Wake Up With BroadwayWorld November 18, 2025- SPELLING BEE Opens At New World Stages and More
Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is November 18, 2025 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is November 18, 2025 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours:
| Picked For You |
Good morning, Broadway fans! Wake up with the latest buzz from the world of theatre. OEDIPUS opened in style with stars like Mark Strong and Lesley Manville walking the red carpet, while Grammy winner Ne-Yo prepares for his Broadway debut in HELL’S KITCHEN. Broadway’s brightest also celebrated the opening of the first-ever Broadway revival of CHESS, and you can relive those stunning moments with gorgeous curtain call photos. Meanwhile, Sean Hayes returns Off-Broadway in THE UNKNOWN, Disney dropped the first teaser for the live-action MOANA, and voting is now open for Next On Stage: Season 6. Stay tuned for more industry updates, special events, and today's hottest theatre headlines!
But first...
| This Week's Call Sheet |
Thursday, November 20
Marjorie Prime begins previews on Broadway
| The Front Page |
 Video: Opening Night Red Carpet of OEDIPUS With Mark Strong, Lesley Manville and More See footage from the opening night red carpet o Oediups, starring Mark Strong, Lesley Manville and more! Watch as BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge interviews the cast and creative team. |
 Ne-Yo Make Broadway Debut as 'Davis' in HELL’S KITCHEN Ne-Yo will make his Broadway debut in Hell's Kitchen. Nearly a decade after the recording artist won audiences over as The Tin Man in NBC’s “The Wiz Live!,” Ne-Yo steps onto the Broadway stage for the first time in the role of “Davis.” |
 Voting Open to Pick the Top 15 of Next On Stage: Season 6 Voting is now open for BroadwayWorld's Next On Stage, Broadway's biggest national competition for high school and college students. Cast your vote now! |
| Must Watch |
 Video: CHESS Cast Takes Opening Night Bowsby Stephi Wild The first-ever Broadway revival of CHESS officially opened at Broadway’s Imperial Theatre last night, Sunday, November 16. Check out a video from curtain call, featuring Aaron Tveit, Lea Michele and Nicholas Christopher, here! . (more...) |
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 Sean Hayes Will Lead THE UNKNOWN Off-Broadwayby Stephi Wild Tony, Emmy & SAG Award winning actor Sean Hayes will return to the New York stage in THE UNKNOWN, a new one-man play by playwright David Cale, directed by Tony Award nominee Leigh Silverman. . (more...) |
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Video: WICKED: FOR GOOD Cast Join THE TONIGHT SHOW for WICKED Beat Bit |
Video: Watch the First Teaser Trailer for Disney's Live-Action MOANA| Hot Photos |
 Photos: Cast of CHESS Cast Takes Opening Night Curtain Callby Bruce Glikas The first-ever Broadway revival of Chess officially opened at Broadway’s Imperial Theatre last night, Sunday, November 16. Check out photos of the cast, featuring Aaron Tveit, Lea Michele and Nicholas Christopher, taking their first bows here! . (more...) |
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 Photos: ANNIE Opens at The Argyle Theatreby Genevieve Rafter Keddy The Argyle Theatre officially opened its production of ANNIE directed by Valerie Wright, choreographed by Debbie Roshe, musical direction by Jonathan Brenner. Check out photos from opening night here!. (more...) |
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 Photos: Will Brill, Andrea Martin and More in MEET THE CARTOZIANSby Chloe Rabinowitz You can now get a first look at Meet the Cartozians, which opens at the Irene Diamond Stage at the Pershing Square Signature Center. Meet The Cartozians is written by Talene Monahon is directed by David Cromer.. (more...) |
| Industry Insights |
by Chloe Rabinowitz
A private industry reading of the original musical RAILS with Music & Lyrics by Tom Kenaston and Book & Lyrics by Tom Paitson Kelly will be presented as part of Musical Theatre West’s New Works initiative. . (more...)
