★ The First New Musical of the 2026–27 Broadway Season ★

WANTED on Broadway: Tickets, Cast, Dates & What to Know

Twin sisters, a stolen inheritance and an outlaw legend passed down through one family. WANTED is open, the reviews are in, and here’s how to plan your night at the James Earl Jones Theatre.

James Earl Jones Theatre Opened Nov 8, 2026 Open-Ended Run About 2 hr 30 min

WANTED was the first new musical to open on Broadway in the 2026–27 season, and it arrived with a story no other show can claim. Set in 1893 Texas, it follows Mary and Martha Clarke — Black twin sisters who can pass as white — as they turn to outlaw life to save their mother’s home. The woman who wrote the WANTED musical, Angelica Chéri, is their great-great-niece.

WANTED Broadway began previews October 15, 2026 at the James Earl Jones Theatre on West 48th Street and officially opened November 8. Solea Pfeiffer and Liisi LaFontaine play the sisters, with Grammy winner Ledisi as their mother, Tallulah. The run is open-ended, and official tickets are on sale through Telecharge.

This guide covers what a ticket buyer actually needs: where to buy, what the critics said, the digital lottery, the true family story behind the show, the WANTED Broadway cast, runtime and age guidance, and how to plan the night around the theater.

James Earl Jones Theatre exterior on West 48th Street in New York City, home of WANTED on Broadway

The James Earl Jones Theatre on West 48th Street, where WANTED opened on Broadway November 8, 2026.

WANTED On Broadway · At a Glance
Where
James Earl Jones Theatre, 138 W 48th St
Previews Began
October 15, 2026
Opened
November 8, 2026
Run
Open-ended (no closing date announced)
Runtime
About 2 hr 30 min, one intermission
Ages
Recommended 10+; no one under 4 admitted
Starring
Solea Pfeiffer, Liisi LaFontaine, Ledisi, Luke James
Official Tickets
Telecharge · 212-239-6200 · box office
Groups (10+)
Broadway Inbound · 866-302-0995
Rush / Lottery
Digital lottery via Telecharge (rush.telecharge.com)

Last checked November 11, 2026 · Schedules, cast and policies can change

Buying Tickets

WANTED Broadway Tickets: Where to Buy and What to Check

Official WANTED Broadway tickets are on sale now through Telecharge, by phone at 212-239-6200, and in person at the James Earl Jones Theatre box office.

Telecharge is the Shubert Organization’s official seller, so it shows primary inventory at face value plus service fees. Buying in person at the box office generally avoids online service charges, and it’s the easiest place to ask about accessible seating or specific seat locations.

Box office hours

The box office is at 138 West 48th Street. The official schedule lists these hours:

  • Monday–Saturday: 10 AM–8 PM.
  • Sunday: noon–6 PM (or 30 minutes after the final curtain). Closed on Sundays without performances.

WANTED Broadway Ticket Prices: What to Expect

Prices vary by date, section and demand, and premium seats may be dynamically priced, so any single “starting at” figure goes stale quickly. Opening-week reporting put face-value seats at roughly $59 to $324 before fees, but treat that as a range, not a quote. The reliable approach is to compare two or three performances on Telecharge before committing. Weeknights usually have more open inventory than Friday and Saturday evenings. If you’re shopping resale, compare the all-in checkout total against face value — the markup is often larger than it looks before fees.

When Should You Buy WANTED Broadway Tickets?

There is no single best day to buy WANTED Broadway tickets, because the smartest timing depends on how fixed your date is, how much the original leads matter to you, and whether you’re willing to play the lottery. If you already know the date and seating section you want, buying while good primary inventory is available gives you the most control over where you sit.

The reviews are in, so you can buy with eyes open. WANTED opened November 8, 2026, and every performance is now the finished production. Critics split on the book but largely agree the singing is the draw, which is useful to know before you spend on premium seats. The reviews roundup below has the details.

Weeknights generally give you more flexibility than Friday and Saturday evenings. If your schedule allows it, compare Tuesday through Thursday performances against the same seating sections on a weekend. More available inventory can give you a better choice of location without forcing you into premium or resale seats.

