BroadwayWorld.com South Korea Stories

Spencer Liff, Gabriel Barre, and More Will Present THE WATERMELON PRINCE: THE MUSICAL in Vietnam

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 17:34:53 PST

The Watermelon Prince: The Musical, a new Broadway-style musical inspired by one of Vietnam's most cherished legends, will make its world premiere at the Saigon Opera House on October 3 and 4, 2026.

Produced by Happy Sunshine Entertainment, The Watermelon Prince: The Musical brings together Broadway artists and Vietnamese creatives in a collaboration designed to introduce original musical theater on a new scale to Vietnamese audiences.

The musical tells the story of Mai An Tiêm, an adopted prince who is exiled to a barren island after becoming the victim of jealousy and deception. Joined by his wife, who chooses to share his fate, he embarks on a journey of perseverance, hope, and survival. Drawing from a beloved Vietnamese legend, the musical explores themes of resilience, faith, and the enduring power of love.

Tony Award nominee Gabriel Barre serves as executive producer. The production will be directed and choreographed by two-time Emmy Award nominee Spencer Liff, whose credits include So You Think You Can Dance and DRAG: The Musical.

"One of the things that excites me most about The Watermelon Prince is the opportunity to bring the storytelling traditions and theatrical language of Broadway musicals together with the rich history, culture, music, and traditions of Vietnam," said Liff. "This production represents a true artistic collaboration, bringing together extraordinary performers, designers, and creatives from across Vietnam and beyond to create something entirely new."

The creative team also includes Emmy Award winner Doug Katsaros as composer and music director and Nicole Jones-Dion as book writer. Songs feature music by Doug Katsaros, Joe Gautrey, Taras Kuznetsov, Jamie Jordan, Pavel Berezovsky, and David Luke, with lyrics by Eternal Treasure.

Katsaros said his goal was to blend Broadway musical theater traditions with Vietnamese influences. "My work has been to weave Western musical theater craft with Eastern flavors, so that the score can feel culturally familiar to local audiences and yet still have them on the edge of their seats in the tradition of the great Broadway shows."

Featuring a live orchestra and choreography that combines Broadway dance styles with Vietnamese traditions, the production aims to create a new theatrical experience rooted in both cultures.

K-Pop Group BIGBANG Set Worldwide Stadium Tour for 20th Anniversary

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 09:12:44 PST

K-pop group BIGBANG has set their highly anticipated return to the global stage with a worldwide stadium tour celebrating the group’s 20th anniversary. Marking their first tour since 2017, G-DRAGON, TAEYANG and DAESUNG will reunite for a 31-show trek spanning Asia, North America, Europe and Australia, kicking off on Friday, August 21, 2026 at Goyang Stadium in Goyang.

The announcement comes on the heels of BIGBANG's historic return to the stage at the 2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. It also follows 2022’s “Still Life,” the group's first release in four years.

The official tour title and ticketing information will be announced at a later date. For now, V.I.P.s (BIGBANG’s fandom) can sign up via BIGBANG's official b.stage platform for updates.

BIGBANG is a boy group launched by YG Entertainment in 2006. Since the release of their debut single “Bigbang,” the group has grown into a global act, producing numerous hit songs such as “Lie,” “Last Farewell,” “Haru Haru,” “FANTASTIC BABY,” and “BANG BANG BANG.”

TOUR DATES:

Fri, Aug 21, 2026 – Goyang – Goyang Stadium

Sat, Aug 22, 2026 – Goyang – Goyang Stadium

Sun, Aug 23, 2026 – Goyang – Goyang Stadium

Sat, Sept 5, 2026 – Oakland, CA – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

Fri, Sept 11, 2026 – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium

Sat, Sept 19, 2026 – Paris – Stade de France

Sat, Sept 26, 2026 – London – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Sat, Oct 10, 2026 – Taipei – Taipei Dome

Sun, Oct 11, 2026 – Taipei – Taipei Dome

Sat, Oct 17, 2026 – Singapore – National Stadium

Sat, Oct 24, 2026 – Hanoi – Mỹ Đình National Stadium

Sun, Oct 25, 2026 – Hanoi – Mỹ Đình National Stadium

Sat, Oct 31, 2026 – Sydney – Accor Stadium

Sat, Nov 7, 2026 – Bangkok – Rajamangala National Stadium

Fri, Nov 13, 2026 – Hong Kong – Kai Tak Stadium

Sat, Nov 14, 2026 – Hong Kong – Kai Tak Stadium

Sun, Nov 15, 2026 – Hong Kong – Kai Tak Stadium

Fri, Nov 27, 2026 – Osaka – Kyocera Dome Osaka

Sat, Nov 28, 2026 – Osaka – Kyocera Dome Osaka

Sun, Nov 29, 2026 – Osaka – Kyocera Dome Osaka

Sat, Dec 5, 2026 – Nagoya – Vantelin Dome Nagoya

Sun, Dec 6, 2026 – Nagoya – Vantelin Dome Nagoya

Sun, Dec 13, 2026 – Tokyo – Tokyo Dome

Mon, Dec 14, 2026 – Tokyo – Tokyo Dome

Tues, Dec 15, 2026 – Tokyo – Tokyo Dome

Sat, Dec 26, 2026 – Fukuoka – Mizuho PayPay Dome FUKUOKA

Sun, Dec 27, 2026 – Fukuoka – Mizuho PayPay Dome FUKUOKA

Sat, Jan 9, 2027 – Kuala Lumpur – TM Stadium Nasional

Sat, Jan 16, 2027 – Jakarta – Jakarta International Stadium

Sat, Feb 27, 2027 – Kaohsiung – Kaohsiung National Stadium

Sun, Feb 28, 2027 – Kaohsiung – Kaohsiung National Stadium

Photo credit: BIGBANG

THE GREAT GATSBY Producer Eyes Three Simultaneous Broadway Productions in 2028

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 19:57:24 PST

The Great Gatsby producer Chun Soo Shin, CEO of South Korea's OD Company, says it is possible that three of his productions could be running simultaneously on Broadway in 2028.

In an interview with The Asia Business Daily, Shin revealed he has received proposals from two American theaters and is developing productions targeting Broadway openings in 2027 and 2028. If the long-running Great Gatsby remains on Broadway, all three could overlap.

One of the new projects is based on a lesser-known German classic novel; the other is inspired by a recently released film. Shin said both are being developed in partnership with a New York theater that rarely produces musicals and a historic theater in San Diego, both of which operate as nonprofit institutions. "Next year, I think I'll be one of the busiest producers on Broadway," he said.

The Great Gatsby officially opened on Broadway in April 2024 and has recorded 868 performances and $126.75 million in cumulative ticket sales as of May 24.

Among the 15 new musicals that opened in the 2023-2024 Broadway season, only The Great Gatsby and The Outsiders have continued for more than two years.

A North American tour launched in January and is currently scheduled through August 2026, with international dates in Japan, Germany, and Australia also being coordinated.

Shin acknowledged that the Broadway run has meaningfully shifted his standing in the industry. "In the past, I had to knock on doors first, but now theaters and creative teams are reaching out to me," he said.

On the development side, Shin is also preparing an original Korean-language musical adaptation of Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights, set to premiere in Korea in January 2027 following an extended tryout process. He is also planning a revised Korean-language production of The Great Gatsby for 2028, with a goal of more deeply exploring the themes of the original novel.

Shin came to The Great Gatsby after three earlier attempts at Broadway, including Holler If Ya Hear Me (2014, four weeks) and Doctor Zhivago (2015, three weeks). He described those failures as difficult but essential to understanding the market.

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.

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.

Video: BTS Debuts Trailer for Busan Concert Live Broadcast

Thu, 28 May 2026 10:20:20 PST

Tickets are now on sale for BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’ IN BUSAN: LIVE VIEWING, the live cinema broadcasts from pop royalty BTS. Check out the trailer and purchase tickets here.

The Busan concert, which marks their first performance at the stadium since their final full-group show in 2022, will be broadcast live to theaters worldwide on June 13. It features a 360-degree in-the-round stage design, offering an immersive experience for audiences.

This cinematic event is coming to cinemas worldwide, with screenings set to take place in 4,000+ locations across 80+ territories. Screening times will vary by territory; in some regions, including North and South America and Europe, broadcasts are delayed to accommodate local time zones. For local screening information, visit the event website.

Spanning 34 cities with 85 shows, the tour marks the most extensive tour ever by a Korean artist. The Busan broadcast marks the third live cinema event of the ‘BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’’ world tour, following live viewings from Goyang and Tokyo in April.

Titled ARIRANG, the tour accompanies BTS’s fifth studio album. Since the tour's opening, the album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 641,000 equivalent album units, marking the largest week for a group since 2014. Additionally, the album's 14 tracks occupied the top fourteen spots of Spotify’s Global Top 50 chart, while ARIRANG became the best-selling album of 2026 so far with 3.98 million first-day sales across platforms and formats.

About BTS:

BTS, an acronym of Bangtan Sonyeondan or “Beyond the Scene,” are a GRAMMY-nominated South Korean boyband. The members of BTS are RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook. They have earned six No.1 Billboard Hot 100 singles since 2020, and performed multiple sold-out stadium shows across the world. They were also named TIME’s Entertainer of the Year 2020. BTS are 5-time GRAMMY nominees (63rd to 65th GRAMMY Awards) and have been recognized with numerous awards like the Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards (Artist of the Year 2021) and MTV Video Music Awards.

