If you even vaguely keep an eye on entertainment in New York, you’ve probably noticed how hard it is to get a straight answer to “What’s the best show on Broadway right now?” There’s always someone on TikTok gushing about a standing ovation, another mate on Instagram flexing front-row seats, and critics slapping stars onto wildly different picks. But right now, in the thick of the 2025 Broadway season, one show is causing more chatter, ticket scrambles, and impromptu singalongs than any other: best show on broadway is hands-down the all-new musical ‘Gatsby.’ And it’s not just hype—you want to know why?
Why ‘Gatsby’ Owns Broadway in 2025
Let’s get straight to it. The new ‘Gatsby’ musical is the buzz of the season, breaking the box office with a fever everyone’s catching. If you’ve read F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel or seen Baz Luhrmann’s glitzy film, forget all your expectations. This version explodes off the stage. It’s bold, modern, and somehow even more glamorous than you expect. Critics raved after its April opening, pouring out praise for the energy, the visuals, and the shockingly catchy new songs by Florence Welch (yes, that Florence from Florence + The Machine). Florence’s collaboration with Thomas Bartlett—best known for his production on Taylor Swift’s ‘folklore’—brings the Roaring Twenties to life with a sound that’s fresh but drenched in vintage drama. You wouldn’t be wrong to call this the hottest ticket in town.
The staging alone is ridiculous in all the best ways: chandeliers swinging down from the ceiling, dancers tossing confetti into the crowd, and set changes that happen so fast you’re left blinking. It’s all wrapped around a cast that delivers on every front. Jeremy Pope, who has scooped up accolades from Tony to Emmy circuits, steps into Gatsby’s shoes, and he kills it. The tension between him and Eva Noblezada’s Daisy Buchanan? You can almost taste it from the balcony. The chemistry isn’t forced—it burns, and the crowd leans in for every whispered promise and shattered dream.
This season’s ‘Gatsby’ hype isn’t just about glitz. It’s surprisingly smart about class, privilege, and how much we still want to belong. The dialogue feels sharp and relevant; lines that could’ve been lost in past adaptations now cut deep. And those songs! “Green Light Fever,” the Act One finale, practically dares you not to hum it all the way home. The choreography, masterminded by Sonya Tayeh, plays up Prohibition-era swagger with a sly wink, splicing in hip-hop and jazz moves without a misstep.
Spoiler alert: if you were worried about another predictable retelling, relax. The script flashes between eras, giving sly nods to social media and today’s digital obsession. Both young theatre junkies and classic lit purists have found something to love—and argue about on the walk to the subway.
So if you’re planning a trip, or just want to sound like you know what’s hot, you basically can’t have a Broadway conversation this year without mentioning ‘Gatsby.’ Meghan Markle was spotted sneaking in last month. TikTok is flooded with bootleg clips (security, as you’d expect, is not amused). Baby Yoda memes featuring Gatsby quotes? Weirdly, those are trending. People are obsessed.
Tips for Scoring Tickets and Maximizing the Broadway Experience
Everyone wants tickets, but getting decent seats for ‘Gatsby’ is its own spectacle. Sites like TodayTix and the official Broadway box office are hammered every morning at 10am, so move fast or you’ll be stuck peering around a column. Rush tickets are sometimes available if you can wake up early enough to line up. If you’re traveling from outside New York, keep your hotel nearby; rain won’t stop true fans, but soggy Playbills aren’t cute.
If you dream of seeing Broadway’s magic without the typical stress, consider mid-week performances—Wednesday and Thursday nights tend to have better availability and often a more chill audience vibe. Want a little extra glam? The mezzanine seats in the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre (where ‘Gatsby’ is housed) give you a perfect overview of the set extravagance without costing you the family silver. Pro tip: some theatre insiders on Reddit swear that the back row of the orchestra (left side) is often released last-minute for incredible prices.
For first-timers, grab a show-themed cocktail at the bar. ‘The Green Light,’ swirling with cucumber and a tiny edible glitter, is honestly half the fun (just pace yourself—Broadway signatures sneak up on you). The merch tables are stacked with art deco goodies and jazzy tees, but if you want a keepsake, get the program—it’s filled with behind-the-scenes gossip, custom art, and some epic cast Q&As not found online.
And you want to be early—doors open 45 minutes before curtain, and there’s even live jazz in the lobbies. If you show up last-minute, you’ll miss hidden surprises, like staff members handing out single-use fans themed after the characters. It’s quirky, sure, but when the theatre heats up with all that velvet, you’ll be grateful.
Feeling inspired to explore beyond the big headliners? This season, there are some underdog gems—‘The SpongeBob Musical’ (yes, it’s back and, yeah, it’s shockingly good), and ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ musical is finally nailing its stride after a rocky preview year. But nothing touches the fever behind ‘Gatsby’—it’s a full-on Broadway event, not just a show.
What Sets Broadway’s Current Hit Apart From the Rest
When you talk about Broadway magic, everyone thinks of stunning sets and soaring vocals. But ‘Gatsby’ feels different because it’s very much about now. The whole experience is engineered to pull you in, not just impress you from a distance. That means digital projection mapping that wraps the whole theatre in shimmering light. During the party scenes, the entire crowd becomes part of the spectacle—actors actually step into the aisles, interacting with guests, and there’s real champagne for some lucky folks at the front (no joke—one couple even got engaged during the June 12 matinee when the cast cheered them on).
If you’ve ever watched a show and thought, “They’re just going through the motions,” you’ll spot the difference—you can see the cast is living it every night. Instagram is flooded with crew selfies, and producers share daily TikToks from backstage to show just how wild the ride has gotten. The creative team has even held open Q&A panels after certain shows, letting fans ask about anything—from costume disasters (one dancer’s dress got tangled on a chandelier in May, but she played it off gracefully) to the symbolism of Gatsby’s infamous yellow car used on stage.
‘Gatsby’ isn’t just pulling in thousands of new fans—it’s getting raves from Broadway veterans. Lin-Manuel Miranda called it “the most visually ambitious show since ‘Hamilton.’” A New York Times review described the atmosphere as “electric and emotionally raw,” while Playbill highlighted the modern edge in the music. Even seasoned ushers are grinning at every curtain call because the energy hits different every single show.
The show’s influence is wild: fashion houses are reportedly using stills from the musical for their 2025 ad campaigns. Theatres in London and Sydney have allegedly started talks to bring their own versions of ‘Gatsby’ to life. In New York, at least, apartment brokers report a spike in rentals within walking distance of Broadway—not a coincidence, if you ask anyone working in hospitality.
Date night, birthday treat, solo adventure—‘Gatsby’ is the kind of show that becomes a core memory. People dress up in sequins and feathers, turning theatre lobbies into Roaring Twenties photo shoots. But you don’t have to go all out; the spirit of Broadway right now is come-as-you-are, ready to be swept away.
You want a story of love, loss, wild dreams, and music that haunts you for weeks? Hop on the Gatsby train before it sells out for good. There’s no stage on the planet buzzing like Broadway’s right now, and ‘Gatsby’ is why.
