BroadwayWorld.com Columbus Stories

Photos: First look at Hilliard Arts Council’s TEEN REVUE 2026: MOVIE NIGHT

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 12:57:54 PST

Grab your popcorn and settle in for Movie Night — a high-energy, feel-good musical celebration of the magic of the movies! The show follows a group of teenagers as they get together for a movie night. When they can’t agree on which movie to watch, their imaginations take over — leading them through a whirlwind of iconic musical numbers inspired by beloved film moments from every genre. As the teens sing and dance their way through movie-inspired scenes, they discover that the best stories aren’t just the ones on screen — they’re the ones we create together. Perfect for audiences of all ages, Movie Night is a joyful tribute to movies, music, and the power of shared experiences.

Director/Choreographer - Amy Lang, Music Director - Alexa Rybinski, Assistant Director - DJ Williams. Featuring Hilliard Arts Council’s By Kids, For Kids productions and theatre camp alumni, and other teen actors, this dynamic ensemble brings fresh perspectives and heartfelt performances to the stage. Expect iconic numbers, memorable monologues, and a spirited journey through the soundtracks of our favorite films.

Performances run June 12 - 13, at 7:30pm, June 14 at 2:00pm, at Hilliard Civic and Cultural Arts Center, 5425 Center St, Hilliard, OH 43026. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit: https://app.getoccasion.com/p/n/v5HWG6dD/v5

Check out the first look below!

Photo Credit: Jerri Shafer

Sitar Maestro Niladri Kumaar to Perform at Southern Theatre for CAPA

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 16:03:30 PST

Sitar Maestro Niladri Kumaar is a serious exponent of Indian Classical Music. CAPA will welcome Niladri Kumaar, along with a slate of gifted established and emerging musicians, to the Southern Theatre at 7:30 pm Wednesday, October 28, in the Southern Theatre.

Tickets, which start at $29, go on sale at 10 am Friday, June 12, and may be purchased at the CAPA Ticket Center at the Ohio Theatre (39 E. State St.), online and by phone at (614) 469-0939.

Kumaar frequently collaborated with the late Zakir Hussain. Their sitar-tabla duo was one of the most popular and prominent collaborations. Space Between the Notes is an extraordinary recording of a live concert of these two maestros in Mumbai, India —releasing later this year — as their only recorded performance together.

The tour also honors the special musical bond between the two masters through portions of their album recording presented in the tour. Niladri Kumaar's Space Between the Notes tour is a musical journey — rooted in tradition, and sure to deeply resonate with the hearts of the listeners.

Honoring the musical tradition they come from and that brought them together, Niladri Kumaar continues to expand the reach of Indian Music and brings a specially curated 2026–2027 tour, with his Sitar, Zitar, and an ensemble of Indian and American musicians.

Joining Kumaar are Agnelo Fernandes (keyboards), Sambit Chatterjee (drums), and Satyajit Talwalkar (tabla).

Review: WATER FOR ELEPHANTS at Ohio Theatre - A Spectacle in Search of a Soul

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 16:32:33 PST

Based on Sara Gruen’s beloved 1932 novel - and its 2011 film adaptation, WATER FOR ELEPHANTS is a technical triumph wrapped around a dramatically uneven musical. Directed by Tony Award nominee Jessica Stone (Kimberly Akimbo), with book by three-time Tony nominee Rick Elice (Jersey Boys, Peter and the Starcatcher), and score by PigPen Theatre Co., WATER FOR ELEPHANTS leans heavily into spectacle over storytelling: aerial silks, acrobatics, puppetry, and constant physical motion that dominate the stage. However, this spectacle overwhelms the story rather than serving it, resulting unfortunately in a flop under the big top.

Set during the Great Depression, WATER FOR ELEPHANTS follows Jacob Jankowski, who, after a personal tragedy, abandons his veterinary studies and hops a train with a crew of struggling circus performers. There, he becomes the circus’s veterinarian and is swept into its colorful but harsh world. He meets Marlena, a talented equestrian star performer, and August, her volatile husband who runs the animal acts. August hires Jacob to care for the animals and as he works closely with Marlena, they bond over their compassion for the animals – especially Rosie the elephant.

Jacob and Marlena navigate danger, exploitation, and their growing feelings for each other as they search for purpose and belonging amid the chaos of circus life. Throughout the production, Jacob’s older self makes appearances as he reflects on his past. This often interrupts the momentum without adding much depth.

Zachary Keller (Jacob Jankowski), Helen Krushinski (Marlena), and Connor Sullivan (August) all possess excellent vocals and a commanding presence on stage. But that’s not enough to fill the emotional void and predictability of this production which is diluted by the emphasis on the visual chaos. The romance and emotional turns often feel rushed and underdeveloped, and the musical numbers are forgettable and don’t rise to the intensity of the staging.

The acrobatic cast is clearly the show’s greatest asset. These elite-level performers are the highlight of the show, integrating circus acts, aerial silks, flying, and flipping, which creates constant visual excitement. There were oooh’s and ahhh’s by the audience throughout the night.

While WATER FOR ELEPHANTS is visually dazzling, it struggles to match its emotional and narrative ambitions. This is especially exposed in a larger theatre which lacks the Broadway-scale intimacy. You’ll be dazzled in the moment, but you may leave realizing the show never truly touched the ground.

WATER FOR ELEPHANTS plays at the Ohio Theatre through June 14th and is the final show of the Broadway in Columbus 2025/2026 season. For tickets and more information, visit: Water for Elephants - Columbus Association for the Performing Arts

BLADE RUNNER LIVE is Coming to CAPA's Palace Theatre

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 11:23:05 PST

Experience Ridley Scott's cult classic, Blade Runner, on a vast HD screen while Vangelis's iconic, synthesizer-led score is performed live in sync with the film by The Avex Ensemble. This multi-Academy Award-nominated film is presented in its 2007 Final Cut edition, offering a unique cinematic and musical experience.

CAPA welcomes Blade Runner Live to the Palace Theatre stage Tuesday, November 10, at 7:30 pm.

In this stylish noir thriller set in a dystopian future, former police officer Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) is pulled back into duty as a Replicant Hunter after four bioengineered beings escape from an off-world colony and return to Earth. Tasked with eliminating them, Deckard's mission grows increasingly complex when he crosses paths with Rachel (Sean Young), a Replicant who believes she's human, raising questions of identity, emotion, and what it truly means to be alive.

Vangelis' legendary score, anchored by the expressive synthesized sound, redefined what electronic music could do in cinema. His use of sweeping synthesizers and atmospheric textures created a haunting soundscape that became inseparable from the film's emotional and visual identity. More than four decades later, its influence on film scoring and electronic music remains undeniable.

Tickets, which start at $34.50, go on sale at 10 am Friday, June 12, and may be purchased at the CAPA Ticket Center at the Ohio Theatre, online, and by phone at (614) 469-0939.

Around The BroadwayWorld: Top News, Reviews, Interviews & More from May 2026

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 12:03:21 PST

Around the BroadwayWorld is our monthly snapshot of the biggest stories making waves across the global theatre community. In this May 2026 edition, we're bringing you a fresh batch of standout reviews from regional stages across the country - from Brigadoon at Pasadena Playhouse in Los Angeles to The Phantom of the Opera at Seattle's Paramount Theatre and Pippin at Signature Theatre in DC.

Diane Paulus directs an immersive, David Bowie-inspired Life on Mars at American Repertory Theater, the producers of Japan's Gypsy revival walk back a planned title change, and we go behind the scenes with interviews spanning Adam Fields of the Beetlejuice national tour, The Muny's casting director Michael Baxter, Richard Kind on finally taking on Edna in Hairspray, and BWW's Kid Reporters chatting with the touring Von Trapp kids of The Sound of Music. Plus, get a first look at exciting new productions through performance videos and photos, including Anastasia at La Mirada Theatre, Dear Evan Hansen at Arden Theatre, Pippin at Signature Theatre, and the Manila cast of Jesus Christ Superstar - and so much more from across the BroadwayWorld.

Diane Paulus Will Direct Immersive David Bowie Inspired LIFE ON MARS at American Repertory Theater

Joshua Wright | Boston

Diane Paulus will direct Life on Mars, an immersive theatrical production set to David Bowie's music, as the inaugural production at the Goel Center for Creativity & Performance in May.

GYPSY in Japan: Producers Walk Back Title Change Ahead of 2026 Revival

Joshua Wright | Japan

The Japanese revival of GYPSY will retain its original title when it returns to the stage in 2026, reversing an earlier decision to present the production under the name 'Rose.'

Interviews

Interview: Adam Fields of BEETLEJUICE National Tour

Brock Mills | Jacksonville

For Adam Fields, returning to Jacksonville with the national tour of Beetlejuice the Musical isn’t just another stop, it’s a full-circle moment. The production will play in Jacksonville from May 12–17 at the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts.

Interview: BWW’s 'Kid Reporters' Chat With THE SOUND OF MUSIC’s Touring Von Trapp Kids

Melissa Heckscher | Los Angeles

BroadwayWorld Los Angeles' kid reporters talk with the young touring cast of THE SOUND OF MUSIC to find out what it's like to be part of one of Broadway’s most iconic shows and what actually happens behind the curtain.

Interview: Chatting with The Muny's Casting Director Michael Baxter

James Lindhorst | St. Louis

Michael Baxter’s work will shine on The Muny stage during all 50 performances this summer. He led the efforts and had a hand in hiring every one of the 194 actors who will fill the principal and ensemble roles.

Interview: Richard Kind Talks Finally Taking on Edna in The Muny's HAIRSPRAY

James Lindhorst | St. Louis

When The Muny opens their production of Hairspray on June 15, 2026, the legendary Richard Kind will don Edna Turnblad’s housecoat and step into her fuzzy house slippers. Kind, star of stage, screen and film, calls it bucket list moments to get to perform at The Muny and play Edna all at the same time.

Reviews

Review: BRIGADOON at Pasadena Playhouse

Andrew Child | Los Angeles

Brava to Alexandra Silber for capturing all the heart and humor of Lerner’s original book with her thoughtful new adaptation and brava to Katie Spelman for dreaming up a Brigadoon that is as ebullient and spirited as it is deeply human.

Review: THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at Paramount Theatre

Shelley Dean | Seattle

It’s almost unbelievable for me to admit that this was my first time seeing The Phantom of the Opera. Of course, I knew the iconic songs and had seen countless clips over the years, but experiencing the production live on stage for the first time was entirely different, haunting, and spine-chilling in the best way possible. From the chandelier drop to the monumental set pieces, the show truly lives up to its legendary reputation. The 2026 tour, directed by Harold Prince, serves as a revitalized version of the original production, featuring Maria Björnson’s iconic designs, musical staging, and choreography by Gillian Lynne. It is absolutely ravishing, and Seattle audiences are lining up hours early to witness the spectacle for themselves.

Review: PIPPIN at Signature Theatre

Aidan O'Connor | Washington, DC

Certain facets of the human condition are foundational to our very existence – change, connection, desire. One such particularly toxic universal truth is a constant need to be something more than we currently are. To search for happiness in external achievement rather than within ourselves, in our simple joys. Pippin at Signature Theatre breathes within that precise virulence, relatively orchestrated by a troupe of impeccably costumed and choreographed players. A feast for the eyes in all senses, Matthew Gardiner’s production surpasses even the highest of expectations.

Videos

Video: Watch La Mirada Theatre's ANASTASIA Star Lena Ceja Perform 'Journey to the Past'

Michael Major | Los Angeles

La Mirada Theatre has released new video footage of Lena Ceja rehearsing 'Journey to the Past' from their upcoming production of Anastasia. The production features Dillon Klena as Dmitry, a role first played on Broadway by his brother Derek Klena.

