Ah, Broadway! Pretty much the only reason to go anywhere near Times Square (home to the creepy, off brand cartoon characters trying to give you a hug and major crowds of tourists) is to go to TKTS and grab a pair of Broadway show tickets. From the shows that have been on Broadway for years to the trending and brand new shows, it's always a treat to grab dinner and a Broadway show once in a while. Here are eight of the coolest shows to check out on Broadway now:

1. "Wicked"

On Feb. 14, 2016, "Wicked" performed its 5124th performance, making it the 10th longest-running Broadway show! It's pretty--popular. (See the show and you'll get this joke). This amazing show retells the classic story of "The Wizard of Oz," focusing on Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West and how she came to be known as such. It features show-stopping songs, drama and romance and will really make you think about "The Wizard of Oz" in a new way. It's currently on Broadway starring Rachel Tucker as Elphaba and Carrie St. Louis as Glinda.

2. "Hamilton"

This new smash hit is said to be the hottest Broadway show to see today. "Hamilton" is the story of Alexander Hamilton told in a fresh musical style. Tickets for this show are extremely limited, but those who have seen it say that it's a must-see! "Hamilton" currently stars Lin-Manuel Miranda as the title character.

3. "Something Rotten!"

This new show is set in the 1590s, where brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom are desperate to write a hit play but are stuck in the shadow of a rock-star known as “The Bard.” When a local psychic foretells that the future of theater involves singing, dancing and acting at the same time, they decided to try to write the world’s very first musical. Starring Christian Borle, John Carian and Brian d'Arcy James, this show has gotten great reviews and is a big hit.

4. "The King and I"

"The King and I" is an amazing musical, enjoyable for the whole family. It's been around for years; the film starring Gertrude Lawrence came out in 1951, and since then many production of the show have been created. Set in the 1860s, "The King and I" is based on the true story of Anna Leonowens, a widowed schoolteacher from Wales who traveled to Siam to teach the King's many children."The King and I" deals with Anna's effect on the kingdom and the kingdom's effect on her, in this beautiful and classic musical. It currently stars Kelli O' Hara as Anna.

5. "Fun Home"

This groundbreaking, five-time Tony-winning musical is based on Alison Bechdel's graphic memoir and follows Alison at three different ages in which she reveals memories about her dysfunctional family, which includes her mother, brothers and father.

6. "School of Rock: The Musical"

With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, this fun and hilarious new musical based on the hit movie is a must see. The show's main character is Dewey Flynn, a failed rock band member who poses as his roommate, Ned Schneebly, who is a substitute teacher, in order to steal his job at a prestigious prep school and make money for rent after being rejected by his band. He then forms the children in the classroom into his own band, once he sees their musical talents, much to the displeasure of their strict parents. The show currently stars Alex Brightman as Dewey Flynn.

7. "Les Miserables"

This epic musical based on the novel by Victor Hugo follows freed convict Jean Valjean on his quest for redemption. After serving nineteen years in jail for having stolen a loaf of bread for his sister's starving child, Valjean decides to break his parole and start a new life, but he is relentlessly tracked by a police inspector named Javert. Along the way, he and the show's many other colorful characters must try to live life in France amidst revolution and war. The show stars John Owen-Jones as Valjean and Hayden Tee as Javert.

8. "Fiddler on the Roof"

This heartwarming and emotional show tells the story of family and timeless traditions. This musical brought you classic and catchy songs, like “To Life", “If I Were A Rich Man,” “Sunrise Sunset,” “Matchmaker, Matchmaker,” and “Tradition. "Fiddler" currently stars Danny Bernstein as Tevye.

Student discounts are sometimes available for college students, so take the opportunity to go see these awesome shows!