This Valentine's Day, forget dinner and a movie. We at Playbill support dinner and a show. Whether you've been coupled for a long time or you're having a Palentine's, there's a Broadway show that will have you leaving feeling more in love or more empowered.
Check out our recommendations for a Valentine's Date Night, according to your relationship status.
First Date
Is there a more romantic setting than Belle Epoque Paris? The flowing champagne (and absinthe)! The can-can dancers! With the ultimate celebration of beauty and decadence as its backdrop, Moulin Rouge! The Musical will set the mood for l'amour. Red neon hearts and a giant elephant head even adorn the stage in this pop-music jukebox tale of bohemian lovers. The mixtape of your first date will include many popular love songs: "Your Song," "I Will Always Love You," "Nature Boy," "Rolling in the Deep," and "Roxanne." Whether the date is a one-time thing or if it leads to a second date, you'll still leave the theatre singing.
Galentine's
Gather up the girls and head to the Lena Horne Theatre to celebrate a ladies-only Valentine's Day with the queens of SIX: the Musical. OK, maybe it doesn't pass the Bechdel test—on account of they're all singing about their shared ex-husband. But these former wives of Henry VIII don't hold anything back in their pop concert gab fest. The show is the perfect power anthem for girl's night, proving that living well is the best revenge.
Bromance
You've been best buds since 7th grade and your love language is quoting Monty Python to each other. Why not celebrate a Palentine's Day with the friend who really gets you and take in Spamalot, the musical inspired by Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Just like in the movie, Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table quest for the grail with coconut hooves for horses and run-ins with the Knights Who Say "Ni!" There's just more singing and dancing. We promise you'll laugh so much that you just might soil your armor.
Going Solo
Valentine-schmalentine. Take a lesson from Chicago's newest Roxie Hart, Ariana Madix, and be your own best friend. Instead of pop-, six-, or squish-ing the dirty bum who did her wrong, the Vanderpump Rules star took her real-life broken heart and ran away to Broadway to play one of musical theatre's greatest survivors. The John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Bob Fosse classic is perfect for a solo night out. Don't believe what Velma says, you can do it alone!
Significant Others
If you're feeling secure in your relationship, you should be able to handle a little horror, and comedy, in your love story. From those first wistful glances to the knock-down drag-out arguments, you've seen it all before, right? But if passion and meat pies are what you're after, Sweeney Todd has it in spades (in blades?). Yes, a few people die. But you can leave knowing that at least your relationship is healthier than Sweeney and Mrs. Lovett's.
BestFriendsForever
Sure, this is our third show for friends. But you know what, romantic partners come and go; friends can last a lifetime. & Juliet is our selection for any combination of platonic besties. Powered by the pop music written by Max Martin (made famous by Pink, Backstreet Boys, Katy Perry, Britney Spears, and more), this re-spun Romeo and Juliet doesn't end in tragedy. And it's not necessarily a romance either. It's a his, hers, and theirs musical that celebrates friendship above all else. So grab your BFF—you'll want someone sitting beside you to sing "Roar" with.