Photos/Video: DEAR EVAN HANSEN At Arden Theatre

A.A. Cristi | Philadelphia

Arden Theatre Company is now presenting DEAR EVAN HANSEN as the final production of its 2025/26 season, with performances continuing through July 5. New production photos and video have been released from the Philadelphia production, including footage of Evan A. Kaushesh performing “Waving Through a Window.”

Video: Watch 'Corner of the Sky' From Signature Theatre's PIPPIN

Michael Major | Washington, DC

Watch a video of Brayden Bambino performing 'Corner of the Sky' in Signature Theatre's production of Pippin. The in-the-round production is now running through July 26 with tickets available now.

Photos

Photos: Get a First Look at JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR in Manila

Oliver Oliveros | Philippines

The 2017 Olivier Award winner for Best Musical Revival, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rock opera 'Jesus Christ Superstar,' has officially opened at The Theatre at Solaire.

Interview: Costume Designer David I. Reynoso of WATER FOR ELEPHANTS at Ohio Theatre

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 10:45:33 PST

Set and Costume Designer David I. Reynoso thought his chances for making it on Broadway greatly diminished after moving 2,400 miles away from New York City.

Yet the farther Reynoso got from the theatre capital, the stronger his career became. In the past three years, he has earned two Tony Award nominations.

"My career was starting to bud on the East Coast and I thought this might be the beginning of something," said Reynoso, whose Tony-nominated costume designs will be on display in Columbus when WATER FOR ELEPHANTS opens June 9 at the Ohio Theatre. "Life had other plans.

"When we moved to San Diego, I thought I might have to give up theater. The irony is that the biggest opportunities of my career came because I was on the West Coast."

Those breaks arrived quickly. Reynoso earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Costume Design of a Musical in 2024 for WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, his Broadway debut as a designer. Two years later, he received a second nomination for RICHARD O'BRIEN'S ROCKY HORROR SHOW.

"I felt so fortunate to be nominated for WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, but I never expected it to happen again," said Reynoso, who finished behind Linda Cho (THE GREAT GATSBY) in 2024 and Qween Jean (CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL) on June 7. “Having my first two experiences on Broadway lead to Tony nominations feels incredible.

"Your name may be on the nomination, but there's a whole community of people who make it possible. It's gratifying to share the success I’ve had with them."

Like WATER FOR ELEPHANTS’ protagonist Jacob Jankowski, the designer has spent much of his life boarding trains without knowing exactly where they would lead.

That willingness to leap into the unknown is one reason he connected so strongly with the musical adaptation of Sara Gruen's bestselling novel.

Reynoso’s first leap of faith came when he was 12 as his family immigrated from Mexico to the United States. He described adjusting to a new country as "a big challenge."

Theatre offered a place where Reynoso felt he belonged. He enjoyed acting, but his high school teachers noticed his passion for drawing and creating imaginary worlds.

“One of my teachers suggested, ‘Have you ever considered set design as a career?’” he said.

The suggestion led Reynoso to Boston University where he studied set design. Part of the curriculum required taking a class in costume design. While he loved the artistic element of creating costumes, he thought it was just a box he had to check off en-route to his degree.

Upon graduation, Reynoso found work in The American Repertory Theatre costume shop in Cambridge, Mass. His first assignment was designing a costume for a one-woman show, THE KEENING.

“The assumption was I only had to do one costume, so I couldn’t mess it up too badly,” he said with a laugh.

Slowly Reynoso began building a reputation for his set work and costume design. Yet after relocating to San Diego, he found himself starting over and knocking on theatre doors in search of work.

In 2015, the designer found himself working with producer/director Jessica Stone for a production of George Bernard Shaw’s ARMS AND THE MAN at San Diego’s Old Globe Theatre. Then four years later, he worked alongside director Sam Pinkleton for planning THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW in San Francisco.

“Jessica and I had the same sensibilities over how to tell a story,” he said. “When WATER FOR ELEPHANTS was starting to percolate, she considered me as a partner in terms of creating the visuals for the show.”

Reynoso, who had not read the book before beginning work on WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, said he wanted to come into the work with a fresh set of eyes.

“(When production first started) we wanted to understand what the audience needed to experience as they're sitting in the seats,” he said. “How do we provide awe and wonder? How do we provide a beautiful and moving experience?”

Because WATER FOR ELEPHANTS is a memory play, Stone wanted parts of the production to feel like a vintage postcard.

At the same time, the show features performers doing “insane acrobatics” in what seems like ordinary clothing for the period.

“The audience thinks, ‘Oh that’s just a pair of overalls,’ but there’s a lot of engineering that went into it,” he said. “I think of these clothes as being sort of a dancing partner for the performers.”

One of Reynoso’s favorite parts of WATER FOR ELEPHANTS was a dash of purple in the costumes.

Reynoso was in his 20s when his sister Paula passed away. Since then, the designer has included subtle tributes to her in each show he designs.

“She and I were very close and I always try to carry her with me,” he said. “In all the projects I do, I find ways to reference her. Purple was her favorite color.”

Pinkleton’s ideas for ROCKY HORROR in San Francisco never made it to the stage. The day before practices were supposed to start, Reynoso said “the world shut down” because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

However, in 2025, Pinkleton set out to revive the schlock rock opera on Broadway and asked Reynoso to join him on the journey.

ROCKY HORROR, however, offered a different task – honoring Sue Blane’s original concepts for the 1973 debut while adding Reynoso’s own ideas.

“One of the factors that is so beloved about ROCKY HORROR is the scrappiness and the Do It Yourself quality of the costumes,” he said. “You’re trying to find the balance between honoring the source material and presenting what we’re doing now.”

After the June 7 Tony Awards, Reynoso takes another leap onto the moving train of the unknown, assuming the role of set and Costume Designer for HOMBRES at The Old Globe Theatre.

“A lot of my career has come through things that may have been a little less ‘traditional,’” he said. “Sometimes things seem to be going in the opposite direction you assume it would be, but that always led to some beautiful opportunities. And I just couldn’t be more grateful for that.”

WATER FOR ELEPHANTS runs June 9-14 at the Ohio Theatre (39 E. State Street in downtown Columbus).

Photo Credit: Matthew Murphy

Columbus Symphony to Present Celebratory July 4 Program

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 11:26:53 PST

Celebrate America's 250th birthday in grand style with a free evening of music, community, and fireworks! The Columbus Symphony today announced additional details about “Columbus Symphony Celebrates America,” a concert to be held on the Columbus Commons on July 4 as part of America250-Ohio's Signature Homecoming & Picnic.

Music Director Rossen Milanov will lead the Columbus Symphony and Chorus in a program designed to illuminate and reflect upon multiple aspects of the American experience. In addition to a salute to the armed forces and classic patriotic tunes like Samuel Ward's America the Beautiful and Irving Berlin's God Bless America, the concert will include John Williams's Liberty Fanfare, written in 1986 for the centennial of the Statue of Liberty, and Joan Tower's Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman, written in recognition of “women who take risks and are adventurous." James Beckel's Liberty For All includes text from the U.S. Constitution and writings by George Washington and John F. Kennedy – reminding us of the founding principles and ideals this semiquincentennial celebrates – and will be narrated by former Ohio Supreme Court Justice Yvette McGee Brown, the first Black woman to serve on Ohio's highest court.

“I'm so excited to be leading the Columbus Symphony and Chorus for what will surely be one of the biggest and most exciting concerts we've performed since I started as music director more than 10 years ago,” Milanov said. “Having grown up in Bulgaria and immigrated to the U.S. to pursue my musical education and career, I am honored to be a part of this once-in-a-lifetime celebration of the American Dream, in all of its beauty and complexity. I look forward to seeing the Columbus Commons filled to capacity so we can all enjoy this special moment together.”

As a special guest artist, Broadway star and two-time Grammy winner Tamika Lawrence will provide vocals on popular songs like “Proud Mary” and “Respect,” as well as favorite showtunes like “I Dreamed A Dream” from Les Misérables. Lawrence has appeared in Broadway shows including The Book of Mormon, Dear Evan Hansen, Come From Away, and more.

The evening concludes with a spectacular fireworks display and the traditional accompaniment of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture and Sousa's Stars and Stripes Forever.

“America 250-Ohio is a celebration of 250 years of American independence, but it's really about celebrating the greatest gems in Ohio – in sports, the arts, entertainment, and technology,” said Douglas J. Preisse, co-chair of the America250-Ohio Commission. “The Columbus Symphony Orchestra stands out as one of our greatest gems, so we're very excited to be partnering with the CSO on this special celebration.”

Admission is free, but tickets are required for entry and will be scanned upon arrival. Tickets and more information are available at CAPA.com.

ADRENALIZE to Kick Off Ohio Summer Concert Season with Def Leppard Tribute Shows

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 18:33:27 PST

Adrenalize - The Ultimate Def Leppard Experience is bringing the music of one of rock's most iconic bands to outdoor audiences across Ohio and beyond.

The nationally recognized tribute act will launch its summer outdoor concert schedule this weekend with two highly anticipated Ohio appearances. On Friday, June 5, Adrenalize will headline the season-opening concert of Wilmington's Friday Night Summer Concert Series, a popular downtown tradition that brings music fans together throughout the summer for free outdoor concerts in the heart of the city. As the featured performer launching the 2026 season, Adrenalize is proud to help begin another summer of live music and community celebration in Wilmington.

The following evening, Saturday, June 6, the band travels to LA-Z Acres Campground in Nashport, Ohio, one of the Midwest's most unique outdoor concert destinations.

Known for its impressive concert grounds, massive video wall, professional production, and enthusiastic crowds, LA-Z Acres Campground has become one of Ohio's most distinctive outdoor concert destinations. Throughout the season, campers from across the property make their way to the concert grounds - many arriving by golf cart - to experience the evening's entertainment. With its state-of-the-art presentation, community atmosphere, and passionate audience, the venue provides the perfect setting for Adrenalize's arena-sized tribute to Def Leppard.

Widely regarded as the country's leading Def Leppard tribute experience, Adrenalize recreates the sound, energy, and excitement of a classic Def Leppard concert with remarkable attention to detail. More than simply performing the songs, the band is committed to honoring the music, legacy, and spirit of one of rock's most influential and enduring acts. From the soaring harmonies and dual-guitar attack to the authentic visual presentation, Adrenalize delivers the music with the same passion, respect, and integrity that have made Def Leppard a global arena rock phenomenon for more than four decades.

Fans can expect performances featuring favorites such as "Photograph," "Rock of Ages," "Hysteria," "Animal," "Foolin'," "Rocket," "Bringin' On The Heartbreak," and, of course, "Pour Some Sugar On Me," presented with the power and precision that have earned Adrenalize a growing reputation among theaters, festivals, casinos, and concert venues nationwide.

The Ohio performances are just the beginning of a busy summer schedule that includes both outdoor festivals and headline theater appearances.

Upcoming Adrenalize Dates:

June 5 - Friday Night Concert Series - Wilmington, OH

June 6 - LA-Z Acres Campground - Nashport, OH

June 13 - Appalachian Harley-Davidson's 25th Birthday Bash - Mechanicsburg, PA

June 26 - Penn Theater - Butler, PA

June 27 - Pennsylvania Roundhouse Rally - Altoona, PA

Additional dates continue throughout the summer and fall.

For tickets, show information, and a complete tour schedule, visit AdrenalizeBand.com.

