Broadway Shows in Connecticut: Where to See Touring Musicals
You don't have to ride the train into Manhattan to see a Broadway musical. Connecticut has many historic theaters that host national touring shows. That means big musicals fresh off New York, plus old favorites. Here's where touring Broadway lands in Connecticut. Here's what each theater is best for.
The Bushnell, Hartford
The Bushnell runs CT's flagship Broadway series, the biggest in the state. Its grand Mortensen Hall seats about 2,800 and opened in 1930. This is where the largest national tours play. Think shows on the scale of Wicked and Book of Mormon. These are shows that need a full-size house. If you want the year's biggest touring shows, this is your pick. Full details in our Bushnell guide.
The Shubert, New Haven
The Shubert is the most important Broadway theater in the state's history. It opened in 1914. Its nickname, "The Birthplace of the Nation's Greatest Hits," fits its history. Over the decades, it hosted many pre-Broadway tryouts and world premieres. Oklahoma! famously premiered here in 1943. Its working title was Away We Go!. Then it moved on to Broadway. Other landmarks include Rodgers & Hammerstein shows and A Streetcar Named Desire. Today it runs its own Broadway series. See our Shubert guide.
The Palace Theater, Waterbury
The restored 1922 Palace Theater in Waterbury runs a full Broadway series of touring shows. It has one of the state's largest stages. It's the central-Connecticut home for touring musicals. More in our Palace Theater Waterbury guide.
The Palace Theatre, Stamford
Down in Fairfield County, Stamford's Palace Theatre brings Broadway tours, plus concerts, comedy, and dance. It puts touring theater close to the southwest corner of the state. See our Palace Theatre Stamford guide.
The Garde Arts Center, New London
On the shoreline, the 1926 Garde Arts Center presents touring Broadway shows. Its auditorium has a one-of-a-kind Moroccan theme. It's the southeastern CT option. See our Garde guide.
The Warner Theatre, Torrington
Up in the northwest hills, the restored 1931 Warner Theatre brings touring Broadway-style shows, concerts, and comedy to the Litchfield region. See our Warner guide.
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Download on theApp StoreHow to pick
For the biggest, splashiest tours, start with the Bushnell. For history and atmosphere, the Shubert is unbeatable. It's a stage where Broadway classics were born. The Palaces, the Garde, and the Warner each bring theater closer to home. It depends on where you are in the state. A restored historic theater is half the night out, whichever you choose. Many sit in walkable downtowns. You can pair the show with dinner. See our guide to dinner and a show in CT.
These rooms also rank among the state's finest historic theaters. Every show they book lives in the CT Concert Center app. So does every other venue across the state.