Broadway Watch Guide: New Theater Titles to See This Month
Find out the noteworthy new titles to watch this April for theater buffs, whether at home or at your local cinemas!
Welcome to the April edition of our Broadway watch guide, which includes the best of what's new on TV for theater buffs! For this list, we are opening up the stage doors to spotlight the most noteworthy new titles to watch, whether at home or at your local cinema.
This month, there are plenty of new things for Broadway fans to watch, from highly anticipated originals to returning favorites. The beginning of April marks the return of Your Friends & Neighbors. Led by Jon Hamm, the Apple series also stars several Broadway favorites, including Tony Award-winner Lena Hall, who sings and plays guitar as Coop's sister Ali.
Also streaming this month is Merrily We Roll Along, which comes to Netflix on April 4. The release is the cinematic interpretation of the hit 2023 Broadway revival, which took home four Tony Awards, including one for Best Revival.
Theatrical releases include Michael, the highly anticipated biopic of Michael Jackson, with his nephew Jaafar playing the late music icon. The film highlights his life on and off stage and recreates some of the best-known performances from his early solo career. Audiences can also go see Mother Mary, featuring Anne Hathaway's turn as a famous pop star who experiences a crisis while on tour.
As for music, April will see the release of Claybourne Elder's studio recording of his one-man show, If the Stars Were Mine, which includes songs from Stephen Sondheim, the Great American Songbook, Whitney Houston, and more. Other notable music releases include new covers of songs from The Beach Boys by Jersey Boys star Michael Longoria, and an album of original material by musical theater performer Alfie Boe.
Take a look below for the full list of movies, television, and music you should watch this April! Head here to find out what you missed in March.
What to Watch This Month
Your Friends & Neighbors (Season 2 Premiering on Apple TV on April 3)
In the second season of the Apple TV series, Coop (Jon Hamm) doubles down on his life as an unlikely suburban thief, until the arrival of a new neighbor threatens to expose his secrets and place his family at risk. The second season welcomes Emmy Award-nominee James Marsden as the mysterious new neighbor.
Returning for the new season are Amanda Peet, Olivia Munn, Hoon Lee (Broadway's The King and I), Mark Tallman, Tony-winner Lena Hall (Hedwig and the Angry Inch), Tony-winner Miriam Silverman (The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window), Aimee Carrero, Eunice Bae, Isabel Gravitt, and Donovan Colan.
The first season also featured several other Broadway alums, including Ramin Karimloo, Jordan Gelber, Jennifer Mudge, Stephanie Kurtzuba, and Manu Narayan, among others.
Merrily We Roll Along (Streaming on Netflix on April 4)
Following its theatrical release last December, the filmed version of the Tony Award-winning musical will make its debut on Netflix.
Spanning three decades, Merrily We Roll Along charts the turbulent relationship between composer Franklin Shepard and his two lifelong friends, writer Mary and lyricist & playwright Charley. The show features a book by George Furth and music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.
The critically acclaimed production won the 2024 Tony Awards for Best Revival of a Musical, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical, Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical and Best Orchestrations.
The Land of Sometimes (Available on digital platforms on April 7)
The Land of Sometimes is a new animated musical, featuring a star-studded cast and new songs from EGOT-winning songwriter Sir Tim Rice. The voice cast includes Ewan McGregor, Helena Bonham Carter, Mel Brooks, Terry Jones, Asa Butterfield, Jessica Henwick, Alisha Weir, and Andrei Shen.
The story follows twins Alfie and Elise, who summon the mysterious and enigmatic Wish Collector after receiving an unusual watch as a Christmas gift. Upon his arrival, they "are whisked away to a fantastical realm brimming with unforgettable creatures, surprises at every turn, and an unexpected revelation," reads a synopsis. "As the twins journey through this enchanting world, they discover a truth more powerful than any wish: the enduring strength of family."
The musical score features original songs by singer-songwriter Francesca Longrigg, as well as new songs by lyricist Tim Rice and composer Pete Hobbs. Known for his work on shows like Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, and Chess, Rice also wrote lyrics for Disney's animated Aladdin and The Lion King, as well as the stage version of Beauty and the Beast. This marks his first foray back to animated features in more than 25 years.
