Skip to site content
Group Travel Leader Group Travel Leader Group Travel Leader

Nonmusical Productions Great to See

While much of the allure of Broadway is its high-production-value musicals, with tantalizing tap lines and belted solos from theater’s top stars, nonmusical productions, particularly classic plays, are having a renaissance on Broadway. Drawing in huge stars of the silver screen, these plays offer theatergoers a chance to be near their favorite stars.

• “Of Mice and Men” — Starring James Franco as George and Chris O’Dowd as Lennie, “Of Mice and Men” has naturally been a hit with school groups, many of whom see the play while reading the Nobel Prize-winning novel about migrant workers during the Great Depression in school. While Franco’s name has been a draw for many, O’Dowd, best known for his comedic work, is up for a Tony for his rendition of Lennie.

• “The Cripple of Inishmaan” — This dark comedy from renowned Irish playwright Martin McDonagh centers on a small town in the Aran Islands thrust into the Hollywood spotlight when a film crew comes to town to shoot a documentary. Though many are drawn by the chance to see Daniel Radcliffe in the title role, the show has swept up six Tony nominations, including a best featured actress nod for Sarah Greene, a stage star from Dublin.

• “A Raisin in the Sun” — Now on its second Broadway revival, coinciding with the 55th anniversary of its premiere, “A Raisin in the Sun,” follows the concept of Willy Loman in “Death of a Salesman” from an African-American perspective — and with a much happier ending. Although Denzel Washington didn’t get a Tony nod, the show is up for best revival of a play and best direction, and the female cast has received three nominations.

Gabi Logan

Gabi Logan is a freelance travel journalist whose work has also appeared in USA TODAY, The Dallas Morning News and Italy Magazine. As she travels more than 100,000 miles each year, she aims to discover the unexpected wonder in every destination.