About Adrenalize

Adrenalize - The Ultimate Def Leppard Experience is dedicated to celebrating the music and legacy of Def Leppard through authentic live performances that capture the excitement of the band's legendary arena tours. Performing for audiences across the United States, Adrenalize has become the country's leading Def Leppard tribute experience, earning praise for its musicianship, attention to detail, and commitment to delivering a first-class concert experience.

BroadwayWorld Launches Producer Fantasy Game

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:00:05 PST

Ever watched the weekly Broadway grosses roll in and thought you could pick the winners? Now you can put it to the test. BroadwayWorld has launched the Producer Fantasy Game, a free, season-long competition that lets theatre fans build a roster of Broadway shows and earn points based on how those productions actually perform at the box office. The draft window is open now.

How It Works

The setup is simple. During the draft window, you pick any six Broadway productions that opened this season. Drafting is non-exclusive, so there is no need to race a rival for a hot title. Any number of players can roster the same show.

From there, your shows go to work for you. Every week, each production on your roster earns fantasy points based on its reported box office grosses and capacity percentages. When Tony, Drama Desk, Drama League, and Outer Critics Circle nominations and wins are announced, your shows bank bonus points on top of that. And each week you can answer our Fantasy Forecast prediction questions for up to five bonus points per correct call.

Weekly Scoring

Each week, a show earns one base point for every $50,000 it grosses, so a $1 million week is worth 20 base points. On top of that, shows can earn bonuses: up to five points for filling seats (based on how close to full capacity the house ran), six points for grossing $2 million or more (or three points for grossing between $1 million and $2 million), and eight points if its gross jumped at least 15 percent from the week before. A show loses four points if its gross dropped at least 15 percent. If a show goes dark and reports no gross for a week, it scores zero for that week with no penalty.

The Fantasy Forecast

The Producer Fantasy Game is really two games in one. The first is the box office game: drafting shows and earning points from their weekly grosses and awards. The second is the Fantasy Forecast, a weekly set of prediction questions about what's happening on Broadway, where each correct answer is worth up to five points. You can play one or both.

We track them separately so you can shine at either. Your Producer score covers the box office game, your Forecast score covers your prediction results, and your Combined score adds the two together for the overall championship ranking. The leaderboard lets you toggle between Overall, Producers, and Forecasters, so a sharp predictor can top the Forecasters board even during a rough season for their roster, and a roster powerhouse can lead the Producers board without answering a single question.

Managing Your Roster

Your lineup stays at six shows all season, and you have plenty of room to maneuver. You get one free drop every week, three additional season drops to use anytime before the trade deadline, and free replacements whenever a show on your roster closes. New productions open throughout the season and become available the moment they start reporting grosses, so it pays to keep a transaction in your pocket for that buzzy new opening.

Join the Game

The Producer Fantasy Game is free for all BroadwayWorld users, and you can join any time the draft window is open. Draft within the first two weeks of the season and your roster is scored from opening week, so the earlier you get in, the more weeks you bank. Build your roster, make your predictions, and start climbing the leaderboard today.

Photos: First look at King Avenue Players’ PERFECT ARRANGEMENT

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 11:05:48 PST

Set during the Lavender Scare of the 40’s-50’s, this witty, heartfelt, and timely story of love, friendship, and resilience in the face of impossible choices is one you do not want to miss. It’s 1950, and new colors are being added to the Red Scare. Two U.S. State Department employees, Bob and Norma, have been tasked with identifying sexual deviants within their ranks. There’s just one problem: Both Bob and Norma are gay, and have married each other’s partners as a carefully constructed cover. Inspired by the true story of the earliest stirrings of the American gay rights movement, madcap classic sitcom-style laughs give way to provocative drama as two “All-American” couples are forced to stare down the closet door.

By Topher Payne, Director - Scott Clay, Cast: Bob - David Hetrick, Millie - Anna Soppelsa, Norma - Ashley James, Tim - Leland McCandles, Theodore - Michael Gallaugher, Kitty - Maggie Rusnak, Barbara - Julia Cannell.

Performances run June 4 - 6 at 7:30pm, June 7 at 3:00pm at King Avenue United Methodist Church, 299 King Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43201. For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/kingaveplayers/

Check out the first look below!

Photo Credit: Jerri Shafer

Review: FLANNEL: A 90S MUSICAL at Shadowbox Live!

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 22:40:20 PST

Nostalgia usually paints the 1990s as a simpler time. Shadowbox Live’s latest offer FLANNEL: A 90s MUSICAL argues something different: life was just as messy back then as it is now, only the soundtrack was better.

Through dynamic performances from the band, actors, and dancers, Shadowbox Live! captures a generation caught between ambition and apathy, one searching for happiness but settling for comfort.

Writer Jimmy Mak, who joined the theatre troupe in 1996, called FLANNEL his “most personal work.”

“This show feels like it is just me and my friends hanging out in 1996,” he said afterward. “I wanted to make it right before cell phones were everywhere, a time when you had to still talk to each other.

“(The 1990s) felt like a time when you could just disappear. You could move to New York and no one could find you.”

Produced and directed by Julie Klein, FLANNEL’s name is a nearly perfect title for a musical about the 1990s.

Flannel shirts, the standard uniform of the grunge movement, are symbols of contradiction. It makes the wearer look tough, but it is as gentle and comfortable as a second skin. Its pattern is a series of lines running horizontally and perpendicularly. Yet those lines often cross paths with each other before returning to their chosen course.

The lives of Chance (Braeden Glenn), a photographer for Rolling Stone, and his former girlfriend Bridgit (Riley Mak) intersect when, years after ghosting her, Chance returns to Ohio to care for his dying father. Chance still pines for his ex, but she is now with Bernie (Andy Ankrom), Chance’s former Best Friend.

FLANNEL would appear to be a callback to the music of just Seattle staples Pearl Jam and Nirvana. This show goes far beyond that. Shadowbox Live!’s house band of guitarists Matthew Hahn and Jack Walbridge, drummer Brandon Smith, keyboardist Spencer Solberg, and bassist Buzz Crisafulli offer up a musical intersection of a diverse generation. Harder alternative artists like Stone Temple Pilots, Jane’s Addiction, and Smashing Pumpkins flow seamlessly with Nirvana.

However, the 90s had more than one style of music. This show incorporates more mainstream artists like Tom Petty, The Wallflowers, Annie Lennox, and even Ozzy Osbourne in a way that adds to the story rather than detracting from it. One of my favorites is a mashup of Lenny Kravitz’s “Are You Gonna Go My Way?" (sung by Ankrom) and Tracy Chapman’s “Give Me One Reason” (Riley Mak). Those two songs appear to go together like vinegar and peanut butter, yet the two vocalists make it work.

Riley Mak captures Bridgit’s anguish of an unresolved relationship with Chance and the fatigue of an unfulfilling romance with Bernie. As a singer, she takes on a wide range of material from EMF’s “Unbelievable” and Lennox’s “Walking on Broken Glass.” Glenn delivers a solid performance whether Chance is dealing with a complex relationship with his father or singing Osbourne’s “Mama, I’m Coming Home” and Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”

Ankrom always seems to shine playing flawed characters, and his performance as Bernie the lovable degenerate is no exception.

While the play centers around those three, the message would struggle without solid turns dramatically and vocally by Leah Haviland (Bridgit’s mom Meghan), Stacie Boord, Luke Marconi, and Noelle Anderson. Meghan Hohman spices up Jimmy Mak’s script with her comedic take on the often clueless Janene. When Chance says he is having a friend who is a paralegal look over his father’s will, Janene responds with “Oh my God, I’m so sorry. Did it happen during the war?”

In her debut as a musical choreographer, Kristina Isabelle leaves a unique thumbprint on the production. Her vision offers an exciting addition to Shadowbox’s stellar dance corps.

Every show has flaws. Certain plot points – Chance’s accident derailing Bernie’s track career and the coin collection solving all the problems – seem a little too convenient.

What I liked best about FLANNEL could be construed as a flaw. The show lacks the tidy resolution of a sitcom finale. Yet that feels appropriate.

FLANNEL argues that for many in the 1990s, happiness was too hard to reach, so they settled for being comfortable and listening to dissident music.

Bernie offers the perfect summary of the show as well as the decade: “I don't care about being happy. I just want to be comfortable, you know, nice and comfortable like this flannel.”

Photo credit: Terry Gilliam

The production will be performed at 7 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Sept. 4 at Shadowbox Live! (503 S. Front Street in downtown Columbus).

A DRAG QUEEN CHRISTMAS to Return for 12th Year With 39-City National Tour

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 19:57:07 PST

“A Drag Queen Christmas” will return for its 12th year, launching a 39-city national tour this November - December. The 2026 edition is hosted by returning fan favorite and theatre star Nina West, and features an all-new merry lineup of drag superstars from the Emmy-winning RuPaul's Drag Race franchise.

Artist pre-sale begins Wednesday, June 3 at 10 a.m. (local time) with the code “TWELVE,” and general on sale begins Friday, June 5 at 10 a.m. (local time) at dragfans.com.

This year's cast includes:

Myki Meeks, Winner of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 18 (2026)
Nini Coco, Runner-up, Drag Race Season 18 (2026)
Darlene Mitchell, Drag Race Season 18 (2026)
Juicy Love Dion, Drag Race Season 18 (2026)
Discord Addams, Drag Race Season 18 (2026)
Crystal Methyd, Drag Race All Stars Season 11 (2026) & Drag Race Season 12 (2020)
Silky Ganache, Drag Race All Stars Season 11 (2026), Drag Race All Stars Season 6 (2021), Drag Race Season 11 (2019)

“A Drag Queen Christmas” is the world's premiere holiday drag showcase and a sensational theatrical experience that delivers high camp, over-the-top lip-sync performances, side-splitting comedy, elaborate costumes, Broadway-style staging, and a whole lot of heart—something we all seek during the chaos of the holiday season. With plenty of spectacular surprises in store, the show offers audiences a chance to see drag queens at the top of their game perform showstopping numbers of epic holiday proportions on revered theater stages across America. Each year, “A Drag Queen Christmas” provides an annual tradition for folks from all walks of life to come together and connect, find community, and celebrate the season with joy and laughter.

This dazzling, 18+ holiday extravaganza runs two hours and offers fans the chance to add-on a VIP Meet & Greet Experience—including early access to the venue, photos with the queens on stage, autographs, and exclusive tour merchandise.