Photo courtesy of Trafalgar Releasing

Click Here to Play!

BTS Reveal Venues for Asia and Australian Legs of ARIRANG World Tour

Fri, 22 May 2026 11:50:07 PST

BTS has revealed the venues and on-sale details for the Asia and Australia legs of their ‘BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’. Promoted by Live Nation, the Asia leg kicks off Thursday, November 19 in Kaohsiung at Kaohsiung National Stadium and includes stops in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and Jakarta this fall.

The Australia dates begin Friday, February 12 with back-to-back nights at Marvel Stadium before heading to Sydney for performances on February 20 and 21 at Accor Stadium. The production features a 360-degree in-the-round stage design, offering an immersive experience for audiences.

Tickets for the Australia dates will be available starting Tuesday, June 2 via ARMY MEMBERSHIP PRESALE. Remaining tickets will be available via general onsale beginning Thursday, June 4, here. Presale and onsale dates and times across Asia vary by market.

The long-awaited 2026–2027 return is currently underway in North America, with the massive global outing spanning 34 regions and 85 shows worldwide. The tour launched last month with three sold-out nights in Goyang, South Korea before continuing to Tokyo, Japan.

BTS then brought the massive production to North America beginning April 25, 26, and 28 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, followed by stops in El Paso, Mexico City, and Stanford. The first North America leg will conclude next week with the final of four shows in Las Vegas before the group heads to Europe and the UK beginning in late June, followed by additional North American dates and Latin America later this fall.

BTS will continue through Asia in November and December before returning to Australia early next year for performances in Melbourne and Sydney. The group will then head back to Asia for shows in Hong Kong and Bulacan next March.

Following the initial onsale, BTS sold out all 41 stadium dates across North America, Europe, and the UK, moving nearly 2.4 million tickets. Due to overwhelming fan demand during presales, additional shows were added and immediately sold out in Tampa, FL. Stanford, CA, and Las Vegas, NV. In Latin America, a similar trend continued where additional shows were announced and sold out during the presale.

The BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’ marks BTS’ first headline tour together since their landmark PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE tour, which included 12 sold-out shows across Seoul, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas.

The tour has already delivered several historic milestones, including the first-ever headline K-pop concerts at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL, Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, TX, AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX, M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, MD, and Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA.

BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’ 2026 & 2027 DATES:

~~Thu Apr 9 — Goyang — Goyang Stadium~~

~~Sat Apr 11 — Goyang — Goyang Stadium~~

~~Sun Apr 12 — Goyang — Goyang Stadium~~

~~Fri Apr 17 — Tokyo — Tokyo Dome~~

~~Sat Apr 18 — Tokyo — Tokyo Dome~~

~~Sat Apr 25 — Tampa, FL — Raymond James Stadium~~

~~Sun Apr 26 — Tampa, FL — Raymond James Stadium~~

~~Tue Apr 28 — Tampa, FL — Raymond James Stadium~~

~~Sat May 2 — El Paso, TX — Sun Bowl Stadium~~

~~Sun May 3 — El Paso, TX — Sun Bowl Stadium~~

~~Thu May 7 — Mexico City, MX — Estadio GNP Seguros~~

~~Sat May 9 — Mexico City, MX — Estadio GNP Seguros~~

~~Sun May 10 — Mexico City, MX — Estadio GNP Seguros~~

~~Sat May 16 — Stanford, CA — Stanford Stadium~~

~~Sun May 17 — Stanford, CA — Stanford Stadium~~

~~Tue May 19 — Stanford, CA — Stanford Stadium~~

Sat May 23 — Las Vegas, NV — Allegiant Stadium

Sun May 24 — Las Vegas, NV — Allegiant Stadium

Wed May 27 — Las Vegas, NV — Allegiant Stadium

Thu May 28 — Las Vegas, NV — Allegiant Stadium

Fri Jun 12 — Busan — Busan Asiad Main Stadium

Sat Jun 13 — Busan — Busan Asiad Main Stadium

Fri Jun 26 — Madrid, ES — Riyadh Air Metropolitano

Sat Jun 27 — Madrid, ES — Riyadh Air Metropolitano

Wed Jul 1 — Brussels, BE — King Baudouin Stadium

Thu Jul 2 — Brussels, BE — King Baudouin Stadium

Mon Jul 6 — London, UK — Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Tue Jul 7 — London, UK — Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Sat Jul 11 — Munich, DE — Allianz Arena

Sun Jul 12 — Munich, DE — Allianz Arena

Fri Jul 17 — Paris, FR — Stade de France

Sat Jul 18 — Paris, FR — Stade de France

Sat Aug 1 — East Rutherford, NJ — MetLife Stadium

Sun Aug 2 — East Rutherford, NJ — MetLife Stadium

Wed Aug 5 — Foxborough, MA — Gillette Stadium

Thu Aug 6 — Foxborough, MA — Gillette Stadium

Mon Aug 10 — Baltimore, MD — M&T Bank Stadium

Tue Aug 11 — Baltimore, MD — M&T Bank Stadium

Sat Aug 15 — Arlington, TX — AT&T Stadium

Sun Aug 16 — Arlington, TX — AT&T Stadium

Sat Aug 22 — Toronto, ON — Rogers Stadium

Sun Aug 23 — Toronto, ON — Rogers Stadium

Thu Aug 27 — Chicago, IL — Soldier Field

Fri Aug 28 — Chicago, IL — Soldier Field

Tue Sep 1 — Los Angeles, CA — SoFi Stadium

Wed Sep 2 — Los Angeles, CA — SoFi Stadium

Sat Sep 5 — Los Angeles, CA — SoFi Stadium

Sun Sep 6— Los Angeles, CA — SoFi Stadium

Fri Oct 2 — Bogotá, CO — Estadio El Campín

Sat Oct 3 — Bogotá, CO — Estadio El Campín

Wed Oct 7 — Lima, PE — Estadio San Marcos

Fri Oct 9 — Lima, PE — Estadio San Marcos

Sat Oct 10 — Lima, PE — Estadio San Marcos

Wed Oct 14 — Santiago, CL — Estadio Nacional

Fri Oct 16 — Santiago, CL — Estadio Nacional

Sat Oct 17 — Santiago, CL — Estadio Nacional

Wed Oct 21 — Buenos Aires, AR — Estadio Único de La Plata

Fri Oct 23 — Buenos Aires, AR — Estadio Único de La Plata

Sat Oct 24 — Buenos Aires, AR — Estadio Único de La Plata

Wed Oct 28 — São Paulo, BR — Estádio do MorumBIS

Fri Oct 30 — São Paulo, BR — Estádio do MorumBIS

Sat Oct 31 — São Paulo, BR — Estádio do MorumBIS

Thu Nov 19 — Kaohsiung - Kaohsiung National Stadium

Sat Nov 21 — Kaohsiung - Kaohsiung National Stadium

Sun Nov 22 — Kaohsiung - Kaohsiung National Stadium

Thu Dec 03 — Bangkok - Rajamangala National Stadium

Sat Dec 05 — Bangkok - Rajamangala National Stadium

Sun Dec 06 — Bangkok - Rajamangala National Stadium

Sat Dec 12 — Kuala Lumpur - TM Stadium Nasional

Sun Dec 13 — Kuala Lumpur - TM Stadium Nasional

Thu Dec 17 — Singapore - National Stadium

Sat Dec 19 — Singapore - National Stadium

Sun Dec 20 — Singapore - National Stadium

Tue Dec 22 — Singapore - National Stadium

Sat Dec 26 — Jakarta - Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium

Sun Dec 27 — Jakarta - Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium

Fri Feb 12 — Melbourne, AU — Marvel Stadium

Sat Feb 13 — Melbourne, AU — Marvel Stadium

Sat Feb 20 — Sydney, AU — Accor Stadium

Sun Feb 21 — Sydney, AU — Accor Stadium

Thu Mar 04 — Hong Kong - Kai Tak Stadium

Sat Mar 06 — Hong Kong - Kai Tak Stadium

Sun Mar 07 — Hong Kong - Kai Tak Stadium

Sat Mar 13 — Bulacan - Philippine Sports Stadium

Sun Mar 14 — Bulacan - Philippine Sports Stadium

Photo credit: Courtesy of HYBE

BTS to Broadcast Busan Concert Live to Cinemas Worldwide

Wed, 20 May 2026 12:05:19 PST

BTS are returning to cinemas with BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’ IN BUSAN: LIVE VIEWING, a cinema broadcast of BTS’s Busan Asiad Main Stadium concert from Trafalgar Releasing, HYBE, and BIGHIT MUSIC.

This will mark the third live cinema event of the ‘ARIRANG’ world tour, following live viewings from Goyang and Tokyo in April. Most notably, the performance coincides with BTS’ debut anniversary, June 13.

Tickets for the live event go on sale Thursday, May 28 beginning at 6AM PDT / 9AM EDT / 2PM BST / 8PM ICT, with Korean sales beginning at 10AM KST. For more information and to sign up for event alerts, visit here. Screening times will vary by territory; in some regions, including North and South America and Europe, broadcasts are delayed to accommodate local time zones.

