Join the standby list for our Spring 2025 Urban NY trips! Arrive at the meeting time (or no more than 10 minutes earlier) for Standby. You will put your name on a list provided by the Urban NY Trip Leader, and 10 minutes after the designated meeting time any last minute cancellations or no-shows will be released to the Standby list via random draw (please note that an earlier time of arrival will NOT increase chances of selection). Standby tickets are not guaranteed for any show, however there are often at least a few available!
The trips that will be offered during the Spring 2025 semester can be found below, as well as meeting times and locations. Please email urbanny@columbia.edu with any questions.
Wednesday, February 12th: A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical (meet in Lerner 515 @ 5:45pm)
Experience A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical on Broadway! Join Tony Award® winner James Monroe Iglehart and a talented ensemble cast as they bring Louis Armstrong’s incredible journey to life, from New Orleans to worldwide fame. This full-scale musical features a rich tapestry of characters, including the extraordinary women who helped shape his remarkable life and career. Be captivated by Armstrong’s timeless hits like “What a Wonderful World” and “When You're Smiling,” performed by a large, dynamic cast. Don’t miss this spectacular celebration of music, filled with vibrant dance numbers, stunning sets, and unforgettable performances. Get your tickets now for an unforgettable night that honors the iconic man who defined an era.
Tuesday, February 18th: Hadestown (meet in Lerner 515 @ 5:45pm)
Welcome to HADESTOWN, where a song can change your fate. This acclaimed new musical by celebrated singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell and innovative director Rachel Chavkin (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812) is a love story for today... and always. HADESTOWN intertwines two mythic tales — that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone — as it invites you on a hell-raising journey to the underworld and back. Mitchell’s beguiling melodies and Chavkin’s poetic imagination pit industry against nature, doubt against faith, and fear against love. Performed by a vibrant ensemble of actors, dancers and singers, HADESTOWN is a haunting and hopeful theatrical experience that grabs you and never lets go.
Thursday, February 20th: Maybe Happy Ending (meet in Lerner 515 @ 5:45pm)
Emmy® and Golden Globe Award® winner Darren Criss (Little Shop of Horrors) returns to Broadway alongside Helen J Shen in the new romantic musical comedy MAYBE HAPPY ENDING. Inside a one-room apartment on the outskirts of Seoul, Oliver lives a happily quiet life, listening to jazz records and caring for his favorite plant. But what else is there to do when you’re a Helperbot 3, a robot that has long been retired and considered obsolete? When his fellow Helperbot neighbor Claire asks to borrow his charger, what starts as an awkward encounter leads to a unique friendship, a surprising adventure, and maybe even…love? Winner of the Richard Rodgers Award, MAYBE HAPPY ENDING is the offbeat and captivating story of two outcasts near the end of their warranty who discover that even robots can be swept off their feet.
Tuesday, February 25th: Wicked (meet in Lerner 515 @ 5:45pm)
Wicked, the Broadway sensation, looks at what happened in the Land of Oz…but from a different angle. Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another girl, born with emerald-green skin—smart, fiery, misunderstood, and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships…until the world decides to call one “good,” and the other one “wicked.” From the first electrifying note to the final breathtaking moment, Wicked—the untold true story of the Witches of Oz—transfixes audiences with its wildly inventive story. It will send your spirits soaring to heights you’ll never forget.
Wednesday, February 26th: Hell's Kitchen (meet in Lerner 515 @ 6:15pm)
In the mid 90’s, in an apartment high above the energy and grit of Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood, 17-year-old Ali squints toward the horizon until she can just see the Hudson River. Despite the warnings of her protective mother, the symphony of the street calls to her—promising freedom, excitement, and the possibility of love. When a wise piano teacher helps her find her voice, Ali learns she can make the city her own. Don’t miss this exhilarating, joyful, coming-of-age story filled with that New York grit about chasing your dreams, honoring your roots, identity and finding your voice.
Thursday, February 27th: Hamilton (meet in Lerner 515 @ 5:45pm)
A wildly inventive new musical about the scrappy young immigrant who forever changed America: Alexander Hamilton. Tony and Grammy Award winner Lin-Manuel Miranda’s iconic musical about the unlikely founding father determined to make his mark on a new nation as hungry and ambitious as he is. From bastard orphan to Washington's right-hand man, rebel to war hero, loving husband caught in the country's first sex scandal to Treasury head who made an untrusting world believe in the American economy, Hamilton is an exploration of a political mastermind. Attend this revolutionary tale of America's fiery past told through the sounds of the ever-changing nation we've become.
Tuesday, March 4th: Gypsy (meet in Lerner 515 @ 5:45pm)
GYPSY is bigger than Broadway—it’s a once-in-a-generation theatrical event. Created by the legendary Arthur Laurents (book), Jule Styne (music), and Stephen Sondheim (lyrics), it is the crown jewel of American musicals. At long last, the greatest musical ever written returns with the most celebrated stage performer of our time. 6-time Tony Award® winner Audra McDonald steps into the mother of all roles alongside Tony Award winner Danny Burstein and rising Broadway stars Joy Woods and Jordan Tyson in this revelatory new production helmed by visionary director, 6-time Tony Award winner George C. Wolfe, and 4-time Tony Award-nominated choreographer Camille A. Brown.
