Special Reports

Screw Black Friday. Go See a Broadway Show Instead.

Here’s a schedule of shows you can attend in lieu of the consumer demolition derby.

Broadway
Waitress, starring Katharine McPhee, will be serving up three performances over the Thanksgiving holiday.
Waitress, starring Katharine McPhee, will be serving up three performances over the Thanksgiving holiday.
(© Matthew Murphy)

It sometimes feels like Thanksgiving has been superseded by an unofficial national holiday: Black Friday. That's the orgy of consumerism that takes place every year on the Friday after Thanksgiving (and, increasingly, on the actual night of Thanksgiving). Every year, low-low prices lure millions of people out to jostle with their fellow Americans over consumer electronics and name-brand clothing. Maybe you'll be one of them. But if you're as exhausted by the thought of Black Friday as I am, might I suggest another option?

This year, as in years past, most shows on Broadway are offering a special Friday matinee for those people who don't want to spend their extra day off shopping. Some shows are even performing on Thanksgiving, which, for the culinarily disinclined, might prove to be an alternative for which every member of the family is thankful. Please, pass the Jagged Little Pill.

Check out the schedules below for details:

Campbell Scott plays Ebenezer Scrooge in Jack Thorne's adaptation of A Christmas Carol, directed by Matthew Warchus, at the Lyceum Theatre.
Campbell Scott plays Ebenezer Scrooge in Jack Thorne's adaptation of A Christmas Carol, directed by Matthew Warchus, at the Lyceum Theatre.
(© Joan Marcus)

A Christmas Carol
Thursday, November 28: No Performance
Friday, November 29: 2pm, 8pm

Ain't Too Proud
Thursday, November 28: No Performance
Friday, November 29: 2pm, 8pm

Aladdin
Thursday, November 28: No Performance
Friday, November 29: 2pm, 8pm

American Utopia
Thursday, November 28: No Performance
Friday, November 29: 8pm

Beetlejuice
Thursday, November 28: No Performance
Friday, November 29: 2pm, 8pm

Betrayal
Thursday, November 28: No Performance
Friday, November 29: 2pm, 8pm

Amra-Faye Wright (center) leads the cast of Chicago on Broadway.
Amra-Faye Wright (center) leads the cast of Chicago on Broadway.
(© Jeremy Daniel)

Chicago
Thursday, November 28: 8pm
Friday, November 29: 2:30pm, 8pm

Come From Away
Thursday, November 28: No Performance
Friday, November 29: 2pm, 8pm

Dear Evan Hansen
Thursday, November 28: No Performance
Friday, November 29: 2pm, 8pm

Derren Brown: Secret
Thursday, November 28: No Performance
Friday, November 29: 8pm

Freestyle Love Supreme
Thursday, November 28: No Performance
Friday, November 29: 8pm

Caissie Levy and Patti Murin (foreground) are in their last few months starring in Frozen on Broadway.
Caissie Levy and Patti Murin (foreground) are in their last few months starring in Frozen on Broadway.
(© Deen var Meer)

Frozen
Thursday, November 28: No Performance
Friday, November 29: 2pm, 8pm

Hadestown
Thursday, November 28: No Performance
Friday, November 29: 2pm, 8pm

Hamilton
Thursday, November 28: No Performance
Friday, November 29: 2pm, 8pm

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Thursday, November 28: No Performance
Friday, November 29: 2pm Part One, 8pm Part Two

Jagged Little Pill
Thursday, November 28: 7pm
Friday, November 29: 8pm

Mean Girls
Thursday, November 28: No Performance
Friday, November 29: 2pm, 8pm

Moulin Rouge! on Broadway performs twice on Black Friday.
Moulin Rouge! on Broadway performs twice on Black Friday.
(© Matthew Murphy)

Moulin Rouge!
Thursday, November 28: No Performance
Friday, November 29: 2pm, 8pm

Oklahoma!
Thursday, November 28: No Performance
Friday, November 29: 2pm, 8pm

Slava's Snowshow
Thursday, November 28: No Performance
Friday, November 29: 2pm, 8pm

Slave Play
Thursday, November 28: No Performance
Friday, November 29: 8pm

The Book of Mormon
Thursday, November 28: No Performance
Friday, November 29: 2pm, 8pm

The Great Society
Thursday, November 28: No Performance
Friday, November 29: 2pm, 8pm

The Inheritance
Thursday, November 28: No Performance
Friday, November 29: 7pm Part One

The Lightning Thief
Thursday, November 28: 7:30pm
Friday, November 29: 2pm, 7pm

The Lion King
Thursday, November 28: No Performance
Friday, November 29: 2pm, 8pm

The Phantom of the Opera will perform on Thanksgiving and twice on Black Friday.
The Phantom of the Opera will perform on Thanksgiving and twice on Black Friday.
(© Matthew Murphy)

The Phantom of the Opera
Thursday, November 28: 8pm
Friday, November 29: 2pm, 8pm

The Rose Tattoo
Thursday, November 28: No Performance
Friday, November 29: 8pm

The Sound Inside
Thursday, November 28: No Performance
Friday, November 29: 8pm

Tina: The Tina Turner Musical
Thursday, November 28: No Performance
Friday, November 29: 8pm

To Kill a Mockingbird
Thursday, November 28: No Performance
Friday, November 29: 2pm, 8pm

Tootsie closes on January 5, but it performs twice on Black Friday.
Tootsie closes on January 5, but it performs twice on Black Friday.
(© Matthew Murphy)

Tootsie
Thursday, November 28: No Performance
Friday, November 29: 2pm, 8pm

Waitress
Thursday, November 28: 7pm
Friday, November 29: 2pm, 8pm

Wicked
Thursday, November 28: No Performance
Friday, November 29: 2pm, 8pm