A Drag Queen Christmas 2026 Tour Dates:

November 11 - Detroit, MI (Fisher Theatre)

November 12 - Rochester, NY (Kodak Center)

November 13 - Rutland, VT (Paramount Theatre)

November 14 - Portland, ME (Merrill Auditorium)

November 15 - Boston, MA (Emerson Colonial Theatre)

November 17 - Red Bank, NJ (Count Basie Center for the Arts)

November 18 - Morristown, NJ (Mayo Performing Arts Center)

November 19 - Washington, DC (Warner Theatre)

November 20 - Durham, NC (Durham Performing Arts Center)

November 21 - Wilmington, NC (Wilson Center - Cape Fear Community College)

November 22 - Philadelphia, PA (Fillmore)

November 24 - Pittsburgh, PA (Byham Theater)

November 25 - Columbus, OH (Palace Theatre)

November 27 - Chicago, IL (Riviera Theatre)

November 28 - Appleton, WI (Fox Cities Performing Arts Center)

November 29 - Omaha, NE (Orpheum Theater)

November 30 - Oklahoma City, OK (The Criterion)

December 1 - Des Moines, IA (Hoyt Sherman Place)

December 2 - Kansas City, MO (Uptown Theater)

December 4 - Denver, CO (Paramount Theatre)

December 5 - Salt Lake City, UT (Kingsbury Hall)

December 7 - Seattle, WA (Moore Theatre)

December 9 - Sacramento, CA (Channel 24)

December 10 - San Francisco, CA (Golden Gate Theatre)

December 11 - Stockton, CA (Bob Hope Theatre)

December 12 - Los Angeles, CA (The Wiltern)

December 13 - Santa Rosa, CA (Luther Burbank Center)

December 15 - Mesa, AZ (Mesa Arts Center)

December 16 - Tucson, AZ (Fox Tucson Theatre)

December 17 - El Paso, TX (Plaza Theatre)

December 19 - Austin, TX (ACL Live at The Moody Theater)

December 20 - Dallas, TX (Winspear Opera House)

December 21 - Wichita, KS (Orpheum Theatre)

December 22 - St.Louis, MO (The Factory)

December 23 - Knoxville, TN (Tennessee Theatre)

December 26 - Tampa Bay, FL (Straz Center for the Performing Arts)

December 27 - Fort Myers, FL (Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall)

December 28 - West Palm Beach, FL (Kravis Center for the Performing Arts)

December 29 - Jacksonville, FL (Florida Theatre)

Review: 1776 at Abbey Theater Of Dublin

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 22:21:54 PST

Forty-six years separate the premieres of 1776 and HAMILTON. Yet one truth still remains: no one likes John Adams.

Audiences looking to see one of the inspirations behind HAMILTON should make plans to see the Abbey Theater of Dublin's impressive production of 1776. The show wraps up this weekend with 7 p.m. performances on June 5 and June 6 and a 2 p.m. matinee on June 7 at the Coffman Park Amphitheater (5200 Emerald Parkway in Dublin).

Written in 1969 by Sherman Edwards (music and lyrics) and Peter Stone (book), 1776 opens with the song "Sit Down, John," in which members of the Continental Congress express their frustration with the outspoken Adams. Decades later, HAMILTON echoes that sentiment when Alexander Hamilton verbally dismisses the second president with a profane “Sit down, you fat motherf***ker” in “The Adams Administration.”

In an interview with Playbill, Lin-Manuel Miranda acknowledged the influence of 1776 on his work: "I think you're absolutely right. 1776 certainly paved the way for HAMILTON —not just in that it's about our founders, but also in that it engages fully with their humanity. I think it makes them accessible to us in a very real way."

Yet this 27-member production, directed and produced by Joe Bishara, stands firmly with both those who love HAMILTON and those who haven’t seen it. As the nation nears its 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, 1776 reminds its audience the men who created the document were both flawed and fearless.

Adams (a passionate turn by Jonathan Collura), Benjamin Franklin (Gregory Patterson) and Thomas Jefferson (William Ray-Macke) are at the epicenter of the musical. The trio captures the essence of the musical: Adams' awareness of his own flaws, Jefferson's reluctance to lead, and Franklin's gift for using humor to disguise his wisdom.

With a handful of delegates threatening to derail the process of separating from England, John Hancock (Tim Clayton) appoints Adams, Franklin, Roger Sherman (Ryan Bunce), and Robert Livingston (Niko Carter) to draft a declaration acceptable to all 13 colonies.

The problem is no one wants to write it.

In “But Mr. Adams,” each reveals why they shouldn’t author the document. When all options are exhausted, the four then turn toward Jefferson, who is trying to make a hasty retreat. Ray-Macke does an exceptional job capturing Jefferson’s bug-eyed, “you couldn’t possibly want me” look.

Just like it takes more than just stars to make the flag, it takes more than three actors to recapture the process of becoming a new nation. On the acting side, Jacob Erney shines confidently as the self-absorbed Richard Henry Lee and his spotlight song, “The Lees of Old Virginia” is one of the show’s many highlights. With a flawless British accent and his haughty mannerisms, Wilson is in top form as Dickinson, the show’s antagonist.

Vocally, Lev Hund turns the nameless courier role into one of the show’s most poignant moments as he sings about the horrors of the battlefield in “Momma Look Sharp.” As South Carolina representative Edward Rutledge, Eric Shonk exposes the hypocrisy in the Founding Fathers’ views on slavery in his riveting “Molasses to Rum” – “Tisn't morals, 'tis money that saves/Shall we dance to the sound/Of the profitable pound?” Watching Jefferson then cross out the Declaration’s paragraphs about slavery is one of the darkest parts in 1776.

Only two of the 27 roles in the two-act, two-and-a-half-hour presentation are reserved for women. However, as Abigail Adams, Krista Pojman provides a comedic counterbalance to her bombastic husband. Both Pojman and Deborah Brennan, who plays Martha Jefferson, present melodic, operatic voices in limited roles.

The show has the largest cast and is the most ambitious production attempted by Bishara. Tamara Criswell’s costumes and set design make it look like the actors stepped out of a John Trumbull painting. Bishara's production finds the drama, humor, and humanity behind the history lesson.

However, the show isn’t flawless. In general, critics complain 1776 runs long, its storyline gets sidetracked, and its songs lack the firepower of HAMILTON. The opening night exposed a few rough edges, particularly in the consistency of accents and line delivery.

The show is much like the process of writing the Declaration of Independence. It is not a flag-waving piece of propaganda; it exposes the humanity behind the document. It may not be completely flawless in its design but it makes a perfect statement that has lasted for many years.

Photo credit: Joe Bishara/Abbey Theater

Photos: First look at Sunbury Performing Arts GREASE SCHOOL VERSION

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 10:57:57 PST

The hit musical, specially designed for young actors or audiences! Shorter and more suitable in content for teens and preteens, this abridged version retains the fun-loving spirit and immortal songs that make Grease a favorite among rock ’n’ roll fans of all ages.

Book, Music and Lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. Artistic Director - Barb Stitzer, Director - Aara Wise, Music Director - Lisa Huston, Choreographer - Courtney Lucas.

Performances at Big Walnut Middle School, 555 S Old 3C Rd, Sunbury, OH 43074. T-bird Cast: Thursday, June 4 @ 7pm, Saturday, June 6 @ 2pm. Cadillac Cast: Friday, June 5 @ 7pm, Saturday, June 6 @ 7pm. To see the Cast lists or to purchase tickets, visit: https://sunburyperformingarts.ludus.com/

Check out the first look below!

Photo Credit: Jerri Shafer

NATIONWIDE POPCORN POPS Concerts to Be Free This Summer Thanks to Honda

Fri, 29 May 2026 23:13:52 PST

The Columbus Symphony has announced a $25,000 contribution from Honda to support two free, outdoor Nationwide Popcorn Pops concerts for children and families at the Columbus Commons. The contribution will help advance the Symphony's work to inspire and build a strong community through music by elevating the quality of life in Central Ohio.

“By offering these concerts for free, we remove a critical barrier to participation and provide meaningful access,” said Meghan McDevitt, vice president of education at the Columbus Symphony. “We are excited to see audiences learning, connecting, and enjoying time on the Columbus Commons this summer, reflecting the Columbus Symphony's ongoing work to build community through music.”

“Honda is committed to investing in local communities in ways that bring families together, inspire lifelong learning, spark curiosity, and strengthen community connections,” said Jen D'Annunzio, Unit Lead, Corporate Social Responsibility - Associate Engagement. “We're proud to support the Columbus Symphony in creating opportunities where everyone in Central Ohio can experience the joy of music and feel a true sense of belonging.”

These general admission outdoor concerts feature the Columbus Symphony performing repertoire selected to appeal to children ages 3-12 that can also be enjoyed by the whole family. The casual lawn seating makes it possible for children to dance and move around, providing an ideal atmosphere to introduce young people to an orchestra concert. Concerts are led by the Columbus Symphony's assistant conductor, Elias Miller, and narrated by multidisciplinary artist and educator Z.F. Taylor. Activities begin at 5:30 p.m. while concerts begin at 6 p.m.

This summer's Nationwide Popcorn Pops programs include:

Peter and the Wolf – Friday, June 26

Enjoy a fun-filled concert featuring Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf – a timeless musical tale that brings instruments to life and sparks the imagination. Perfect for families and young audiences, this beloved classic is a wonderful introduction to the orchestra.

Arrive early for exciting pre-concert activities including button making, temporary tattoos, face painting, and lawn games for all ages. Enjoy free popcorn during the event, then stick around for a special community screening of Zootopia 2, sponsored by the John F. Wolfe Columbus Commons.

Symphonic Surprise! – Friday, July 10

Get ready for a musical adventure full of giggles, gasps, and surprises! Symphonic Surprise! is a fun-filled family concert where the orchestra keeps you on your toes: one moment calm and beautiful; the next loud, silly, or completely unexpected.

From playful musical surprises to buzzing bees, dancing polkas, and familiar favorites, kids and families will discover just how fun and unexpected classical music can be. Bring your ears, your curiosity, and your sense of humor because in this concert, anything can happen.

Arrive early and join the party with pre-concert fun for all ages, including glitter tattoos, face painting, balloon artists, an instrument petting zoo, and lively lawn games. Enjoy free popcorn during the event, then stick around for a screening of Up, sponsored by the John F. Wolfe Columbus Commons.

Since 2009, Nationwide has been the title sponsor of Picnic with the Pops and Popcorn Pops programs, with host sponsor the John F. Wolfe Columbus Commons.

JIM HENSON'S FRAGGLE ROCK: BACK TO THE ROCK LIVE to Play Columbus Palace Theatre

Fri, 29 May 2026 05:05:09 PST

Jim Henson's Fraggles are dancing their cares away across North America in Jim Henson's Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock LIVE, the first-ever live touring show based on The Jim Henson Company's beloved franchise.

CAPA will welcome the tour to Columbus for a 6:30 pm Friday, October 2, show in the Palace Theatre. Tickets, which start at $29.50, go on sale at 10 am Friday, May 29, and may be purchased at the CAPA Ticket Center at the Ohio Theatre (39 E. State St.), online, and by phone at (614) 469-0939.

Gobo, Red, Mokey, Wembley, and Boober Fraggle discover the legend of the Celebration Stone - an ancient Fraggle treasure that has the power to bring everyone together for the greatest party of all time, but was shattered and lost generations ago. As the Fraggles set off on an exhilarating, adventurous journey exploring exciting new caves within Fraggle Rock and even beyond, they discover magic that they never knew existed, and learn to work together to unite the lost pieces of the magical artifact. Can the Fraggles succeed in their quest to bring the Celebration Stone back to Fraggle Rock so everyone can enjoy the most incredible party in Fraggle history? And along the way, will they find something even more memorable and heartfelt than they could have ever imagined?

Based on the Emmy-winning Apple TV original series Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock, this all-new, family friendly live stage adventure features colorful new walkaround versions of the Fraggles, new puppet versions of their industrious friends the Doozers, and a visit from a giant Gorg, as well as exciting original puppet creature friends - all built by the renowned Jim Henson's Creature Shop. Featuring fan-favorite songs and exciting visual effects, this musical stage adventure welcomes audiences on a joyful, nostalgia-filled trip to Fraggle Rock. With lots of music, laughter and imagination, it's an unforgettable live experience that will have Silly Creatures of all ages dancing in the aisles!

Written and directed by John Tartaglia (Avenue Q, Shrek the Musical, Stephen Schwartz's The Secret Silk), the interactive live musical features both new and classic Fraggle songs, eye-popping immersive stage effects and all the hilarious, heartwarming magic that has kept Fraggle Rock captivating generations of audiences for over 40 years.

