Whether you’re looking for high camp, historical drama, or avant-garde queer expression, the New York stage this spring is a buffet of glitter-soaked spectacles. From the return of a beloved SNL alum to the legendary Broadway Bares, here is your guide to the shows you can’t miss this Spring in New York.
Lyceum Theatre | Open Run
149 W 45th St, New York, NY
Writer and performer Cole Escola has officially conquered Broadway. This irreverent, dark comedy reimagines Mary Todd Lincoln not as a tragic figure, but as a “miserable, talentless cabaret performer” during the weeks leading up to her husband’s assassination. It is chaotic, queer, and arguably the funniest thing on 45th Street.
Lunt-Fontanne Theatre | Open Run
205 W 45th St, New York, NY
Based on the 1992 cult classic film, this musical is a love letter to high camp. Starring Betsy Wolfe (who took over for Megan Hilty) and Jennifer Simard as the feuding, immortality-obsessed frenemies Madeline and Helen, the show is a masterclass in comedic timing and “For the Gaze” stagecraft.
Stephen Sondheim Theatre | Open Run
124 W 43rd St, New York, NY
If you want a jukebox party that celebrates gender fluidity and self-discovery, this is it. By flipping the script on Shakespeare’s tragedy and soundtracking it with Max Martin’s greatest hits (Britney, Backstreet Boys, Katy Perry), it features one of the most heartwarming non-binary character arcs on Broadway.
Off-Broadway & Special Events
Studio Theatre | April 3 – April 12
520 8th Ave Fl 9, New York, NY
OUT/PLAY presents the New York premiere of Philip Dawkins’ bold comedy-drama. The play moves backward in time over a decade, tracing the life of Evan, a young man from Iowa finding his tribe in the big city. It’s a poignant exploration of how queer friendships evolve and sustain us.
54 Below | April 6 – 19
254 W 54th St. Cellar, New York, NY
Join Marilyn Maye for her annual birthday bash at 54 Below! Every performance during this run will feature a special 98th birthday celebration for this beloved cabaret legend.
A timeless icon who has been entertaining audiences for over eight decades, Manhattan’s Queen of Cabaret is thrilled to be returning to her home away from home—and her favorite audiences—for this very special birthday.
A theatrical dynamo with the power to “melt the heart of the most hardened cynics” (The New York Times), Maye is a consummate entertainer who breathes new life into classics, carrying the torch from her peers who originated tunes of the Great American Songbook to the future generation of singers. Put simply, “no entertainer gives you more in terms of great music, great theater, and great comedy” (Opera News).
The Green Room 42 | April 23
570 Tenth Ave, New York NY
On its 65th anniversary, Charlie High celebrates the legendary concert with a streamlined selection from Garland’s iconic set. Her marathon performance became a cultural earthquake; the resulting live album spent 13 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard charts and won five Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, making Garland the first woman ever to receive the honor. Charlie brings this music back to the spotlight — from torch songs to showstoppers that defined an era — honoring Judy, her artistry, and the night that became history.
The Green Room 42 | April 11, May 9, June 6
570 Tenth Ave, New York NY
For anyone who two-stepped along to “Gay Country”, spent “Christmas Solo”, or said the words “you’re tacky and I hate you” comes a new residency ready to excite. Childhood icon and singer-songwriter Brian Falduto invites audiences into his musical catalogue with a three-night residency, “Something Borrowed, Something New”, only at The Green Room 42. Join Brian for a night celebrating the songs and artists that have inspired his past, present, and (very soon in the) future music releases. With special guests: Emma Jayne (April 11th), Rivkah Reyes (May 9th), Will Leet (June 6th)
Joe’s Pub | May 15 – 17
425 Lafayette St, New York, NY
After spending a year tagging herself on thousands of photos on Instagram, international drag chanteuse Varla Jean Merman recently discovered that she had confused herself with Grammy Award-winning pop sensation Chappell Roan. With the feminomenon’s gigantic red hair, over-the-top outfits and saucy songs, Varla realized that Roan has been ripping her off this whole time! As well as all the other current pop princesses! Despite her overall lethargy and low blood sugar, Varla sets out to reheat the recent hits of Chappell Roan, Dua Lipa, Sabrina Carpenter, Billie Eilish and Miley Cyrus. Can Varla take her place on the top of the pop charts alongside her “colleagues?” Good Luck, Babe!
UNDER St. Mark’s | June 2026
94 St, Marks Place, New York, NY
Celebrating its annual return in the heart of Pride month, the Queerly Festival is an essential stop for indie theater lovers. It features a rotating cast of LGBTQ+ storytellers, performance artists, and comedians who are pushing the boundaries of what “queer theater” can be. The theme for this year’s festival is “Then, Now, and Always.” With this theme, we are creating a line-up of work that speaks to the ways queerness has thrived and will continue to thrive across time. This may look like queering mythology, historical fiction, science fictional, biography-based work, storytelling, queer futurism, and more.
Broadway Bares
Hammerstein Ballroom | Sunday, June 21
311 W 34th St, New York, NY
The crown jewel of Pride events for theater nerds. This one-night-only burlesque spectacular benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Expect 150+ of Broadway’s hottest dancers stripping down for a good cause. It’s high-energy, high-production, and always sells out—grab tickets early. With two performances at 9:30 pm and midnight, Broadway Bares launches NYC Pride Week in dazzling, seductive fashion. Tickets for Broadway Bares (#BroadwayBares) start at $75. VIP tickets feature unlimited specialty cocktails and reserved seating, now with more table seats available than ever before.
The always popular “Stripper Spectacular” package includes a premium reserved table seat at either show, a backstage tour and an invitation to a private cocktail party hosted by Jerry Mitchell, Broadway Bares’ Tony Award-winning creator and executive producer. The ”Barest Insider Experience” includes a premium reserved table seat to either performance, a backstage tour and access to the final “un-dress” rehearsal the evening of the show. New this year: priority floor ticket holders at the 9:30 pm performance, as well as all floor attendees at the midnight show, can upgrade their experience to include the cocktail party or un-dress rehearsal access.
Looking Ahead: The “Jellicle” Renaissance
Keep your eyes peeled for the spring revival of The Jellicle Ball, a queer, ballroom-culture-inspired reimagining of Cats. Drawing from the house culture of the 1980s and 90s, it’s set to be a radical, vogue-heavy take on the Sondheim/Webber classic that turns the Junkyard into a runway.
Sitges, Spain is, without a doubt, one of my favorite places on the planet. Located…
There is a distinct kind of magic that happens when you cross into the High…
Queer people don’t just have one life story; we have two. There’s the usual fare…
Summer in New York City is its own kind of magic. The humidity is real,…
In a world of beige, be nuclear pink. Face the wrong way in an elevator,…
Ah, the Costa del Sol. Sunny, stunning, and sensational – and we’re not just talking…
Leave a Comment