Holiday weeks fill first. Thanksgiving through New Year’s is one of Broadway’s busiest stretches, and weekend evenings in that window tend to go early. If you’re visiting for the holidays, lock in your date before you lock in dinner.

Compare several performances before buying. Even performances in the same week can have noticeably different seat availability and pricing. Check two or three dates, compare the same seating level, and look at the final checkout total rather than judging a ticket only by its advertised price.

The lottery makes sense if price matters more than certainty. WANTED has a digital lottery listed through Telecharge (see discounts below). It’s a game of chance, so if you need a particular date, want specific seats or are traveling to New York for the show, buy outright. If your dates are flexible, enter for a few performances and keep a backup plan.

For a broader breakdown of timing, demand and when waiting can save money, see the when to buy Broadway tickets guide.

Group tickets

Groups of 10 or more can book through Broadway Inbound, the official group sales partner, at 866-302-0995. The official site lists group booking through March 31, 2027. Group terms and pricing come from Broadway Inbound directly — useful for schools, organizations, family reunions and company outings.

Before you check out

  • Confirm the performance date and time, which can shift around holidays.
  • Check the level: the Orchestra is step-free; the Mezzanine and Balcony involve stairs inside the section.
  • Read the refund and exchange terms. Broadway tickets are generally nonrefundable.
  • Remember the age policy: recommended 10+, and no one under 4 is admitted.

For timing strategy across the season, see when to buy Broadway tickets.

Timing Your Visit

Should You See WANTED Now or Wait?

WANTED opened November 8, 2026, and the run is open-ended, so there’s no closing date forcing your hand. The real questions are the season and the cast.

Now – early Jan

Go This Season

You get the opening company, which is the main reason critics are recommending the show: Pfeiffer, LaFontaine and Ledisi together. The trade-off is holiday demand, so weekend evenings and Christmas week are the first to tighten.

Late Jan onward

Wait for Winter

January and February weeknights are traditionally Broadway’s softest stretch, which usually means more seat choice. The risk is casting: no departures have been announced, but leads in open-ended runs don’t stay forever.

If the three leading women are the reason you’re going, earlier is the safer bet. If you just want a good seat at a fair price, a midweek date after the holidays is hard to beat.

Saving Money

WANTED Discount Tickets, Rush & Lottery

WANTED has a digital lottery listed through Telecharge at rush.telecharge.com. Check there for the current ticket price, entry window and rules, since lottery terms can change.

No in-person rush or standing-room policy had been confirmed as of November 11, 2026. Beyond the lottery, these are the legitimate ways to pay less:

  • Compare dates. Tuesday through Thursday performances usually have more inventory than weekends.
  • Buy at the box office. Purchasing in person generally avoids online service fees.
  • Book as a group. Parties of 10+ can get group terms through Broadway Inbound.
  • Try TKTS. Same-day discount availability varies by show and day and isn’t guaranteed for any production.

For how rush, lottery and standing room work across Broadway, see the Broadway rush and lottery guide and last-minute Broadway tickets.

Critical Reception

WANTED Broadway Reviews: What Critics Are Saying

WANTED’s Broadway reviews, published around the November 8 opening, are mixed on the show and close to unanimous on the singing. Critics praise Solea Pfeiffer, Liisi LaFontaine and Ledisi; the book and the romance subplots draw most of the complaints.

Where critics agree

The voices carry it

The three leading women are the consensus highlight, with reviewers singling out big, soul-and-gospel-driven vocal moments and the chemistry between the sisters.

Where they split

The story around them

Many critics find the book overstuffed, with the love stories pulling focus from the outlaw plot. A minority of reviews are outright raves; at least one is an outright pan.

  • TheaterMania (Hayley Levitt) finds the show imperfect but says its leading ladies hit the mark.
  • New York Theatre Guide lands in the middle, calling it “a mixed bag in writing but a bounty in performance.”
  • Variety and Deadline both admire the singers and question the storytelling; Variety’s critic wants more of the outlaw story and less of the romance.
  • Culture Sauce praises the “vocal fireworks” while finding the show overly ambitious.
  • 1 Minute Critic gives it three stars.
  • PureWow is among the raves, calling WANTED a must-see of the season.
About that “Critic’s Pick” in the ads

The New York Times Critic’s Pick quoted in some WANTED marketing refers to Gun & Powder at Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey, in spring 2024. That production had a different lead in the role of Mary and a different choreographer. It is not a review of the Broadway staging.

