What to Know
- Madame Tussauds New York Presents Broadway recreates the Great White Way while also inviting guests to stage their own Broadway production.
- The experience allows visitors to interact with some of composer Andrew Lloyd Weber's best-loved shows, including "Phantom of the Opera."
- One of the highlights is the technologically-advanced Grizabella figure, who literally sings "Memory" from "Cats."
Attracting visitors from around the world, Broadway’s show-stopping productions are often imitated but never duplicated. Until now.
Madame Tussauds New York Presents Broadway recreates the energy of the Great White Way while also inviting guests to play a part in staging some of the most iconic musicals of all time, including "Phantom of the Opera," "Cats" and "Sunset Boulevard."
Led by the enigmatic phantom himself and perhaps a cat or two, visitors embark on an interactive journey through some of composer Andrew Lloyd Webber’s longest-running and best-loved shows.
Whether it be composing a piece of music worthy of Webber, controlling the effects behind the scenes or taking center stage to belt Christine’s final note from "Phantom," general manager Tom Middleton said there is something for everyone.
“You get to literally take part in every aspect of Broadway, which is something that unless you are working in the Broadway industry, you would just never get to do anywhere else,” said Middleton.
As a wax figure museum, Madame Tussauds historically draws tourists with inanimate statues of people’s favorite celebrities frozen in time. But now, the museum seeks to offer a more lively experience, and the Broadway exhibit is their first attempt at doing so, Middleton said.
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One of the highlights is "Cats’" Grizabella, who, with tears streaming down her face, literally sings a heartbreaking rendition of “Memory” for the audience.
The figure, which is the most technologically-advanced that the museum has ever created, has a projection-mapped face that moves seamlessly and makes listeners feel as if they scored front row seats to the original musical.
While many people argue that the price is worth it, there is no debate that Broadway shows are expensive. Middleton says a day at the museum, which starts at $29.95, is a cheaper option.
“If you don’t want to maybe spend all the money on going to an actual Broadway show, this is like a great alternative to get a sneak peak of Broadway without having to commit your entire afternoon to maybe one show,” said Middleton. “Equally if you do, this is complementary to that as well. Go see the show and come here and live it.”
Middleton said Madame Tussauds Presents Broadway provides a meaningful experience for tourists and local New Yorkers alike.
“Broadway means so much to everybody,” said Middleton. “If you’re a tourist, you want to come here, you want to hang out in Times Square, you want to go to a Broadway show, but then for a local New Yorker, you want to go to Broadway because there’s so many different shows."
He added, "and you’re proud of Broadway, and so we want to be proud of our Broadway attraction as well.”