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Broadway Shows With Wednesday Matinees

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Published on: May 11, 2025
By: Kathryn Willingham
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Broadway Show Schedules

Broadway shows usually perform 8 times a week. Most often, this includes evening performances on Tuesday through Saturday as well as matinee performances on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. But more and more, shows are differing from this schedule, adding performances on Sunday or Monday nights or doing away with the Wednesday matinee altogether. We’re including a roundup of ALL shows playing on Wednesday afternoons. Usually curtain is at 2pm, but some shows offer an extra-early 1pm curtain time, so always make sure to double check the time and date on a show’s website as schedules occasionally change over the course of the run.

The Audience at Wednesday Matinees

Audiences at Wednesday matinees often include out-of-towners, tourists, school groups, retired patrons, and anyone who doesn’t work typical 9am to 5pm hours. There is no dress code for Broadway theaters, but matinee performances tend to be a little more relaxed than evening performances. You’ll see a lot of jeans and sneakers – but as always, dress for your own comfort level and enjoyment. For some people, theater is always a chance to dress up!

Broadway Matinee Discounts

Broadway tickets for Wednesday matinee performances are sometimes slightly cheaper than for an evening performance, but it all depends on the time of year and popularity of the show you are choosing. For specific show discounts, you can head to the TKTS booth in Times Square to check out what’s on offer for up to 50% off! And if you have time, you can also head to a show’s box office to see if they have any rush tickets available. Rush tickets are available to purchase for same-day performances at a steep discount. And for sold-out shows like & Juliet or Sunset Boulevard, you might even be able to get a Standing Room ticket, which allows you to watch a show from the rear of the orchestra. Great views for much less money.

Finding the Best Show For You

There are many things to consider when seeing a Broadway show. From budgetary concerns to time restraints and genre preferences, it can all be overwhelming. We’ve sorted every available Wednesday matinee by musical and by play, as well as letting you know the highlights and running times of each show.

Plays With Wednesday Matinees

Glengarry Glen Ross

Glengarry Glen Ross

This star-studded play about feuding salesmen features performances by Kieran Culkin, Bill Burr, and Bob Odenkirk.

Running Time: 1 hour, 45 minutes, including an intermission.

Good Night and Good Luck at the Winter Garden

Good Night, and Good Luck

George Clooney stars as Edward R. Murrow in this timely play about CBS reporting on Joe McCarthy.

Running Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes, no intermission.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Based on the worldwide blockbuster book series, this magical stage show runs at the Lyric Theatre and will wow you with its effects!

Running Time: 2 hours, 55 minutes, including one intermission.

John Proctor is the Villain at the Booth Theatre

John Proctor is the Villain

Sadie Sink stars in this buzzed about play that follows a group of students reading The Crucible while dealing with their own troubles.

Running Time: 1 hour, 45 minutes, no intermission.

Othello

Othello

Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal are performing to packed houses as Othello and Iago respectively.

Running time: 2 hours, 35 minutes, including one intermission.

Purpose

Purpose

This Pulitzer Prize winning play by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins follows the Jasper family as they reexamine their own heritage.

Running Time: 2 hours, 50 minutes, including one intermission.

Musicals With Wednesday Matinees

And-Juliet-Stephen-Sondheim

& Juliet

Juliet gives herself in a new ending in this reimagining of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. You’ll never think of the star-crossed lovers the same way again.

Running Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes, including one intermission.

Boop! the Musical

Boop!

You may know her as the famous comic book heroine Betty Boop, but now she’s live, in color, and playing at the Broadhurst Theatre in New York City.

Running Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes, including one intermission.

Buena Vista Social Club

The music will sweep you away to Cuba in this atmospheric crowd-pleaser featuring the music of Buena Vista Social Club.

Running Time: 2 hours, 10 minutes, including one intermission.

Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club in the August Wilson Theatre

Cabaret

Take a seat at the Kit Kat Club and leave your troubles behind as the Emcee and Sally Bowles take the stage.  

Running Time: 2 hours, 45 minutes, including one intermission.

Dead Outlaw

Dead Outlaw

This new musical follows the shockingly true story of an outlaw-turned-corpse-turned-celebrity. This dark comedy made waves off-Broadway before transferring to Broadway’s Longacre Theatre.

Running Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes, no intermission.

