The Best of Broadway (and Beyond): A 2026 Review of Last Year's Standout Shows (Best of Live Theatre Series)

What makes a show unforgettable? Is it a Tony Award-winning performance? An intimate venue where the actors are close enough to touch? A new actor making a stage debut?In The Best of Broadway (and Beyond), theatre enthusiast and Off-Broadway co-producer Brian Guy takes readers through his favorite shows out of over 80 shows experienced in 2025. From Broadway's biggest hits to hidden Off-Broadway gems to Seattle regional productions, this book celebrates live theatre in all its forms.Highlights include:Hadestown and Ragtime, two of the year's most powerful musicalsAudra McDonald's legendary performance in Gypsy on Tony Awards EveJonathan Groff's immersive nightclub experience in Just In TimeHugh Jackman in an intimate Off-Broadway playDiscoveries like Caroline at MCC and Bat Boy at New York City CenterSeattle productions including Come From Away's 10th anniversary production and After MidnightA community theatre tribute and even a high school musical that made the cutThis is not a critic's takedown. It's a book of love—personal reflections on the shows that moved, surprised, and entertained. Guy shares insights on cast performances, production quality, seating choices, and what makes certain theatrical experiences stay with you long after the curtain falls.Whether you're planning a trip to New York, curious about Off-Broadway shows, or simply love reading about live performance, this book celebrates what makes live theatre magical.Brian Guy is the author of Broadway for Beginners: A Tourist’s Guide to Broadway and Off-Broadway in New York City, editor of Preview Night, and co-founder of Neurodiversity Allies, a nonprofit that advocates for sensory accessibility in live theatre. He is a musical theatre co-producer and resides on Bainbridge Island in Washington State. Read more