Broadway has a way of reminding you that there is no one way to experience Broadway. You can build an entire New York itinerary around it or just grab a ticket and spend a few hours freely exploring the city.
As a Broadway lover, I’ve seen the big productions, dramatic musicals and shows where the sets are almost as memorable as the actors. So when my mom and I drove into Manhattan from New Jersey for an evening performance of SIX: The Musical at the Lena Horne Theatre, we expected something closer to the traditional Broadway musical experience we already knew. Broadway has been part of our mother-daughter outings for years, but this time I had purposely chosen a show we both knew very little about.
I knew SIX centered the six wives of Henry VIII. I knew the cast was all women. What I didn’t know was that I was about to get an 80-minute pop concert led by six women, backed by an all-female band, sharing a history lesson and stories that could feel surprisingly relatable centuries later.
Disclosure: Tickets to SIX were provided by Broadway Inbound as part of a partnership with The Traveling Black Women Network. All experiences and opinions shared are my own.
SIX: The Musical on Broadway
The easiest way I can describe SIX is part pop concert, part history lesson and part “girl, let me tell you what happened with this guy” storytelling.
I enjoyed it!
Instead of Henry VIII remaining at the center of the story, his six wives get the microphone. Literally. The entire show brings you into the moment of was it actually like to be one of those women.
SIX: The Musical – (L-R) Khaila Wilcoxon (Catherine of Aragon), Chloe Tucker Caine (Anne Boleyn), Natalie Paris (Jane Seymour), Olivia Donalson (Anna of Cleves), Aimie Atkinson (Katherine Howard), Stephanie Jae Park (Catherine Parr)
Each queen tells her version of life with Henry through music, humor and plenty of attitude. Watching them together reminded me of a 90s Girl Group where each woman has her own personality and musical style, but they also sing backup for one another and perform as a group.
Some of the stories are funny while others deal with pregnancy loss, infidelity, pressure to produce a male heir and how little control women had over their own lives.
Anne of Cleves’ story even gave me 16th-century online-dating catfishing vibes. According to the story, Henry agreed to marry her after seeing her portrait but reportedly wasn’t happy when they met in person. She didn’t care though. She unapologetically went on to live her best life as Queen of the Castle! Ha! I wasn’t mad at it at all!
Although SIX isn’t a complete history documentary, and its queens are intentionally interpreted through a modern pop lens, it made me think about how often women become side notes in historical accounts centered around powerful men.
The Broadway Show Tradition
My mom and I have been seeing Broadway shows together for years. By the end of SIX, we were bopping along and expressing how much we’d enjoyed it. Then, almost as soon as we got home, my mom started Googling Henry VIII’s wives and telling me about all the extra information she learned.
I saw my first Broadway show, RENT, with my high school drama club. By college, I was finding inexpensive tickets on student sites and asking my mom, “Hey, do you want to go see a show?” I actually don’t think there was ever a time she said no.
Our first Broadway show together was The Lion King. Before long, it became a long standing tradition to see a show in New York every year. It became a shared experience that we could enjoy together and playfully reenact for the next few days.
Coming in from New Jersey made our “city days” became a whole event, especially after I moved to Atlanta, GA. There’s the drive into New York. The crazy traffic. The theater. The shocked looks at each other when someone can really sing. And, of course, the conversation on the way home about the entire production.
That’s why I think Broadway can work so well for mother-daughter trips, girls’ trips and multigenerational New York vacations. You’re creating something to experience together and core memories to talk about afterwards.
So while a production like SIX: The Musicalis a great starting point, the experience is so much more than what happens on stage.
What to Know Before Seeing a Broadway Show in New York
If you’ve never been to Broadway, come as you are.
There’s no prerequisite for enjoying live theater and no single way to experience it. You can dress up and make an entire evening of it, or keep things casual and simply enjoy the show.
Broadway has room for both.
The most important thing is choosing a production that genuinely interests you and allowing yourself to experience it your way.
What should you wear to a Broadway play?
Most Broadway performances do not have a formal dress code, but my personal answer to “What should I wear to a Broadway show?” is what I call theater casual. Just think business casual with a little razzle dazzle.
For SIX, I wore brown jeans and a sleeveless white top, with a long cardigan I purchased in Madagascar. Nothing too fancy at all.
Take a look at the people nearby who were joining the line for the show as well. Most were dressed casual and comfortable.
You’ll see people in everything from T-shirts and sneakers to dresses and heels, so there’s plenty of room to make the experience your own.
