Off Broadway Spaces in New York

Broadway gets a lot of the spotlight, but Off-Broadway is not the forgotten sibling. With some of the edgier, cooler and more boundary-pushing performances, the Off-Broadway scene will steal the hearts of the experimental theater lovers. New York City's alternative to Broadway's economically focused theaters since the mid-20th century has been Off-Broadway, a term used to describe small professional plays in American theater.

In contrast to Broadway, where producers are sometimes compelled by large production costs to depend on economically safe attractions at the expense of more serious or experimental drama, Off-Broadway plays, typically staged in smaller theaters on less budgets, have a tendency to be more inventive and free-spirited in style. Although the majority of Off-Broadway theaters are located far from midtown Manhattan, a small number of them are actually located inside the Broadway theatrical area. Here's your guide to navigating Off-Broadway hotspots and the latest Broadway buzz.

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New World Stages

A hive of Off-Broadway activity in Hell's Kitchen, New World Stages presents an eclectic mix of musicals, plays, and immersive performances. This one-of-a-kind facility offers world-class shows to a warm, contemporary space just off Broadway.
New World Stages has five intimate theaters with different sizes and acoustic treatments for the best possible performances. You may always find a varied roster to explore, whether you're in the mood for a comedy, drama, or musical.
The Gazillion Bubble Show, Teeth and The Play That Goes Wrong are just a few of the long-running hits that have called this arena home.
The venue's underground location gives it an air of mystery and coolness, making it ideal for an evening retreat. Take a stroll around the stylish bar and sip on a specialty drink before the play starts. You may easily double-feature with back-to-back acts thanks to the venue's various stages, so be sure to plan for variety.

New World Stages

Westside Theater

Tucked away in 407 West 43rd Street in Hell's Kitchen, the Westside Theatre is a charming Off-Broadway venue that has an intriguingly varied history. Formerly a German Baptist Church and then a disco hotspot called Club Sanctuary, this facility is housed in a Neo-Romanesque structure dating back to 1890.
From spiritual meetings to raucous nightlife, the structure has hosted it everything, leaving an impression of a history of unconventional and unforgettable performances.
Two stages, Upstairs (270 seats) and Downstairs (249 seats), provide a small but electrifying setting for mesmerizing performances, turning it into a theater lover's paradise. A wide variety of restaurants, serving anything from casual cafe fare to fine dining, are conveniently located in Hell's Kitchen.
Fans of the bizarre and entertaining will love Westside Theater. Catch horror-comedy shows like Little Shop of Horrors in this venue!

Westside Theater

Orpheum Theater

The historic Orpheum Theater hosts intimate setting and quirky productions. Fans of alternative theater will love the intimate but exciting ambience of this venue. Its 25-year stint as the home of the revolutionary musical STOMP is one of its legacies, cementing its place as a theatrical icon in New York.
Constructed more than a century ago, the theater skillfully combines contemporary lighting and sound equipment with old-world architecture, resulting in a one-of-a-kind fusion of the past and present.
The Orpheum is in the heart of the East Village, where you'll find plenty of places to eat and drink before or after the concert. Its intimate size makes every seat seem like a VIP and puts you near to the action, making it accessible to all.

Orpheum Theatre

Public Theater

The Public Theater in New York is an Off-Broadway icon that’s launched cultural earthquakes. The theater was founded in 1954 as the Shakespeare Workshop and is set inside the beautifully preserved Astor Library.
Public Theater has launched Hair, A Chorus Line, and Hamilton. Hamilton's Lin Manuel Miranda actually wrote most of the show in the lobby of the building
With six buzzing venues under one roof (plus a cabaret at Joe’s Pub), there’s always something fresh, urgent, and wildly original on stage. Joe’s Pub has hosted everyone from Janelle Monáe to Alan Cumming, in a space small enough to feel like they’re singing just for you.
Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, where productions like Much Ado About Nothing and Julius Caesar have drawn crowds, headlines, and standing ovations is spearheaded by The Public.
Don't miss out! Whether it's a new play by a Pulitzer contender or a downtown musical that’ll be everywhere next year, The Public has a sixth sense for what’s next.

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Stage 42

Situated on lively Theatre Row, Stage 42 is a breathtaking Off-Broadway theater that aims to blend the allure of an intimate setting with performances of Broadway standard. Once known as the Little Shubert Theatre, Stage 42 is known for its stadium seating, modern facilities, and great sightlines. It is one of the biggest New York Off-Broadway theaters and is owned by the Shubert Organization.
Stage 42 presents a wide range of shows, including the audience-participatory Dungeons & Dragons: The Twenty-Sided Tavern, where participants use their mobile devices to direct the story. The venue offers an eclectic mix of old and new with its cozy decor and artifacts from the Shubert Archive Collection.
It is conveniently located near Hell's Kitchen and other excellent restaurants, so you can have a bite to eat before the play at places like The Marshal or Chez Josephine. This theater is sure to wow whether you're in the mood for a timeless musical or a more participatory show.

