NEW YORK – There are 41 theaters on Broadway, and in early July, I visited eight theaters and consequently saw a remarkable range of shows.
The good news: Broadway amassed its best season ever, in its just-ending 2026 season, achieving $1.9 billion in total grosses, reflecting a remarkable $14.6 million tickets sold, according to Ken Davenport, a Tony Award-winning producer who monitors the tempo, the heartbeat and pulse of The Great White Way,
Davenport publishes weekly analytical breakdowns tracking individual show revenues, and regularly monitors developing theatrical trends. He also is an active producer of shows.
As a show-goer, the eight different productions I caught over a six-night stay leading to the July 4 holiday weekend was my umpteenth New York vacation over the years.
The first trip my wife Vi and I made to Broadway was in 1973, when we saw “A Litle Night Music,” which was ensconced at the Shubert Theatre. “Night Music,” a Stephen Sondheim creation, was the season’s gotta-see number, playing to sellouts. We had no reservations, so we dropped off our suitcases at the Algonquin Hotel a block away and headed to the Shubert.
In those days, sales were largely done in person, and the woman at the ticket window said the performance was a sellout for the matinee. I smirked a bit…and she quickly informed us there were two tickets left, located near a column so there would be moments we wouldn’t be able to see two quickie scenes. We bought the tickets, so at least we got in. And those days, I was such a country-jack, looking and gawking at the antique theater décor.
Decades later, I shared this little story with Hal Prince, the prevailing theatrical giant of his lifetime, and he chuckled. He was visiting his longtime friend, the late Joy Abbott, widow of the legendary playwright George Abbott, who was a sometimes resident, who hosted us at a lunch at the Orchids Restaurant at the Halekulani Hotel. The director and the playwright Abbott had collaborated with a bounty of Tony-winning shows, so it’s a remarkable irony that neither director Prince nor writer Abbott have theaters named after them today.
A Broadway theater must have at least 500 seats to qualify as a “Broadway theater,” the genre that includes such legendary attractions as “The Lion King,” “The Book of Mormon,” “Hamilton,” “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Les Misérables” and “Cats.”
As for the 41 existing theaters, I daresay I’ve seen musicals, comedies and dramas possibly in perhaps 38 of the 41 theaters since the ‘70’s.
Some reflections:
- This last trip was a long-planned family journey to take our grandnephew, John Rhoades (now 28, and a sergeant in the Army), on his second visit to the Big Apple. The first was when he was in middle school. This time, he offered to tend to the wheelchair I needed to get around Times Square, and oversee the weighty suitcase transport. The trip was somewhat a dream come true treat for all, with first class seats on Delta, which included visits to the Delta Skyclub in Honolulu prior to our departure flight, and the luxurious dream-come-true experience at the modern and swanky Delta Skyclub in Terminal 4 of JFK airport.
No one took advantage of the massage and shower options available, but I utilized a swanky men’s room, which had ample space, with possible even guest-sitting, with space for a handler for wheelchair. No, I was solo, while John was checking out other options.
- Times change; while my energy has diminished, the spirit’s still there, but a new strategy was vital. Two heroes in the 2026 plan: Vi’s penchant for details, John’s devotion and physical power to navigate the wheelchair with savvy. This reportage is slanted to help other handicapped travelers who may be reluctant to visit to The Big Apple but are fearful of crowds, and thereby denying themselves of taking in marvelous entertainment. Seek support, and you can possibly made a desire happen.
- Mr. Walker, whom you’ve heard me mention previously, was on the trip with me, so I was able to do a bit of meandering with the walker. I had rented a power wheelchair, which was was a huge mistake, because I couldn’t easily get around. It was John who canceled the electric wheeler and exchanged it with a traditional chair which he pushed and twirled amid the jam-packed sidewalks and roadways in the Times Square vicinity.
- The new Mr. Wheeler got me to all eight shows on time with John quickly learning the routines of Mr. Walker and Mr. Wheeler, who had to be alternately parked before and retrieved after all performances. Ground transportation was never so easy, when in the right hands.
- The shows we saw:
“Lost Boys,” at the Palace Theatre. A musical spectacle with vampires and more.!
“Oh! Mary,” at the Lyceum Theatre. Secrets and music a=plenty, with Mary Todd Lincoln.
