I just saw six broadway shows in five days and I am here to tell you all about it!

First up I saw the brand new musical Joy which is still in early previews – telling the true life story about the woman who invented the self squeeging mop! Death Becomes Her and Gypsy starring Audra McDonald were obvious no-brainers to see and neither disappointed. Pirates! The Penzance Musical was an unexpected treat. I wasn’t planning to see it but I am so glad I did and it was the show that I can most envisage coming to the West End!

I HAD to see Real Women Have Curves in its final week on Broadway. Such an under-rated musical that deserves much more respect and love than it received. Listen to the cast album if you don’t know it – it’s very good!

I also wasn’t planning to see a sixth show but it was so hot outside that I took refuge in a theatre and caught the final performance of Dead Outlaw and I’m really glad I saw it. It was probably the show I enjoyed the least but it was a very interesting true story and a great on-stage folk/rock band.

On average, I paid £55 per ticket from a variety of different places.

Here is a breakdown of what I saw on my latest Broadway visit!

Joy – A New True Musical at Laura Pels Theatre

I paid $69 (£50) for seat AA 13 in the Mezzanine (direct from box office)

Do you remember the 2015 film ‘Joy’ starring Jennifer Lawrence about a woman who invented the first self-squeeging mop? Well now it’s been turned in to a musical!

JOY: A New True Musical, starring Betsy Wolfe, is an uplifting work based on the true story of entrepreneur and inventor Joy Mangano.

From single motherhood and financial struggles to building a business empire, Joy’s story epitomizes the power of resilience and determination, an inspiring celebration of a woman who never gave up and redefined the American Dream!

I saw what was the fifth preview performance whilst in New York and before the show the director announced that they had been working all day on new changes and so this performance would probably be unlike any other show because things were still being tried out (which is the whole purpose of preview performances).

Despite not having slept for 24 hours due to travelling from London to New York, I couldn’t miss this show and I stayed awake and engaged for the whole show which must say something as I was TIRED!

Real Women Have Curves – James Earl Jones Theatre

I paid $57.50 (£42) for seat E 15 in the Mezzanine (from the TKTS Booth)

The joyously uplifting and empowering new musical Real Women Have Curves is sadly closing on Broadway June 29 (after only opening on April 27). The show was pretty much snubbed at the 2025 Tony Awards,, receiving two nominations for ‘Best Original Score’ and ‘Best Performance by an Actress in a featured role’. The fact it didn’t get nominated for ‘Best New Musical’ or win either of the awards it was up for, probably caused the show to decide to close. But it’s brilliant and really should have a bigger life than this.

Summer 1987, Boyle Heights, Los Angeles. After eighteen years under the roof of her parents, Ana is ready to spread her wings. Her dreams of college and a career in New York City are bursting at the seams, but her mother’s expectations would keep her home, working at their garment factory. Should Ana pursue her own dreams at the expense of her family’s? Based on the play by Josefina López that inspired the hit film, Real Women Have Curves: The Musical is an empowering new show.

The cast performed the song ‘Jugglin’ at the Tony Awards which is a great song but the empowering message and performance of the title song ‘Real Women Have Curves’ could have possibly created more of a buzz for the show and so it is a shame that wasn’t performed for everyone to get a real taste of the message in the show.

Death Becomes Her at Lunt-Fontanne Theatre

I paid $112 (£81) for seat A 114 in the Orchestra (front row) on TodayTix

Madeline Ashton is the most beautiful actress (just ask her) ever to grace the stage and screen. Helen Sharp is the long-suffering author (just ask her) who lives in her shadow. They have always been the best of frenemies…until Madeline steals Helen’s fiancé away. As Helen plots revenge and Madeline clings to her rapidly fading star, their world is suddenly turned upside down by Viola Van Horn, a mysterious woman with a secret that’s to die for.

After one sip of Viola’s magical potion, Madeline and Helen begin a new era of life (and death) with their youth and beauty restored…and a grudge to last eternity.

Dee Roscioli, who is standing in for Megan Hilty in the show whilst she recovers from illness, was superb. The former Elphaba showed her talent and alongside Jennifer Simard they made the perfect comedy couple.

Hotly rumoured to be coming to the London stage soon, I really hope to see this show again.

Pirates! The Penzance Musical at Todd Haimes Theatre

I paid $53 (£38) for seat H 19 in the Orchestra (TodayTix Rush Tickets)

Ramin Karimloo, Jinkx Monsoon, and David Hyde Pierce lead the high-stepping Broadway cast in Pirates! The Penzance Musical, this rollicking, rousing new Roundabout reimagining of The Pirates of Penzance.

Gilbert & Sullivan’s pirate ship docks in New Orleans in this jazzy-bluesy vision of the crowd-pleasing classic, in an outrageously clever romp sizzling with Caribbean rhythms and French Quarter flair. With a tongue-twisting Major General, a rabble-rousing Pirate King, romance, swordplay, wordplay, and off-the-charts fun, there’s a shipload of musical comedy delights on board to dazzle first-timers and G&S aficionados alike.

If like me, you are not particularly a fan of Gilbert and Sullivan’s work, this may well be the perfect show for you! Taking all the elements of the classic operetta and turning it in to a musical is a great idea which opens up a whole new world of possibilities for modernising old shows.

Out of everything I saw on Broadway, Pirates! The Penzance Musical is the show that I think would go down the best with UK audiences.

Gypsy at the Majestic Theatre

I paid $81 (£59) for seat G 25 in the Mezzanine (TodayTix)

GYPSY is bigger than Broadway—it’s a once-in-a-generation theatrical event. Created by the legendary Arthur Laurents (book), Jule Styne (music), and Stephen Sondheim (lyrics), it is the crown jewel of American musicals. At long last, the greatest musical ever written returns with the most celebrated stage performer of our time.

6-time Tony Award^® winner Audra McDonald steps into the mother of all roles alongside Tony Award winner Danny Burstein and rising Broadway stars Joy Woods and Jordan Tyson in this revelatory new production helmed by visionary director, 6-time Tony Award winner George C. Wolfe, and 4-time Tony Award-nominated choreographer Camille A. Brown (Hell’s Kitchen).

This GYPSY, unlike any seen before, is Broadway’s ultimate tale of mothers and daughters, ambition and fame, and the lengths we’ll go in pursuit of the American dream. Packed with showstoppers like “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” “Let Me Entertain You,” and “You Gotta Get a Gimmick,” Audra McDonald really does give everything she has to this performance and it was a joy to watch.

Dead Outlaw at the Longacre Theatre

I paid $84 (£61) for seat G 102 (partial view) in the Balcony (direct from website)

He was wanted by the law, killed by a posse… and then his career really took off! Based on the “that can’t actually be true” story of bumbling bandit Elmer McCurdy and winner of three Best Musical Awards (Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, NY Drama Critics’ Circle), this “rollicking, darkly hilarious, and thoroughly original musical will knock you dead!” (Time Out). Step right up and get tickets to the show Entertainment Weekly calls “a truly one-of-a-kind production, complete with a whole lot of laughs and a surprising amount of heart. It needs to be seen to be believed!”

Despite being nominated for seven Tony Awards, the show didn’t win any and I saw its final performance, just 11 weeks after it opened. I’m glad I caught it.