SONIC LIVE IN CONCERT to Launch Global Tour With US and UK Premieres

Wed, 27 May 2026 20:59:39 PST

As Sonic the Hedgehog celebrates 35 years as one of the most iconic video game franchises of all time, Senbla and SEGA today announced Sonic Live In Concert (www.sonicliveinconcert.com). This new concert experience brings the music and moments of the beloved video games to the stage.

Featuring iconic moments and music from the very first game in 1991 through today, the production will debut in the U.S. at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on September 26, 2026, before making its European premiere at London's Eventim Apollo on September 30. The U.S. tour will visit more than 30 cities nationwide, and a UK tour will follow in February 2027. More European dates will be announced at a later time. Tickets will go on sale May 29, 2026, with pre-sale tickets going on sale on May 28, 2026.

As part of a global rollout celebrating the franchise's milestone anniversary, Sonic Live In Concert features the most recognizable music from the Sonic universe, performed by a live ensemble alongside rock musicians, vocalists, and electronic elements. The setlist includes fan-favorite tracks and an incredible array of music from the very first game through to today accompanied by synchronized HD footage of iconic levels, moments and boss battles from the franchise. Audiences can expect musical Easter eggs woven into the arrangements, adding an extra layer of discovery that brings Sonic's world vividly to life on stage.

The concert also highlights the creative legacy behind Sonic's music from legendary composers Jun Senoue and Tomoya Ohtani, whose work has helped define Sonic's sound across generations.

"Sonic has some of the most distinct and celebrated music in gaming," says Ollie Rosenblatt, CEO of Senbla. "We wanted to create a live show that stays true to what the fans love about Sonic's music, from the electronic and melodic themes to high-energy rock."

“Music has always been a core part of Sonic's identity, shaping how fans experience this world across generations," said Ivo Gerscovich, Chief Business & Brand Officer at SEGA of America, Inc. "With this concert, we're looking forward to celebrating that legacy in a live setting; bringing together the energy, emotion, and creativity of Sonic's music in a way that both longtime fans and new audiences can enjoy together.”

Since his debut in 1991, Sonic the Hedgehog has become a global entertainment icon spanning video games, film, television, and consumer products. With renewed momentum driven by recent film releases, new game titles, and a global brand campaign tied to the 35th anniversary, the franchise continues to reach new generations of fans worldwide.

The performance schedule includes:

September 20, 2026 – Spokane, Washington – First Interstate Center for the Arts
September 22, 2026 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre (preview)
September 23, 2026 – Portland, OR – Keller Auditorium (preview)
September 25, 2026 – San Diego, CA – San Diego Civic Theatre (preview)
September 26, 2026 – Hollywood, CA – Dolby Theatre
September 27, 2026 – Riverside, CA – Fox Performing Arts Center
September 29, 2026 – Mesa, AZ – Mesa Arts Center - Ikeda Theater
September 30, 2026 – London, U.K. – London Eventim Apollo
October 1, 2026 – Las Vegas, NV – Resorts World Theatre
October 2, 2026 – Fresno, CA – Saroyan Theatre
October 3, 2026 – San Jose, CA – San Jose Civic
October 4, 2026 – Reno, NV – Grand Theatre at The Grand Sierra Resort & Casino
October 6, 2026 – Denver, CO – Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre
October 8, 2026 – Irving, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
October 9, 2026 – Houston, TX – Bayou Music Center
October 10, 2026 – San Antonio, TX – Boeing Center at Tech Port
October 11, 2026 – Oklahoma City, OK – The Criterion
October 13, 2026 – Wichita, KS – Orpheum Theatre
October 15, 2026 – Omaha, NE – Orpheum Theater
October 16, 2026 – Peoria, IL – Prairie Home Alliance Theater
October 17, 2026 – Louisville, KY – The Louisville Palace Theatre
October 18, 2026 – St. Louis, MO – The Factory
October 19, 2026 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
October 20, 2026 – Mobile, AL – Saenger Theatre
October 22, 2026 – Brandon, MS – City Hall Live
October 23, 2026 – Huntsville, AL – VBC Mark C. Smith Concert Hall
October 24, 2026 – Atlanta, GA – Fox Theatre
October 25, 2026 – Greensboro, NC – Steven Tanger Center for Performing Arts
October 27, 2026 – Charlotte, NC – Ovens Auditorium
October 28, 2026 – North Charleston, SC – North Charleston Performing Arts Center
October 29, 2026 – Jacksonville, FL – Florida Theatre
October 30, 2026 – St. Petersburg, FL – Duke Energy Center for the Arts - Mahaffey Theater
October 31, 2026 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – Broward Center for the Performing Arts - Au Rene Theater
November 1, 2026 – Orlando, FL – Walt Disney Theater at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
February 17, 2027 – Glasgow, UK – Royal Concert Hall
February 18, 2027 – Edinburgh, UK – Usher Hall
February 19, 2027 – Manchester, UK – Bridgewater Hall
February 20, 2027 – Birmingham, UK – Symphony Hall

For more information, tour dates, and tickets, visit www.sonicliveinconcert.com.

Columbus Symphony Reveals Senior Leadership Additions

Tue, 26 May 2026 13:45:11 PST

As the Columbus Symphony Orchestra celebrates its 75th Anniversary season, it welcomes two new members to its senior leadership team. Jonathan Parish joins as Vice President of Artistic Planning & Programs, and Jacob Pope-McEntire has been appointed General Manager, setting the stage for a new chapter of inspiring leadership as the organization continues to deepen its commitment to building community through music.

As Vice President of Artistic Planning & Programs, Jonathan Parrish manages areas of artistic administration including planning season programming with Music Director Rossen Milanov, Principal Pops Conductor Stuart Chafetz, Chorus Director Stephen Caracciolo, and Assistant Conductor Elias Miller. Parrish will manage relationships and contracts with world-class guest artists and their management, ensuring that the Columbus Symphony will continue to attract top-notch talent from across the nation and around the globe. He’ll also oversee the Symphony’s Education Department, which serves thousands of children and families annually through the Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestras, the intensive Academy program for student musicians, in-school performances, Young People’s Concerts, and more.

With more than 20 years’ experience in arts management, Parrish most recently served as Vice President of Artistic and Orchestra Operations for the Buffalo Philharmonic, and previously held roles at the Maryland Symphony Orchestra, Hawaii Symphony, and Chamber Music Hawaii. Additionally, with over two decades’ experience as a professional horn player, Parrish has performed with the Washington National Opera, Washington Symphonic Brass, Harrisburg Symphony, and much more, including several Broadway national tours. He is a graduate of the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University and James Madison University.

As General Manager, Pope-McEntire will be responsible for behind-the-scenes logistics, ensuring that the talented musicians of the Columbus Symphony have what they need to perform at the highest level of professionalism and artistry. He will oversee operations including stage management, community engagement, personnel, and the music library, and will work with the Central Ohio Federation of Musicians, Local 103 of the American Federation of Musicians to support a collaborative and productive partnership.

Pope-McEntire joined the Columbus Symphony after previously serving as Executive Director of Chamber Orchestra of the Springs in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with additional experience at the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps. A percussionist and conductor, he has completed the League of American Orchestras Certificate in Essentials of Orchestra Management course, and holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Northwestern University and master’s degree from the University of British Columbia.

WINNIE THE POOH KIDS to Be Presented by Avalon Arts Academy in Marysville

Fri, 22 May 2026 12:48:49 PST

The Avalon Arts Academy will present Disney's Winnie The Pooh Kids, a heartwarming musical adventure featuring the beloved characters from the Hundred Acre Wood. Performances will take place Friday, May 29, at 7:00 PM, Saturday, May 30, at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM, and Sunday, May 31, at 2:00 PM.

Let The Avalon Theatre welcome you to the Hundred Acre Wood, where Winnie the Pooh is once again in search of honey. Along the way, he reunites with his friends Tigger, Piglet, Rabbit, and Owl, only to discover that Christopher Robin has been captured by the mysterious Backson. As the friends organize a rescue mission, they learn valuable lessons about teamwork, friendship, and, of course, sharing snacks.

Disney's WINNIE THE POOH KIDS features music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman, Robert Lopez, and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, additional music & lyrics by Will Van Dyke, with book and additional lyrics by Cheryl Davis. The musical is based on the stories of A.A. Milne and the 2011 Disney animated feature film.

The Avalon Arts Academy production stars Emily Moore and Marshall Potts who are double-cast in the roles of Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin. Additional cast members include Rosalie Anderson, Max Benge, Cate Carter, Melody Craft, Penny Conley, Lucy Cunningham, Tobin Ford, Claire Hamilton, Adeline May, Brynn Parks, Rae Priday, Harper Priday, and Evelyn Reiss. All cast members are students of the Avalon Arts Academy.

The Avalon Arts Academy is dedicated to introducing youth to every aspect of live theatre through a variety of performing arts disciplines, helping students build confidence, creativity, and teamwork skills through the magic of the stage. The Avalon Arts Academy introduces youth to the experience of live theatre by expanding their knowledge of the craft through various disciplines.

Winne the Pooh, Kids is a culmination of The Avalon Arts Academy's Spring 2026 semester. The Avalon Arts Academy operates with the goal of teaching arts education in a larger group class setting. Class is open for kids ages 8 to 15, and focuses on Improv, Acting, Musical Theatre Voice, and Theatrical Movement, culminating in a final performance. Registration for the next semester of the Avalon Arts Academy will open Saturday, May 30, 2026. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 13 and under.

Vitamin String Quartet and Girl Named Tom to Perform at The Southern Theatre

Fri, 22 May 2026 10:59:45 PST

Pop-culture-inspired instrumentalists Vitamin String Quartet's “Crazy Ordinary World” Tour with vocal trio Girl Named Tom, are bringing their arrangements across the U.S. this fall, with a stop at the Southern Theatre.

CAPA welcomes the tour to the Southern Theatre Tuesday, October 20, at 7:30 pm. Tickets, which start at $44, go on sale at 10 am Friday, May 22, and may be purchased at the CAPA Ticket Center at the Ohio Theatre.

Vitamin String Quartet have shared their classical take on SZA's “Snooze,” which arrives with a live performance video. It's the latest offering from their forthcoming album VSQ Performs SZA, out June 12 via CMH Label Group/Vitamin Records. Featuring hits from the R&B juggernaut's catalog – including “Kill Bill,” “Saturn,” and “Nobody Gets Me,” the upcoming collection offers 13 string renditions that translate SZA's emotionally rich songs into a vibe-forward, cinematic string masterpiece.

VSQ has over 2 billion streams and over 1 million physical units sold. The quartet is fresh off high-profile placements in season four of the Netflix and Shondaland original hit series Bridgerton, which featured their iconic reimaginings of Teddy Swims' “Lose Control,” Coldplay's “Life In Technicolor,” Third Eye Blind's “Never Let You Go” and Paramore's “All I Wanted.” They've performed some of their beloved renditions for The TODAY Show, Jam In The Van and FLOOD Magazine.

Across over 300 releases, Vitamin String Quartet have produced cutting-edge string renditions of a highly eclectic mix of artists, erasing boundaries between classical, dance, hip-hop, rock, and pop. From Lil Nas X to Björk, Studio Ghibli to My Chemical Romance, VSQ approaches their renditions with respect and care, breathing new life into music they already love.