Titled ARIRANG, the tour accompanies BTS’ fifth studio album. Since the tour's opening, the album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 641,000 equivalent album units, marking the largest week for a group since 2014. Additionally, the album's 14 tracks occupied the top fourteen spots of Spotify’s Global Top 50 chart, while ARIRANG became the best-selling album of 2026 so far with 3.98 million first-day sales across platforms and formats.

About BTS:

Photo courtesy of Trafalgar Releasing

BILLY ELLIOT Continues Run in Seoul Through the Summer

Tue, 19 May 2026 10:50:32 PST

Billy Elliot the Musical is now playing through summer 2026 at BLUE SQUARE ShinhanCard Hall in Seoul. Performances will continue through July 26, 2026.

Based on the beloved 2000 film and featuring music by Elton John, the Tony Award-winning production follows a working-class boy in Northern England who discovers an unexpected passion for ballet during the 1984 miners’ strike. The Korean production is part of a major international revival that has been staged in London, Broadway, and across Asia.

The Seoul staging features a large-scale local cast of adult and youth performers, with rotating child actors playing Billy Elliot—a hallmark of the production’s demanding performance structure. While full principal casting varies by performance rotation, the production is led by a Korean creative team working under official international licensing.

Originally premiering in London’s West End in 2005, Billy Elliot the Musical went on to win 10 Tony Awards on Broadway, including Best Musical, and 5 Olivier Awards in London. Its Korean return continues a strong trend of major Broadway and West End imports anchoring Seoul’s 2026 theatrical season.

StageMag Launches Programmable PDF Editor for Digital Theater Programs

Thu, 21 May 2026 10:04:02 PST

StageMag, the digital show program platform from BroadwayWorld, today launched its new PDF Editor to all producers and stage managers using the service. The tool gives editors granular, real-time control over how their digital program renders as a downloadable or printable PDF - the format most often used in lobby printouts, accessibility packets, and press kits.

Until now, the StageMag-to-PDF path was a one-shot export: whatever fit, fit. The new editor turns the export into a configurable surface. Each section of a program including the cast list, song list, director's note, bios, advertisements, sponsor pages, articles, listings and more — can be individually told how to paginate. Editors choose between three strategies per section:

Flow: natural pagination, sections may split across pages.
Own page: start the section on a fresh page.
Fit one page: start fresh and scale the section to occupy the whole page.

A live preview pane re-renders the PDF on every change, so editors see the final printed result as they work rather than guessing and re-exporting.Beyond the strategy picker, the editor exposes a set of advanced controls familiar to anyone who has hand-tuned a long-form print document: hide-element selectors (drop sponsor strips or vestigial nav from the print version), forced page breaks before or after named elements, a draggable section-order list, custom header/footer/watermark text, and a custom-CSS escape hatch for theaters whose programs follow a house style.

The release also includes paper-level controls including US Letter or A4, portrait or landscape, three margin presets, three type scales, and a "booklet" mode that adds a binding gutter for stapled lobby printouts.

The PDF Editor is available now to all StageMag-enabled productions at no additional cost, under the Share PDF tab in the program editor. Existing programs render with sensible defaults; the new controls are opt-in and per-production.

About StageMag

StageMag is BroadwayWorld's digital playbill platform, used by Broadway, Off-Broadway, regional, university, and community theater productions to publish interactive programs that audiences open on their phones from a QR code in the lobby. StageMag is offered as a free service to participating productions.

About BroadwayWorld

Founded in 2003, BroadwayWorld is the largest theater website in the world, covering Broadway, the West End, and theater news, reviews, interviews, and resources across all 50 US states and 45 countries.

Concert Review: AMPERS&ONE Show Off Exponential Growth on 'Born to Define' Tour

Mon, 11 May 2026 11:07:01 PST

AMPERS&ONE is one of those groups that I’ve always had my eye on. In 2023, I made a vow to keep up with any group that debuted with members who were on the survival show Boys Planet, and one of those groups was AMPERS&ONE. Since their debut, I’ve had the privilege of checking out their first North American tour “My First_” back in 2025, and interviewing them twice (during their debut era in 2023, and again after their last tour).

Now, over a year after wrapping that tour, and with more music under their belt, the group is back in the States on their “Born to Define” tour. I got to check out the impressive show when it made a stop in New York City at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater on May 8.

I’ll just spoil it now: I was thoroughly impressed. Witnessing a group’s growth from their debut is one of my favorite parts of being a K-pop fan. I love to see a group and its members find themselves, find their sound, their unique performance style, and grow their fanbase. AMPERS&ONE is still a young group, having just debuted at the end of 2023, but it’s safe to say that they have already solidified their place in the industry.

During last year’s tour, the group still felt pretty new. They were still finding their footing, weren’t quite as comfortable on stage yet, and their music and stages had a youthful energy. Now, they are almost unrecognizable from the group I saw last year. Their stage outfits are elevated, their choreography is powerful and mature, and the members - Kamden, Brian, Jiho, Siyun, Kyrell, Mackiah, and Seungmo - have grown up significantly.

The setlist for this tour felt like a marathon AND a sprint, and I sincerely hope the members are taking care of themselves given the amount of energy these performances seemed to take. AMPERS&ONE’s discography leans heavily energetic, and even among their slower tracks, only one, "All Eyes On You", made the setlist and it was an encore. This means the entire rest of the set was made up of high-energy choreography, and the group remained on stage for the full show, aside from when they performed unit numbers, giving a few members a break at a time.

The first section of the set was the strongest, in my opinion, beginning with AMPERS&ONE’s latest title track, “GOD.” The members continued with recent b-sides “What You Talking About”, “I’m Down”, “That’s That”, “Did It”, “Hit Me Up”, and “Slide.” Every stage was jam-packed with explosive choreography, where the members showed off their unmatched stamina. Yet they never missed a note or a beat, despite the demanding performance.

In the middle of the show, two duos and one trio of members took the stage for unit performances, starting with Jiho and Kamden’s sensual cover of ENHYPEN’s “FEVER.” Next, Kyrell and Brian did a full 180 with their sweet romantic cover of Taylor Swift’s “Love Story.” Finally, Mackiah, Seungmo, and Siyun performed a rock-heavy rendition of “Drag Me Down” by One Direction. I’ve said it before but I always love when groups perform solo or unit stages, as it gives the members a chance to show off their unique performance styles and musical preferences. This section really gave us a glimpse into the charms of each member of AMPERS&ONE.

The full group reunited on stage for the rest of the set, which included fan favorite songs like ‘He + She = We” and “Kick Start.” During a few of the songs, members of the group came down into the audience to get closer to their fans, jumping and dancing in the aisles. It really felt like a big party with AMPERS&ONE and ANDEAR.

Before the encore, the audience was prompted to sing along to an instrumental of “All Eyes On You”, to which we did our best, given the fact that the song was released fairly recently and features some Korean lyrics. The members then came on stage to relieve us, performing the song themselves at the beginning of the encore. The set closed with “Crazy Stupid Fun”, the group’s most iconic party song. There was more dancing through the aisles and we were all told to jump, which was easy to do given the energy of the performance.

By the end of the night, what stood out most wasn’t just AMPERS&ONE’s energy or razor-sharp performances, but how much they’ve grown into confident, compelling artists. When the group performed their debut song, “On & On,” I found myself thinking back to hearing it for the first time while preparing for my first interview with them, and I was overwhelmed with a sense of pride. Seeing them now, commanding the stage with confidence and ease, made their growth impossible to ignore. If this concert proved anything, it’s that AMPERS&ONE are only getting started, and their future looks brighter than ever.

Feature: LEE CHAEYEON Finds Her Direction with 4th Mini Album Till I Die

Sat, 02 May 2026 10:12:49 PST

Two years is a long gap, especially in K-pop. It’s long enough to come back with a new and clearer sense of direction in your music, choreography, and everything in between. With the release of her 4th mini album, Till I Die, LEE CHAEYEON doesn’t rush that return. You can see it in her music video for her song, “No Tears On The Dancefloor.” It still hits as a performance piece, but there is more going on underneath it. You can tell that the focus shifts from trying to stand out to putting out something that lasts.

This new shift carries through the rest of the mini album. Released earlier this week on April 28, Till I Die feels more settled than LEE CHAEYEON’s earlier releases, not because it presents a more mature version of her, but because it knows where it’s going. It centers on the parts of CHAEYEON’s identity that have always been there, now with a stronger sense of direction behind them.

Top Photo Credit: LEE CHAEYEON & DayOneDream

For many listeners, her career has been tied closely to performance. From her early appearances on survival programs, to her time in IZ*ONE, she built a reputation on control, timing, and precision. That foundation is still here, but this new EP reframes it. Her performance in this era is less about proving her skill and more about what she chooses to show through it.

Till I Die is composed of five tracks with a retro feel. Each song is upbeat with a catchy and unique vibe that has a slight early ‘90s pop feel. The mini album’s lead single, “No Tears On The Dancefloor,” is described as a “retro-inspired nu-disco dance-pop anthem” that both takes us back in time while setting the tone for the rest of her songs. The track is built for the stage and never seems to fully let go of what it’s reaching for. There’s a tension that sits under the surface of the song, which matches the idea of pushing forward even when things feel uncertain. It’s not about hiding emotion, it’s about deciding what to do with it.