“Cats: The Jellical Ball,” at the Broadhurst Theatre. The cat’s out of the bag, competing in drag-show, fashion-plate pace.
“Schmigadoon,” at the Nederlander Theatre.” A parody of “Brigadoon” with homages to “Oklahoma” and more. The year’s Best Musical Tony winner, and the most fun..
“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” at the Lyric Theatre. The magic is not magnified in this drama about Albus Severus Potter, son of Harry and Ginny, who strives to maintain and live up to the fame of his father’s legacy.
“Moulin Rouge,” at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. A jukebox musical, loaded with 70 disco and boogie music, embraces a tragic star-crossed romance between songwriter Christian and. chanteuse Satine, set at the Montmartre Quarter of Paris.
“Titanique,” at the St. James Theatre. A parody of “Titanic” and vocalist Celine Dion. And of course, The Song goes on and on.
“Stranger Things: The First Shadow:” This is a strange play disguised as a musical, whick features songs by a singing-dancing cast. It’s a prequel to the Netflix streamer, whose audiences are supporting the tale of how a boy became the villain. The least likeable of the shows I saw.
(Note: I’ll post mini-reviews in a subsequent column).
Show tickets are costly, like other life pleasures. In earlier times, I would splurge and purchase seats in prime orchestra locations. In checking prices this year, some shows had orchestra seats for under 400. I sought orchestra, but in secondary locations, with per-show admission up to $250, range, as follows: “Boys,” $121.06; “Mary,” $251.66; “Cats,” $276.11; “Schmigadoon,” $231.34; “Potter,” $233.10; “Rouge,” $192.86; “Things,” $94.70; and “Titanique,” $111.00. (And do the math, if you want to know the tab for three seats for each show).
- Locations matter, when seeking a hotel.
I used to book rooms that offered frequent-stayer points, like Marriott, Hilton, Sheraton and Hyatt. Not any more, since they are useless unless you are a business traveler capable of accruing enough status to justify the amenity. From nearly a decade ago, location mattered more because of by walker-wheelchair needs mounted. So we now book Hotel Edison, on W. 47th St., in the center of the Times Square. And tariffs were in the upper $300 during prime summertime travel.
From the Edison, walkability to the shows was breezy block or minimally a block or two away – no cab, bus, or subway necessary. From Times Square, the furthest north theater is the Vivian Beaumont at Lincoln Center, the furthest south is the Nederlander, on W. 41st St. The bulk of the theaters are located in the grid of the 40ths, between 6th Ave. and 9th Ave.
- The bathroom issue? Yes it can be problematic.
When you’re handicapped, going to the lua is a challenge; you may rely on a cane, some crutches, a walker or a wheelchair, so knowing where accessible bathrooms in theaters is prime before heading to your seat, or at intermission.
Realistically, theater restrooms at Broadway theaters are either In the basement, sometimes on the mezzanine, but only rarely on the orchestra (first) level.
Do what I do, if you’re theater-bound. Before you secure tickets, inquire with the theater, or seek help with ticket sites. I inquired with broadway,.com, where I bought all my tickets, and they’re friendly like heck — almost as easy as Goggling each venue.
However, I’ve done the math for you, if you’re only bound for any of these destinations: Palace Theatre, wheelchair access on orchestra level; Lyceum Theatre, unisex wheelchair access on main level; “Cats,” wheelchair on orchestra level; Nederlander, previously not available, but now with accessible restroom on first level; Lyric Theatre, accessible restrooms in Dress Circle lobby, with ADA locations in Orchestra and Dress Circle, with elevator access; Hirschfeld, wheelchair access on orchestra level; Marquis Theatre, facilities on 3rd and 4th levels of Marriott Hotel, with elevator access; St. James Theatre, access on main level.
- Other information important to know before go:
You’ll require a buddy or family member to help, especially with the wheelchair; New York has rentals, which are conveniently dropped off and picked up at your airport at your desired times.
Inform airline about handicapped assistance, and it will note your needs in your flight data; ADA access will include wheelchair transit assist, from check-in through TSA checks, with lifts to your flight gate; at arrival, wheelchair assist continues to baggage claim; on return flight, similar assistance is available, from flight to baggage claim, to curbside for a pick-up or cab ride.
I secured an ADA room at the hotel rental, with shower stall catering to the handicapped…