coffee and sitting, plan for longer.
Any musical theater nerd knows that dancing is a big part of being on stage, and any dancer knows Capezio. They are known for their pointe/ballet shoes and gear, but they have clothing, shoes, and gear for all kinds of dance. And of course, merchandise essential for any dancer. It’s on the second floor, so you have to search for it, but it’s a large flagship store with a full area to try out the dance shoes. We picked up some new lyrical half-soles for my daughter, and of course a New York City Dance Crew hoodie. If you are getting shoes, this will take more time. If you are just exploring the racks, you need no more than 30 minutes.
Some point throughout the day you need to eat, and if you are doing a day in New York for Musical Theater nerds, you need to hit up Ellen’s Stardust Diner. A famous diner on the corner of Broadway and 51st street, for 35+ years this diner actively hopes to lose its staff. They hire waiters and waitresses who want to be on Broadway. In between servicing tables, they are invited to get up and since famous songs from different musicals. Our waitress sang “Hopeless Devoted to You” from Grease and we watched two amazing wait staff sing “Phantom of the Opera”. They talk about how many of their wait staff have left to perform on Broadway, off-Broadway and touring shows. Go for dinner, stay for entertainment. I would plan to spend 60 – 90 minutes here once you are inside.
Watching a Broadway Musical
Finally, what brought us to New York City. Any show that you watch will be amazing. However, we lucked out in watching a musical that has taken Broadway by storm. SIX is an 80-minute one-act musical that reimagines the six wives of Henry singing about their lives. It’s fun, rocking and surprisingly powerful. It’s also a small theater, and you can get good orchestra seats for a lower price.
Pro-Tips for Planning Your NYC Theater Day
- Expect a full day: We got into the city early enough to do a 10 AM entrance to the Museum of Broadway, and we had 7:30 tickets to SIX. It was a long day, and we ended up with more downtime than expected, which we spent at places like the Disney Store, the M&M Store, and coffee shops for snacks. We have suggested amounts of times above, but you know your family best and plan accordingly.
- Plan in rest: There is a lot of walking. I like the idea of hitting up Drama Bookstore when you need rest and a snack. It’s a perfect place to get a coffee and a sweet treat, and to sit at a table or bench while browsing a good book about Broadway.
- Get All the Signatures: After the show, ask the staff where the stage door is, and go hang out there. About 30 minutes after the show, the actors come out and sign your playbill. It’s a New York tradition that is so much fun to be a part of.
- Be Ready to Wait for Food: You cannot make reservations at Ellen’s Stardust Diner. We went at 3 pm when there was no line, but it was also around shift change. When we left at 4:30, there was quite a line outside. You might want to go for breakfast or have an early dinner, like we did before the show.
- Comfort over Fashion: I say this every trip, but forget your cute stuff. Pack good walking shoes and a decent-sized day pack. I bought new Reebok fashion sneakers that stood the test of the all-day walking. However, you know I always love my Sketchers Go Walk. I wish I had brought my CHERUTY backpack because of all the merch we bought. I ended up having to take out my reusable shopping bag, and we had an extra bag to carry all day.
- Budget Accordingly: This is not a cheap day. For your kids, I suggest having them save or set a budget for what you will (or won’t) buy at the various stops.
- Only Dancers need to visit Capezio: Unless you need ballet supplies or custom dance shoes, Capezio can be a skip. I thought it was a bigger store and had more dance merchandise. (I was hoping to find a dance mom shirt). But there wasn’t much casual merch, and it was mostly monochromatic dance clothing.
- Guaranteed singing: If you want to guarantee seeing singing at dinner and not having to wait in line, eat at Gayle’s Broadway Rose, which is also known for its singing during the meal and allows reservations. I can’t speak about the food, but it is highly rated due to its talented staff. I did notice the prices are a bit higher than Ellen’s Stardust Diner.
- Skip the Museum of Broadway Store: The Museum of Broadway has a store at the end, but it has all the same items as Theatre Circle at the same prices. However, Theatre Circle has more selection, more literature, and is a small business. Unless you really want specific Museum of Broadway merch, skip the store at the end and go straight to Theatre Circle.
NYC Broadway Budget Tips
I will be real with you. As I said before, this is not a cheap day. The Museum of Broadway is on the more expensive side, and any Broadway merch is always expensive, no matter the day. There are a few ways to help with the cost, but make sure you prioritize where you want to spend your budget.
- Broadway Show Tickets: If you want tickets to a specific show, it’s best to go straight to the show website to get the best prices on the seats. But if you are open to any show, there are some discounts. Check out websites such as Broadway Box where you can get discount codes and sign up for digital lottery tickets up to a week ahead of time. If you are really adventurous, check out the TKTS booth in Times Square where you get tickets on the same day at deep discounts. You can check on the website to see what is available that day. But go early to get the best selection.
- Museum of Broadway: There are ways to save even on this museum. If you plan ahead and purchase early, the price is lower. Also, if you purchase a specific entrance time frame, it’s cheaper than purchasing an anytime entrance ticket.
- Broadway Merch: The best I can say here is to set a budget and stick to it. At the time of writing this, t-shirts ran about $40 per shirt, sweatshirts and hoodies were about $80, and keychains about $10. My daughter used some of her own money for merch, and I ended up buying her a few things as well (such as a “Dream Big” bracelet from Ellen’s Stardust Diner). You can also choose to just do the Drama Bookstore or Theatre Circle to avoid too much temptation.
- Food: If you are eating at Ellen’s Stardust Diner or Gayle’s Broadway Rose, understand that you are paying a premium for the entertainment. I personally think it’s worth it, but it also means you can save in other ways. We had breakfast at Dunkin and snacks at the Drama Bookstore.
- Transportation: Getting into the city can be expensive, but this day is entirely walkable. It’s all in the Times Square area, and there was never a need to get on a bus, train, or taxi.
New York is fun any way you see it. But putting a theme around the day is so much more fun. Especially when it’s something so quintessentially New York like Broadway. I love theater as well, so it was fun to do all these things with my daughter. I loved seeing the old costumes, but I loved more watching her reaction to the sets and costumes. To see her imagining herself on stage. To see the excitement when Aiyana Smash signed her playbill. Watching her get enthralled by the singing waitresses at Ellen’s Stardust Diner. I need to do it again, but this time with my oldest child.
Do you want to follow the itinerary we had in New York? If so, check out the list I made on my Google Maps here and save the list to your phone.
Edited by: SKS