That idea shows up in different ways across the album. “Know About Me,” perhaps the EP’s most Y2K inspired song of the album, opens with a direct statement. It pushes back against assumptions and feels like a response to being defined too early, something that often follows artists as they move into their solo work.

Top Photo Credit: LEE CHAEYEON & DayOneDream

“I’m Waiting” is slightly softer than the rest. The production opens up, giving space for a more reflective tone. It carries a sense of patience that grows instead of focusing on urgency. This contrast works well, adding depth without breaking the flow of the album. It’s catchy chorus hooks you in right away and is arguably one of the best songs on the album after the title track. The song “BAD” comes at the listener with confidence. LEE CHAEYEON explores different sides of her style without overthinking it. The hip-hop tone of the song showcases her confident vocals and brings the listener back to a sound reminiscent of the early years of K-pop.

By the time the mini album closes with “How Are You,” everything pulls inward again. The song is more minimal, built around softer textures that leave room for reflection, ending everything on a quieter note that still feels consistent with what came before.

That performance-driven approach also makes this era feel like one that would translate easily to a live stage. In cities like Vancouver, New York, or LA, where audiences are used to shows that balance music, choreography, and storytelling, artists like LEE CHAEYEON tend to connect quickly. There’s a strong appreciation here for performers who are thoughtful in how they use the stage, not just scale, and Till I Die feels built with that kind of audience in mind.

Top Photo Credit: LEE CHAEYEON & DayOneDream

Across all five tracks, there’s a consistent theme. The EP looks at what it means to stay grounded in your work, even as things change. It doesn’t ignore uncertainty, but it doesn’t dwell on it either. It treats it as part of the process, which is something that sits alongside confidence. That feels fitting for where LEE CHAEYEON is now. She’s moved through different stages of her career, from trainee to girl group member to solo artist and into a new chapter under DayOneDream. Till I Die feels like things are settling into place for her, not a reset, but a clearer version of what she’s been building over the last few years.

Watch LEE CHAEYEON’s music video for No Tears On The Dancefloor below:

Top Photo Credit: LEE CHAEYEON & DayOneDream

Play Broadway Games Every Day in May and Win a Merch Prize Pack

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 08:30:20 PST

Broadway fans, your daily warm-up just got a whole lot more rewarding. BroadwayWorld is launching the May 2026 Games Challenge - a month-long streak competition open to fans across the U.S., with a $250 merch prize pack featuring merchandise from popular Broadway shows up for grabs.

The challenge runs all 31 days of May 2026 (Eastern Time), and all you need to enter is a free BroadwayWorld account.

How It Works

The rules are simple: play at least one BroadwayWorld game every day in May. That's it. Complete all 31 days and you'll earn one entry to win the prize pack. Tracking is automatic once you're logged in - your progress populates on the challenge page as you play, no manual check-ins required.

Any of these six games count toward your daily credit:

Make-Up Days: Because Life Happens

Miss a day? You're not out of the running. Play all six games in a single day and you'll earn a make-up credit, which automatically forgives your earliest missed day. You can bank up to three make-up credits over the course of the month - so a skipped Tuesday or a busy weekend doesn't have to end your streak. Credits are applied to your missed days in order, oldest first.

Ready to Start Your Streak?

The May 2026 BroadwayWorld Games Challenge runs May 1-31 (Eastern Time) and is open to U.S. residents only.

Click here to get started. Sign in with your free BroadwayWorld account and your tracking begins automatically - no registration beyond that required.

See full rules and regulations here.

NEWSIES Unseats LES MISÉRABLES to Win BroadwayWorld's 2026 Ultimate Movie Musical Bracket

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:26:32 PST

After six weeks of voting, BroadwayWorld readers have crowned Newsies the Ultimate Best Movie Musical in the 2026 edition of BroadwayWorld's Annual Bracket. The 1992 Disney film, directed by Kenny Ortega and featuring music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Jack Feldman, defeated Les Misérables in the final round, ending the Tom Hooper-directed film's two-year winning streak.

In both 2024 and 2025, Les Misérables was voted as the Ultimate Best Musical of all time, making it the title to beat heading into this year's competition. Newsies, a perennial fan favorite that developed a devoted following after its theatrical release and has since been adapted for the Broadway stage, advanced through six rounds of head-to-head matchups before claiming the title.

Now in its third year, BroadwayWorld's Bracket invites readers to debate, defend, and ultimately crown the greatest movie musical of all time from a field selected by BroadwayWorld editors. Voting in the 2026 edition opened on Tuesday, February 24 and concluded on Sunday, April 12, with new matchups released each week.

South Korean Theaters Are Using AI Glasses to Break the Language Barrier

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 14:02:33 PST

Korean pop music, film and TV have already conquered the world. Now, a handful of theater producers in Seoul are asking whether live performance can be next - and they're betting on AI-powered smart glasses to get there.

The concept is straightforward: theatergoers put on a pair of chunky frames that display translated dialogue on the lenses in real time, synced to the action onstage. No more craning your neck toward a supertitle screen. The technology, built by Korean start-up Xpert Inc., currently supports four languages, and the company says full real-time translation is the eventual goal.

As first reported by The New York Times, a government-backed program called Smart Theater helped finance the rollout last year, and several producers have since continued funding the glasses on their own. The investment tracks with a broader push: following the Tony-sweeping Broadway run of Maybe Happy Ending, which originated in a small Seoul theater, Korea's culture ministry is reportedly ramping up musical funding significantly in 2026.

Early results are promising. Producers across multiple shows say non-Korean attendance has gone from essentially zero to a regular occurrence. Audience feedback has been positive overall - users like keeping their eyes on the stage - though the tech isn't perfect yet. Minor sync issues, translation hiccups, and bulky frames that sit awkwardly over regular glasses are common complaints.

The more interesting story may be philosophical. One producer has repeatedly turned down offers to stage his show in translation, wagering that global audiences actually want Korean-language content - they just need a better way to understand it. It's a bet rooted in the same instinct that kept BTS singing in Korean even as their international fanbase exploded.

The glasses are still a work in progress, but as Korean cultural exports continue to gain momentum, the theater world is watching Seoul closely.

Toby Jones and David Harewood-Led OTHELLO Will Stream on Marquee TV

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:51:16 PST

David Harewood, Caitlin Fitzgerald, and Toby Jones’ new production of Othello will stream exclusively in the UK, US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Korea on Marquee TV from 1 May 2026.

In 1997, David Harewood made history as the ﬁrst Black actor to play Othello at The National Theatre, London. In this new, landmark production of Othello, David Harewood reprises his historic role three decades on in an acclaimed performance ﬁlmed live at Theatre Royal Haymarket in London.

Olivier, BAFTA Award-winning actor Toby Jones OBE stars as Iago. One of Britain’s best- loved character actors, Jones is best-known for his roles as Lance stater in DETECTORISTS, Alan Bates in MR BATES VS THE POST OFFICE, Dobby in the HARRY POTTER ﬁlms, Claudius Templesmith in THE HUNGER GAMES, and Arnim Zola in the CAPTAIN AMERICA ﬁlms.

Othello is Shakespeare’s only play with a black lead, but for centuries directors cast white actors in blackface for the role. On his historic 1997 performance Harewood reﬂects, “I was trying to de-blackface the whole character.”

Othello is directed by Tom Morris OBE, the Tony Award-winning director behind War Horse, and features music from alternative music icon PJ Harvey.

Also starring are American actor Caitlin Fitzgerald (MASTERS OF SEX, SUCCESSION) as Desdemona, British Independent Film Award-winner Vinette Robinson (BOILING POINT, BLACK MIRROR, DOCTOR WHO) who plays Amelia in her West End debut, and Olivier Award-winner Luke Treadaway (A STREET CAT NAMED BOB) as Cassio.

David Harewood said, “I got a phone call from my agent, ‘would David have any desire to play Othello again?’ As soon as she mentioned it, a lightbulb went on. I was so young when I played it before, so I thought let me give it another crack. I was just far more familiar than when I was younger with the emotional toll of the pain and loss of love. As an older man, I found that so much more painful.”

Caitlin Fitzgerald said, “Shakespeare gives Amelia in this play some really proto- feminist language that is so extraordinary.”

Vinette Robinson, who plays Amelia, adds, “The speech Amelia has in the willow scene is one of the most incredible feminist speeches Shakespeare wrote, however many hundreds of years ago, that is still relevant today. So, what Shakespeare is incredible at is understanding human nature which is why we’re still performing him now.”

Toby Jones said, “It’s a Shakespeare play, so every single time we perform the play I hear something that I haven’t heard before. It’s the extraordinary thing of working on a poem e]ectivelythat you’re surprised, delighted, and slightly shocked by the nuance of phrases you haven’t taken in before.”

Luke Treadaway said, “These stories are universal. They’re about jealousy, love, and betrayal, and things that happen to all of us in modern times. I think they’re all just amazing worlds to break open and go into.”

Cecilia Bacon, VP of Content & Engagement at Marquee TV said, “This is a major moment for bringing world-class theatre to streaming audiences at scale. David Harewood’s return to Othello is both historically signiﬁcant and artistically powerful, and we’re proud to introduce this production to viewers as part of our growing slate.”

