All articles tagged with #theater
The Broadway revival of Chess will end its run at the Imperial Theatre on Sunday, June 21, 2026, after just over 250 performances; soft box office when Lea Michele was out led to the decision, and her replacement JoJo Levesque couldn’t sustain momentum. The production, with a new book by Danny Strong, had Tony nominations for Nicholas Christopher, Hannah Cruz, and Bryce Pinkham but did not receive a Best Revival nod.
An Off-Broadway review of Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody, praising Jay Armstrong Johnson and Jimin Moon for lending surprising depth to a campy spoof of a popular TV hockey romance. The show mirrors key series moments with some tweaks, features 14 songs over about 80 minutes, and is framed by three playful narrators. Performed in a cramped sixth-floor venue, it mostly appeals to superfans, but the performers’ heft occasionally elevates the material into genuinely moving musical theater.
Luke Evans is Tony-nominated for his Broadway debut as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Show at Studio 54, delivering a high-camp, high-stakes performance after months of heel-walking prep and a corset-and-wig reveal that drew praise. Director Sam Pinkleton sought a lead who could be a tremendous actor, comedian, and project a sense of queerness, and Evans—whose career spans West End and films—crafted an interpretation that balances danger with humor beyond Tim Curry’s iconic take. His journey—from early career instability to Broadway stardom, aided by his supportive family and fan culture around Rocky Horror—reflects a milestone opening on April 23, 2026.
Chess, the Broadway revival of Benny Andersson/Björn Ulvaeus/Tim Rice’s musical, will close June 21—three months ahead of schedule—following Lea Michele’s departure, with JoJo Levesque slated to replace her starting June 23. While producers hail the production’s reimagined take and a new book by Danny Strong, the show will not recoup its investment amid declining box office and modest Tony momentum (Michele and Tveit were shut out of nominations). The revival stars Aaron Tveit and Nicholas Christopher, under Michael Mayer’s direction with Lorin Latarro’s choreography, and has released a Ghostlight Records cast recording, but the end comes sooner than expected.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus will make her Broadway debut in a fall revival of Jon Robin Baitz’s Other Desert Cities at the Hudson Theatre, alongside Ed Harris, Allison Janney, Joe Keery and Lily Rabe. Previews begin September 29 with opening night on October 18 and a limited run through January 17. John Benjamin Hickey directs this revival, which originally premiered at Lincoln Center in 2011 before transferring to Broadway.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus will make her Broadway debut in the first Broadway revival of Jon Robin Baitz’s Other Desert Cities, headlining with Ed Harris, Allison Janney, Joe Keery and Lily Rabe. The 16-week limited engagement opens Oct. 18, 2026 at the Hudson Theatre after previews from Sept. 29, 2026, directed by John Benjamin Hickey; the play, which premiered Off-Broadway in 2011, centers on a Palm Springs family confronting a buried secret, with a full design team and producers backing the revival.
Variety’s Awards Circuit offers early predictions for the 79th Tony Awards, noting Schmigadoon! and The Lost Boys lead nominations with 12 each, Ragtime revival with 11, and Death of a Salesman revival leading the play category with nine. Death of a Salesman is projected to win about five awards, while other races remain fluid with multiple acting and design contenders; the piece also highlights possible studio milestones for Apple and Disney. Final voting closes June 5 and the ceremony airs June 7 on CBS.
Beaches, A New Musical will play its final Broadway performance on May 24 at the Majestic Theatre after 28 previews and 38 regular performances. The show, which opened April 22 after previews began March 27, failed to secure any Tony nominations and struggled with ticket sales, though producers praised the company and announced a 2027 national tour. Based on Iris Rainer Dart’s 1985 novel, the musical stars Jessica Vosk and Kelli Barrett and is directed by Lonny Price and Matt Cowart, with plans to bring the show to audiences across America on tour.
Celebrity Autobiography on Broadway is a 90-minute comedy revue in which a rotating lineup of stars reads humorous excerpts from other celebrities’ memoirs; while some material feels dated, standout performances—especially Andrea Martin as Kris Jenner and Jeff Hiller’s impersonations—give the show its bite, with fresh momentum in the final sequences as it plays the Shubert Theatre.
In Colorado, about 500 attendees watched kindergarten through fifth grade students from three elementary schools perform a 75-minute, fully staged version of Phish’s Gamehendge titled The Helping Friendly Book, backed by a live five‑piece band. Directed by part‑time music teacher Kirk Kubicek, the production used handmade props and a setlist of Phish songs—culminating in a participatory encore of Tweezer Reprise—funded by PTA donations and built around themes of community and shared knowledge.
Deadline's Broadway review finds the concept—celebrities reading other stars' memoirs—interesting in theory but underwhelming in execution: even with a strong lineup (Adsit, Cantone, Hiller, Hoffman, Jackson, Martin, Vardalos, Wilson), the show feels bare-bones and too small for a Broadway venue, delivering few laughs despite moments like standout impressions; running time is 1 hour 30 minutes and tickets range from $49 to $329.
Broadway’s campy musical Death Becomes Her will close June 28 after 650 performances across a 20-month run, having failed to recoup its $31.5 million investment. Opened in 2024 to positive reviews, the show stars Megan Hilty and Jennifer Simard and earned 10 Tony nominations (winning for costume design). A North American tour launches this September at Cleveland’s Playhouse Square, with plans to tour the U.S. and beyond.
Death Becomes Her will close its Broadway run on June 28 after about 20 months at the Lunt-Fontanne, having opened in November 2024. The production, which began strong but saw grosses dip to about $760k weekly by May, earned 10 Tony nominations (winning best costume design) and featured Megan Hilty and Jennifer Simard as lead roles, with Hilty leaving in January; current cast includes Betsy Wolfe, Michelle Williams, Taurean Everett, and Josh Lamon. A multiyear North American tour launches this September in Cleveland, continuing across the U.S. and beyond.
Death Becomes Her, the Broadway musical adaptation of the 1992 film, will close its Broadway run at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on June 28, 2026 after not recouping an estimated $31.5 million capitalization; the production played 20 months, with about 650 performances and roughly 900,000 tickets sold, and earned 10 Tony Award nominations. A multi-year North American tour will launch this September, beginning in Cleveland at Playhouse Square, continuing the show’s life beyond Broadway. The cast included Betsy Wolfe, Jennifer Simard, Christopher Sieber, and Michelle Williams.
The Book of Mormon will resume Broadway performances at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre on May 21 after a May 4 fire damaged the theatre’s spotlight room and caused heavy damage; the box office was temporarily relocated to the August Wilson Theatre and reopens May 15. Public spaces have been repaired and cleared for occupancy, though the spotlight room remains closed; the show’s producers and ATG Entertainment thanked the FDNY and the Department of Buildings for their help. In celebration of the show’s 15th anniversary, the first 50 box-office customers on Friday can purchase two $15 tickets for select summer performances.