What Do I Wear to a Broadway Or Off-Broadway Show?

We get a lot of questions from new and veteran theatergoers alike, and one of the most common questions we get is "What do I wear to a Broadway or Off-Broadway show in New York City?" The quick answer to this question is that there are no specific rules on how to dress for Broadway or Off-Broadway shows in New York. There is no required dress code at any of the theaters in New York, and that rule applies to all productions; whether you are seeing plays or musicals, a comedy or a drama. You don't have to worry about a formal dress or a suit and tie before going to a play or musical. That said, the most common type of dress for both Broadway and Off-Broadway theater is 'business casual.' If you dress in that style you'll feel perfectly comfortable.

We also find that the type of show tends to dictate the trend of the dress of the audience. An Off-Broadway show like Altar Boyz will have a more casually dressed crowd, while audiences for a revival of an old play on Broadway may choose to "dress up" a bit more. We recommend that you dress for a Broadway or Off-Broadway show as if you were going out on a nice date! But whatever you wear to your Broadway or Off-Broadway production, we encourage you to dress comfortably, as this will help you can enjoy your theater experience that much more without worrying about unnecessary wardrobe malfunctions.