Bottom line: if you’re going for big voices and a story Broadway hasn’t told before, the reviews are on your side. If a tight, tidy book matters most to you, read a couple of the full notices first. BroadwayWorld’s opening-night roundup collects the wider spread.

The Show

What Is the WANTED Musical About?

WANTED is an original Broadway musical about Mary and Martha Clarke, twin sisters in 1893 Texas who pass as white and become outlaws to save their family’s home.

Their mother, Tallulah, is sinking under a sharecropper’s debt, and powerful forces are closing in on the land the family has fought to keep. The sisters realize that in the right clothes, in the right town, they can move through white America unseen — and that the same invisibility can be turned into a weapon. What starts as survival becomes a crime spree, a romance on each side and a reckoning over what the sisters are willing to give up of themselves.

Around them moves the Kinfolk, a chorus of ancestors who tell the story from the family’s point of view. That framing is the show’s signature: it plays like a Western, but it’s narrated like an heirloom being handed down. Expect gunfights and saloons alongside questions about identity, colorism and the cost of hiding in plain sight — without spoilers here about how it ends.

Behind the Legend

Is WANTED a True Story? The Clarke Family History

WANTED is inspired by a real family story. Book writer and lyricist Angelica Chéri is a great-great-niece of Mary and Martha Clarke, and the production calls the show “mostly true.”

Chéri grew up with the Clarke sisters as family legend. Her grandmother — the sisters’ niece — kept photo albums full of relatives, and in the middle of them were two women who looked white. They had passed, the family said, and they had been outlaws. What they actually did changed with every telling: in one version they robbed a bank, in another they jumped a train. Every aunt, uncle and cousin had a different take.

That uncertainty is the key to how the show works. WANTED doesn’t claim to document a historical record; it dramatizes a story carried through generations, which is exactly why the Kinfolk narrate it. The core — Black twin sisters in post-emancipation Texas who passed as white and were remembered as outlaws — comes from the family. The specific plot is Chéri’s.

Passing — living as white to escape the violence and restrictions placed on Black Americans — was a real and dangerous choice in the post-Reconstruction South, often costing people their families and communities. The musical treats it as both a survival tool and a wound, which gives WANTED more weight than a straight outlaw adventure.

Development History

From Gun & Powder to WANTED

Yes — WANTED was previously called Gun & Powder. It has been developed across roughly a decade of readings, workshops and two full regional productions before Broadway.

Origins

Chéri and composer Ross Baum began the show as a thesis project in NYU’s Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program.

2018

Chéri and Baum won the Richard Rodgers Award for Gun & Powder.

2020

World premiere at Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia, with Solea Pfeiffer and Emmy Raver-Lampman as the sisters.

2024

Paper Mill Playhouse production in New Jersey (April 4–May 5), directed by Stevie Walker-Webb, with Liisi LaFontaine as Martha. Named a New York Times Critic’s Pick.

2025

A June workshop with Pfeiffer as Mary and LaFontaine as Martha.

2026

Retitled WANTED and announced for Broadway at the James Earl Jones Theatre, with Ledisi joining as Tallulah.

For Broadway, Pfeiffer returns to the role she originated at Signature and LaFontaine returns from Paper Mill, reuniting the two in the leads. The production hasn’t published an official explanation for the title change.

Ledisi performing onstage, appearing as Tallulah Clarke in WANTED on Broadway

Grammy-winning singer Ledisi stars as Tallulah Clarke in WANTED on Broadway.

Who’s in It

WANTED Broadway Cast

The WANTED Broadway cast is led by Solea Pfeiffer as Mary Clarke and Liisi LaFontaine as Martha Clarke, with Grammy winner Ledisi as their mother, Tallulah.

