Broadway the Durham Way

Pop open the champagne. Throw a party. Do a happy dance. You don't have to leave North Carolina to experience a Broadway show. Broadway season is underway at DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center, and you can finally experience a new season of infectious music, impressive costumes, and riveting choreography at one of the most iconic theaters in the nation, right here in Durham.

One of Durham’s crown jewels, DPAC is annually ranked as a top theater in the country by national publications, bringing programming that keeps you on the edge of your seat and transports you to other worlds. Here’s an overview of some of the productions coming to Durham for the 2024-2025 season, along with hotels and restaurants near DPAC and tips on planning your Broadway weekend ... the Durham way.

Click here for a quick FAQ on things to know before heading out to your DPAC show.

Along with the following list of shows and DPAC FAQs, we also have a guide to all things DPAC for anyone wanting to know more.

Clue | Sept. 3-8

A weekend of mystery.

Murder and blackmail are on the menu in this classic whodunit based on the 1985 board game. This show calls for a weekend of moody and mysterious spaces as the show has you dying of laughter and keeps you guessing until the final scene.

Start your thriller of a weekend with an underground cocktail and snacks at Corpse Reviver, sister bar to Durham Distillery, named in equal measure to the classic cocktail and to the location’s history as a coffin shop. After the show, try a smoked cocktail at The Waiting Room along with a sweet treat from the dessert menu. Keep the mansion mystery vibes going by turning in for the night at the Residence Inn.

In the morning, start with breakfast sandwiches and coffee with a side of eminent danger at The Can Opener. The permanent food truck park and all-day coffee and beer bar is named for its proximity to Durham’s iconic can opener bridge, which is known to shear the tops off unsuspecting trucks over 12-feet-four-inches. After you’ve satisfied your appetite for breakfast and rubbernecking, challenge your mystery-solving skills at Bull City Escape.

Create your own spooky ambiance by scheduling a candle pouring workshop at The Raw Edition in East Durham before you enjoy a subterranean dinner at M Sushi. In the evening, explore the dark side of Durham by arranging a Dark & Mysterious Ghost Walk with Tobacco Road Tours.

& Juliet | Oct. 1-6

A weekend of women-led businesses.

What if Juliet didn’t end it all over Romeo? Contemplate her second chance at life and love, all set to pop anthems as iconic as Juliet herself, as you celebrate a weekend of female-empowerment with your girlfriends.

Leave the kids at home. This is a weekend for you and your girlfriends. Before the show, reserve a table at Ekhaya, a woman-founded restaurant wowing the community with fine dining Bantu tapas inspired by chef-owner Zweli Williams’s upbringing in southern Africa. Wash down your meal with a glass of wine at Killer Queen Wine Bar, and watch Juliet break free of the balcony scene and discover there’s life after Romeo.

After the show, take off those heels and make your way to your room at 21c Museum Hotel, a multi-venue contemporary art museum full of art displays, event space, and luxurious guest rooms. Get pampered at the in-house spa and wake up ready to explore more of Durham. Have a hearty, Southern breakfast at Grub before shopping scents at Bright Black or for a new designer wardrobe staple at Vert & Vogue. If you're in town on the weekend, maximize your theater time by checking out a show at the woman-led Mettlesome Theater at Golden Belt. End with a nightcap at The Velvet Hippo, the woman-owned rooftop bar right downtown.

A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical | Jan 7-12

A weekend for music lovers.

Spend an evening with the hits of the American rock icon and the story you’ve never heard about him – until now. A night with Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Neil Diamond pairs perfectly with a weekend exploring Durham’s iconic music scene.

Catch dinner and a show at The Blue Note Grill, where you can enjoy an eclectic lineup of live music on any given night and a menu of barbecue and Southern staples before heading over to DPAC. When the show lets out, you might have time to take in a piece of Durham's local jazz scene at Missy Lane's Assembly Room before you head off to bed at Aloft Durham Downtown. Make sure to take a look at the vintage DPAC show posters as you enter the lobby. Check our event calendar for gigs around town as you plan your trip.

The following day, start with breakfast at Ninth Street Bakery, a longstanding Durham institution serving coffee, pastries and other delicious breakfast fare. Make your next stop at Durham Vintage Collective, where you can browse the racks for Diamond-inspired vintage finds. For even more rock & roll memorabilia, there are several top-tier record stores to check out – hang out with a beer at Hunky Dory or find a new vinyl treasure at Carolina Soul. Spending one more night in town? Sit down to dinner at Littler where you can enjoy the soundtrack of vintage LPs played on the restaurant’s record player. End your night at Motorco Music Hall to catch a rock show in an intimate venue. If you’re lucky, you might catch an act that’s signed to Merge Records, a local indie label and 2024 North Carolina Music Hall of Fame inductee.

Shucked | March 4-9

A home-grown weekend.

This all-new musical comedy follows a battle for the heart and soil of a small town.

It’s time to get to know Durham from the ground up. Upon your arrival, check in at The Durham Hotel, Durham’s locally-owned boutique hotel. Enjoy seasonal American fare made with local ingredients at the lobby restaurant before the show. Enjoy a ground-to-glass nightcap at Kingfisher before turning in for the night.

If the next morning happens to be Saturday, it’s time to make your way down the hill to Durham Central Park and The Durham Farmers’ Market, where you can see and taste the best of seasonal produce and other fruits of local makers and producers’ labor, all produced within 70 miles of downtown Durham. Arrive early for freshly made baked goods from Bklyn Bakery. Before or after the Farmers' Market, treat yourself to some locally roasted coffee at Cocoa Cinnamon just a few blocks away.

