There is a reason why these shows have endured thousands of performances.

It can be stressful to arrange your first trip to New York City. It might get much more perplexing if your plans involve seeing a Broadway production. The good news is that theatre is mounting a significant resurgence in Manhattan as epidemic regulations grow less onerous.

15 Broadway productions with megastar talent on stage debuted in April, ranging from Daniel Craig in "Macbeth" to Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick in "Plaza Suite." A safer bet may be one of the long-running productions that have endured thousands of performances if it's your first time in Manhattan.

Here are nine that have been active for at least five years, starting with the oldest.

The opera Phantom of the Opera

Since January 26, 1988, the longest-running production in Broadway history has astounded audiences with brilliant performances, not to mention its toppling chandelier. Many of the songs in this Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, which tells the tale of a seductive soprano who is enchanted by a mysterious masked maestro who lives under the Paris Opera, will be familiar to you. The 1988 Best Musical Tony Award winner is the ideal show for a weekend of love.

Chicago

Thanks in part to imaginative, occasionally unexpected casting, the show about two seductive murderesses set in the jazzy '20s has been airing since 1996. Pamela Anderson, a former Baywatch actress who currently plays the starring role through June 5, is receiving unexpectedly positive reviews. But before her, celebrities including Christie Brinkley, Billy Ray Cyrus, Melanie Griffith, George Hamilton, Jennifer Holliday, Huey Lewis, Jerry Springer, Sofia Vergara, and Chandra Wilson graced the stage in various roles. Even without a prominent name on the marquee, the show is still a lot of fun.

Leo the Lion

In 1997, the opulent production made its Broadway debut, bringing the cherished Disney animated film to life. With more than 200 inventive puppets, including an elephant operated by four actors, the animals come to life, making it the ideal family entertainment. (If you can, choose an aisle seat because many of the animals will be marching through the theatre.) You'll be singing Elton John and Tim Rice tunes like "Circle of Life" and "Hakuna Matata" for days after this lovely event, so be forewarned.

Wicked

Pre-Dorothy, two witches in the Land of Oz—the geeky (and highly green) Elphaba and the wildly popular Glinda—become odd companions while attending college. When the show debuted in 2003, many critics weren't fans, but guess what? The play has skyrocketed because of positive word-of-mouth, exquisite ballads ("Defying Gravity" and "For Good"), and a message that encourages friendship and standing up for what you believe in.

Bible of Mormon

This filthy, irreverent comedy from the creators of South Park provides for an entertaining night out with coworkers if you're traveling for business. The satirical program, which has been airing since 2011, is set in Uganda, where two Mormon missionaries attempt to convert locals who are more preoccupied with famine, HIV/AIDS, and the activities of a warlord. After the initial shutdown, the show's creators made changes to "elevate the main Black female character and explain the humor," as The New York Times put it. The program is still inappropriate for viewers under the age of 17.

Aladdin

Another good choice for the family, the Disney classic is stunning — yes, the magic carpet really flies — and the story is heartwarming as ever. The music is terrific; the stage version, which opened in 2014, adds new songs by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman written for the film but not used. But the show truly lives on the energy of the Genie, whose high-octane "Friend Like Me" still stops the show after all these years.

Hamilton

You can now get tickets to Lin-Manuel Miranda's Tony and Pulitzer-winning musical without needing a second mortgage, making it the hottest ticket in town for years after its 2015 debut. The production, which features a rap-inspired score and a diverse group of performers playing Alexander Hamilton and other American founding fathers, is perhaps the most enjoyable history lesson you'll ever take. Even if you watched the Disney+ movie, nothing compares to being "in the room where it happens," as they say in the program.

Evan Hansen, please

If you're traveling with high schoolers, the show, which has been running since 2016, provides a charming and thought-provoking look at how an adolescent controls his social anxiety. The show, however, deals with divorce, bullying, and suicide and is not suitable for young children. It is not light entertainment. Be prepared to spend days with it and its eerie anthem of inclusion stuck in your mind "You'll be located.

Arrive from afar

This stirring musical, which has been performing since 2017, tells the tale of how the resourceful citizens of the small Newfoundland town of Gander helped hundreds of stranded passengers following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Much of what you'll see on stage occurred, and the production is a monument to the strength of kindness in the face of terrible sorrow (even some of the names are the same). a box of tissues

Obtaining Tickets
 

The quickest approach to purchasing Broadway advance tickets is to visit the show's website, which will typically point you toward Telecharge or Ticketmaster. Join the mailing list for the show so you can perhaps receive discounts. For more potential discounts, check out StubHub, TodayTix, or TheaterMania. If you decide at the last minute, check the theater's box office the day of the performance to see if there have been any returns. Or, for a truly authentic New York experience, wait in line for tickets at the TDF booth in Times Square (Broadway and 47th Street) to be discounted the day of the performance."