Mary ClarkeSolea Pfeiffer

Broadway’s Eurydice in Hadestown and Satine in Moulin Rouge!; she starred in the show’s 2020 world premiere.

Martha ClarkeLiisi LaFontaine

Originated Satine in the West End’s Moulin Rouge! and Deena in Dreamgirls; returns from Paper Mill in her Broadway debut.

Tallulah ClarkeLedisi

Grammy-winning R&B and soul singer, playing the sisters’ mother.

ElijahLuke James

Grammy-nominated R&B singer, songwriter and actor.

JesseBradley Jaden

West End leading man, making his Broadway debut.

SissyAurelia Williams

Returns to the role from earlier versions of the musical.

FloAwa Sal Secka

Returns from earlier versions, making her Broadway debut.

The full company, including the Kinfolk ensemble, understudies and standbys, is listed on the official site and in the Playbill. As at any Broadway show, a specific performer’s appearance at a given performance isn’t guaranteed.

Solea Pfeiffer, who stars as Mary Clarke in WANTED on Broadway

Solea Pfeiffer stars as Mary Clarke in WANTED on Broadway.

The Creative Team

Who Created WANTED?

  • Angelica Chéri — book and lyrics. A great-great-niece of the Clarke sisters, which makes WANTED a family story told by the family.
  • Ross Baum — music. Richard Rodgers Award winner with Chéri for this show.
  • Stevie Walker-Webb — director. Tony nominee for Ain’t No Mo’ and Obie winner; he also directed the Paper Mill production.
  • Chelsey Arce — choreography (Sweeney Todd revival, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child).
  • Austin Cook — music director.

WANTED marks Broadway debuts for Chéri and Baum. It’s produced by P3 Productions (Ben Holtzman, Sammy Lopez and Fiona Howe Rudin).

The Score

WANTED Songs and Music

No WANTED Broadway cast album had been announced as of November 11, 2026. Before Broadway, the production released WANTED: The Studio EP, five songs sung by Liisi LaFontaine and Solea Pfeiffer.

Ross Baum’s score mixes soulful ballads, rowdy saloon numbers and gospel-rooted choral writing, with different styles marking the different communities in the story. The production has also released performance clips, including Solea Pfeiffer singing “The Way I Am.” Earlier song lists from Signature and Paper Mill don’t match the Broadway version, so this page will add the Broadway track list once a cast album or official song list is confirmed. If the score is the reason you’re curious, the Studio EP is the best preview.

Before You Go

WANTED Runtime, Intermission & Age Recommendation

WANTED runs about 2 hours 30 minutes, including one intermission, based on opening-week reports. The production recommends it for ages 10 and up.

Some ticketing listings still show the earlier 2 hour 15 minute estimate from previews, so check the official site if your timing is tight. For an 8 PM curtain, plan on letting out around 10:30.

Is WANTED good for families and teens?

The official guidance says WANTED contains thematic elements of violence, adventure and Western life, and may suit older children, teenagers and adults better than very young children. There’s no cursing in the show. Three separate things are worth keeping apart:

  • Theater policy: the James Earl Jones Theatre does not admit children under 4.
  • Production recommendation: 10 and up. A few third-party listings say 13+, but the official guidance is 10+.
  • Your call: a history-curious 11-year-old may love it; a child who is upset by on-stage gunfire may not.

For more family options this season, see the best Broadway shows for kids.

Decision Guide

Who Should See WANTED?

Strong fit

  • Fans of new, original musicals rather than jukebox or film adaptations
  • Anyone drawn to American history and stories rarely told on Broadway
  • Fans of Solea Pfeiffer, Ledisi, Luke James or big vocal scores
  • Theatergoers who care more about star vocals than a perfectly tight book
  • Groups looking for a female-led story with genuine stakes

Check first

  • Parents of children under 10
  • Anyone sensitive to stage violence or gunfire effects
  • Visitors looking specifically for a light comedy
  • Anyone who needs a tight, tidy story; critics found the book uneven
  • First-timers wanting a proven hit — see first-time visitor picks

WANTED is one of several major fall openings; see how it compares in the Best Broadway Shows Fall 2026 guide.