Stephanie Styles, Gabe Gibbs, and Elizabeth Judd to Lead CAN'T HARDLY WAIT The Musical Reading
by Chloe Rabinowitz
The cast has been revealed for the upcoming industry reading of Can’t Hardly Wait the Musical!, written by Sinead Daly, with arrangements and orchestrations by Jesse Vargas and directed by Kate Sullivan.. (more...)
New Musical XTRAVAGANZA To Bring True Story Of Vogue Trailblazer To The Stage
by A.A. Cristi
A new musical titled XTRAVAGANZA is currently in development with an invited workshop presentation at Gibney Studios in New York. Featuring music and lyrics by Khiyon Hursey and a book by R. Eric Thomas, the project is inspired by the life of ballroom pioneer José Xtravaganza. . (more...)
Industry Pro Newsletter: Leigh Silverman New President of SDCF, UK’s National Youth Theatre Expands Access Initiative
by Alex Freeman
Poudre High School Theatre demonstrates how Stage Mag can be used by organizations of all shapes and sizes to build a fully interactive show program. In New York, the Performing Arts Library prepares a major Martha Graham exhibition, and Leigh Silverman steps into her new role as President of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation. Regionally, IN Series appoints its first Executive Director and Dallas restores funding to Dallas Black Dance Theatre. Abroad, the National Youth Theatre expands its Assemble programme with a significant new grant.. (more...)
| Around the Broadway World |
by Stephi Wild
Tony, Emmy & SAG Award winning actor Sean Hayes will return to the New York stage in THE UNKNOWN, a new one-man play by playwright David Cale, directed by Tony Award nominee Leigh Silverman. . (more...)
Review: ANNIE at The Argyle Theatre
by Sam Desmond
A perennial, heart-warming tale of personal and societal triumph, the Argyle Theatre’s opening night of “Annie” was a celebratory reminder of why we should never give up on our dreams, even if they look a little different when they come true.. (more...)
Team StarKid Will Have First West End Season With THE GUY WHO DIDN'T LIKE MUSICALS
by Stephi Wild
The American cult-favourite theatre company, StarKid, is headed to the West End with The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals, playing its first ever London season at the Apollo Theatre.. (more...)
THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE Extends Run at New World Stages
by Stephi Wild
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee will extend its run off-Broadway through April 12, 2026, due to popular demand. The production opens tonight, Monday, November 17, at New World Stages, and celebrated with a gala on Sunday, November 16.. (more...)
WICKED: FOR GOOD Score Album Coming in December; Tracklist Revealed
by Josh Sharpe
On December 5, Republic Records will release the official score album for Wicked: For Good, containing all the instrumental underscoring written for the film by Stephen Schwartz and John Powell.. (more...)
WICKED: FOR GOOD Drops Exclusive Sneak Peek Clip on Peacock
by Josh Sharpe
Ahead of the release of Wicked: For Good, Peacock is dropping a surprise sneak peek clip of the film on Monday, November 17. The clip will be introduced by Director Jon M. Chu and will feature film stars Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande and Jeff Goldblum.. (more...)
Kelli O'Hara to Perform One Night Only Concert at Lincoln Center Theater
by Chloe Rabinowitz
Tony Award-winner Kelli O’Hara will return to Lincoln Center Theater's Vivian Beaumont Theater stage in a one-night-only concert titled An Evening with Kelli O’Hara.. (more...)
LIBERATION Extends Broadway Run For Additional Three Weeks
by Chloe Rabinowitz
Liberation will extend its run on Broadway for an additional three weeks. The play is written by Tony Award nominee Bess Wohl and directed by Tony Award nominee Whitney White.. (more...)
Contest: Win a Copy of Cynthia Erivo’s book, ‘Simply More’
by Michael Major
Enter to win a copy of 'Simply More' by Cynthia Erivo. BroadwayWorld is giving away 10 copies of the Wicked star's new book, Simply More: A Book for Anyone Who Has Been Told They're Too Much. Enter the form below for your chance to win a copy.. (more...)
Michael James Scott Joins Cast of SCRUBS Reboot
by Josh Sharpe
Michael James Scott, the longest-running performer to play the iconic role of the Genie in Aladdin on Broadway, will star in the forthcoming reboot of Scrubs at ABC.. (more...)
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