The group has recently been on a prolific creative streak, releasing their vinyl-only compilation VSQ Performs The Weeknd earlier this year, and 2025 releases include VSQ Performs KPop Demon Hunters, VSQ Performs Billie Eilish, VSQ Performs BLACKPINK, VSQ Performs the Hits of 2025, and VSQ Performs Frank Ocean. To date, VSQ has had 11 Billboard charting albums, with their 2024 release VSQ Performs Taylor Swift hitting #1 on both the Classical and Classical Crossover charts.

Siblings Bekah, Caleb, and Joshua Liechty grew up making music together but officially formed Girl Named Tom in 2019, hitting the road with a self-funded tour and their debut EP, Another World. Their tight harmonies and heartfelt songwriting captivated audiences, leading them to make history as the only group to win NBC's The Voice.

Since then, the trio has sold over 100,000 tickets across 40 states, headlined nationwide tours, and performed at the Grand Ole Opry, the Indianapolis 500, and on The Ellen Show. They've shared the stage with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Kelsea Ballerini, Lady A, and Pentatonix, but their Signature Sound remains unmistakably their own—fusing folk, pop, and sibling magic to create music that moves the soul.

Girl Named Tom's latest album, Dust to Dust, rose into the Top 10 of the iTunes charts, propelling the trio to an All-Star appearance on The Voice, The Kelly Clarkson Show, and a nationwide tour.

ProMusica Chamber Orchestra's OUTDOOR SUMMER MUSIC SERIES to Return With Free Concerts

Wed, 20 May 2026 22:28:18 PST

ProMusica Chamber Orchestra's popular family-friendly outdoor summer concerts will continue this year on Aug. 13, 14, and 15. The Summer Music Series will kick off at Columbus' Near East Side's Franklin Park Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. New this year, the Orchestra will perform at Gahanna's Headley Park, presented by the Gahanna Arts Council as part of their summer concert series.

For more than 10 years, the summer concerts have been a Columbus summertime staple, showcasing the world-class chamber orchestra's musicians in relaxed outdoor settings. Led by Music Director David Danzmayr, this year, two of ProMusica's principal musicians will be featured as soloists: Principal Flutist Nadine Hur will perform Mozart's Flute Concerto No. 1, and Principal Trumpet Justin Kohan will perform Haydn's Trumpet Concerto in E-Flat Major.

The first two concerts will take place at the Franklin Park Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, 1777 E. Broad St., on Thursday, Aug. 13, at 8:00 p.m. and Friday, Aug. 14, at 8:00 p.m. with children's activities beginning one hour prior. The final concert will be performed at Gahanna's Headley Park, 1031 Callis Springs Dr., on Saturday, Aug. 15, at 7:00 p.m.

“Since 2012, we have welcomed thousands of guests to attend our free Summer Music Series concerts at Franklin Park Conservatory and in neighborhood outdoor venues,” said Janet Chen, CEO of ProMusica. “The series, since its inception, has aimed to provide free concerts for all in the community to enjoy. It's a great place to pack a picnic, bring your lawn chairs, and invite the whole family and friends to experience exceptional musicians in your own backyard.”

PROGRAMS:

A Classical Evening

Thursday, Aug.13 | 8:00 p.m. | Franklin Park Conservatory (1777 E. Broad St., Columbus) | FREE
Saturday, Aug. 15 | 7:00 p.m. | Headley Park (1031 Callis Springs Dr., Gahanna) | $15

Nadine Hur, flute

David Danzmayr, conductor

CuongNext Week's Trees
Mozart: Flute Concerto No. 1 in G Major
Schubert: Symphony No. 2

A Little Night Music

Friday, Aug.14 | 8:00 p.m. | Franklin Park Conservatory (1777 E. Broad St., Columbus) | FREE

Justin Kohan, trumpet

David Danzmayr, conductor

Nielsen: Petite Suite
Haydn: Trumpet Concerto in E-Flat Major
Walker: Lyric for Strings
Mozart: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik

TICKET INFORMATION

The Summer Music Series concerts at the Franklin Park Conservatory will be free of charge. For Gahanna's Headley Park, tickets are now on sale for $15 for adults and $5 for students through the Gahanna Arts Council via Eventbrite. Patrons are welcome to bring lawn chairs, blankets, and picnics.

For the concerts at Franklin Park Conservatory, VIP packages will be available at a later date at www.promusicacolumbus.org.

ProMusica's Outdoor Summer Concert Series to Return in August

Wed, 20 May 2026 12:46:26 PST

ProMusica Chamber Orchestra’s family-friendly outdoor summer concerts will continue this year on Aug. 13, 14, and 15. The Summer Music Series will kick off at Columbus’ Near East Side’s Franklin Park Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. New this year, the Orchestra will perform at Gahanna’s Headley Park, presented by the Gahanna Arts Council as part of their summer concert series.

For more than 10 years, the summer concerts have been a Columbus summertime staple, showcasing the world-class chamber orchestra’s musicians in relaxed outdoor settings. Led by Music Director David Danzmayr, this year, two of ProMusica’s principal musicians will be featured as soloists: Principal Flutist Nadine Hur will perform Mozart’s Flute Concerto No. 1, and Principal Trumpet Justin Kohan will perform Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto in E-Flat Major.

The first two concerts will take place at the Franklin Park Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, 1777 E. Broad St., on Thursday, Aug. 13, at 8:00 p.m. and Friday, Aug. 14, at 8:00 p.m. with children’s activities beginning one hour prior. The final concert will be performed at Gahanna’s Headley Park, 1031 Callis Springs Dr., on Saturday, Aug. 15, at 7:00 p.m.

PROGRAMS:

A Classical Evening

Cuong           Next Week’s Trees
Mozart           Flute Concerto No. 1 in G Major
Schubert       Symphony No. 2

A Little Night Music

Friday, Aug.14 | 8:00 p.m. | Franklin Park Conservatory (1777 E. Broad St., Columbus) | FREE
Justin Kohan, trumpet
David Danzmayr, conductor
- MORE -

Nielsen        Petite Suite
Haydn           Trumpet Concerto in E-Flat Major
Walker           Lyric for Strings
Mozart           Eine Kleine Nachtmusik

TICKET INFORMATION

The Summer Music Series concerts at the Franklin Park Conservatory will be free of charge. For Gahanna’s Headley Park, tickets are now on sale for $15 for adults and $5 for students through the Gahanna Arts Council via Eventbrite. Patrons are welcome to bring lawn chairs, blankets, and picnics.

For the concerts at Franklin Park Conservatory, VIP packages will be available at a later date at www.promusicacolumbus.org.

Photos: First look at Imagine Productions’ FUN HOME

Wed, 20 May 2026 12:13:59 PST

When her father dies unexpectedly, graphic novelist Alison dives deep into her past to tell the story of the volatile, brilliant, one-of-a-kind man whose temperament and secrets defined her family and her life. Moving between past and present, Alison relives her unique childhood playing at the family’s Bechdel Funeral Home, her growing understanding of her own sexuality, and the looming, unanswerable questions about her father’s hidden desires. Fun Home is a refreshingly honest, wholly original musical about seeing your parents through grown-up eyes.

Book by Lisa Kron. Music by Jeanine Teson, Lyrics by Lisa Kron. Director - Dr. Lisa Cravens-Brown, Music Director - Nathan Stanley. CAST: Alison - Jesika Lehner, Small Alison - Isla Streeter, Medium Alison - Kaitlin Ingram, Bruce - Jay Rittberger, Helen - Aleksa Kaups, John - Xander Steele, Christian - Giavonna Jennings, Joan - Norah McGann, Roy/Pete/ Mark/ Bobby Jeremy - Jace Crouse.

Performances run May 22, 23, 29 & 30 @ 7:30pm and May 24 & 31 @ 2pm at Columbus Performing Arts Center, Van Fleet Theatre, 549 Franklin Ave, Columbus, Ohio 43125. For tickets or more information, visit: https://www.imaginecolumbus.org/fun-home.html

Check out the first look below!

Photo Credit: Jerri Shafer

THE NOTEBOOK North American Tour Adds 26 Cities to 2026-27 Route

Tue, 19 May 2026 08:13:15 PST

The North American Tour of THE NOTEBOOK hasannounced engagements for the 2026-27 season, adding 26 cites to the previously announced route, including stops in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, and Houston. The tour began performances on September 6, 2025, at Playhouse Square in Cleveland, Ohio, and has welcomed over 500,000 patrons to date.

Read the reviews for the touring production of The Notebook.

Allie and Noah, two people from different worlds, share a lifetime of love despite the forces that threaten to pull them apart in a deeply moving portrait of the enduring power of love. Based on the book that has sold millions of copies worldwide and a film that is one of the highest-grossing romantic dramas of all-time, the musical adaptation of THE NOTEBOOK played Broadway at the Schoenfeld Theatre from March 2024 to December 2024 following a critically acclaimed world premiere engagement at Chicago Shakespeare Theater in the fall of 2022.

THE NOTEBOOK features music and lyrics by multi-platinum singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson and a book by playwright Bekah Brunstetter (writer and producer on NBC's “This Is Us,” The Cake). The production is directed by Michael Greif (Dear Evan Hansen, Next to Normal, RENT) and Schele Williams (Aida, The Wiz), with choreography by Katie Spelman (Associate Choreographer on Moulin Rouge! The Musical).

The creative team for the tour includes scenic design by David Zinn and Brett J. Banakis, costume design by Paloma Young, lighting design by Ben Stanton, sound design by Nevin Steinberg, hair and wig design by Mia Neal, and projection design by Lucy Mackinnon. The production's music supervisor is Carmel Dean, who also collaborated on arrangements with Ingrid Michaelson and on orchestrations with John Clancy, and the music director is Tina Faye. Casting by The Telsey Office, Patrick Goodwin, CSA.

The production was recognized with three 2024 Tony Award nominations (Best Book of a Musical, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical), Drama League Award nominations for Outstanding Production of a Musical, two Distinguished Performance Awards and the Founders Award for Excellence in Directing, Drama Desk Award nominations for Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical, and an Outer Critics Circle Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical.

2026-2027 Tour Dates:

Detroit, MI — Fisher Theatre
September 22 – October 4, 2026

Dayton, OH — Schuster Center
October 6 – 11, 2026

Grand Rapids, MI — DeVos Performance Hall
October 13 – 18, 2026

East Lansing, MI — Wharton Center
October 27 – November 1, 2026

Richmond, VA — Altria Theater
November 3 – 8, 2026

Pittsburgh, PA — Benedum Center
November 10 – 15, 2026

Schenectady, NY — Proctors
December 1 – 6, 2026

Boston, MA — Emerson Colonial Theatre
December 8 – 20, 2026

Oklahoma City, OK — Civic Center Music Hall
December 29, 2026 – January 3, 2027

Houston, TX — Hobby Center
January 5 – 10, 2027

Dallas, TX — Winspear Opera House
January 12 – 24, 2027

New Orleans, LA — Saenger Theatre
January 26 – 31, 2027

Hershey, PA — Hershey Theatre
February 3 – 7, 2027

Providence, RI — PPAC
February 9 – 14, 2027

Rochester, NY — Auditorium Theatre
February 16 – 21, 2027

Fayetteville, AR — Walton Arts Center
February 24 – 28, 2027

Huntsville, AL — Von Braun Center
March 2 – 7, 2027

Ft. Lauderdale, FL — Broward Center
March 9 – 14, 2027

Ft. Myers, FL — Barbara B. Mann Hall
March 16 – 21, 2027

Naples, FL — Artis—Naples
March 23 – 28, 2027

North Charleston, SC — North Charleston PAC
March 30 – April 4, 2027

Birmingham, AL — BJCC Concert Hall
April 6 – 11, 2027

Atlanta, GA — Fox Theatre
April 13 – 18, 2027

Tucson, AZ — Centennial Hall
April 27 – May 2, 2027

San Jose, CA — Center for the Performing Arts
May 4 – 9, 2027

Sacramento, CA — SAFE Credit Union PAC
May 11 – 16, 2027

Review: HADESTOWN at Ohio Theatre

Mon, 18 May 2026 14:16:40 PST

HADESTOWN will always have a special place in the heart of Ohio Theatre patrons. On Nov. 16, 2021, the musical was the first production in the historic theatre after the COVID epidemic dimmed the lights there for nearly a year and a half. The theatre staff laid roses on every seat to signal Broadway had returned to its stage.

