James M. Nederlander News

THE WIZ will return to Chicago as part of Broadway In Chicago’s touring season with a limited engagement at the James M. Nederlander Theatre. The national tour includes Dana Cimone, Alan Mingo Jr., Sheherazade, Kyla Jade, D. Jerome, Cal Mitchell, and Elijah Ahmad Lewis.

MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER CHRISTMAS by Chip Davis will play the James M. Nederlander Theatre in Chicago for two performances on December 20. The program features music from the ensemble’s Christmas recordings, directed and co-produced by Chip Davis.

Gulfshore Playhouse will launch of the Next Wave Festival, a dynamic new play festival showcasing cutting-edge theatrical voices from across the country. Taking place January 31 - February 1, 2026.

HELL’S KITCHEN, the Alicia Keys jukebox musical now making its Chicago premiere as part of the first national tour, has a messy storyline wrapped in slick packaging. While the show is loosely based on Keys’s childhood in Manhattan, the storytelling is generic, and the songs are often awkwardly incorporated into the book. Admittedly, Kristoffer Diaz’s book is weak. It’s a flimsy vehicle for Keys’s song catalog. Huge Alicia Keys fans might enjoy hearing her biggest hits performed by musical theater actors, but the plot around them doesn’t hang together.

HELL’S KITCHEN, the 13-time Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical featuring the songs of Alicia Keys, is now playing at the James M. Nederlander Theatre in Chicago through November 30, 2025.

DPAC has announced that school registration is now open for the 2025–2026 season of the DPAC Rising Star Awards, central North Carolina’s High School Musical Theatre Awards.

Broadway In Chicago has announced that The Wiz, Les Misérables, and Chicago will return to the city in 2026. The new national tours will play at the James M. Nederlander Theatre, the Cadillac Palace Theatre, and the Auditorium Theatre.

Broadway In Chicago has revealed the full season line up for the next Broadway In Chicago Subscription Series, featuring The Notebook and more. See the full lineup here!

The North American tour of The Sound of Music is now underway! The tour launched at the Stanley Theatre in Utica, NY from September 5–6 before traveling to cities across North America for multiple seasons. Read the reviews here!

The production features Peter Hargrave (Scar), David D’Lancy Wilson (Mufasa), Mukelisiwe Goba (Rafiki), Robert Creighton (Timon), Nick LaMedica (Zazu), Danny Grumich (Pumbaa), Gilbert Domally (Simba), and more.

​Broadway In Chicago is inviting high schools across the State of Illinois to participate in the 15th Annual Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards. Learn how to apply!

BroadwayWorld has just learned that the 17th annual Jimmy Awards will take place on Monday, June 22, 2026 at 7:30pm at Broadway’s Minskoff Theatre, 200 West 45th Street in Manhattan.

Tickets are now on sale for HELL’S KITCHEN, Alicia Keys’ hit Broadway musical, coming to Chicago’s James M. Nederlander Theatre November 11–30, 2025. The North American Tour will star Maya Drake as Ali, with Kennedy Caughell and Roz White featured in principal roles.

Open call auditions for the roles of “MJ” and “Little Michael” in MJ will be held in Las Vegas, NV. Learn more about the show and see how to audition for the productions here!

Lincoln Alejandro Collier will join the Broadway cast of MJ in the role of Little Marlon beginning tonight, Friday, August 8. Originally from Los Angeles, Collier will make his Broadway debut in the production, replacing Julius-Raymond Weems IV.

Broadway In Chicago has revealed that single tickets will go on sale Monday, August 11 for the highly anticipated Rodgers & Hammerstein classic, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, playing at the James M. Nederlander Theatre.

The cast has been revealed for the North American Tour of WATER FOR ELEPHANTS. Learn more about the tour and see how to purchase tickets to upcoming dates.

The complete cast has been revealed for the third year of the First National Tour of the musical MJ. See who is starring and learn if the tour is coming to your city here!

Principal casting has been announced for the upcoming North American tour of THE SOUND OF MUSIC. Learn more about the tour and find out who is starring here!

Broadway In Chicago has announced four new productions set to take the stage in 2026: THE GREAT GATSBY, WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, SUFFS, and SPAMALOT. These titles will be part of the upcoming Broadway In Chicago Subscription Series, with subscription packages going on sale this fall.