Hacks (Season 5 Premiering on HBO/HBO Max on April 9)
Hacks, the hit comedy series featuring Jean Smart in her Emmy-winning role as Deborah Vance, is returning for a fifth and final season this month. The 10-episode season will debut new episodes weekly, beginning on April 9.
Season 5 picks up in the aftermath of mistaken and unflattering news reports that Deborah has passed away, leading her and Ava (Hannah Einbinder) to return to Las Vegas more determined than ever to secure Deborah’s legacy as a comedian. Check out the trailer for the new season now.
The cast includes the return of series regulars Emmy winner Jean Smart, Emmy winner Hannah Einbinder, Emmy winner Paul W. Downs, Megan Stalter, Emmy nominee Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Mark Indelicato, and Rose Abdoo.
Hamlet (Arriving in theaters on April 10)
Starring Riz Ahmed as the titular prince, Hamlet is a new reimagining of the Shakespeare tragedy now set in modern-day London. A member of a British South Asian family, Hamlet returns to London for the funeral of his father, only for his uncle, Claudius, to announce that he’s marrying Hamlet’s just-widowed mother.
After seeing his father’s ghost, who says he was murdered by Claudius, Hamlet becomes consumed by rage and revenge. He goes to violent lengths to avenge his father’s murder, questioning not only his role in the family business but his own sanity.
Directed by Aneil Karia from a screenplay by Michael Lesslie, the cast also includes Morfydd Clark as Ophelia, Joe Alwyn as Laertes, Sheeba Chaddha as Gertrude, Art Malik as Claudius, and Timothy Spall as Polonius. The movie premiered last year at the 52nd Telluride Film Festival.
Mother Mary (Opening in theaters on April 17)
A24's Mother Mary follows Anne Hathaway as iconic pop star Mother Mary, who reunites with her estranged Best Friend and former Costume Designer, Sam Anselm (Michaela Coel), on the eve of her comeback performance, resulting in long-buried wounds rising to the surface.
Hathaway performs several original pop songs written for the new film by Jack Antonoff and Charli xcx. Hunter Schafer, Atheena Frizzell, Kaia Gerber, Jessica Brown Findlay, Alba Baptista, Isaura Barbé-Brown, with Sian Clifford, and FKA Twigs also star. The movie is written and directed by David Lowery.
The Christophers (Opening in theaters on April 17)
Steven Soderbergh’s The Christophers stars Tony Award-winning performer Ian McKellen as painter Julian Sklar, who utilizes the help of an art restorer to help him complete several unfinished pieces.
Once a star of London’s 1960’s and 70’s pop art explosion, Julian hasn’t painted in decades and has been broke for years. His two estranged children, desperate for an inheritance, hire Lori, an art restorer and former forger (Michaela Coel), to pose as a prospective assistant to access 8 unfinished canvases Julian has buried deep in storage. She plans to complete them, then return them to storage, where they are to be 'discovered' upon Julian’s death.
Having first premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, the movie also stars Tony winner James Corden and Jessica Gunning as Julian's children.
Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85 (Streaming on Netflix April 23)
Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85 is an animated spin-off of the hit Netflix series, featuring the voice of Broadway favorite Jeremy Jordan.
The show picks up in Hawkins during the winter of 1985. With the horrors of the Upside Down finally fading, the original characters, including Eleven, Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas, and Max, have settled back into their normal routine of D&D, snowball fights, and quiet days after the events of Season 2.
But beneath the ice, something terrifying and mysterious has awakened and our heroes must race to solve this mystery and save Hawkins. Hailing from Showrunner Eric Robles and Executive Producers, the Duffer Brothers, this new series marks the franchise's first foray into the world of animation.
Michael (Arriving in theaters on April 24)
Michael is the cinematic portrayal of the life and legacy of music icon Michael Jackson. Starring Jaafar Jackson as his late uncle, the film tells the story of Michael Jackson’s life beyond the music, tracing his journey from the discovery of his talent as the lead of The Jackson 5, to his pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world. The film highlights both his life off-stage and some of the most well-known performances from his early solo career.