There were no roses when it returned this time and its stop in Columbus (four shows between May 15-17) was far too brief. But the Anais Mitchell-penned musical still packs an emotional punch.

Hermes (the irrepressible Rudy Foster) guides the audience through this Grecian folk opera. (For those who have forgotten your mythology, you may want to take notes.)

Orpheus (played by Ty Shay for the May 15 performance for Jose Contreras), meets and falls hard for Eurydice (Hawa Kamara) in a train station to the Underworld. A full-time poet and dreamer, Orpheus can’t provide for Eurydice while he composes his masterpiece.

Hades (Nickolaus Colon) and Persephone (Namisa Mdlalose Bizana) are quite the opposite. Their marriage has grown so strained that Persephone can tolerate the Underworld for only half the year. Hades lures Eurydice to join him in hell with the promise of food. Once she’s there, she can’t come back.

For all its warmth and musical exuberance, HADESTOWN never stops warning the audience where the story is headed. Don’t let the cheery, upbeat soundtrack fool you. Even in the energetic opening number, “The Road to Hell,” Hermes warns the audience numerous times, “It's a sad tale, it’s a tragedy, it’s a sad song.”

Yet because of its spirited performances, beautiful orchestration, and moving script, it’s easy to forget that.

One of the things that makes HADESTOWN work is the variation of voices. While Shay has a light, ethereal voice, Colon’s cavernous bass freezes souls. His gravelly delivery of “Why We Build the Wall” shook the walls of the Ohio Theatre. Foster adjusts his acting and vocals to match the mood.

Kamara gives Eurydice a true character arc, going from reluctance (“Come Away With Me”) to rapture (“All I’ve Ever Known”) to regret (“Flowers”). As Persephone, Bizana is the perfect complement to Hades, with a life of the party delivery of “Livin’ It Up On Top.”

As the Fates, Gia Keddy, Miriam Navarrete, and Jayna Wescoatt are ambiguous figures in the show. They are neither purely good nor darkly evil, but dwell somewhere in between.

HADESTOWN uses a jazz club atmosphere where the musicians are on the stage and interacting with the audience. Musical Contractor Keith Levenson puts together a seven-piece orchestra that rides the waves of the jazzy score. Haik Demirchian’s trombone often drives the action.

With its dramatic use of lights, the musical has the illusion of two separate sets. Brightly colored gels are used to illuminate the world above ground. The Underworld is painted in a shade of industrial gray as Hades workers toil away in dreary tasks.

Mitchell’s script weaves together memorable characters the audience wants to see succeed with darker ones without making them black-hat, wax-mustached villains. Some Broadway classics are carried by one or two memorable pieces. HADESTOWN includes songs that stick with you long after the curtain falls – “Road to Hell,” “Wait for Me,” “Why We Build the Wall,” and “Living It Up On Top” – and spreads them evenly among the primary players.

Despite Hermes’ repeated warnings, first-time viewers expect a happy ending but instead they are hit in the stomach with a gut-churning ending. In the AA section of the theatre, a patron released an anguished cry of “nooooooooooooo” when she saw it unfolding.

Those who had seen it before knew it was coming but still flinched. Perhaps if they didn’t have the thorns, roses wouldn’t smell as sweet.

Photo Courtesy Allied Global Marketing

DEATH BECOMES HER Sets Closing Date

Mon, 18 May 2026 11:00:20 PST

BroadwayWorld has just learned that the Tony Award winning and Grammy Award nominated musical, and the most nominated production of the 2024/2025 Broadway season, DEATH BECOMES HER, will conclude its Broadway run on Sunday, June 28, 2026 after 20 months, over 650 performances and 900,000 tickets sold at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.

Lowe Cunningham, SVP, Head of Creative & Strategy, Universal Theatrical Group said today on behalf of the producers, “Bringing Death Becomes Her to Broadway has been an incredible joy, and we are immensely proud of every artist, musician, crew member, and individual who helped make this show what it is. Night after night, it has been a thrill to watch audiences come together to laugh, celebrate, and embrace the wildly entertaining spirit of this production. We are deeply proud of what this show has brought into the world, and we are excited for its life to continue as it tours across the U.S. and beyond in the years ahead.”

DEATH BECOMES HER will launch a multi-year North American tour this September at Playhouse Square in Cleveland, OH.

DEATH BECOMES HER North American tour schedule:

CLEVELAND, OH 9/12/2026 10/3/2026 Playhouse Square
COLUMBUS, OH 10/6/2026 10/11/2026 Ohio Theatre
ST. LOUIS, MO 10/13/2026 10/25/2026 The Fabulous Fox
OMAHA, NE 10/27/2026 11/1/2026 Orpheum Theatre
NASHVILLE, TN 11/3/2026 11/8/2026 TPAC
DURHAM, NC 11/10/2026 11/15/2026 DPAC
ATLANTA, GA 11/17/2026 11/22/2026 The Fox Theatre
KNOXVILLE, TN 11/24/2026 11/29/2026 Tennessee Theatre
ORLANDO, FL 12/1/2026 12/6/2026 Dr. Phillips Center
TAMPA, FL 12/8/2026 12/13/2026 Straz
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 12/15/2026 12/27/2026 Broward Center for the Performing Arts
NAPLES, FL 12/29/2026 1/3/2027 Artis-Naples
GREENSBORO, NC 1/5/2027 1/10/2027 The Tanger Center
BOSTON, MA 1/12/2027 1/24/2027 Citizens Bank Opera House
PROVIDENCE, RI 1/26/2027 1/31/2027 Providence Performing Arts Center
BALTIMORE, MD 2/2/2027 2/7/2027 The Hippodrome Theatre
CHARLOTTE, NC 2/9/2027 2/14/2027 Blumenthal | Belk Theater
BUFFALO, NY 2/16/2027 2/21/2027 Shea's Performing Arts Center
PITTSBURGH, PA 2/23/2027 2/28/2027 Benedum Center
GRAND RAPIDS, MI 3/2/2027 3/7/2027 DeVos Performance Hall
LOUISVILLE, KY 3/9/2027 3/14/2027 Overture Center
MADISON, WI 3/16/2027 3/21/2027 Overture Hall
DETROIT, MI 3/23/2027 4/4/2027 Detroit Opera House
TULSA, OK 4/6/2027 4/11/2027 Tulsa Performing Arts Center
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 4/13/2027 4/18/2027 Civic Center Music Hall
HOUSTON, TX 4/20/2027 4/25/2027 The Hobby Center
AUSTIN, TX 4/27/2027 5/2/2027 Bass Concert Hall
SAN ANTONIO, TX 5/4/2027 5/9/2027 Majestic Theatre
DALLAS, TX 5/11/2027 5/23/2027 Music Hall at Fair Park
DENVER, CO 5/25/2027 6/6/2027 Buell Theatre
SAN FRANCSISCO, CA 6/9/2027 6/27/2027 Orpheum Theatre
LOS ANGELES, CA 7/6/2027 7/25/2027 Hollywood Pantages Theatre
COSTA MESA, CA 7/27/2027 8/8/2027 Segerstrom Center for the Arts
SAN DIEGO, CA 8/10/2027 8/15/2027 San Diego Civic Theatre
TEMPE, AZ 8/24/2027 8/29/2027 ASU Gammage
SACRAMENTO, CA 9/1/2027 9/5/2027 SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center

For more information on the tour, visit https://deathbecomesher.com/tour/.

Death Becomes her opened at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on November 21, 2025. Check out what the critics had to say.

Death Becomes Her at the box office.

DEATH BECOMES HER was the most nominated show of the 2024-2025 Season with 34 total nominations, including: 12 Outer Critics’ Circle Award Nominations, Five Drama Desk Award Nominations, Four Drama Leage Award Nominations, Two Chita Rivera Award Nominations, 10 Tony Award Nominations, and One GRAMMY Award Nomination for “Best Musical Theater Album.”

DEATH BECOMES HER became a viral sensation on social media following the release of the Original Broadway Cast Recording, which has been streamed over 34 million times in North America and 16 million times elsewhere worldwide. A clip of Tony Nominee Jennifer Simard performing the album’s 16th track, “Hit Me,” went viral on TikTok—peaking at #2 on the TikTok Viral Chart and #13 on the TikTok 50 Chart—with 491,000 creator uses and over 2.7 billion total views to date. The track “Let’s Run Away Together” has also gained traction on the platform, inspiring over 10,000 videos using its audio.

The cast and creative team of DEATH BECOMES HER made over 30 national television appearances during the Broadway run, completing interviews and musical performances on such programs as NBC’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, CBS’s Tony Awards, NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, NBC’s TODAY (Four musical performances and multiple interview segments), CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live, ABC’s Good Morning America, NBC’s The Kelly Clarkson Show, Fox’s SHERRI, Bravo TV’s Watch What Happens Live, ABC’s Nightline, NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers, and more.

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DEATH BECOMES HER features direction and choreography by Tony Award winner Christopher Gattelli, a book by Tony Award Nominee Marco Pennette, and an original score by Tony Award Nominees Julia Mattison and Noel Carey, and stars Tony Award nominees Betsy Wolfe (Madeline Ashton), Tony Award Nominee Jennifer Simard (Helen Sharp), Tony Award Nominee Christopher Sieber (Ernest Menville), and Grammy® Award winner Michelle Williams (Violet Van Horn) with Taurean Everett (Chagall) and Josh Lamon (Stefan). The cast also features Marija Abney, Kate Bailey, Sarita Colón, Alexa DeBaar, Brayden Newby, Ximone Rose, Jonalyn Saxer, Bethany Ann Tesarck, Mitch Tobin, Sir Brock Warren, Bud Weber, Ryan Worsing, David Wright Jr., Warren Yang, Ayla Ciccone-Burton, Kristine Covillo, Alex Hartman, Lakota Knuckle, McKinley Knuckle, Justin O’Brien, Preston Perez, Amy Quanbeck, and Dee Roscioli.

DEATH BECOMES HER features scenic design by two-time Tony Award winner Derek McLane, costume design by Tony Award winner Paul Tazewell, lighting design by Tony Award winner Justin Townsend, sound design by Tony Award winner Peter Hylenski, hair and wig design by two-time Drama Desk Award winner Charles G. LaPointe, make-up design by Joe Dulude II, fight direction by Drama Desk Award winner Cha Ramos, with music supervision by Drama Desk Award winner Mary-Mitchell Campbell, orchestrations by three-time Tony Award winner Doug Besterman, music direction by Mary-Mitchell Campbell, dance & music arrangements by Tony Award nominee Sam Davis, vocal arrangements by Mary-Mitchell Campbell, Julia Mattison & Noel Carey, music coordination by Kristy Norter, casting by Tara Rubin Casting, production stage management by Rachel Sterner, and general management by 321 Theatrical Management. Marcia Goldberg serves as Executive Producer.

