Fancy cocktails and glam clubs aren’t the only options for a fun night out with friends in New York City. The Off-Broadway scene offers an adventurous alternative with live theater experiences that will give your crew plenty to talk about after the curtain call. When the next ladies’ night rolls around, gather your girls and check out one of these crowd-pleasing productions.
Original cast of Gloria: A Life. Photo: Joan Marcus
Gloria: A Life
Buy tickets if…you want to start your Women’s History Month celebration a bit early.
What happens: This poignant play depicts major moments in feminist icon Gloria Steinem’s life and career, and there is major girl power behind the scenes too. The show features an all-female cast and production team with direction from Tony winner Diane Paulus. Christine Lahti stars as Gloria until January 29, when Patricia Kalember steps into the role.
Hurricane Diane
Buy tickets if…you’re as passionate about sustainability as you are about HGTV.
What happens: It’s Greek mythology meets The Real Housewives in this new comedy from the New York Theatre Workshop. Hilarity ensues when Diane, an earthly embodiment of the Greek god Dionysus, visits a New Jersey suburb. There she meets four housewives and attempts to improve their landscape design while combating climate change.
Sistas. Courtesy, St. Luke's Theatre
Sistas: The Musical
Buy tickets if…your musical taste ranges from Beyoncé to Billie Holiday.
What happens: When four sisters and a sister-in-law gather to mourn their late grandmother, their reminiscing turns into storytelling and songs about the black female experience. Expect plenty of laughs, dance numbers and tunes like “Single Ladies” and “We Are Family.”
This One’s for the Girls
Buy tickets if…you’re looking for post-show karaoke inspiration.
What happens: The hits just keep coming in this musical. Groove in your seat (and maybe sing along) to anthems like “Respect,” “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” and “I Will Survive” as three singers guide you through a century-long journey of women in pop music.
We Are the Tigers
Buy tickets if…you and your crew still regularly reference Bring It On.
What happens: In this black comedy, the Tigers are an underdog high school cheerleading team readying for the start of a new season. They’ll have bigger worries than making it to regionals, though, when their team sleepover takes a dangerous, Pretty Little Liars turn.