The movie stars Broadway alum Colman Domingo and Nia Long as Michael's parents, along with Miles Teller, Jessica Sula, Liv Symone, Kevin Shinick, KeiLyn Durrel Jones, and Kendrick Sampson. Larenz Tate and Kat Graham will play Motown Records founder Berry Gordy and Diana Ross, respectively. It is directed by Antoine Fuqua from a script by John Logan.
Original Sound (Arriving in theaters on April 24)
Original Sound is a film adaptation based on Adam Seidel's off-Broadway play. Marking the directorial debut of Tony Award winner Gregory Jbara, the movie will be released in theaters on April 24, 2026.
Original Sound follows beat maker Danny Solis, who may have found his big break when his track is pilfered by pop star Ryan Reed. To keep Danny quiet, Ryan's manager brokers a deal in which Ryan and Danny will collaborate on a few songs. Their work together introduces Danny to Manhattan's music scene and leads Ryan to pivot her career. However, Danny moves forward amid his disappointment and betrayal, finding solace and strength within his original sound.
Written by Seidel, the film stars David Lambert, Laura Marano, Ari Notartomaso, Luis Antonio Ramos, Constantine Maroulis, with Eric Stoltz and Bridget Moynahan. Music is by Erik Blicker and Glenn Schloss, with Sarah Brandes as cinematographer, Soojin Chung as editor, and Sadra Tehrani as the production designer.
Disney Animation’s Songs in Sign Language (Coming to Disney+ on April 27)
In celebration of National Deaf History Month, Disney+ is debuting Disney Animation’s Songs in Sign Language, created in collaboration with Los Angeles’ Tony Award-winning Deaf West Theatre.
These three animated musical sequences are taken from recent Walt Disney Animation Studios features and are newly reimagined and animated in American Sign Language (ASL).
Directed by veteran Disney animator/director Hyrum Osmond, the featured songs are “The Next Right Thing” (from Frozen 2), “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” (from Encanto) and “Beyond” (from Moana 2). A special behind-the-scenes featurette will accompany the release, taking viewers into the collaboration between the studio and theater company.
Theater Music and Cast Recordings
Claybourne Elder: If the Stars Were Mine (Releasing April 3)
Claybourne Elder is releasing a studio recording of his popular one-man show, If the Stars Were Mine. In the live show, which Elder has described as "a cross between standup, a piece of theater, and a cabaret act," the Company alum performs his favorite music from Stephen Sondheim, the Great American Songbook, Whitney Houston, and beyond, also exploring sex, fatherhood, and religion. Elder has performed the show across stages in New York, Massachusetts, Utah, London and more. Pre-save the album here.
Michael Longoria: Catch A Wave (Releasing April 10)
Michael Longoria, a former cast member of Jersey Boys on Broadway, is releasing Catch A Wave, a new album celebrating the songs of The Beach Boys. The album features new renditions of some of the most beloved songs from the California group, including "Catch A Wave," "California Girls," and "Don't Worry Baby." Pre-save the album here and listen to Longoria's cover of "Good Vibrations" below.
Alfie Boe: Face Myself (Releasing April 10)
Tony Award winner and international musical theater performer Alfie Boe will release his first-ever album of predominantly original material, Face Myself. Moving away from his usual renditions of showtunes, the album marks a return to Boe's Northern heritage and reflects his love of indie music with original songs. Listen to the first single from the album, ‘Meanwhile Gardens’, below.
Katerina McCrimmon: Kat's Out Of The Bag! (Releasing April 17)
Musical theater performer Katerina McCrimmon (Funny Girl) is releasing her debut album this month. Produced by Paul Hannah, Kat’s Out of the Bag! features eight standards recorded live over two days at 800 East Studios in Atlanta, without rehearsals. Tracks on the album include “Under My Skin," “I Fall In Love Too Easily," and Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered." Listen to her jazzy take on the Cole Porter standard, “Night and Day,” below.
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