The Venue

WANTED at the James Earl Jones Theatre

WANTED plays at the James Earl Jones Theatre, 138 West 48th Street, between Sixth and Seventh Avenues — on the quieter east side of the Theater District.

  • Subway: 49 St (N, Q, R, W) and 47–50 Sts–Rockefeller Center (B, D, F, M) are each a short walk; 50 St (1) is close too.
  • Size: about 1,092 seats across Orchestra, Mezzanine and Balcony — mid-size for a musical, so most seats feel relatively close.
  • Access: the Orchestra is step-free and has the wheelchair seating; the production says there are elevators to all levels, while rows inside the Mezzanine and Balcony are stepped. Assistive listening devices are available at every performance; captioning and audio description begin about four weeks after opening.
  • Arrival: aim to arrive 30 minutes before curtain, more if you’re in the Balcony.

For history, box office details and accessibility, see the James Earl Jones Theatre guide and the Broadway accessibility guide.

Where to Sit

Best Seats for WANTED

For WANTED, center Orchestra is the safest pick: it’s step-free and keeps the full ensemble and the Kinfolk chorus in view.

Front Mezzanine center is a strong alternative for a large-cast musical, since an elevated view shows staging and choreography as a whole. If budget decides it, remember the James Earl Jones is mid-size, so rear Mezzanine and Balcony seats still feel closer than they would at Broadway’s big musical houses. If stairs matter, stay in the Orchestra.

For the full seating chart, section-by-section value, legroom and accessible seating, use the James Earl Jones Theatre seating guide or the general Broadway seating guide.

Interior of the James Earl Jones Theatre showing the orchestra and upper seating levels for WANTED on Broadway

Inside the James Earl Jones Theatre, where WANTED plays on Broadway. The room has Orchestra, Mezzanine and Balcony seating.

Performance Schedule

WANTED Performance Schedule & Matinees

WANTED plays a standard Broadway week of about eight performances, including weekday evenings and matinees; exact times vary by week, so check the official calendar for your date.

Performance times can shift around holidays, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas weeks. Wednesday and weekend matinees are the easiest way to fit the show into a sightseeing day — see the Broadway matinee guide for how to plan one.

Plan the Night

Dinner, Hotels & Getting to WANTED

Dinner before the show

West 48th Street sits near both Restaurant Row and Rockefeller Center. For an 8 PM curtain, book dinner by about 5:45 so you’re seated with time to spare. See restaurants near Broadway and the best pre-theater restaurants.

After the curtain

You’ll be out around 10:30 for an 8 PM show, right on time for a late bite. Try the best post-show restaurants or head west to Hell’s Kitchen.

Where to stay

Theater District and Midtown hotels put the James Earl Jones within walking distance. Compare options in hotels near Broadway.

Getting there

The subway is the easiest route. For transit, rideshare and driving, see how to get to a Broadway show and parking near Broadway.

No dress code applies — see what to wear to Broadway if you’re unsure. The Theater District guide covers the surrounding blocks.

Quick Answers

WANTED Broadway: Frequently Asked Questions

Is WANTED on Broadway?

Yes. WANTED is a new original musical now playing the James Earl Jones Theatre at 138 West 48th Street. It began previews October 15, 2026, and officially opened November 8, 2026, for an open-ended run.

When did WANTED open on Broadway?

WANTED officially opened on November 8, 2026, at the James Earl Jones Theatre, after previews that began October 15. It was the first new musical to open in the 2026–27 Broadway season.

Where is WANTED playing on Broadway?

WANTED plays at the James Earl Jones Theatre, 138 West 48th Street, between Sixth and Seventh Avenues in Midtown Manhattan’s Theater District.

How long is WANTED on Broadway?

WANTED runs about 2 hours 30 minutes, including one intermission, based on opening-week reports. Some ticketing listings still show an earlier estimate of 2 hours 15 minutes, so check the official site for the current running time.

What is WANTED about?

WANTED follows Mary and Martha Clarke, Black twin sisters in 1893 Texas who can pass as white. To save their mother’s home and pay off a sharecropper debt, they turn to outlaw life, guided by the Kinfolk, a chorus of their ancestors.

