Charles Busch in ‘The Confession of Lily Dare.’ (Photo: Michael Wakefield)
A new decade means a cornucopia of new shows opening in New York City this winter. New plays, musicals and revivals are yours for the taking. NYC Broadway Week (January 21 – February 9) offers you the chance to snag 2-for-1 tickets to some of your favorite shows.
Here are our top three picks for the month:
Emojiland
Have you gotten used to speaking in emojis? You’re not the only one. But what would happen if emojis were — gasp — real? A smiley face must cope with depression and a princess who doesn’t want to meet a prince are some of the high-stakes dramas facing this kooky cast of characters in a new musical featuring book, music and lyrics by Keith Harrison and Laura Schein.
The NYMF company of ‘Emojiland.’ (2018)
The A-list cast features Leslie Margherita (Dames at Sea) as Princess, Josh Lamon (The Prom) as Prince, and Ann Harada (Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Avenue Q as Pile of Poo. This could all go terribly wrong or be a hilarious respite from the winter blues.
Duke on 42nd Street
229 West 42nd Street, NYC
Opening night: January 19
A Soldier’s Play
It won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, but technically, this is the first time that Charles Fuller’s masterful work will appear on Broadway. (It premiered Off-Broadway in 1981.)
It’s 1944 and a sergeant is murdered on a Louisiana army base. The crime and its investigation reveal the underbelly of racism in America. This production, directed by Kenny Leon, co-stars three-time Tony nominee David Alan Grier and two-time Golden Globe nominee Blair Underwood.
American Airlines Theatre
227 West 42nd Street, NYC
Opening night: January 21

Charles Busch in ‘The Confession of Lily Dare.’ (Photo: Michael Wakefield)
The Confession of Lily Dare
Charles Busch returns to his creative home at Primary Stages for his latest work, which “tells the story of one woman’s tumultuous passage from convent girl to glittering cabaret chanteuse to infamous madame of a string of brothels—all while hiding her undying devotion to the child she was forced to abandon.” How’s that for drama?
Longtime collaborator Carl Andress directs the production, which draws inspiration from 1930s films, including The Sin of Madelon Claudet, Frisco Jenny and Madame X.
Cherry Lane Theatre
38 Commerce Street, NYC
Opening night: January 29