Every term, dozens of Peddie students board buses bound for New York City, eager to experience one of the school’s most popular trips: free Broadway shows. Three times a year — once each term — students have the chance to see some of the biggest shows on the stage at no cost, with transportation and tickets covered by the school. This beloved program continues to introduce students to professional theater on an extraordinary scale.
The excitement is hard to miss. Each trip typically fills two to four buses with students, reflecting just how sought-after these tickets are. Last year, the selections included “The Outsiders,” “The Great Gatsby,” and “Hadestown”— productions that most high school students, especially boarders with no family nearby, in New Jersey could only dream of attending. It’s amazing how Broadway tickets can cost a fortune, but here, we get to go for free!
This fall term, the chosen show was “Maybe Happy Ending,” a Korean musical translated into English that has garnered significant worldwide recognition, including six Tony Awards. With a cast of only four to five performers, this production stands apart from the larger-than-life musicals of past trips. Yet the minimal staging proved no obstacle to the story’s emotional impact. Students noted how lively and engaging the show felt despite its small ensemble.
For many, the ending struck a particularly powerful chord as I saw a lot of people crying after the show.
As a longtime musical fan, I was especially thrilled to be selected through the lottery system for this term’s trip. Watching “Maybe Happy Ending” reminded me that Broadway is not only about dazzling spectacles but also about stories that cut deeply, even when told by just a few voices on stage.
Beyond the productions themselves, the trips have become something to look forward to every term. They build community across grades and spark conversations before, during and after. Whether it is the scale of “Hadestown” or the intimacy of “Maybe Happy Ending,” these experiences enrich Peddie’s cultural fabric and bring students closer to the world of professional performance.
For Peddie students, these Broadway nights are more than just field trips — they are rare opportunities to see some of the best theater in the world, together, and for free. That alone is enough to make the tradition one of the school’s happiest endings.