Othello, starring David Harewood and Toby Jones, is streaming exclusively on Marquee TV from 1 May 2026.

Alicia Keys' HELL'S KITCHEN to Premiere in Korea in July

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 11:39:09 PST

The Tony Award, Grammy Award and Drama League Award-winning musical Hell's Kitchen, featuring the music of Alicia Keys, will have its Korean premiere at the GS Art Center beginning on July 24, 2026. Performances will run to November 8, 2026.

The Korean premiere is the first-ever licensed production of Hell's Kitchen in a non-English-speaking country.

Hell's Kitchen played its final performance at the Shubert Theatre on February 22, 2026, following 23 previews and 767 regular performances. Inspired by 17-time Grammy Award-winner Alicia Keys’ own experiences growing up in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood adjacent to the Broadway theatre district, Hell's Kitchen centers a story, a sound and a community often underrepresented on the mainstream stage. Through the coming-of-age story of Ali, the musical celebrates the diversity of New York, the power of mentorship, the discovery of young talent and the power of community, with a cast and audiences reflective of the cultural makeup of the city it portrays.

The Broadway cast of Hell's KitchenCaption

The Broadway production of Hell's Kitchen was directed by five-time Tony Award nominee Michael Greif, with choreography by five-time Tony Award nominee Camille A. Brown, a book by Pulitzer Prize finalist and Tony Award nominee Kristoffer Diaz – and the music of Keys, featuring new songs and her greatest hits.

BroadwayWorld My Shows is Now Part of the New & Improved App

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 10:34:45 PST

Since launching last fall, BroadwayWorld My Shows has been the place where theatre fans log every production they've seen, rate performances, write reviews, and document their theatre experiences. Today, we're thrilled to announce that the complete My Shows experience - rebuilt from the ground up - is now available inside the BroadwayWorld app for iPhone and iPad.

Whether you're a Broadway regular, a West End devotee, a tour-chaser, or someone who just caught their very first show last weekend, My Shows in the app lets you track it all, connect with friends who love theatre as much as you do, and carry your entire theatregoing history with you wherever you go.

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The complete My Shows experience - rebuilt from the ground up - is now available inside the BroadwayWorld app for iPhone and iPad. Get started now!
♬ original sound - BroadwayWorld

What's New in My Shows

A Social Feed Built for Theatre Fans- See what your friends are watching in real time: new logs, star ratings, and reviews in a scrollable activity stream. Like, comment, and discover what your community is raving about.

Your Complete Theatregoing Stats - The redesigned Profile turns your history into beautiful statistics: Shows Seen, Total Attendances, Repeat Visits, a Broadway / West End / Tour / Off-Broadway / Regional breakdown, and a Musicals vs. Plays split.

Smart, Grouped Show History - Seen Wicked four times? Record repeart attendances with individual visits, ratings, and reviews.

Find Friends - Search members, send and accept requests, and build your theatre community. A friend-requests banner at the top of your feed means you never miss a new connection.

The Quick Start Wizard - Catching up on years of theatregoing? Rapidly rate and log shows across Broadway, West End, Touring, Off-Broadway, and a curated popular list of the longest-running Broadway productions of all time.

Theatres You've Visited - Browse every theatre on Broadway, and beyond. See where you've been, what's still on your list, and every production that's ever played there.

Wishlist - Keep track of the shows you're dying to see, now front and center in the app's tab bar.

Built for iPhone and iPad — The entire experience is fully optimized for both, with layouts that adapt to bigger screens.

Getting Started

If you already have a BroadwayWorld account, just open the app, tap My Shows, and sign in. Everything you've ever logged on the website will be right there waiting for you.

New to BroadwayWorld? Create a free account in seconds and start building your theatregoing history today.

Download the BroadwayWorld app - free on the App Store - and take your theatre life with you.

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

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 11:54:50 PST

Around the BroadwayWorld is our monthly snapshot of the biggest stories making waves across the global theatre community. In this March 2026 edition, we're bringing you a fresh batch of standout reviews from regional stages across the country - from the world premiere of Mrs. Christie at Cincinnati Playhouse In The Park to touring productions of The Great Gatsby in Houston, Water for Elephants in Minneapolis, and Wicked in Providence.

Tony-winning Stereophonic lands at DPAC in Raleigh, The Hunchback of Notre Dame takes the stage at Hale Centre Theatre in Utah, and Safety Not Guaranteed makes its way to Signature Theatre in DC. Plus, get a first look at exciting new productions through performance videos and photos, including White Rooster at Lookingglass Theatre, the new tour of Kinky Boots, Romeo and Juliet at Arden Theatre Company, The Crucible at Washington National Opera, and the Manila cast of A Chorus Line - and so much more from across the BroadwayWorld.

Interview: Matthew Lombardo and Beth Leavel Tell the Tale of WHEN PLAYWRIGHTS KILL

R. Scott Reedy | Boston

After the headline-making 2019 run of his “Tea at Five,” which starred Faye Dunaway, playwright Matthew Lombardo returns to Boston’s Huntington Theatre April 3–18 with his latest effort, “When Playwrights Kill,” a behind-the scenes comedy about an up-and-coming playwright whose Broadway dreams are dashed when his female lead, a famously difficult diva, derails his play’s out-of-town tryout in Boston.

Interviews

Interview: Adam Grant Morrison, Albus Potter in HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD at The Fox Theatre

Joseph Harrison | Atlanta

The magic of HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD has officially arrived in Atlanta, with the first-ever touring production now playing at the Fox Theatre as part of the 2025/2026 Regions Bank Broadway in Atlanta season, running through March 15. To celebrate this landmark engagement, I caught up with Adam Grant Morrison, who stars as Albus Potter, Harry’s son, in this theatrical continuation of the beloved wizarding world. In our conversation, Morrison reflects on growing up in Atlanta, discovering theatre unexpectedly, stepping into an iconic role he once only dreamed of, and what it means to bring this magical story home to the Fox Theatre stage.

Interview: Eymard Cabling of MISS SAIGON at Short North Stage

Paul Batterson | Columbus

Growing up in Rockville, Md., Eymard Cabling’s fields of study were somewhat limited. Cabling, who will be playing the role of The Engineer in Short North Stage’s upcoming production of the epic MISS SAIGON, thought he had three career choices.

Interview: SoCal's Leianna Weaver Talks Lydia, Ghosts, and BEETLEJUICE

Melissa Heckscher | Los Angeles

Southern California native Leianna Weaver speaks with BroadwayWorld about what it felt like to land the role of Lydia Deetz in BEETLEJUICE, how she relates to the character, and some onstage mishaps (that may or may not have involved fire).

Interview: Theatre Life with David Andrews Rogers

Elliot Lanes | Washington, DC

Today’s subject David Andrews Rogers Is currently living his theatre life and a lifelong dream on the conductor’s podium as the Musical Director and Conductor of the new touring production of Disney’s Beauty and The Beast. The show begins performances here in DC on March 18th and will play through April 5th at The National Theatre.

Interview: Theatre Life with Suzy Eddie Izzard

Elliot Lanes | Washington, DC

Today’s subject Suzy Eddie Izzard is an award-winning performer, marathon runner, and author. Her tour de force solo show The Tragedy of Hamlet will be seen right here in DC at Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC) from March 27th to April 11th. The show will be performed in STC’s Klein Theatre.

Reviews

Review: MRS. CHRISTIE at Cincinnati Playhouse In The Park

Caroline Conard | Cincinnati

It’s very seldom these days that an original play check sall the boxes, yet Mrs. Christie manages to do exactly that. A fantastical show with mystery, quirky characters, and deeper themes, Mrs. Christie is sure to have something for everyone!

Review: THE GREAT GATSBY at Broadway at The Hobby Center

Brett Cullum | Houston

The book is full of mysteries, unspoken judgements, and a vicious sense of classism mixed with ruthless self-preservation, and there is not a lot of this present in this interpretation, brought to life by Kait Kerrigan's book, Jason Howland's music, and Fitzgerald-inspired lyrics by Nathan Tysen.

Review: WATER FOR ELEPHANTS at Orpheum Theatre Minneapolis

Jared Fessler | Minneapolis / St. Paul

Water for Elephants has officially set up shop at the Orpheum Theatre, and it honestly doesn’t take long to get swept up in it. From the start, it feels less like you’re sitting in a theatre seat and more like you’ve wandered backstage at a traveling circus that just happens to break into song.

Review: STEREOPHONIC at DPAC

April Sigler | Raleigh

Stereophonic, the most Tony-nominated play of all time and winner of 5 Tony Awards including Best Play, offers a compelling fly-on-the-wall look at a 1970s rock band recording their next album. With strong performances and music that feels like a character of its own, the show immerses you in the creative process, even if its scale and runtime occasionally soften the intimacy.

Review: WICKED at Providence Performing Arts Center

Andria Tieman | Rhode Island

One could be forgiven for feeling a little burned out on Wicked these days. After two super-sized movies and a press tour that seemed to last a decade, Wicked-mania feels a bit on the wane. However, there is no substitute for seeing this show live on stage. This show is more relevant than ever, and the current touring cast are exceptional.