Daryl Roth Theatre

Named after one of the most iconic Broadway producers (Daryl Roth helmed 90 productions, including Kinky Boots and Funny Girl!) this theater has become one of the most recognizable Off-Broadway spaces.
Situated in a stunning building that blends ancient grandeur with contemporary theater amenities, Daryl Roth Theater is set in what was formerly the Union Square Savings Bank, adding to the space's historic charm. Though it does look like a bank on the outside, this theater offers the ideal combination of intimacy and grandeur, making it an ideal venue for imaginative and engaging performances.
An intimate cabaret bar called The D-Lounge and a larger theater called the DR2 Theater with 99 seats are also part of the complex.
The theater has held memorable plays, such as the energy-packed, audience-immersive Fuerza Bruta and the smash-hit parody musical Titanique, which has been running for a long time in the venue.

Cherry Lane Theater

A veritable treasure trove of theatrical invention and history awaits you at Greenwich Village's Cherry Lane Theatre. It has been running continuously since 1924, making it New York City's oldest Off-Broadway theater.
The theater emanates charisma and personality from its 1836-era home. Cherry Lane has a long history of hosting experimental and unusual performances. Originally built in 1817 as a farm silo, the structure was previously used as a tobacco warehouse, box factory, brewery, and more.
Many counterculture-associated avant-garde performances have been hosted in this venue, especially in the 1950s and 1960s. Plays written by members of the Theatre of the Absurd would often be performed in Cherry Lane Theater. During 1951 and 1952, the Living Theatre, a modernist theater group, performed rare works such as Desire Caught by the Tail by Pablo Picasso while in residence.
Bob Dylan and Pete Seeger performed at the theater on occasion for musical performances before they rose to fame. Cherry Lane has staged seminal works by artists such as Samuel Beckett and Edward Albee, including Happy Days and The Zoo Story. The avant-garde and new voices have been performing on its stage for over a hundred years.

Vineyard Theater

The Vineyard Theater is a warm Off-Broadway space known for its inventive and risk-taking plays on Union Square. This nonprofit theater first opened its doors to the public in 1981. With only 132 seats, it provides an intimate setting where viewers may feel a profound connection to the tales presented.
The Vineyard has a reputation for producing productions that go on to get further recognition, such as the Pulitzer Prize–winning How I Learned to Drive and the Tony–winning Avenue Q.
The Vineyard has become an integral element of Union Square's cultural tapestry and adds to the neighborhood's creative vitality while preserving an accessible and inviting ambience.

Lucille Lortel Theater

First opened as the Theatre de Lys in 1953, the Lucille Lortel Theater burst onto the cultural map with The Threepenny Opera — a gritty, game-changing production that ran for seven years.
In 1955, the theatre got a romantic twist: banker Louis Schweitzer bought the building as a gift for his wife, Lucille Lortel, an actress and pioneering producer who helped turn it into a launchpad for daring, original theatre. Since then, the venue has hosted legendary productions including Cloud 9 by Caryl Churchill, Falsettoland (part of what became Broadway’s Falsettos), and The Destiny of Me by Larry Kramer.
Today, audiences can expect the same caliber of intelligent, envelope-pushing work — all in a warm, 299-seat space. A slice of theatre history, the Lortel is also home to the Off-Broadway Walk of Fame right outside its doors.
Michael R. Jackson’s outrageous comedy Oh, Mary! had a sold-out run here in 2024, drawing standing ovations and plenty of gasps. It’s the kind of show that feels right at home at the Lortel: edgy, hilarious, and completely unforgettable.
Whether you’re a die-hard theatre nerd or just in the mood for something fresh and fearless, the Lucille Lortel Theater delivers the kind of New York night you’ll be talking about long after the curtain call.

Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater (Upper West Side, Lincoln Center)

Tucked just beneath the grand Vivian Beaumont at Lincoln Center, the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater is operated by Lincoln Center Theater.
Recent standout shows include The Wolves, Sarah DeLappe’s fierce and funny snapshot of teenage athletes, and Pipeline, Dominique Morisseau’s searing drama about race, education, and the pressure on Black youth. If you're after theatre that’s timely, intimate, and packs an emotional punch — this is your spot.
The venue itself is a modern, cozy semicircle with sleek wood paneling and exceptional sightlines. One of its early hits, The Substance of Fire, not only made the leap to Broadway but also became a feature film.
Linger before the show as the venue is located within Lincoln Center, NYC’s cultural crown jewel — so you can grab a glass of wine, stroll the iconic plaza, and catch a show all in one night.