NEW ON BROADWAY
AMÉLIE
Upon graduating from Juilliard, actress and singer Phillipa Soo began a swift rise through the ranks of young Broadway stars, from the acclaimed Off-broadway premiere of Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 to a Tony nod for Best Actress for her performance in Hamilton. Now she’s a headliner, starring as everyone’s favorite French charmer in this musical adaptation of the 2001 film. Previews begin March 9, Walter Kerr
Theatre, 219 W. 48th St., 800-982- 2787; ameliebroadway.com
ANASTASIA
This season, there is no shortage of shows adapted from films, but this musical doesn’t need to rely on brand recognition alone: The top-shelf creative team—songwriting duo Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens ( Ragtime), director Darko Tresnjak ( A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder), and playwright Terrence Mcnally ( Kiss of the Spider Woman, Master Class)— has half a dozen Tonys between them. Previews begin March 23, Broadhurst Theatre, 235 W. 44th St., 212-239-6200; anastasiabroadway.com
BANDSTAND
This original musical is all about Americana: A group of World War II vets teams up with a singing war widow to enter a radio contest to find the next great big band. Look for show-stopping swing routines from Hamilton choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler. Previews begin March 31, Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, 242 W. 45th St., 212-239-6200; bandstandbroadway.com
A BRONX TALE
Robert De Niro and Chazz Palminteri reunite as director and writer, respectively, for this musical adaptation of Palminteri’s one-manshow-turned-hollywood-film. Alan Menken’s score is a low-level pastiche of lounge music and ’60s-era soul (with what sounds like a blatant ripoff of “You’re All I Need to Get By”), but Broadway favorite Nick Cordero gives an absolutely splendid performance as the charismatic gangster Sonny. Longacre Theatre, 220 W. 48th St., 212-239-6200; abronxtalethemusical.com
CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY
After the success of Matilda on Broadway, it was only a matter of time before Roald Dahl’s most famous story got a big-budget musical adaptation. The flashy West End production—long on spectacle and
special effects—comes to New York City with two-time Tony winner Christian Borle as the mysterious Willy Wonka. Previews begin March 28, Lunt-fontanne Theatre, 205 W. 46th St., 877-250-2929; charlieonbroadway.com
COME FROM AWAY
This heartwarming musical tells the real-life story of how an airplane’s passengers befriended the residents of a small Canadian town after their flight was grounded on September 11. Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, 236 W. 45th St., 212-239-6200; comefromaway.com
DEAR EVAN HANSEN
Pitch Perfect’s Ben Platt stars as an anxiety-stricken teen in this acclaimed musical from La La Land composers Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. The show is a bright-eyed, emotionally attuned reflection of the life of lonely American teenagers in a hyper-connected, digitized world. Platt’s performance, built on pinpoint comic timing and an earnest, heart-piercing voice, is one of the highlights of the Broadway season. Music Box Theatre, 239 W. 45th St., 212-239-6200; dearevanhansen.com
A DOLL’S HOUSE, PART 2
What happens after Nora Helmer slams the door on her husband and children? Playwright Lucas Hnath dreams up a sequel to the classic Ibsen play with a star-studded cast to match (Laurie Metcalf, Chris Cooper, Condola Rashad, and recent Tony winner Jayne Houdyshell). The much in-demand director Sam Gold helms his third show of the theater season, which began with a sold-out run of Othello starring Daniel Craig and David Oyelowo at New York Theatre Workshop. Previews begin April 1, Golden Theatre, 252 W. 45th St., 212-239-6200; dollshousepart2.com
THE GLASS MENAGERIE
Broadway producers cannot stay away from Tennessee Williams’s gorgeous “memory play”—and neither can big-name talent. Sally Field and Joe Mantello star in Sam Gold’s staging. Belasco Theatre, 111 W. 44th St., 212-239-6200; glassmenagerieonbroadway.com
HELLO, DOLLY!
The list of singing actresses who can step into a role once played by Carol Channing, Barbra Streisand, and Ethel Merman is short, and fortunately, it includes Bette Midler. She headlines the current Broadway revival, which also stars David Hyde Pierce. Previews begin March 15, Shubert Theatre, 225 W. 44th St., 212-239-6200; hellodollyonbroadway.com
THE PRESENT
Cate Blanchett makes the most anticipated debut of the Broadway season in this adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s first play. Through March 19, Ethel Barrymore Theatre, 243 W. 47th St., 212-239-6200; thepresentbroadway.com
THE PRICE
A starry cast—mark Ruffalo, Jessica Hecht, Tony Shalhoub, and Danny Devito—takes on Arthur Miller’s intimate play about a man who looks back on his choice to sacrifice his ambitions for his family. American Airlines Theatre, 227 W. 42nd St., 212-719-1300; roundabouttheatre.org
SUNSET BOULEVARD
Glenn Close reprises her Tonywinning star turn—complete with histrionic mad scene—as Norma Desmond in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical, which hasn’t been on Broadway in two decades. Palace Theatre, 1564 Broadway, 877-250- 2929; sunsetboulevardthemusical.com