Is WANTED based on a true story?

WANTED is inspired by a real Clarke family story. Book writer and lyricist Angelica Chéri is a great-great-niece of Mary and Martha Clarke and grew up hearing different versions of their outlaw legend. The production describes the show as mostly true, so it dramatizes family history rather than documenting every event.

Was WANTED previously called Gun & Powder?

Yes. WANTED was developed under the title Gun & Powder, including its 2020 world premiere at Signature Theatre in Virginia and a 2024 production at Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey. It is titled WANTED for Broadway.

Who is in the WANTED Broadway cast?

The WANTED Broadway cast is led by Solea Pfeiffer as Mary Clarke and Liisi LaFontaine as Martha Clarke, with Grammy winner Ledisi as Tallulah Clarke, Luke James as Elijah, Bradley Jaden as Jesse, Aurelia Williams as Sissy and Awa Sal Secka as Flo.

What are the WANTED Broadway reviews like?

Mixed on the show, strong on the singing. Broadway reviews published around the November 8, 2026 opening widely praise Solea Pfeiffer, Liisi LaFontaine and Ledisi, while many critics fault the book and the romance subplots. The New York Times Critic’s Pick quoted in some ads refers to the 2024 Paper Mill production, Gun & Powder.

What age is WANTED appropriate for?

The production recommends WANTED for ages 10 and up. It contains thematic elements of violence, adventure and Western life but no cursing. Separately, the James Earl Jones Theatre does not admit children under 4.

Where can I buy official WANTED Broadway tickets?

Official WANTED tickets are sold through Telecharge, by phone at 212-239-6200, and at the James Earl Jones Theatre box office. Groups of 10 or more can book through Broadway Inbound at 866-302-0995.

Does WANTED have rush or lottery tickets?

WANTED has a digital lottery listed through Telecharge at rush.telecharge.com. Check there for the current ticket price, entry window and rules. No in-person rush or standing-room policy had been confirmed as of November 11, 2026.

Are group tickets available for WANTED?

Yes. Groups of 10 or more can book WANTED through Broadway Inbound, the official group sales partner. The official site currently lists group booking through March 31, 2027.

What are the best seats for WANTED?

Center Orchestra is the safest choice because it is step-free and puts the full ensemble in view. For detailed section-by-section advice on the Orchestra, Mezzanine and Balcony, see the James Earl Jones Theatre seating guide.

Is now a good time to see WANTED?

Yes, especially if you want the original leads. WANTED opened November 8, so every performance is now the finished production. Holiday weeks and weekends tend to fill first, while January and February weeknights are traditionally easier for date and seat choice.

Is there a WANTED Broadway cast album?

No WANTED Broadway cast recording had been announced as of November 11, 2026. Before Broadway, the production released WANTED: The Studio EP, five songs sung by Liisi LaFontaine and Solea Pfeiffer, plus performance clips including Solea Pfeiffer singing “The Way I Am.”

Plan Your Night at WANTED

WANTED is a family legend turned into a Broadway Western, with three leading women the critics can’t stop talking about and an open-ended run. Pick the performance, choose your level in the James Earl Jones, and build dinner around a roughly 10:30 finish.

WANTED at the James Earl Jones Theatre

More Broadway Planning Guides

Everything around the show: where you’ll sit on West 48th Street, how to time your tickets, and where to eat, stay and park.

James Earl Jones Theatre Guide

The venue itself: location, history, box office, accessibility and what the room feels like.

Read the theater guide →

James Earl Jones Seating Guide

Orchestra, Mezzanine and Balcony compared, with value picks, legroom and step-free seating.

Compare the sections →

Tickets & Timing

Before you book
Strategy

When to Buy Broadway Tickets

How far ahead to book, and when waiting makes sense.

Read the guide →
Save

Rush & Lottery Tickets

How Broadway’s discount programs work, show by show.

See how it works →
Same Week

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Options when you’re deciding today or this week.

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Choosing a Show

Compare the season
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Fall 2026

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How WANTED fits into a crowded fall of openings.

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Plan the Night

Around West 48th Street
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