Whatever your version of theater casual looks like, choose shoes that can handle the city.
A Broadway night can easily include several blocks of walking before or after the show.
My mom wore her favorite bedazzled jeans, a colorful blouse and comfortable walking shoes.
How early should you arrive at a Broadway show?
For a 7PM performance, I like to be at the theater no later than 6:30PM. Part of the Broadway experience begins before the curtain goes up.
Lines can look intimidating before the doors open, but they tend to move quickly once people start entering. Depending on how you purchased your tickets, you may also need to stop at will call or the box office to retrieved your physical ticket.
The theater itself is part of the Broadway experience. Many Broadway theaters have been around for decades, and even with modern upgrades, you can still feel the history of the buildings as soon as you walk in.
The lobbies and auditoriums often have that preserved, almost antique character: red carpeting, elaborate curtains, wood details, plush theater seats and decorative touches you simply don’t get in a modern movie theater or arena. Each theater has its own personality, but I love that many still feel like traditional theaters.
The Lena Horne Theatre has that same old-New-York character. It’s intimate, a little glamorous and unmistakably theatrical. Give yourself enough time before the show to look around, take in the details and enjoy where you are.
Can you take pictures during a Broadway show?
NO!
Photography and recording during the show are not permitted. The ushers will definitely get you.
If you wear an Apple Watch, here’s a small tip I use: turn on Theater Mode. It keeps your watch from lighting up every time you move your wrist.
Now in some theaters, curtain call is different. At SIX, we were allowed to take photographs at the end of the show when the full cast returned to the stage and lined up to take their final bows. It gave me a chance to capture the performers together without photographing the actual performance.
That isn’t a universal Broadway rule. Some productions and theaters allow photography during curtain call, while others may not.
Pay attention to announcements and follow the instructions from theater staff.
If photos are permitted at curtain call, that may be your opportunity to capture that final moment of the Broadway experience.
For “New York Tourists…”
As a New Jersey native, driving into New York for a show became pretty routine for me. But, if I were planning three or four days in New York, I’d build in at least one Broadway show (ideally, two) into my itinerary. You can potentially see several productions during one trip by combining matinees with evening shows!
I’d do some sightseeing during the day and see a Broadway show at night (I’d choose low impact sightseeing activities so that I’m not nodding off in the theater at night). I may also pair the show with dinner. Or, I’d choose a matinee and continue exploring the city afterward.
Just check schedules before planning everything else around them. Broadway schedules vary by production. SIX having a Monday performance was one reason it worked for this particular trip since most shows do not run on Mondays.
Where should I stay?
For travelers coming from out of town, staying in New Jersey can also be worth it. In some cases it may be a fraction of the average hotel price in Manhattan.
One option I’ve stayed at is the Hyatt House Jersey City, located just across the Hudson River from Manhattan. The hotel has beautiful views of the New York City skyline and puts you close enough to enjoy the city without making Manhattan your home base for the entire trip.
View from Hyatt House
Jersey City is connected to Manhattan by PATH trains and ferry service, so you can spend the day exploring New York, see a Broadway show in the evening and return to New Jersey afterward.
A Classic New York City Experience
If you have a chance to see SIX:The Musical before its Broadway run ends on January 3, 2027, I recommend it. But even if SIX isn’t your show, find one that is. Seeing a Broadway show is one of those classic New York City experiences worth adding to your travel itinerary at least once.
Whether you’re already in the city, coming across the Hudson from New Jersey, flying up from Atlanta or traveling from the other side of the country, a Broadway show can easily become the centerpiece of a weekend filled with good food, sightseeing and a few hours simply enjoying New York.
We’re Going to New York in 2027!
Come visit New York and catch a Broadway show with us!
The Traveling Black Women Network is heading to New York for Spring Break 2027, and yes, we’re absolutely including a Broadway show.
We’ll have plenty of time to explore the city, eat good food and enjoy a New York weekend together.
Click below to let me know that you’re interested and be the first to know when registration opens!
Dr. Nadine C. Duncan is the founder and curator of the Traveling Black Women Network, a travel resource network created to help Black women explore the world with greater confidence, access and cultural awareness. Having traveled to over 70 countries across five continents, she shares firsthand destination insights, solo travel experiences, practical travel advice and off-the-beaten-path recommendations. Through the Traveling Black Women blog, destination guides, podcast and YouTube channel, her work focuses on helping Black women discover destinations beyond the usual tourist circuit while making informed decisions about safety, culture and the overall travel experience.
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