Wednesday, March 5th: La Boheme (meet in Lerner 515 @ 6:15pm)
La Bohème, the passionate, timeless, and indelible story of love among young artists in Paris, can stake its claim as the world’s most popular opera. It has a marvelous ability to make a powerful first impression and to reveal unsuspected treasures after dozens of hearings. At first glance, La Bohème is the definitive depiction of the joys and sorrows of love and loss; on closer inspection, it reveals the deep emotional significance hidden in the trivial things—a bonnet, an old overcoat, a chance meeting with a neighbor—that make up our everyday lives.
Tuesday, March 11th: Death Becomes Her (meet in Lerner 515 @ 5:45 PM)
Madeline Ashton is the most beautiful actress (just ask her) ever to grace the stage and screen. Helen Sharp is the long-suffering author (just ask her) who lives in her shadow. They have always been the best of frenemies…until Madeline steals Helen’s fiancé away. As Helen plots revenge and Madeline clings to her rapidly fading star, their world is suddenly turned upside down by Viola Van Horn, a mysterious woman with a secret that’s to die for. After one sip of Viola’s magical potion, Madeline and Helen begin a new era of life (and death) with their youth and beauty restored… and a grudge to last eternity. Starring Tony Award® nominees Megan Hilty, Jennifer Simard, and Christopher Sieber, with Grammy® Award winner Michelle Williams, this drop-dead hilarious musical comedy is a must-see.
Wednesday, March 12th: The Outsiders (meet in Lerner 515 @ 6:15 PM)
The beloved story that defined a generation, reimagined as a groundbreaking new musical. The winner of the Tony Award® for Best Musical is THE OUTSIDERS. Adapted from S.E. HINTON’s seminal novel and FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA‘s iconic film, this thrilling new Broadway musical features a book by ADAM RAPP with JUSTIN LEVINE, music and lyrics by JAMESTOWN REVIVAL (Jonathan Clay & Zach Chance) and JUSTIN LEVINE, music supervision, orchestration, and arrangements by JUSTIN LEVINE, choreography by RICK KUPERMAN & JEFF KUPERMAN, and direction by Tony Award® winner DANYA TAYMOR. The New York Post calls it “The Best New Musical of the Season.” In Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1967, Ponyboy Curtis, his best friend Johnny Cade and their Greaser family of ‘outsiders’ battle with their affluent rivals, the Socs. THE OUTSIDERS navigates the complexities of self-discovery as the Greasers dream about who they want to become in a world that may never accept them. With a dynamic original score, THE OUTSIDERS is a story of friendship, family, belonging…and the realization that there is still “lots of good in the world.”
Thursday, March 13th: Buena Vista Social Club (meet in Lerner 515 @ 6:45 PM)
Step into the heart of Cuba, beyond the glitz of the Tropicana, to a place where blazing trumpets and sizzling guitars set the dance floor on fire. Here, the real sound of Havana is born—and one woman discovers the music that will change her life forever. Inspired by true events, the new Broadway musical BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB™ brings the GRAMMY® Award-winning album to thrilling life—and tells the story of the legends who lived it. A world-class Afro-Cuban band joins a sensational cast of musicians, actors, and dancers from around the world for an authentic experience unlike any you’ve seen or heard before. Don’t miss this unforgettable tale of big dreams, second chances, and the power of art to help us survive.
Tuesday, April 1st: Old Friends (meet in Lerner 515 @ 6:45 PM)
Celebrate the life and work of the great Stephen Sondheim, with an irresistible company headlined by none other than Tony Award® winners Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga. Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends comes to Broadway from London’s West End, where it earned a bevy of 5-star raves and was hailed by The Times as “unmissable musical theatre.” Joining Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga will be co-stars Jasmine Forsberg, Kate Jennings Grant, David Harris, Bonnie Langford, Beth Leavel, Gavin Lee, Jason Pennycooke, Joanna Riding, Jeremy Secomb, Maria Wirries, Daniel Yearwood, Kevin Earley, Paige Faure, Alexa Lopez, and Peter Neureuther.
Wednesday, April 2nd: NY Rangers vs. Minnesota Wild (meet in Lerner 515 @ 5:45 PM)
Come watch an exciting hockey game as the NY Rangers play the Minnesota Wild at the iconic Madison Square Garden.
Thursday, April 3rd: Real Women Have Curves (meet in Lerner 515 @ 6:15 PM)
REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES: THE MUSICAL is a funny, joyous, and empowering new show coming to Broadway this April. It’s the summer of 1987, and Ana Garcia dreams of flying away from East Los Angeles. But when her family’s garment business receives a make-or-break order for 200 dresses, Ana finds herself juggling her own ambitions, her mother’s expectations, and a community of women all trying to make it work against the odds. Based on the play by Josefina López that inspired the iconic hit film, REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES: THE MUSICAL is “a winner, with a big heart and joyous abandon” (The Boston Globe). “It makes us feel we can all soar!” (WBUR).