Audra McDonald in Gypsy

Gypsy

Audra McDonald stuns as the iconic Rose, the stage mom to end all stage moms. This is one of the most highly anticipated musicals of the season!

Running Time: 2 hours, 40 minutes, including one intermission.

Just In Time

Just in Time

Jonathan Groff, fresh off his Tony Award win for his performance in Merrily We Roll Along, gives a career-best as Bobby Darin in this crowd-pleaser that includes songs like “Beyond the Sea,” and “Splish Splash.”

Running Time: 2 hours, 15 minutes, including one intermission.

The Last Five Years

The Last Five Years

Nick Jonas and Adrienne Warren star in this two-hander about a couple and the ups and downs of their relationship. This cult classic finally has its Broadway debut almost 25 years after its first performance on stage.

Running Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes, no intermission.

The Lion King on Broadway

The Lion King

One of the longest-running shows on Broadway, this family-friendly classic is still packing houses and stunning audiences.

Running Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes, including one intermission.

Maybe Happy Ending

Maybe Happy Ending

Darren Criss and Helen J. Shen star as two robots in this heartwarming romance with a lot of buzz. It is one of just five musicals nominated for the 2025 Tony Award for Best Musical.

Running Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes, no intermission.

Neil-Simon-MJ-Musical

MJ The Musical

If you love dancing, you can’t do better than MJ, which follows Michael Jackson as he prepares for his iconic 1992 Dangerous World Tour.

Running Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes, including one intermission.

Operation Mincemeat

This smash hit from the UK finally comes to Broadway stages and follows the true story of Operation Mincemeat, a plan to trick the Nazis about an impending invasion.

Running Time: 2 hours, 35 minutes, including one intermission.

Todd Haimes Theatre

Pirates! The Penzance Musical

The Gilbert & Sullivan classic The Pirates of Penzance is reimagined and newly set in the streets of New Orleans. David Hyde Pierce, Jinkx Monsoon, and Ramin Karimloo star in this very funny musical at Roundabout’s Todd Haimes Theatre.

Running Time: 2 hours, 15 minutes, including one intermission.

James-Earl-Jones---Theatre

Real Women Have Curves

Based on the play and film of the same name, this musical follows Ana García and her family as they work in a garment factory and follow their dreams. As she works with her mother, Ana must balance familial expectation with her own ambitions.

Running Time: 2 hours, 10 minutes, including one intermission.

Smash Marquis

Smash

You know and love the TV series, now see the breathtaking Broadway musical with songs you know as well as new hits written for the stage.

Running Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes, including one intermission.

samuel-j-friedman-theatre

Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends

This revue of Stephen Sondheim classics features actors like Bernadette Peters, Lea Salonga, and Beth Leavel.

Running Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes, including one intermission.

Sunset Boulevard with Nicole Scherzinger

Sunset Boulevard

Nicole Scherzinger wows as Norma Desmond in this musical about a silent film star past her prime and an up-and-coming screenwriter. When they work together, both of their fortunes may change.

Running Time: 2 hours, 35 minutes, including one intermission.

Gershwin-Wicked-Broadway-Musical

Wicked

One of Broadway’s biggest blockbusters, Wicked follows Glinda and Elphaba when they meet at school, before one becomes “Good” and the other “Wicked.” You may have seen the film adaptation or a national tour, but nothing beats seeing Wicked in a Broadway theater!

Running Time: 2 hours, 45 minutes, including one intermission.

How Do Matinees Work?

Looking to know the ins and outs of a matinee performance? Check out our article, What Is a Broadway Matinee?, to get all of your questions answered.

Kathryn Willingham

Head of Creative Development

Kathryn Willingham has worked in entertainment for over ten years, and recent credits include: Co-producer of SHRINK currently streaming on Peacock, Associate Producer of the independent film UNA, Co-Producer of LORENZO by Ben Target Off-Broadway, and Creative Executive on multiple theatrical productions including HANGMEN by Martin McDonagh on Broadway, NASSIM by Nassim Soleimanpour Off-broadway and Associate on productions EVERY BRILLIANT THING by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe and THE EFFECT by Lucy Prebble. She was Producer of Todd Almond’s musical travelogue “Wyoming and Parts of Kansas” and Production Coordinator for Karen O and KK Barrett's “Stop the Virgens.”


Education:  B.A. in English, Literature & Creative Writing from Rhodes College

Published

May 26, 2025

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