Advice on one day in NYC

I used to go to NYC fairly often to see Broadway shows, but then life happened. I had a child, COVID hit, and right before a planned trip I was diagnosed with breast cancer.

After about three years of treatment and recovery, my husband and I were watching the Tonys and I mentioned how much I wanted to see Chess, but it was closing in two weeks. He looked at me and said, “Well, that means you still have two weeks to go see it.” Since he and the kids are going camping next weekend, he suggested I just fly to NYC for a solo trip.

So… I booked a last-minute flight.

I’m flying in Saturday morning with enough time to see Chess and hopefully a matinee, and I’m realizing it’s been so long that I have a million questions:

• What are people actually wearing to Broadway these days? I keep seeing everything from jeans to cocktail dresses and, for some reason, I’m weirdly anxious about it.
• What matinee would you recommend right now?
• Are Broadway lotteries still worth entering?
• Can I bring a backpack into the theater if I’m heading straight from the airport?
• Any solo traveler recommendations for food, things to do, or ways to make the day easier?

I haven’t done a solo NYC theater trip in years, so I’d love any advice.