Honest Review of King Kong on Broadway - Is It Worth Seeing? [Part 1]

Hello! Mizuki here.
I went to the theater with our boss, Mr. D, for the brand new musical King Kong. With a massive high tech Kong puppet promised to roar right in front of us, it felt like heading to Universal Studios, so we practically skipped to the venue. Here are the highlights, production notes, and our honest impressions.

King Kong tickets & show guide

About King Kong
Theatre guide
Official merchandise
Detailed seating guide
Honest review
Discount tickets

King Kong (The Musical) Overview

Think attraction + songs + dance. King Kong feels like a theme park ride brought to Broadway.

The puppet’s facial work is astonishing – blinks, nostril breaths, the mouth shape when he roars – the overall expression feels alive.

Be warned: the sound is thunderous. Subwoofers and surround effects shake the whole hall; small kids might find it overwhelming and startling.

For the full story and production details, check the show page below.

Learn more about Broadway musical King Kong >>

The Broadway Theatre screams “KONG” from blocks away – no guessing what’s playing. It’s two minutes on foot from our office. After Miss Saigon’s limited run ended, construction began right away. When the gorilla silhouette finally appeared on the marquee, we were stunned. How would they stage such a giant creature?

About the theater – The Broadway Theatre

The ceiling here is incredibly high – maybe even taller than the Lyric Theatre, home of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”. Looking up, you’ll see intricate golden details and chandeliers sparkling everywhere, giving the entire venue the feel of a luxurious hotel ballroom.

The Broadway Theatre

Built in 1924 by vaudeville producer Benjamin S. Moss, the Broadway Theatre originally operated as a cinema and quickly suffered the impact of the Great Depression. It’s a sentimental venue for us – we saw both Fiddler on the Roof and Miss Saigon here.

Address: 1681 Broadway, New York, NY 10019

Fun fact: it’s known as the first theater to ever screen a Mickey Mouse film. For more about its architecture and history, check the page below.

Learn more about Broadway Theatre >>

Elegant bar counters with a mature atmosphere

Despite its flashy name, the Broadway Theatre has a calm and classic tone. Each floor has its own bar, so we grabbed our ritual pre-show beer. Price: $14 – the usual Broadway rate, but worth it for the experience.

Experience top-tier lighting and sound

From the front mezzanine, you can see how the theater was completely upgraded with new lighting and sound systems to achieve theme-park-level effects for this production.

Official merchandise

There are merch stands on both levels, run by staff in King Kong T-shirts.

The roaring Kong design is printed on notebooks, postcards, and stickers. Personally, the postcards made perfect small gifts. Since the story climaxes atop the Empire State Building, there are also Empire-themed keychains. I would have loved a hoodie though, not just tees. Payment accepted by card or cash – I picked up a notebook for $20.

Our seats

How to read the ticket: FMEZC D 110

Front Mezzanine Center = front mezzanine center
Row D (4th row), seat 110

For Kong, this was a perfect seat. Up close, the puppet’s full size can be hard to grasp, but from the mezzanine you can see the entire stage and even how the crew maneuvers him behind the scenes.

The chandelier view from above

People often think of Phantom’s chandelier, but the Broadway Theatre’s chandeliers surpass it in size, design, and brilliance. Phantom’s is a prop – these are real and illuminate the entire audience from the lofty ceiling.

After-show thoughts

Feels like a theme park attraction

The production uses stunning projection depth, laser effects, and immersive visuals. It’s the same thrill as those Disney or Universal rides where you feel pulled into the screen – except this time, it’s all happening live. During the voyage to Skull Island, the moving deck and the synchronized video created such realism that even from the mezzanine it felt like sailing.

The story is just as in the film and easy to follow, even without English fluency, making it perfect for Broadway first-timers.

A massive refit enables bold new staging

The highlight is watching how Kong races through Manhattan and scales the Empire State Building. Pay close attention to how the stage and screen work together. There are also Cirque du Soleil-style aerial moves, and about ten onstage operators controlling Kong in real time.

King Kong – YouTube trailer

Watch behind-the-scenes footage of the Broadway production below.

Christiani Pitts shines as Ann

When Christiani Pitts appeared for her curtain call, the audience erupted in cheers. Her radiant voice and presence completely captivated the crowd. Photos couldn’t capture her glow. Visit her official site for videos and updates.

Beautifully recreates 1930s New York

The detailed sets and costumes recreate early 20th-century Manhattan, giving a sense of time travel. Large ensemble numbers recall the spirit of West Side Story, and the dynamic choreography keeps the energy high throughout.

A breathtaking finale

The climax rivals the movie’s most iconic scenes. Beyond the spectacle, it delivers a reminder about compassion for animals, not judging people by appearances, and valuing integrity over fame or wealth.

If you want a visually stunning and easy-to-enjoy Broadway show, King Kong is the one. For another perspective, check out our follow-up review below.