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.
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.
The Muny announced the principal cast for Disney's NEWSIES, starring Casey Likes, Michael Park, and Anastacia McCleskey, among others, in the production's first Forest Park return since 2017.
The Muny announced the lead cast for SOMETHING ROTTEN!, including Tony winner Matt Doyle and Bryonha Marie, as the musical comedy makes its Muny premiere to close Season 108 in Forest Park.
Anna Zavelson, known for her Broadway debut in THE NOTEBOOK, will join the cast of PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at His Majesty's Theatre in London for an 11-week run alongside Dean Chisnall as The Phantom.
The Muny announced the cast for its premiere production of AIN'T TOO PROUD: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS, starring James T. Lane, Nick Rashad Burroughs, Jawan Jackson, Elijah Ahmad Lewis, and Daniel Yearwood.
The Muny announced the lead cast for its upcoming production of SOUTH PACIFIC, starring Paulo Szot and Taylor Louderman alongside ten additional performers at the outdoor theatre in Forest Park.
New production photos have been released for Cameron Mackintosh’s production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at His Majesty’s Theatre. Check out the photos here!
Beatrice Penny-Touré will play the role of Christine Daaé in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera at His Majesty’s Theatre for 10 weeks only, from Monday, March 2 until Saturday, May 9.
This past season was the year of the comedy in St. Louis Theater. Companies across the city had audiences laughing all season long with slapstick, farce, and satire. There were some wonderful musical productions that really sang, a few hard hitting dramas, but comedies reigned in both quantity and quality. Instead of publishing a Top 10 list this year, I’m going to recognize the Best in St. Louis Theater for 2025. “The Best” is still a shortened list of just 13 shows out of the nearly 90 shows I saw this past year. It took weeks of thought and painstaking consideration to decide which productions would be included in my annual list. Here they are. The productions are listed in alphabetical order, not ranked by favorites:
New production photos have been released for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at His Majesty’s Theatre. Check out the photos and learn more here!
The Muny’s La Cage Aux Folles is enormity in storytelling. Contrasted with the intimacy of last week’s Dear Evan Hansen, Marsha Milgrom Dodge’s La Cage captures the grandeur of what The Muny does best. It is a grand venue that supports epic productions.
The Muny production of Dear Evan Hansen is a departure from the huge overblown musical extravaganzas that normally populate The Muny stage. It's a much smaller show but it is profoundly emotional. It creates intimacy that was once thought impossible in this large venue and opens other opportunities for the stories that the Muny can tell. Like his emotionally charged direction of Fiddler on the Roof last season, Rob Ruggerio’s Muny version of Dear Evan Hansen packs an emotional wallop. Michael Fabisch, Jackie Burns, Maggie Lakis, Rob McClure, Afra Sophia Tully, and the rest of this cast grabs the audience, holds them close, and leaves them with a deeply touching and poignantly warm theatrical experience.
The Muny’s Frozen is filled with endearing performances, gasp-inducing stagecraft, beautiful musical direction by Darryl Archibald, and loveable puppets created by Puppet Kitchen’s Eric Wright. But it's not the many wow moments that make Frozen special. Frozen is touching because of John Tartaglia’s moving storytelling that takes the audience on a journey beyond Arendelle to explore a sister’s love and the basic need for human connection.
The Muny’s emotionally impactful Come From Away captures the humanity, heart, and soul of Irene Sankoff and David Hein’s poignant book and beautifully soaring score. This elite cast of actors transports the audience back to Gander, Newfoundland with lived-in and emotionally truthful performances. Director Seth Skylar-Heyn did the near impossible shrinking the colossal Muny’s stage into an intimate storytelling space. Scenic designer Edward E. Haynes’ revolving stage is genius.
The Muny has revealed the full cast for its premiere production of Disney's Frozen, which runs next month on the James S. McDonnell Stage in Forest Park. Learn more here!
New casting has been announced for Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at His Majesty's Theatre, Joining the company on Monday 28 July will be Adam Rhys-Charles as Raoul and Bradyn Debysingh as Ubaldo Piangi.
The Muny has shared a new look behind the scenes of Bring It On: The Musical! Brace yourself for the ultimate cheer showdown with The Muny's first production of the summer! Their upcoming season will also include Frozen, Evita, Come From Away, and more. Watch the video!
The Muny has shared a video of Kennedy Holmes performing “We Ain’t No Cheerleaders” from Bring It On: The Musical! Brace yourself for the ultimate cheer showdown with The Muny's first production of the summer!
The Muny has announced the full cast for its premiere production of Bring It On: The Musical, which opens the theatre's 107th season in Forest Park beginning this month.