Review: THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME at Hale Centre Theatre

Sydney Naegle | Utah

Review: THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME at Hale Centre Theatre Mesmerizing and a true Top of the World experience.

Review: SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED at Signature Theatre

Aidan O'Connor | Washington, DC

Nostalgia is a funny thing. It catapults the ordinarily rational into webs of what-ifs and immobilizes presence in the now. But what if you could turn back time to fix that one regret or evaluate outcomes of disparate decisions. Would you do it, or would you choose to accept your past as part of you. Safety Not Guaranteed at Signature Theatre takes that exact journey and winds up in an alt-indie-rock concert with a semblance of sci-fi and human connection. Much like most time machines however, it’s transcendent in theory but lacks flawless execution in reality.

Videos

Photos & Video: First Look at WHITE ROOSTER at Lookingglass Theatre

Chloe Rabinowitz | Chicago

You can now get a first look at photos and video of the world premiere of White Rooster, written and directed by Ensemble Member Matthew C. Yee. The production has revealed an extension of its run.

Video: First Look at 'I Can Hear The Bells' from HAIRSPRAY at Casa Mañana Theatre

Joshua Wright | Dallas

Casa Mañana Theatre is currently presenting HAIRSPRAY, running through March 8. Check out a first look at “I Can Hear the Bells” in the video below.

Video: First Look at THE BODYGUARD at The John W. Engeman Theater

Joshua Wright | Long Island

Watch a first look video of The Bodyguard at The John W. Engeman Theater, running March 12 through April 26, 2026 in Northport, NY.

Photos/Video: First Look at ROMEO AND JULIET at Arden Theatre Company

Nicole Rosky | Philadelphia

Arden Theatre Company has released production photos and video from its staging of ROMEO AND JULIET, William Shakespeare’s tragedy directed by Barrymore Award–winning director Amina Robinson.

Video: KINKY BOOTS Tour First Look

Joshua Wright | Philadelphia

Get a first look at the new non-equity North American Tour of Kinky Boots. Leading the tour is Omari Collins as Lola, Noah Silverman as Charlie Price, Sophia Gunter as Lauren, Jason Daniel Chacon as Don, Emma Dean as Nicola, and John Anker Bow as George

Video: Hale Centre Theatre's THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME

Joshua Wright | Utah

Watch a first look video of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME at Hale Centre Theatre, running March 9 to April 25, 2026, with full cast details and performance schedule.

Video: Watch 'One Man Wrecking Machine' From Signature Theatre's SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED

Michael Major | Washington, DC

Signature Theatre has shared an exclusive look at the cast of Safety Not Guaranteed performing 'One Man Wrecking Machine.' Watch the video from Ryan Miller and Nick Blaemire's musical now!

Video: First Look at THE CRUCIBLE at Washington National Opera

Joshua Wright | Washington, DC

Watch a first look video of THE CRUCIBLE at Washington National Opera, running March 21–29, 2026, with full cast and creative team details.

Photos

Photos: The Cast of WHEN PLAYWRIGHTS KILL Meets the Press

Bruce Glikas | Boston

The World Premiere production of WHEN PLAYWRIGHTS KILL, a new backstage comedy by Matthew Lombardo and directed by Noah Himmelstein, will be performed in Boston. The cast recently met the press and BroadwayWorld was there. Check out photos here!

Photos: CINDERELLA: A SALSA FAIRY TALE at South Coast Rep

Joshua Wright | Los Angeles

South Coast Repertory presents CINDERELLA: A SALSA FAIRY TALE, a bilingual musical by Karen Zacarias and Deborah Wicks La Puma, running February 20–March 8.

PHOTOS: A CHORUS LINE Manila Cast Meets the Press

Oliver Oliveros | Philippines

See photos from A Chorus Line Manila's press meet! Conrad Ricamora & Lissa deGuzman lead the all-Filipino cast at Samsung Performing Arts Theater, March 2026.

WAITRESS Will Open in South Korea in 2027

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 06:47:39 PST

A new production of Waitress the Musical is headed to South Korea in 2027. Korean production company S&Co took to Instagram to share details about upcoming auditions for all roles in the production.

Waitress is set to run from December 2027 to March 2028 at Hongik University Daehakro Art Center. This will mark the first ever Korean language production of the musical.

Learn more about auditions here.

About Waitress

Waitress is a musical with music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles and a book by Jessie Nelson. It is based on the 2007 film, written and directed by Adrienne Shelly. It tells the story of Jenna Hunterson, a baker and waitress in an abusive relationship with her husband, Earl. After Jenna unexpectedly becomes pregnant with Earl's child, she begins an affair with her obstetrician, Jim Pomatter. Looking for ways out of her troubles, and at the urging of her friends, she enters a pie-baking contest, seeing its grand prize as her chance.

After a tryout at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in August 2015, Waitress premiered at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on Broadway in April 2016, closing in January 2020, with direction by Diane Paulus and starring Jessie Mueller as Jenna. A US national tour ran from 2017 to 2019. From 2019 to 2020, the musical played at the Adelphi Theatre in London's West End. In September 2021, it returned to Broadway for a limited engagement at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre starring Bareilles as Jenna, mainly to produce a live stage recording that played in movie theaters in 2023. The Broadway production was nominated for four Tony Awards. Christopher Fitzgerald won the Drama Desk Award and Outer Critics Circle Award for his performance as Ogie.

The production is currently on UK tour, which began performances on 28 March 2026 at the New Wimbledon Theatre. The cast includes Carrie Hope Fletcher as Jenna. The tour is set to close in October 2026 at The Lowry.

LES MISÉRABLES vs. NEWSIES: Final Round Voting Open For BroadwayWorld's Movie Musical Bracket

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 11:59:10 PST

Voting is now open for the final round of BroadwayWorld's Annual Bracket! Which film is really the Best Movie Musical of all time? Our editors have selected the options, and now BroadwayWorld invites YOU to join us and our readers in deciding which movie musical deserves the title of The Ultimate Best Movie Musical!

Now in its third year, BroadwayWorld's Bracket brings together our community to debate, defend, and ultimately crown the greatest of them all. In both 2024 and 2025, Les Misérables was voted as the Ultimate Best Musical of all time.

Will the beloved musical be reigning champ again across mediums? Or will the Newsies finally unseat the incumbent champ?

What will win this year's Ultimate Movie Musical Bracket? Vote now!

How To Participate

-Select your pick in each contest round below & submit the form.
-Come back for round each round to see if your selections made it.
-Didn't join the contest in the first round? No problem! Join in any round.

Schedule of Events

Round 1: Starts Tuesday, February 24, 2026 and ends Sunday, March 8, 2026
Round 2: Starts Monday, March 9 and ends Sunday, March 15, 2026
Round 3: Starts Monday, March 16 and ends Sunday, March 22, 2026
Round 4: Starts Monday, March 23 and ends Sunday, March 29, 2026
Round 5: Starts Monday, March 30 and ends Sunday, April 5, 2026
Round 6: Starts Monday, April 6 and ends Sunday, April 12, 2026

Check back daily for live stats to see how your favorite shows are ranking!

Vote Now & View Stats

Monsta X Reveal North American Dates for 2026 World Tour

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:27:25 PST

MONSTA X has announced North American dates on their 2026 MONSTA X WORLD TOUR [THE X : NEXUS]. Tickets will be available starting Tuesday, April 14 at 3pm local time here.

Promoted by Live Nation, the newly added shows kick off Saturday, October 3 in Fairfax, VA at EagleBank Arena, with stops in New York, Boston, Toronto, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and more before wrapping Saturday, October 24 in Seattle, WA at WAMU Theater.

The tour marks the group’s first large-scale outing in four years following their 2022 MONSTA X ‘NO LIMIT’ TOUR and first launched earlier this year with three nights at KSPO DOME in Seoul. Since debuting over a decade ago, MONSTA X have continued to evolve their sound and grow a global fanbase.

The 2026 tour celebrates hits from across MONSTA X’s 11-year career while supporting their third full-length English album,《Unfold》released Friday, April 3. Listen to the album below. The 10-track project, featuring focus track ‘heal,’ and singles, ‘growing pains,’ and ‘baby blue,’ marks their first U.S. release in over four years and features a blend of pop and ballads. They are the first K-pop group to release three full English albums.

2026 MONSTA X WORLD TOUR [THE X : NEXUS] NORTH AMERICA DATES:

Sat Oct 3 – Fairfax, VA – EagleBank Arena

Tue Oct 6 – New York, NY – Infosys Theater at Madison Square Garden

Thu Oct 8 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway

Sat Oct 10 – Toronto, ON – Great Canadian Toronto

Tue Oct 13 – Rosemont, IL – Rosemont Theatre

Thu Oct 15 – Irving, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory

Sat Oct 17 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre

Tue Oct 20 – Los Angeles, CA – The Kia Forum

Thu Oct 22 – San Francisco, CA – The Theater at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium

Sat Oct 24 – Seattle, WA – WAMU Theater

Photo courtesy of Live Nation

BroadwayWorld Goes Even More Global: Now Available in 20 Languages

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 08:00:20 PST

The world's largest theatre site expands its multilingual platform ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026, America's 250th Anniversary, and a wave of international visitors — fueled by exponential month-over-month audience growth. International visitors have always been at the heart of Broadway's story.