Spend your late morning walking among the blooms, exploring native landscapes and marveling at terraced gardens at the sprawling Sarah P. Duke Gardens. When you’ve worked up an appetite, head to Lakewood Social for lunch al fresco before crafting something truly original of your own at the Scrap Exchange’s Make & Take Room. Enjoy locally brewed beer at Flying Bull Brewery before tasting more locally grown Durham fare at Local 22.

Kimberly Akimbo | April 29 – May 4

A teen and tween-approved weekend.

Growing up and growing old, in no particular order. The most Tony Award-winning show of the season is a howler and a heartbreaker and calls for a weekend of bonding with kids 10 and up.

After shopping at Parker & Otis, let the kids be the envy of their friend group with dinner at Seraphine, located in American Tobacco Campus near DPAC. After the show, replay the musical over ice cream dipped in crunchy marshmallows, cookies, cereal, and more at Simons Says Dip This. Rest your heads at Hilton Garden Inn Durham Southpoint, one of the top 10 family-friendly hotels on Trip Advisor.

Start the morning with brunch at True Flavors Diner, where you can stuff yourselves with biscuit sandwiches and pancakes. After brunch, let your teens shop for souvenirs at The Streets of Southpoint Mall or one of the shopping centers nearby. After shopping, sit down to a movie at the IMAX or take a walk on the American Tobacco Trail, a paved trail that connects downtown to Southpoint and beyond.

Back to the Future: The Musical | May 20-25

A vintage Durham weekend.

Be transported back in time as this new musical brings all your favorite songs from the original. Treat yourself to a dreamy pre-show dinner at NanaSteak, surrounded by abundant natural light. Enjoy drinks and appetizers at the bar or dine from a menu full of steakhouse classics and local North Carolina fare. DPAC and NanaSteak are in the same building, so you won’t have to walk far to see the show.

When the musical finishes and the curtains close, it’s time for post-show cocktails. Stop by Alley Twenty Six for a hand-crafted drink or two at Durham's original cocktail bar, then head to your room at Unscripted for throwback motor lodge vibes and a rooftop pool.

Have a slow morning the next day with coffee and breakfast in the lobby before heading out for the day. Keep the '60s freewheeling vibes going by searching for sequins and Members Only jackets at Gibson Girl Vintage, and stop by Letters Bookshop to check out the selection of books on music and art. Before you leave town, have a lovely dinner at Nanas in Rockwood, an essential Durham restaurant given a second life in the fall of 2023 by chef Matt Kelly.

Some Like It Hot | June 17-22

An iconic Durham weekend.

This incredible adaptation is all things song, dance and classic Broadway.

Start your weekend with classic French country cuisine at Vin Rouge, a Durham staple before heading to DPAC to see the show of a lifetime. To continue your iconic Durham experience, a stay at the historic Washington Duke Inn and Golf Club is a must.

Start with pastries and Ethiopian coffee in the morning at the inviting Gojo in the Brightleaf District. Do a little shopping in Brightleaf Square and at the historic shops like the The Regulator Bookshop and Vaguely Reminiscent, and don't miss gifts and souvenirs at Bull City Fair Trade.

For lunch, Saltbox Seafood Joint is a favorite where you can taste fabulously fresh seafood from James Beard Award-winning Chef Ricky Moore's kitchen. In the afternoon, save a few hours for the Museum of Life and Science, especially if you have kids. Started in 1946, the 84-acre museum property is packed with attractions that inspire wonder and curiosity.

When it's time for dinner, stop by one of the nearby icons–Shanghai Restaurant or Bullock's BBQ–two of the longest continually operating restaurants in Durham.

The Wiz | Aug 5-10

A weekend of Black-owned businesses.

Gather your friends for a taste of Ethiopia in the heart of Durham at Goorsha. Whether you select a communal plate to share or an individual portion, each dish is full of flavor. After dinner, walk a few blocks to DPAC to relive your nostalgic memories as the groundbreaking, soulful twist on The Wizard of Oz returns to the stage for the first time in 40 years with an infusion of ballet, jazz and modern pop in the context of contemporary African American culture.

Following the show, discuss the highlights at Missy Lane's, a cocktail bar with speakeasy vibes, before you head to the charming Morehead Manor Bed and Breakfast for a good night’s sleep.

The next morning, savor the extraordinary hospitality proudly offered by Daniel and Monica Edwards at the Inn before taking on the day. Stop at Mike D's BBQ Smokehouse & Retail for a hearty lunch of award-winning barbecue. While you're in the area, stop for a beer at Proximity Brewing on the corner.

Later in the day, stop by the Hayti Heritage Center, a cultural enrichment and arts education facility that preserves and advances the African American experience through programs that benefit the broader community. End the day with cocktails and small plates at Ekhaya on the American Tobacco Campus – from the owners of Zweli’s Kitchen.

DPAC FAQs

About DPAC

DPAC is one of Durham's biggest attractions, located in downtown Durham's American Tobacco Campus district near many restaurants, bars and hotels.

Where is DPAC Located?

123 Vivian Street., next to the Aloft Hotel and Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

Where Can I Park Near DPAC?

Get all the details on parking options on our guide to parking for Durham's attractions.

Is DPAC Accessible?

DPAC meets or exceeds ADA standards. Read more about its accessible seating and other services on its accessibility guide.

How Can I Purchase DPAC Tickets?

Purchase tickets via the DPAC website. Mobile tickets are preferred, and the use of DPAC's mobile app makes storing and organizing your tickets easy.

What are DPAC's Age Requirements?

Children under six are not allowed at most DPAC performances and teens under 16 are required to have a chaperone.

Can I Bring a Bag to DPAC?

All guests and their bags are subject to inspection before entry. Small bags are recommended.

Yes, it’s all in Durham, on stage at DPAC! Preview the complete list of upcoming shows and plan your visit today.