Thursday, April 10th: Six (meet in Lerner 515 @ 5:45 PM)
From Tudor Queens to Pop Princesses, the SIX wives of Henry VIII take the mic to reclaim their identities out of the shadow of their infamous spouse—remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into an exuberant celebration of 21st century girl power. The female cast are backed by an all-female band, the “Ladies in Waiting.” Songs from the studio album are streamed on average 300,000 times per day, making it the second highest streaming cast recording in the world.
Tuesday, April 15th: Chicago (meet in Lerner 515 @ 5:45 PM)
Set in the legendary city during the roaring “jazz hot” 20s, Chicago tells the story of two rival vaudevillian murderesses locked up in Cook County Jail. Nightclub star Velma’s serving time for killing her husband and sister after finding the two in bed together. Driven chorus girl Roxie’s been tossed in the joint for bumping off the lover she’s been cheating on her husband with. Not one to rest on her laurels, Velma enlists the help of prison matron Mama Morton and slickster lawyer Billy Flynn, who turn Velma’s incarceration into a murder-of-the-week media frenzy, thus preparing the world for a splashy showbiz comeback. But Roxie’s got some of her own tricks up her sleeve.
Tuesday, April 22nd: MJ The Musical (meet in Lerner 515 @ 5:45 PM)
MJ the Musical is the four-time Tony Award-winning showcase of Michael Jackson’s unparalleled artistry. The dazzling jukebox musical centers around the construction of 1992’s Dangerous World Tour, recreated by the Tony Award-winning choreography of Christopher Wheeldon. In total, 25 of Michael Jackson's most electrifying hits are woven into a book by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage. The musical took Broadway by storm when it premiered in February 2022, with The Washington Post calling it “a riveting, adrenaline rush of a show.” MJ has been nominated for 10 Tony Awards and one Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album. One of the hottest tickets on Broadway, MJ has grossed over $142 million and been seen by more than 975,000 theatergoers.
Thursday, April 24th: Little Shop of Horrors (meet in Lerner 515 @ 5:45 PM)
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS is the man-eating, award-winning musical, now celebrating five succulent years at the Westside Theatre! This smash-hit production now stars three-time Tony Award® nominee SHERIE RENE SCOTT (The Last Five Years, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), who returns to the New York stage as Audrey; Broadway star NICHOLAS CHRISTOPHER (Hamilton, Sweeney Todd) as Seymour; and JAMES CARPINELLO (Rock of Ages) as Dr. Orin Scrivello D.D.S.! Together they bring mouthwatering life to a show that has made millions of theatergoers laugh, scream, and give up gardening for good. Get tickets now and enjoy a taste of the funniest – and hungriest – musical in town!
Tuesday, April 29th: & Juliet (meet in Lerner 515 @ 5:45 PM)
Created by the Emmy®-winning writer from “Schitt’s Creek,”this hilarious new musical flips the script on the greatest love story ever told. & Juliet asks: what would happen next if Juliet didn’t end it all over Romeo? Get whisked away on a fabulous journey as she ditches her famous ending for a fresh beginning and a second chance at life and love—her way. Juliet’s new story bursts to life through a playlist of pop anthems as iconic as her name, including "Since U Been Gone‚" "Roar," "Baby One More Time," "Larger Than Life‚" "That’s The Way It Is,“ and "Can't Stop the Feeling!"—all from the genius songwriter/producer behind more #1 hits than any other artist this century. Break free of the balcony scene and get into this romantic comedy that proves there’s life after Romeo. The only thing tragic would be missing it.
Thursday, May 1st: Stranger Things: The First Shadow (meet in Lerner 515 @ 5:45 PM)
BEFORE THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN… Hawkins, 1959: a regular town with regular worries. Young Jim Hopper’s car won’t start, Bob Newby’s sister won’t take his radio show seriously and Joyce Maldonado just wants to graduate and get the hell out of town. When new student Henry Creel arrives, his family finds that a fresh start isn’t so easy… and the shadows of the past have a very long reach. From Netflix and the multi-award-winning Broadway producer Sonia Friedman Productions comes Stranger Things: The First Shadow. Winner of two Olivier Awards including Best Entertainment, this landmark production is brought to life by an award-winning creative team including director Stephen Daldry (The Crown, Billy Elliot, The Inheritance, The Hours, The Reader) and co-director Justin Martin (Prima Facie, The Inheritance). With stunning special effects, extraordinary performances, and a storyline that will keep you on the edge of your seat, this gripping, stand-alone adventure will take you right back to the beginnings of the Stranger Things story.
Monday, May 5th: Aida (meet in Lerner 515 @ 6:45 PM)
This grandest of grand operas features an epic backdrop for what is in essence an intimate love story. Set in ancient Egypt and packed with magnificent choruses, complex ensembles, and elaborate ballets, Aida never loses sight of its three protagonists. Few operas have matched Aida in its exploration of the conflict of private emotion and public duty, and perhaps no other has remained to the present day so unanimously appreciated by audiences and critics alike.