As New York City and the broader United States prepare to welcome the world for a historic stretch of global events — including FIFA World Cup 2026 and America's 250th Anniversary celebrations — BroadwayWorld is expanding its platform to meet that moment in a meaningful way.

Since launching BWW Translate in September 2025 with five languages, BroadwayWorld has seen exponential month-over-month growth in international readership. That momentum has made one thing clear: the appetite for Broadway coverage, delivered in the language audiences know best, is far greater than we imagined. Today, we're proud to announce that BWW Translate is expanding to 20 languages.

Readers around the world can now follow BroadwayWorld's industry-leading news, reviews, and features in:

Spanish (Español)
French (Français)
German (Deutsch)
Portuguese (Português)
Italian (Italiano)
Chinese (中文)
Japanese (日本語)
Korean (한국어)
Hindi (हिन्दी)
Dutch (Nederlands)
Russian (Русский)
Arabic (العربية)
Hebrew (עברית)
Polish (Polski)
Swedish (Svenska)
Turkish (Türkçe)
Greek (Ελληνικά)
Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt)
Ukrainian (Українська)
Thai (ไทย)

"When we launched with five languages last fall, we hoped the world would respond — and they did, beyond anything we projected," said Robert Diamond, CEO and Founder of BroadwayWorld. "With FIFA bringing millions of international fans to American cities, and the country's 250th birthday drawing visitors from every corner of the globe, there has never been a better time to make sure anyone who wants to experience live theatre has a guide they can actually read. Twenty languages is a milestone, but it's not the finish line."

The expansion builds on BroadwayWorld's existing international infrastructure, including language-specific guides developed with the site's global network of editors, covering everything a first-time Broadway visitor needs to know — from buying tickets to understanding the Tony Awards. Those resources, now available across all 20 languages, are designed to turn curious international travelers into lifelong theatregoers.

About BroadwayWorld

Wisdom Digital Media Publishing launched in 2001 and its flagship site, BroadwayWorld.com, in 2003. BroadwayWorld is the largest theatre site on the internet, covering Broadway, the West End, and beyond — across 100 US cities, 45 countries, and now 20 languages worldwide. BroadwayWorld delivers complete up-to-the-minute Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regional theatre news, in-depth interviews, extraordinary photo coverage, entertaining video features, lively message boards, ticket discounts, reviews, and more.

Korean Musical Eyes of Dawn Shuts Down Early After Actors Boycott Over Unpaid Wages

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 16:31:22 PST

The Korean stage production Eyes of Dawn closed roughly a month ahead of schedule after a dispute between the production company and cast members over unpaid fees.

According to Chosun Biz, the musical — based on the beloved 1991 MBC drama of the same name — had been extended through April 26, but went dark after its March 19 performance. Some actors declared a boycott after producer Next Sketch failed to pay a portion of their contracted fees. On average, 80% of fees had been paid, with 20% outstanding, and the issue reportedly extended to production staff as well.

The situation was compounded by poor ticket sales: on some days, the 1,000-seat venue sold as few as 15 to 20 tickets. The production had hoped that adding veteran actor Baek Sung-hyeon and former Jewelry member Park Jung-ah to the cast for the extended run would boost revenue enough to cover the arrears — but the plan never got off the ground. Both actors reportedly continued showing up to the theater even as the boycott unfolded.

The early closure left audience members stranded, including roughly 200 coast guard and disability group attendees who arrived on the final day only to be turned away.

Fifth Round Voting Open For BroadwayWorld's Best Movie Musical Of All Time Bracket

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 13:19:18 PST

Voting is now open for the fifth round of BroadwayWorld's Annual Bracket! Which film is really the Best Movie Musical of all time? Our editors have selected the options, and now BroadwayWorld invites YOU to join us and our readers in deciding which movie musical deserves the title of The Ultimate Best Movie Musical!

How To Participate

Schedule of Events

Round 1: Starts Tuesday, February 24, 2026 and ends Sunday, March 8, 2026
Round 2: Starts Monday, March 9 and ends Sunday, March 15, 2026
Round 3: Starts Monday, March 16 and ends Sunday, March 22, 2026
Round 4: Starts Monday, March 23 and ends Sunday, March 29, 2026
Round 5: Starts Monday, March 30 and ends Sunday, April 5, 2026
Round 6: Starts Monday, April 6 and ends Sunday, April 12, 2026

Check back daily for live stats to see how your favorite shows are ranking!

Vote Now & View Stats

THE OUTSIDERS Musical Will Premiere in South Korea in 2027

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 10:08:37 PST

The first non-English language replica production of The Outsiders is set to premiere at The GS Arts Center in Seoul, South Korea in August 2027, produced by Seensee Company (Producer: Myung Sung Park).

The production is now accepting applications for auditions through May 11. For more information, and to apply online, visit www.iseensee.com.

About The Outsiders

The Outsiders features a book by Tony Award nominee Adam Rapp with Tony Award winner Justin Levine, music and lyrics by Tony Award nominees Jamestown Revival (Jonathan Clay & Zach Chance) and Justin Levine, music supervision, orchestration & arrangements by Justin Levine, choreography by Tony Award nominees Rick Kuperman & Jeff Kuperman and is directed by Tony Award winner Danya Taymor.

In Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1967, Ponyboy Curtis, his Best Friend Johnny Cade and their Greaser family of “outsiders” battle with their affluent rivals, the Socs. This thrilling new Broadway musical navigates the complexities of self-discovery as the Greasers dream about who they want to become in a world that may never accept them. With a dynamic original score, The Outsiders is a story of friendship, family, belonging... and the realization that there is still “lots of good in the world.”

The Outsiders features Scenography by Tony Award nominees AMP featuring Tatiana Kahvegian, Costume Design by Sarafina Bush, Lighting Design by Tony Award winner Brian MacDevitt, Sound Design by Tony Award winner CodySpencer, Projection Design by Tony Award winner Hana S. Kim, Special Effects Design by Jeremy Chernick & Lillis Meeh, Hair & Wig Design by Alberto “Albee” Alvarado, Makeup Design by Tishonna Ferguson, Sound Effects Specialist Taylor Bense, Creative Consultant Jack Viertel and Speech, Text & Dialect Coach Gigi Buffington. Music Direction & Additional Orchestrations by Tony Award nominee Matt Hinkley. Casting is by The TRC Company / Xavier Rubiano, CSA.

The Outsiders on Broadway is produced by The Araca Group, American Zoetrope, Olympus Theatricals, Sue Gilad & Larry Rogowsky and Angelina Jolie. The general manager is 321 Theatrical Management.

The Outsiders North American tour launched in fall of 2025 and is currently playing across the US. The Grammy-nominated The Outsiders Original Broadway Cast Recording is now available by Sony Masterworks Broadway.

The world premiere of The Outsiders was produced by La Jolla Playhouse, Christopher Ashley, Artistic Director and Debby Buchholz, Managing Director, in March 2023.

Interview: ITZY’s YUNA on her Solo Debut ‘Ice Cream’ and Stepping Out on Her Own

Sat, 28 Mar 2026 22:11:23 PST

After years on stage with ITZY, Yuna is stepping into a moment that is entirely hers. The group recently launched its “Tunnel Vision” world tour with three nights in Seoul, while older releases are finding new life online. “That’s a No No,” a track originally released in 2020, has resurged across charts and social platforms after six years, driven by a viral dance trend embraced by artists across the industry. The song has since reentered major Korean charts and reached new peaks. With that momentum building, Yuna now makes her solo debut with Ice Cream, a four-track EP that marks her next step as an artist and makes her the second member of ITZY to step out with a solo project, following Yeji.

Released on March 23, Ice Cream introduces a brighter, more personal side of Yuna, built around clean pop sounds and performance-driven energy. The title track, which opens with the line “It’s so pretty, it’s so dreamy,” sets the tone with a playful but confident mood. The response to the release was immediate. Within its first day, the music video reached number one on YouTube in multiple countries, while the release debuted strongly on music charts and drew global attention.

The music video for “Ice Cream” follows that same direction, focusing more on atmosphere than a clear storyline. It moves through a series of bold, stylized sets that shift between bright and slightly surreal, with Yuna at the centre of each scene. Visual effects like melting, freezing, and layered transitions reflect the song’s concept, while scenes repeat and shift to give a sense of time moving forward. This ties back to the idea of enjoying the present moment. The result feels light and visually engaging, while keeping the focus on her as she takes on this next step on her own.

Photo Credit: JYP Entertainment

Now seven years into her career, Yuna is no longer just ITZY’s youngest member. Known as part of a group often recognized for its commanding stage presence, she has also begun expanding into acting, recently making her debut in Undercover Miss Hong, with a role in Favorite Employee set to follow. With Ice Cream, she continues to shape her own artistic identity while building on the foundation that brought her here.

A few weeks before the release of Ice Cream, I spoke with Yuna via Zoom on behalf of BroadwayWorld. From Korea, I had the chance to speak with her about the process behind her solo project, as well as the pressure, excitement, and growth that came with it.

