I Saw 4 Off-Broadway Musicals This Month—But Only 2 Were Must-See

The theater crowd is always talking about big-budget Broadway shows (and believe me, there are some good ones). But musical-lovers and, frankly, all NYC visitors should do themselves a real favor and take in an Off-Broadway show as well. These smaller productions, performed in smaller venues, deliver some of the most fun, creative theatrical experiences of any given season.

This month, I took in a whopping four Off-Broadway shows—spoiler alert: two were more than worth the price of admission, while the other two were, well, simply solid.

This off-the-walls musical was stupid with a capital “S”—and I loved every freaking minute of it. In the not-at-all-serious, 90-minute show, the town of Muddirt is majorly struggling. Could a mysterious gentle giant stalking the woods be their savior? Honestly, I can’t think of the last time I laughed this hard. And the songs were actually catchy! Rating: 10/10

I had no idea what to expect here. A vampire rock opera? Blood/Love was an exciting and epic (and, thankfully, only 85-minute) musical spectacle featuring incredible vocals, stunning visuals and a fun and fully original vampire story. Is it the best thing I’ve ever seen? Not quite. But if you like vampires and rock music, this high-energy musical will be right up your alley. Rating: 7/10

My colleague reviewed this wild, immersive Phantom of the Opera interpretation back in January—and I’m so mad it took me until now to go see it. It’s like the iconic Sleep No More but with less running and a more linear story. The sets (which you walk through) are spectacular, the singing is top-notch and the overall experience is a blast. The perfect way to impress a friend (or a date!). Rating: 10/10

Adults playing nerdy kids who are trying to win a county spelling bee? This could either be a recipe for comedy gold or a giant disaster. Fortunately, this lands closer to the “gold” end of the spectrum with its over-the-top characters, fabulous vocals and laugh-inducing lines. It’s not as good as the original 2005 Broadway production, but still worth the watch. Rating: 7/10

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