Madeline Ashton is the most beautiful actress (just ask her) ever to grace the stage and screen. Helen Sharp is the long suffering author (just ask her) who lives in her shadow. They have always been the best of frenemies… until Madeline steals Helen’s fiancé away. As Helen plots revenge and Madeline clings to her rapidly fading star, their world is suddenly turned upside down by Viola Van Horn, a mysterious woman with a secret that’s to die for. After one sip of Viola’s magical potion, Madeline and Helen begin a new era of life (and death) with their youth and beauty restored…and a grudge to last eternity. Life’s a bitch and then you die. Or not!

Review: PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE at Short North Stage

Sun, 17 May 2026 16:46:16 PST

Jessica Leigh Barrett, a star on Season 10 of the reality show Love Is Blind, turned out to be the perfect celebrity speller for the Short North Stage production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

The musical comedy invited Barrett and three co members of the audience to serve as spellers for the May 14 performance at the Garden Theatre. After breezing through a pair of easy words, Barrett unexpectedly spelled the elimination word correctly, forcing the cast to scramble for a tougher challenge before she finally bowed out.

“This was such fun,” said Barrett, a Columbus resident and an infectious disease specialist. “I didn’t know any of the words beforehand. They just gave them to me. The best part was I didn’t have to wait until the end of the season to find out if people liked me.”

Barrett was the first of many celebrity spellers for the show’s run from May 13–June 7, including drag queen Nina West and Columbus arts fixture Tom Katzenmayer during the first weekend. Rachel Sheinkin’s witty book and William Finn’s tongue-twisting score read almost like a parody of a reality television show that follows six quirky contestants on their journey through a spelling bee. Beneath the offbeat humor, however, THE BEE reveals a surprising amount of heart.

Naturally at the epicenter of the show are the six competitors: William Barfee (a delightful turn by Dashawn McClinton), Olive Ostrovsky (Shelby Zimmerman), Marcy Park (Charlotte Kunesh), Charlito “Chip” Tolentino (Lincoln Skojen), Logainne “Schwartzy” Schwartzandgrubenierre (Sarah Chelli), and Leaf Coneybear (Jonathan Strombres).

This cast is asked to manifest enough peculiarities to fill a Carl Jung textbook. Barfee uses his “magic foot” to spell out words while Ostrovsky holds a hand in front of her face to envision responses. Coneybear sways nervously and seems hopelessly unfocused before this demonic, gravelly voice escapes his mouth with the correct answer.

The comedy goes beyond the spelling quirks. Schwartzandgrubenierre maintains this wide-eyed look of terror as she tries to live up to the expectations of her two dads. In “I Speak Six Languages,” Park rattles off the pressure she puts on herself to excel at everything — spelling, field hockey, rhythmic gymnastics — until Jesus himself tells her it’s okay to fail. And then there’s Tolentino, the defending champion whose spelling prowess is derailed by his personal “excitement” and his attempts to conceal it. (For further information, see Sigmund Freud.)

There’s an inherent danger in casting a 20- or 30-something to play an elementary school student. These six actors recreate this period in life with such ease that you forget a 6-foot-5 actor is playing a middle school student or that the person playing a 10-year-old has a bachelor’s degree.

The odd behavior extends to the “responsible” adults overseeing the competition. Realtor/former Bee champion Rona Lisa Peretti (Dionysia Williams-Velazco), angst-riddled Vice Principal Doug Panch (Stanley Bahorek), and comfort counselor/apple juice box provider Mitch Mahoney (Chris Carranza) serve as moderators but often create more chaos than they control.

Part of the pandemonium is scripted, but often the improvised bits provide the show’s funniest moments. One of the best examples on May 14 was Tolentino’s second-act-opening serenade of My Unfortunate Erection to a senior member of the audience. The script provides moments of inspired goofiness. The introductions to the audience participants in THE BEE are ad-libbed, as are Schwartzandgrubenierre’s political diatribes. Bahorek deadpans the uses of the word in question in a sentence, with the results being droll, unhelpful, and hilarious.

Even the vocabulary is tailor-made for the celebrity spellers. For example, Barrett was given the word “Pilates,” a reference to the profession of Chris, her would-be paramour, and “xerophthalmia,” a medical condition in which the eye becomes dry because of a vitamin deficiency, resulting in blindness. (Love Is Blind, get it?) She nailed both, forcing Panch to give her what seemed to be a 13-syllable, 72-letter word, which led to her exit.

There are two minor knocks on The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. The first is that each speller gives such memorable performances it’s hard to see them get eliminated. Secondly, outside of “I Speak Six Languages,” most of the show’s tunes are immediately lost outside the context of the show. You won’t find yourself humming “The Prayer of the Comfort Counselor” or “I'm Not That Smart” on the way home. (“Singing My Unfortunate Erection” in Kroger might land you on another reality show, TO CATCH A PREDATOR.)

Outside of those “flaws,” this SNS production is l-u-d-i-c-r-o-u-s, m-a-d-c-a-p fun.

SPELLING BEE succeeds because it feels slightly out of control while remaining rooted in reality. Every performance becomes its own strange little event — part musical, part improv show, part adolescent nightmare.

Photo credit: Kyle Long Photography

Photos: The Diary Of Anne Frank Takes The Avalon Theatre Stage

Sun, 17 May 2026 14:19:38 PST

Avalon Productions is presenting The Diary of Anne Frank adapted by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett.

With a cast of ten regional actors, led by Lucy Wilson, this live experience is one you won't want to miss. Tim Allen [Mr. Kraler], Jim Arter [Mr. Van Daan], Paula Arter [Mrs. Van Daan], Sammi Berniger [Miep], Randy Benge [Otto Frank], Bronson Buck [Peter], Kenzi Jackson [Margot Frank], Thomas Smith [Mr. Dussel], and Susan Bunsold-Wilson [Edith Frank] round out the cast.

Based on the real-life writings of a young Jewish girl during World War II, The Diary of Anne Frank offers an intimate portrayal of a family forced into hiding to escape Nazi persecution. For nearly two years, Anne Frank, along with her parents, sister, and the Van Daan family, lived in a concealed annex above her father's former office in Amsterdam, as countless others were deported to concentration camps.

Performance Schedule:

Friday, May 15, 2026: 7:00 PM
Saturday, May 16, 2026: 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM
Sunday, May 17, 2026: 2:00 PM

Ticket Information:
Tickets are available for purchase online at the Avalon Theatre website or at the box office.
Adults: $20 / Children (Ages 13 and under): $10

Lucy Wilson

Jim Arter, Lucy WIlson

Lucy Wilson, Kenzi Jackson, Susan Bunsold Wilson

Paula Arter, Randy Benge, Jim Arter

Bronson Buck, Lucy Wilson

Randy Benge, Lucy Wilson, Kenzi Jackson, Susan Bunsold Wilson

Lucy Wilson, Randy Benge

Photos: First look at New Albany High School Theatre Department’s MEN ON BOATS

Sat, 16 May 2026 09:14:09 PST

In 1869, ten explorers set off to chart the Green and Colorado Rivers, under the guidance of John Wesley Powell, a one-armed Civil War Veteran and personal friend of President Grant, a government-sanctioned journey following in the footsteps of the deserters, lone adventurers, and countless indigenous people who have previously braved the wild rapids leading through Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico, and through the most dangerous waterway of all: the Grand Canyon. Along the way they make friends, they get on each other’s nerves, they suffer loss of boat and supplies, they doubt, struggle, and name mountains after themselves, they posture and pretend, they quit while they’re ahead, and they repeatedly brave dangerous rapids to reach the other side. As boats capsize and supplies are lost, as belts tighten and nerves fray, the company draws together as a band of brothers.

NA Theatre presents #MenOnBoats this weekend in the Mini Theatre. For more info, visit https://www.facebook.com/NewAlbanyTheatreBoosters

Next up is the 5th Annual Shakespeare Under the Stars production, Return to the Forbidden Planet. Often billed as "Shakespeare's forgotten rock and roll masterpiece", Return to the Forbidden Planet is a jukebox musical by Bob Carlton based on the 1956 science fiction film Forbidden Planet, which, in turn, is loosely based on Shakespeare's play The Tempest. The show features a score of 1950s and 1960s rock and roll classics and dialogue largely adapted from well-known passages from Shakespeare.

Return to the Forbidden Planet. Which will run July 31 & August 1 at the McCoy Center for the Arts and August 2 at the Hinson Amphitheater. For more info, visit https://www.facebook.com/NewAlbanyTheatreBoosters

Check out the first look below!

Photo Credit: Jerri Shafer

CAPA Receives Naming Gift for Wrightsel Music Hall in Columbus

Thu, 14 May 2026 12:56:41 PST

The Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA) has revealed that, thanks to a generous foundational gift from the Wrightsel Family Foundation, the venue that will open in the renovated Central Presbyterian Church will be named Wrightsel Music Hall.

Located at 132 South Third Street, the landmark building—constructed in 1859 and one of the oldest in downtown Columbus—will be reimagined as a vibrant, state-of-the-art community arts space designed to meet the region's growing demand for mid-sized performance venues.

The project has reached a pivotal stage, with demolition work scheduled to begin later this month (May 2026). CAPA anticipates welcoming the public to the new space by fall 2027, providing a premier destination for music and community engagement.

As construction commences, CAPA continues to seek funding in support of the project. The organization extends its deepest gratitude to the donors who have championed this endeavor thus far. To date, the project has received gifts from more than 250 families, corporations, foundations, and government donors.

For further details on CAPA and the Wrightsel Music Hall project, please visit www.capa.com.

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Photos: First look at King Avenue Players’ PERFECT ARRANGEMENT

Review: FLANNEL: A 90S MUSICAL at Shadowbox Live!

A DRAG QUEEN CHRISTMAS to Return for 12th Year With 39-City National Tour

This year's cast includes:

A Drag Queen Christmas 2026 Tour Dates:

Review: 1776 at Abbey Theater Of Dublin

Photos: First look at Sunbury Performing Arts GREASE SCHOOL VERSION

NATIONWIDE POPCORN POPS Concerts to Be Free This Summer Thanks to Honda

Peter and the Wolf – Friday, June 26

Symphonic Surprise! – Friday, July 10

JIM HENSON'S FRAGGLE ROCK: BACK TO THE ROCK LIVE to Play Columbus Palace Theatre

SONIC LIVE IN CONCERT to Launch Global Tour With US and UK Premieres

Columbus Symphony Reveals Senior Leadership Additions

WINNIE THE POOH KIDS to Be Presented by Avalon Arts Academy in Marysville

Vitamin String Quartet and Girl Named Tom to Perform at The Southern Theatre

ProMusica Chamber Orchestra's OUTDOOR SUMMER MUSIC SERIES to Return With Free Concerts

PROGRAMS:

A Classical Evening

A Little Night Music

TICKET INFORMATION

ProMusica's Outdoor Summer Concert Series to Return in August

A Classical Evening

A Little Night Music

TICKET INFORMATION

Photos: First look at Imagine Productions’ FUN HOME

THE NOTEBOOK North American Tour Adds 26 Cities to 2026-27 Route

2026-2027 Tour Dates:

Review: HADESTOWN at Ohio Theatre

DEATH BECOMES HER Sets Closing Date

DEATH BECOMES HER North American tour schedule:

Review: PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE at Short North Stage

Photos: The Diary Of Anne Frank Takes The Avalon Theatre Stage

Performance Schedule:

Photos: First look at New Albany High School Theatre Department’s MEN ON BOATS

CAPA Receives Naming Gift for Wrightsel Music Hall in Columbus