Unless you’re Troy from High School Musical, basketball and Broadway have not often felt connected. But last week, as the New York Knicks made a historic comeback in the NBA finals, and have now taken home their first Championship title in almost 50 years, the NYC theatre industry fully embraced its connection to the Knicks as one of the city’s leading cultural institutions. Because when New York wins, everyone wins.
On June 13, the Knicks beat the Spurs (of San Antonio, Texas) in Game 5, winning by just four points in what was ultimately a close game. But New York fans knew their team would take home the title. The Knicks demonstrated unparalleled strategy and determination throughout the Finals; they executed a 29-point comeback in Game 4—the largest comeback in NBA Finals history.
After a nail-biter of a final 20 seconds, New York erupted in cheers and fireworks, and the Empire State Building lit up in blue and orange.
Broadway celebrated, too. A number of Broadway shows and stars paid homage ahead of Saturday night’s big game with social media posts and even special mid-show shout-outs. That only intensified on Sunday, the day after the Knicks’ win. At Playbill, we certainly love a sports-meets-stage moment, so here’s a round-up of some more creative nods to the New York Knicks on the Broadway stage.
Every Brilliant Thing Names the Knicks Winning as a Brilliant Thing
It’s been no secret that the current star of Every Brilliant Thing, Mariska Hargitay, is a Knicks fan. Last Wednesday, Hargitay performed an athletic feat of her own when she did a two-show day then ran 10 blocks south to Madison Square Garden to watch the Knicks play. Then on Friday, Hargitay pulled out a Knicks jersey onstage during the show. And that’s not all. On Sunday, after the Knicks won, the show posted on its Instagram: “The Knicks are a brilliant thing.” No disagreements here!
Hamilton Performs “New York, New York” at Curtain Call
Frank Sinatra’s rendition of Kander and Ebb’s New York, New York has long been heralded as the theme song of New York. Sports fans already know that; up until recently, every Yankees game concluded with the anthem blaring across the stadium, win or lose. (Somewhat controversially…now it’s a treat only enjoyed after a win.) Saturday night’s big win for the New York Knicks certainly called for a special rendition of the song, and what show could be more fitting to perform it than the one that declares New York City each night to be the greatest city in the world?
Maybe Happy Ending‘s Zachary Noah Piser and Hannah Kevitt Fangirl Over Jalen Brunson
Every night, Helperbots (and jazz aficionados) Oliver and Claire enthuse over the Jazz Monthly magazine issues they receive. But in a special nod to the Knicks player who led the team to their epic win, the characters received a very special magazine during Sunday’s matinee performance, with Jalen Brunson on the cover. Not only is the Knicks’ win legendary because it’s a long-awaited comeback, but Brunson specifically made history on Saturday night, scoring 45 points in Game 5: making Brunson tie with Michael Jordan’s NBA record for the highest score in a series-clinching Final. Certainly worth fan-girling over!
& Juliet Roars Over the Knicks
At the Sunday performance of & Juliet, current lead Gianna Harris took her curtain call bows in a Knicks jersey, before exclaiming that the team won and leading the cast in a triumphant group rendition of “Roar.” It wasn’t just them, the entirety of New York City was roaring Saturday night.
The Rocky Horror Show’s One-Eyed Showgirls Open the Show With A Special Sign
My Rocky? Horror. My time? Fleeting. My showgirls? One-eyed. Knicks in 5! The Rocky Horror Show had its one-eyed showgirls toting their usual signs “Enjoy the Show!” signs before the curtains opened, but cheekily flipped them over to show the backside now read “Knicks in 5.” If you haven’t kept up with the viral rallying chant for the team, it comes from Ahnaf Hossain, a 23 year old fan, who declared (as seen on TikTok) ahead of the Knicks’ fourth game in the finals: “My mayor? Muslim, my bagel’s Jewish, My Christian? Dior, Knicks in four!” The phrase has been modified by the masses, and many Broadway shows have tailored their own versions of it for the meme of it all. After all, it wouldn’t be true a New York historic moment without a viral soundbite to quote.
Buena Vista Social Club Holds Up a Knicks Cap
It’s not a true party in New York until someone shows up in a Knicks cap. At curtain call, one band member held up the instantly recognizable orange-and-blue hat as the crowd cheered. Posting it to the production’s official Instagram, the caption also riffed on the viral chant, writing: “My club social, the music GRAMMY winning, the band is live, Knicks in five”.
Aladdin Improvises With a Knicks Jersey in Lieu of a Magic Lamp
The hit Disney musical’s current Genie, Caleb Barnett, snuck in some Knicks hype during Saturday’s performance before the big game. At the point where the Genie would normally introduce the Magic Lamp to the audience, saying “You know what Agrabah is famous for? This!” Barnett revealed a new mystical treasure to the audience; he pulled out a Knicks jersey, exclaiming, “Knicks in five!”
The Book of Mormon Says, “But What About Knicks in Five?”
While some Knicks tributes have been sneaky onstage this weekend, The Book of Mormon inserted it right into the musical’s dialogue during the scene where Elder Cunningham apologizes to Elder Price for not listening to him sooner. But, hey—the quick diversion from the script earned some very enthusiastic cheers from the audience, so clearly Cunningham did something right this time!