Have you ever wished you could see one of your favorite books come to life on stage? Well, now is the time! Broadway is hot with book adaptations, featuring seven shows based on fan-favorite literature such as The Wizard of Oz, The Great Gatsby, and more.

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The Notebook

A true tale of love that endures against all odds, cult classic The Notebook has made the jump from page and screen to the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre! The best-selling 1996 Nicholas Sparks novel was adapted into an award-winning film in 2004, and now. 20 years later, has made its way to a Broadway stage. Follow the story of Allie and Noah, both from different worlds, who share a lifetime of love despite the forces that threaten to pull them apart. Directors Michael Greif and Schele Williams teamed up with singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson to bring you the beloved story in a way you’ve never seen before. Prepare to be blown away by the beautiful design and staging as you laugh and cry for the whole two and a half hours. Don’t forget the tissues, but even if you do, they sell The Notebook–branded ones at the merch stand!

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The Great Gatsby

It’s about time this Roaring Twenties classic entered the world of Broadway musicals, don’t you think, old sport? The 1925 novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby, has been referred to as “The Great American Novel” and is a long-held staple in English classes across the country. Now the party is roaring on at the Broadway Theatre with The Great Gatsby, a new musical following the enigmatic Jay Gatsby (Jeremy Jordan) who dazzles with grand parties and charm in the pursuit of his lost love, Daisy Buchanan (Eva Noblezada). The classic tale of opulence is brought to life once again by director Marc Bruni, with Tony Award–winning costumes, stunning scenery, catchy music, and captivating performances you don’t want to miss.

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The Outsiders

This is Broadway in 2024, and there’s just one thing you need to know: The Outsiders is now a Tony Award–winning Best Musical playing at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre! The show is adapted from the 1967 novel by S.E. Hinton and the 1983 Francis Ford Coppola film. Now, Tulsa 1967 comes to New York City audiences, telling the story of Ponyboy Curtis, Johnny Cade, and their chosen family of “outsiders” in a fight for survival and a quest for purpose in a world that may never accept them. Featuring stunning choreography, moving music, and technical elements that took home many Tonys this year, The Outsiders is a book-to-Broadway transfer you can’t miss.

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Water for Elephants

Step under the big top at the Imperial Theatre with a new musical adaptation of the 2006 historical fiction novel Water for Elephants. Set in the 1930s, Jacob Jankowski (Grant Gustin), after losing what matters most, jumps on a moving train unsure of where the road will take him and finds a new home with the remarkable crew of a traveling circus. Set through the eyes of Jankowski’s older self, this musical invites the audience to take in the stunning acrobatics and aerials of professional circus performers and remember that if you choose the ride, life can begin again at any age.

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Wicked

If you’ve ever wondered what Oz was like before Dorothy arrived, head on over to the Gershwin Theatre for Wicked, based on the 1995 novel Wicked by Gregory Maguire, which was inspired by L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another young woman, 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.” Famously inspired by Baum’s original Wizard of Oz novel, Maguire has said the character of Elphaba received her unique name due to the pronunciation of L. Frank Baum’s initials. Get ready for an unforgettable night with effects, performance, and music that truly defy gravity.

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Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

You’re on Broadway, Harry! That’s right: Stage magic meets real magic in this three-and-a-half-hour adventure through the wizarding world of the iconic novel series and blockbuster film franchise. Your favorite characters — Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, and more — take to the stage at the Lyric Theatre with Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Follow the adventure of Ginny Weasley and Harry Potter’s son Albus Severus Potter and Draco Malfoy’s son, Scorpius Malfoy, as they travel through time in an attempt to save the life of Cedric Diggory. This show brings on all the nostalgia for Potterheads, and the effects will leave you guessing if these are actors and actresses or real wizards and witches.

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Hamilton

Last, but certainly never least, did you know the revolutionary Broadway musical Hamilton is based on the Pulitzer Prize–winning biography Alexander Hamilton by author Ron Chernow? This story of the founding father without a father took the world by storm and is still playing at its Broadway home, the Richard Rodgers Theatre. Putting a modern spin on history, Hamilton tells the story of the life of America’s founding father Alexander Hamilton set to a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B, and classic Broadway. With its diverse cast, Hamilton seeks to retell history with the immigrants and minorities who make up the nation at its forefront. Since its premiere in 2015, the musical has had a profound impact on culture, politics, and education.