PBS to Air 2026 Shuffle Along Reunion Concert in 2027

Key points

• The 2026 reunion concerts, held September 27 and 28 at Lincoln Center’s Rose Theater, are being recorded for PBS’s Great Performances series, with a 2027 air date to be confirmed.
• The performances feature the majority of the 2016 original cast, including Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Billy Porter, Adrienne Warren, and Brandon Victor Dixon, along with new cast members such as Norm Lewis, Lamont Brown, and Lisa La Touche.
• The reunion is directed by George C. Wolfe and choreographed by Savion Glover, continuing the creative team from the 2016 production, which ran for 100 performances at the Music Box Theatre.
• The event is part of the Legacies of San Juan Hill Festival, highlighting the historical significance of the 1921 original, which debuted at the 63rd Street Music Hall near the San Juan Hill neighborhood, later razed for Lincoln Center.
• The 2016 revival, which used music by Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle and additional material by Daryl Waters and George C. Wolfe, is being revisited to emphasize its role in the Harlem Renaissance and its impact on Black creativity in American theater.

Background

Shuffle Along, or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed, first opened on Broadway in 2016 as a revival of the 1921 all-Black musical that helped launch the Harlem Renaissance. The 2016 production, directed by George C. Wolfe and choreographed by Savion Glover, ran for 100 performances at the Music Box Theatre. The 2026 reunion concerts mark the 10th anniversary of that revival and are part of the Legacies of San Juan Hill Festival at Lincoln Center, which seeks to honor the history of the San Juan Hill neighborhood, demolished in the 1960s to make way for the Lincoln Center campus. The original 1921 production, written by Flournoy Miller and Aubrey Lyles with music by Eubie Blake and lyrics by Noble Sissle, was the first major all-Black Broadway hit and influenced later works by Florenz Ziegfeld and others.

How outlets are covering it

Playbill emphasizes the logistical and historical aspects of the reunion, noting the sold-out nature of the concerts and the inclusion of most of the 2016 cast, while highlighting the PBS broadcast as a key development. Dance Magazine focuses on the personal and social significance of the reunion for the women dancers from the 2016 ensemble, such as Lisa LaTouche, Karissa Royster, and Pamela Yasutake, who reflect on the show’s relevance in the current political climate and its importance for Black youth. Both sources agree on the historical importance of Shuffle Along but differ in emphasis: Playbill highlights the broadcast and cast details, while Dance Magazine centers on the dancers’ personal experiences and the show’s cultural impact.

Why it matters

The PBS broadcast of the 2026 Shuffle Along reunion concerts will bring renewed attention to a landmark in American theater history, ensuring that the legacy of the 1921 all-Black musical and its 2016 revival reaches a wider audience. The event underscores the ongoing relevance of Black creativity in American arts and highlights the importance of preserving and celebrating the contributions of artists and communities that have been historically overlooked. The reunion also serves as a platform for discussing the erasure of Black and brown communities in New York City, particularly in the context of the San Juan Hill neighborhood, which was demolished to build Lincoln Center.

What to watch

The air date and specific slot within the 2027 PBS Great Performances slate for the Shuffle Along reunion concert are yet to be announced. The full details of the Legacies of San Juan Hill Festival, including additional events and performances, will likely be released in the coming months. The 2026 reunion concerts, held September 27 and 28, have already taken place, and the focus will now shift to the broadcast and its reception by audiences and critics.