With four tracks, Ice Cream brings together a range of sounds that reflect different sides of Yuna’s artistry, from bright, performance-driven pop to softer, more controlled vocal moments. At the centre of the project is the title track, “Ice Cream,” a bubblegum pop dance song driven by upbeat rhythms and layered synths. The song carries a sense of movement that reflects its message about staying present, and for Yuna, that connection was immediate.

“I was very nervous, and my heart was beating really fast when I first heard the song because I immediately felt like it was mine,” she shares. “I also kept thinking about how I would share it with our fans and how much they would like it.”

Photo Credit: JYP Entertainment

That sense of urgency is tied closely to the EP’s overall theme. Built around the idea of enjoying the present moment, Ice Cream reflects a more personal shift in how Yuna approaches both her work and herself. “There was a time when I was very busy and had a lot of schedules, and I was not really taking care of myself,” she says. “To get through that period, I took some time for myself and focused on the present moment, which helped me recover. I feel like that experience connects closely to the message of Ice Cream and enjoying the present.”

Taking on that message also meant adjusting to a new kind of responsibility. Without the shared structure of a group comeback, preparing for her solo debut required a different level of focus. “It felt very different,” she explains. “When we prepare for a group comeback, there are five of us sharing the process, but this time it was just me. It felt like I had to do five times the work, and I also felt five times the pressure and responsibility.” At the same time, she credits the people around her as a key part of the experience. “I’m very grateful to all the staff, composers, choreographers, and everyone who was involved, because I’m really satisfied with how everything turned out.”

Support from her members, especially Yeji, also played an important role throughout the process. “When I first received the demo for ‘Ice Cream,’ Yeji was the first member I listened to it with,” Yuna recalls. “During the recording process, she asked a lot of thoughtful questions and gave helpful feedback, so she was a really great support for me. She also came to the trailer shoot for the music video, which meant a lot.” That encouragement extended across the group. “Not just Yeji, but all the ITZY members supported me throughout this process,” she adds. “They shared ideas and gave feedback, even on things like choreography, so I felt very encouraged while preparing for my solo debut.”

Photo Credit: JYP Entertainment

While “Ice Cream” carries a bright, polished sound, Yuna’s focus for this era goes beyond the music itself. As a performer known for her stage presence, she approached the project with a clear intention. “The main goal of this solo album is to deliver positive energy to people who watch my performances,” she says. “For this era, I focused on showing strong facial expressions and sharing bright, genuine smiles on stage.”

Across the EP, each track explores a different sound and mood. “B-Boy” leans into a hip-hop and breakbeat style, with a more stripped-back structure that puts the focus on rhythm and movement. For Yuna, recording it meant stepping into a different mindset. “It has a strong street and hip-hop mood, so I tried to bring out a more free and relaxed side of myself while recording,” she says. “I even imagined myself as a B-girl so I could express the lyrics more naturally.”

That contrast continues with “Blue Maze,” which takes a softer approach, blending R&B and pop elements into a more subtle atmospheric sound. “As soon as I heard ‘Blue Maze,’ it became my favourite B-side on the album,” she shares. “I really wanted to express the dreamy, almost illusion-like mood of the song, so I prepared a lot for the recording. It feels especially meaningful to me, and I imagined that I was in a dream while recording it.”

On the other end, “Hyper Dream” leans into a disco-inspired energy, driven by strong bass lines that give the track a more expansive feel. “It has a strong disco sound, and the retro mood is the most impactful part of the song,” she says. “When I listen to it, I imagine vivid colours and bold sets. It actually reminds me of a drama I worked on recently, which also had a similar retro feeling.”

Photo Credit: JYP Entertainment

Taken together, the four tracks form a compact but varied project, one that also pushed Yuna to better understand her own voice. “I don’t think I discovered something completely new about my voice, but I learned what it feels like to carry a full song on my own,” she explains. “There were some challenges since it was just me singing throughout, so I spent a lot of time making sure it didn’t feel empty to the listener.”

That process led her to think more carefully about how her voice is perceived and how she wants to shape it moving forward. “I think my voice has a very clear and distinct colour. Some people might find it nice, while others might feel it is a bit strong, so I tried to find a good balance. I see my voice as unique, with both strengths and limits, and I wanted to explore that through this album in a way that feels comfortable to listen to. My goal was to keep everything positive and share that feeling with the audience.”

When asked which track best represents her at this moment, her answer comes quickly. “Definitely ‘Ice Cream,’ because the melody, lyrics, and message all feel like 100% me,” she says. “I think it represents who I am right now the best.”

Photo Credit: JYP Entertainment

That sense of clarity reflects how far she has come since her debut. Looking back, her message to her younger self is simple. “I would say, ‘You’re doing great.’”

As Ice Cream reaches listeners around the world, she hopes that growth comes through clearly. “I hope people can see how I’ve grown from the youngest member of ITZY into an artist with my own unique musical colour,” she says. “I also hope it’s an album that stays with listeners for a long time, and that it brings more love and interest to both me and ITZY.” With this release, Yuna is taking that next step on her own, while still carrying everything that brought her here.

ITZY’s upcoming 3rd World Tour Tunnel Vision Concert Tour Dates are as followed:

April 17 – Melbourne – John Cain Arena

April 19 – Sydney – TikTok Entertainment Centre

May 9–10 – Tokyo – Keio Arena Tokyo

June 20 – Hong Kong – AsiaWorld-Arena

June 27 – Kaohsiung – Kaohsiung Arena

July 4 – Bangkok – Impact Arena

July 11 – Manila – SM Mall of Asia Arena

Watch the music video for ITZY YUNA’s solo debut song “Ice Cream” below:

ITZY’s YUNA made her solo debut with the EP Ice Cream on March 23, 2026. The album, featuring the title track of the same name, is now available on all streaming platforms.

This interview was conducted with the assistance of a Korean-English translator

Top Photo Credit: JYP Entertainment

Introducing the StageMag Show Promo Kit

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:19:43 PST

Introducing the Show Promo Kit — your all-in-one toolkit for promoting your production! Everything you need to spread the word, now in a single dedicated page in your Stage Mag dashboard.

What's included:

Save the Date Page — A beautiful, branded landing page for your show with your cover artwork, dates, venue, and StageMag overlay. Share it anywhere with a direct link, QR code, or embed code.
Downloadable Social Media Images — Ready-made promotional graphics in every major size (Instagram Story, Instagram/Facebook Post, Facebook Cover, Twitter/X). Choose from multiple designs: Save the Date, Coming Soon, 7 Days Away, 3 Days Away, It's Today!, and Now Playing.
Countdown Clock — Build anticipation with a live countdown timer on your Save the Date page.
Ticket Link Button — Drive advance sales with a prominent, customizable ticket button.
Email Subscriber Signup — Collect emails directly from your Save the Date page with custom promo text, confirmation emails, and a styled dark-theme signup form.
Responsive JS Embed — A lightweight embed snippet that auto-sizes to fit any website, in addition to the standard iframe embed.

Find it in your Stage Mag dashboard under Show Promo Kit in the sidebar navigation.

StageMag 2026 is designed to support theatres of every size, helping you spend less time wrestling with tools and more time telling your story. Begin your StageMag experience today!

Fourth Round Voting Open For BroadwayWorld's Best Movie Musical Of All Time Bracket

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 12:59:01 PST

Voting is now open for the fourth round of BroadwayWorld's Annual Bracket! Which film is really the Best Movie Musical of all time? Our editors have selected the options, and now BroadwayWorld invites YOU to join us and our readers in deciding which movie musical deserves the title of The Ultimate Best Movie Musical!

How To Participate

Schedule of Events

Round 1: Starts Tuesday, February 24, 2026 and ends Sunday, March 8, 2026
Round 2: Starts Monday, March 9 and ends Sunday, March 15, 2026
Round 3: Starts Monday, March 16 and ends Sunday, March 22, 2026
Round 4: Starts Monday, March 23 and ends Sunday, March 29, 2026
Round 5: Starts Monday, March 30 and ends Sunday, April 5, 2026
Round 6: Starts Monday, April 6 and ends Sunday, April 12, 2026

Check back daily for live stats to see how your favorite shows are ranking!

Vote Now & View Stats

Director Koo Ja-ha Wins International Ibsen Award; First Asian and Youngest Winner

Sat, 21 Mar 2026 18:52:37 PST

The Embassy of Norway announced that director Koo Ja-ha won the International Ibsen Award for 2026, making him the first Asian winner and the youngest winner in the award's history.

Koo has directed works such as Haribo Kimchi, Cuckoo, and The History of Korean Western Theatre.

"In a world where bigger and louder are often equated with best and usually lauded, Jaha presents alternative ways of seeing the world," reads the Ibsen Award's website. "He eschews the loud and the bombastic in favour of the intimate, the delicate and the small: almost akin to an elegant chamber orchestra, but often providing sharp socio-political critique and expansive reflections on identity, displacement, and the erosion of democracy."

"His theatre is shaped by translocation: the journey between Seoul and Ghent — where he now lives and works; by histories of colonialism and the unexpected personal impact of imperialism; by a searching look at possibilities and hopes," the page discussing Koo's win also reads. "His work is never about being a hostage to the past but rather a means of understanding its complexities and lasting impact in shaping the present he inhabits. He envisages possibilities that allow audiences to see beyond the trappings of their current conditions, succinctly refracted in the magical stage worlds he creates."

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