The Best Off-Broadway Theaters in New York City This Fall

One of the hottest shows in New York City isn’t opening on Broadway. You’ll have to head to Hudson Yards for that.

On Sept. 28, “Here We Are,” the highly anticipated final musical by Stephen Sondheim, begins previews at The Shed, a performing arts space at Hudson Yards. However, it’s not the only show worth putting on your calendar this fall. If you’re planning a trip to the Big Apple, here’s a look at some venues far off-Broadway to check out, along with shows playing in each spot this season.

The Shed

Address: 540 W. 30th St., theshed.org

The massive, 17,000-square-foot arts center has been open since April 2019 and hosts various events, from concerts to art exhibits, plays, and more. The space is truly revolutionary thanks to its retractable walls that can transform it from an indoor to an outdoor venue with the whir of a few motors.

“Here We Are,” running Sep. 2-Jan. 7, 2024, is probably the highest-profile production to hit the theater. The show, with music and lyrics by Sondheim and a book by playwright David Ives, was originally called “Square One” and takes its inspiration from two Luis Buñuel films, “The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie” and “The Exterminating Angel.” Summarizing the surrealistic plot to the New York Times, Sondheim said the first act is about a group looking for a place to have dinner, while the second act finds them at dinner with no way to leave. While the play is far from Broadway, the cast is anything but — Amber Gray (“Hadestown”), Rachel Bay Jones (“Dear Evan Hansen”), and David Hyde Pierce (“Hello, Dolly!”) are all set to take the stage.

Perelman Performing Arts Center

Address: 251 Fulton St., pacnyc.org

An all-new venue is coming to New York this fall. The Perelman Performing Arts Center, also known as PAC NYC, will open following a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sep. 13. The center is set to host theater, music, dance, and film events to delight everyone. The opening event, “Refuge: A Concert Series to Welcome the World,” is a five-night, pay-what-you-wish program featuring Common, Jose Feliciano, and other musicians from around the world. Big names appearing early on at PAC include LaChance (Oct. 1), Brian Stokes Mitchell (Oct. 5), and Ben Platt (Oct. 7).

City Center

Address: 131 W. 55th St., nycitycenter.org

The distinctive City Center building, with its Moorish design, has been around since the early 20th century. The center is home to the Manhattan Theatre Club and several dance companies. Next on the schedule for this venue is the annual Fall for Dance Festival, slated to run Sept. 27-Oct 8, featuring several companies and pre-show dance lessons. Following that will be a new take on the Rodgers and Hart musical “Pal Joey,” directed by dancer Savion Glover and actor Tony Goldwyn, from Nov. 1-5. City Center is most well-known for the Encores! series, which has revived rarely produced musicals for more than two decades. The 2024 schedule includes “Once Upon a Mattress,” starring Sutton Foster, Jan. 24-28, “Jelly’s Last Jam,” Feb. 21-25, and “Titanic,” June 12-16.

Park Avenue Armory

Address: 643 Park Ave., armoryonpark.org

The Armory’s website describes the arts complex as “part palace, part industrial shed,” highlighting that it fills a void in New York’s culture by supporting productions that might not work in a typical theater or concert hall. The space, built as the Seventh Regiment Armory in 1861, once housed a National Guard troupe known for their prominent family backgrounds (think Vanderbilts and Roosevelts). Upcoming performances include the shape-shifting artist Arca from Oct. 11-15 and “The Rite of Spring,” by the late choreographer Pina Bausch, from Nov. 29-Dec. 14.

Delacorte Theater

Address: 81 Central Park West, publictheater.org

On the Southwest corner of Central Park’s Great Lawn sits the open-air Delacorte Theater, home to the Public Theater’s renowned Shakespeare in the Park series. A gift to residents and visitors, the series has run since 1962, producing most of the Shakespeare canon, alongside works by Chekhov, Brecht, and even the musical “Hair” in a remarkable summer. Stars who’ve graced the Delacorte stage include Meryl Streep, James Earl Jones, Natalie Portman, and Anne Hathaway. Tickets are free and are distributed every morning outside the theater. The Delacorte recently underwent extensive renovations, ensuring that it will continue to be a venue where exceptional plays are produced free of charge for generations to come.