April Fools’ Day is the perfect excuse to celebrate the shows that make us laugh until our sides hurt. While Broadway is often known for its sweeping romances and dramatic showstoppers, there’s something truly special about a comedy that lands just right - perfect timing, wit, and a whole lot of personality.
At Playhouse Square, we love a good laugh, so in honor of today, we’re spotlighting some of our favorite Broadway comedies that showcase just how joyful, clever, and entertaining theater can be.
Death Becomes Her
Dark, glamorous, and deliciously campy, Death Becomes Her is the kind of comedy that revels in its own absurdity. Based on the cult-favorite film, this musical serves up vanity, rivalry, and immortality with a wicked sense of humor.
We’re especially excited because Playhouse Square will be launching the National Tour of Death Becomes Her this fall - so Cleveland audiences will be among the first to experience the laughs, the drama, and the jaw-dropping theatrical magic. Trust us… this is a comedy to die for.
Oh, Mary!
Sharp, irreverent, and wildly inventive, Oh, Mary! flips history on its head with biting humor and a totally unique voice. It’s the kind of comedy that sneaks up on you - equal parts clever and chaotic.
And we're not fooling - Oh, Mary! will be coming to Playhouse Square in March 2027!
Operation Mincemeat
Fast, clever, and irresistibly inventive, Operation Mincemeat turns a true WWII espionage story into a brilliantly offbeat musical comedy. With quick-change performances, sharp writing, and a distinctly British sense of humor, it’s a show that delights in surprising its audience at every turn.
It’s proof that even history - yes, even wartime history, can be transformed into something wildly funny, without losing its heart and reverance.
Spamalot
Lovingly ripped from the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Spamalot is pure comedic chaos - complete with killer rabbits, flying cows, and some of the most ridiculous (and catchy) songs in musical theater.
Playhouse Square proudly launched the National Tour of Spamalot in December 2025, bringing this wildly silly, Tony Award-winning hit to Cleveland audiences with all the irreverence and joy that made it a Broadway favorite.
The Book of Mormon
Few shows have shaken up Broadway comedy quite like The Book of Mormon. Bold, outrageous, and unapologetically over-the-top! Through catchy songs and razor-sharp satire it has become a returning favorite for Cleveland audiences.
Beetlejuice
Strange and unusual? Absolutely. Beetlejuice brings spooky humor to the stage with a rebellious edge and a whole lot of heart.
With its rapid-fire jokes, visual gags, and scene-stealing title character, this show proves that comedy comes alive in the afterlife!
Shucked
If you like your comedy with a side of corn (literally), Shucked is a must. This pun-filled musical leans into its rural charm and delivers joke after joke with surprising sincerity underneath. It's quirky and corny humor had Cleveland in stitches on our last KeyBank Broadway Series.
The Play That Goes Wrong
Sometimes the funniest thing you can do is… fail spectacularly. The Play That Goes Wrong is a masterclass in physical comedy, where everything that can go wrong absolutely does.
Doors fall off, props misbehave, and actors struggle to keep it together - resulting in nonstop laughter from start to finish.
Whether it’s satire, slapstick, or something deliciously dark, Broadway comedies remind us why we love live theatre - anything can happen, and usually does!
This April Fools’ Day, we’re celebrating the shows that have had us LOL-ing and looking ahead to the ones we can’t wait to share with you!