We have two ratings systems at Broadway Baby: star ratings from our critics and thumbs up from the audience. You can give your thumbs up ratings and write your own reviews on every listed show on the site.

Shows are rated on a scale from one (worst) to five (best). Three stars would represent an average show. Four-star ratings are for shows we really recommend, and five-star shows are pretty special. If you've spotted one in our listings, snap up a ticket before they're all gone. The text of our reviews will make clear why the critic gave a show its star rating.

Broadway Baby critic stars are awarded in context. A West-End musical is judged on different criterion from a Free Fringe stand-up comedy set. Our critics present their star ratings based on whether the production lived up to the ticket price and against similar shows. We wouldn't, for example, criticise a fringe production of Les Miserables for not having a revolving barricade; but we may be a bit disappointed if a large-scale tour of the show was done with black flats and a few blocks.

When giving your own thumbs up ratings, try to avoid the extremes of 1-thumb or 5-thumbs. Imagine you're giving that 5-thumb rating to a meal. Is it really the best food you've ever had? Your 3-thumb rating should be your meat-and-potatoes score for good, tasty grub. But save the top ratings for the stuff that really blows you away - whether it be fine dining or soul food.