Are There No Broadway Shows on Mondays? Here's the Real Schedule
Broadway Show Schedule Checker
Check Broadway Shows on Monday
Ever planned a Monday night out in New York, only to find out half the Broadway theaters are dark? You’re not alone. It’s one of the most common surprises for first-time visitors-and even some locals-when they hit the box office or try to book tickets online. The truth isn’t complicated, but it’s not obvious either. There are no Broadway shows on Mondays… almost always. And here’s why that’s actually a good thing.
Why Monday Is the Official Dark Day
Most Broadway theaters shut down on Mondays. It’s not a random choice. It’s a long-standing tradition dating back to the 1920s, when theater owners realized that audiences were thin after weekend shows and midweek fatigue set in. Monday was the slowest night, so they started closing to give everyone a break. Cast and crew needed rest. Stagehands needed time to repair sets. Costumes needed mending. Lights needed replacing. The whole machine needed a reset.Today, that tradition still holds. Out of the 41 active Broadway theaters, 37 have no performances on Monday. That’s over 90% of the shows. Theaters like Hamilton, a hip-hop musical that revolutionized Broadway ticket sales since 2015, The Lion King, a long-running spectacle with elaborate puppetry and stage mechanics, and Wicked, a fantasy musical that consistently ranks among the top-grossing shows all take Monday off.
When There Are Exceptions
There are always exceptions. Every season, one or two shows break the Monday rule-and it’s never random. These are usually holiday shows or special events. For example, during Thanksgiving week in 2024, Aladdin, a Disney musical with high-tech projections and fast-paced choreography performed on a Monday because the holiday fell on a Thursday, and the producers wanted to give audiences more options before the long weekend.Another common exception is when a Monday falls on a major holiday like Christmas Day or New Year’s Day. In those cases, theaters may open for one show only, usually a matinee. In 2023, Chicago, a jazz-infused crime musical known for its stylized dance numbers had a special 2 p.m. show on Christmas Day. That’s rare, though. You can’t count on it.
Some shows also run Monday performances during summer months or when they’re nearing closing night. In 2025, Sweeney Todd, a dark musical thriller with a live orchestra and intense vocal demands added a Monday show for its final month to help clear remaining tickets. These are temporary changes, not permanent schedules.
How to Check the Real Schedule
Don’t assume. Always check. The official Broadway.com website is the most reliable source. Each show has its own page with a calendar that updates in real time. You can filter by date, show, or theater. The site also flags special performances-like Monday matinees or holiday shows-so you won’t miss them.Third-party ticket sites like TodayTix or Telecharge sometimes show incorrect schedules. They pull data from the theaters, but delays happen. If you’re booking last-minute, go straight to the theater’s official site or box office. For example, MJ the Musical, a biographical show about Michael Jackson with live dance performances and iconic hits had a Monday show added in March 2025 after ticket demand spiked. That update only appeared on their own site for the first 48 hours.
What Happens on Mondays at Broadway Theaters
Even when the lights are off, the theaters aren’t empty. Stage crews use Mondays to do deep maintenance. Set pieces are rebuilt. Fly systems are inspected. Lighting rigs are recalibrated. In Come From Away, a moving musical about 9/11 survivors and a Canadian town that took in stranded passengers, the entire stage rotates between scenes. That mechanism gets a full tune-up every Monday.Cast members get a day off, but many use it for vocal rest, physical therapy, or even taking classes. Dancers train. Singers work with coaches. Actors rehearse new material for understudies. Some even do community outreach-like visiting schools or hospitals-to stay connected to the audience.
Behind the scenes, marketing teams plan. They analyze ticket sales from the weekend, tweak ads, and prepare social media content for the week ahead. The Monday dark day isn’t just rest-it’s strategy.
What to Do If You’re in New York on a Monday
If you’re visiting and Monday is your only free day, don’t panic. There are still plenty of live performances. Off-Broadway theaters-like The Public Theater, a nonprofit venue known for launching groundbreaking plays and musicals or Second Stage Theater, a venue that showcases new American works and emerging playwrights-often run shows seven days a week. Many offer tickets under $50, and some even have pay-what-you-can nights.Comedy clubs like The Comedy Cellar, a legendary New York venue that launched careers of top comedians or Upright Citizens Brigade, a theater known for improv and sketch comedy since the 1990s are open Monday nights. You’ll get live laughs, no waiting in line for a Broadway ticket.
Some theaters host Monday night talks. Lincoln Center, a major cultural complex that includes the Metropolitan Opera and New York Philharmonic often has free Q&As with Broadway creatives after their evening performances. These events are open to the public and give you insight you won’t find in any playbill.
Why This Schedule Works
The Monday dark day isn’t a limitation-it’s a strength. It keeps shows fresh. It prevents burnout. It helps maintain the quality of performances. A tired actor singing “Defying Gravity” on a Monday night? That’s not just bad theater-it’s risky. The system protects the art.It also makes tickets more valuable. With fewer shows per week, demand stays high. That’s why Hadestown, a myth-inspired musical with folk music and intricate set design can sell out months in advance, even though it only runs six nights a week.
And for audiences? It means every show you see is likely to be at its best. The cast is rested. The stage is polished. The energy is high. That’s the secret behind Broadway’s enduring magic.
Are all Broadway shows closed on Mondays?
Almost all are. About 37 out of 41 Broadway theaters have no performances on Mondays. The exceptions are rare and usually tied to holidays, special events, or final weeks of a show’s run. Always check the official show website before planning your visit.
Do any Broadway shows have Monday matinees?
Yes, but it’s uncommon. In 2025, only two shows-Sweeney Todd and Aladdin-added Monday matinees for limited periods. These are temporary and usually announced just weeks in advance. Never assume a Monday matinee is available unless it’s listed on the official ticketing site.
Can I see a show on Monday in New York City?
Yes, but not on Broadway. Off-Broadway theaters like The Public Theater, Second Stage, and the Vineyard Theatre regularly perform Monday nights. You’ll also find comedy clubs, jazz venues, and live storytelling events open all week. The energy is still there-you just need to look beyond the big marquees.
Why don’t Broadway theaters just open every night?
Because the shows are physically and emotionally demanding. Casts perform eight times a week on a normal schedule. Adding Monday shows would mean 10 performances-no rest days. That leads to vocal strain, injuries, and lower-quality performances. The Monday break preserves the art and protects the people who make it happen.
Is Monday the only day without shows?
No, but it’s the only consistent one. Some shows skip Tuesday or Wednesday for technical rehearsals, especially during previews. Others close on holidays like Christmas or Thanksgiving. But Monday is the only day that’s almost always dark across the entire Broadway district.
