Santa Barbara Theater Newsroom
The latest news on live theater in Santa Barbara from Broadway shows on tour to regional theater.
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Submissions Are Open For BroadwayWorld's Next On Stage: Season 7
Get your audition book ready and start warming up your vocal cords—your moment in the spotlight is almost here! Next On Stage, BroadwayWorld’s nationwide competition for high school and college students, is back for Season 7, and we’re raising the curtain on our biggest season yet.
Nominations Open For The 2026 BroadwayWorld Santa Barbara Awards
Nominations are now open for the 2026 BroadwayWorld Santa Barbara Awards! The 2026 Regional Awards honor productions which had their first performance between October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
CLUE to Open at The Theatre Group at SBCC's Garvin Theatre
The Theatre Group at SBCC will stage the murder-mystery comedy CLUE at the Garvin Theatre, directed by Amy Love, following the board game and cult film's whodunit premise.
Second Year Cast Set For THE OUTSIDERS National Tour
Nolan White will lead THE OUTSIDERS national tour as Ponyboy Curtis when the second year begins September 19 in Denver, with stops including Los Angeles, Costa Mesa, Seattle and San Francisco.
Ailey II to Launch 27-City Tour Featuring World Premiere by Francesca Harper
Ailey II will tour 27 US cities from September 22, 2026, to April 11, 2027, presenting a world premiere by Francesca Harper and works by Alvin Ailey and Ronald K.
Kayla Ryan Walsh Joins MAMMA MIA! North American Tour Cast; Rob Hancock to Play 'Harry Bright'
Kayla Ryan Walsh joins the 25th Anniversary Tour of MAMMA MIA! as Rosie, while Rob Hancock moves from ensemble to Harry Bright, alongside returning principal cast members Jessica Crouch and Juliette M.
Photos: MYSTIC PIZZA Tour in Rehearsals; Full Cast Revealed
The complete cast has been announced for Mystic Pizza: A New Musical, with all new rehearsal photos also being released.
Around The BroadwayWorld: Top News, Reviews, Interviews & More from August 2026
In this August 2026 edition, two major national tours are gearing up to hit the road, with the casts of OH, MARY! and JERSEY BOYS offering behind-the-scenes looks at their rehearsal processes, while BroadwayWorld exclusively revealed that Aliya Grace will lead the upcoming BOOP! THE MUSICAL tour lau
John Rubinstein and More Will Join THE NOTEBOOK North American Tour
New casting has been announced for the second year of the North American Tour of THE NOTEBOOK, including John Rubinstein, Angela Birchett, Makena Jackson, and more.
Video: The JERSEY BOYS Tour Cast Is Getting Ready to Hit the Road
Jersey Boys is getting ready to hit the road for its 20th Anniversary North American Tour.
DRACULA, A DARK SHADOW to Have World Premiere at State Street Ballet
State Street Ballet will premiere Dracula, a Dark Shadow at Santa Barbara's The Granada Theatre, featuring choreography by Nicolas Blanc and a live score by Philip Glass performed by Kronos Quartet.
Video: Watch the JERSEY BOYS Tour Cast Perform 'My Boyfriend's Back' in Rehearsals
Jersey Boys is getting redy to hit the road for its 20th Anniversary North American Tour.
Exclusive: New Cast and Dates Announced for THE WIZ National Tour
Crossroads Live North America, producer of the National Tour of THE WIZ, has just announced an all-new cast who will ease on down the road.
Full Cast Announced for BOOP! THE MUSICAL National Tour
BOOP! The Musical has just announced the full cast for the upcoming North American Tour.
MANIA: THE ABBA TRIBUTE Sets US Tour Cast, to Open in Wichita in October
MANIA: The ABBA Tribute has announced full principal casting for its 2026/2027 US National Tour, which will open October 9, 2026, at the Orpheum Theatre in Wichita, Kansas.
Video: Watch the ‘Demented’ Cast of OH, MARY! Get Ready to Hit the Road
Oh, Mary! is hitting the road—and its new company is ready to unleash Mary Todd Lincoln on the rest of America.
Take Our Fall 2026 Survey For A Chance To Win A $100 Amazon Gift Card
BroadwayWorld's research surveys are used by industry members to make decisions about productions, marketing, and more.
Bilingual Shakespeare Adaptation LA COMEDIA OF ERRORS Will Come to PCPA
PCPA will stage LA COMEDIA OF ERRORS, a bilingual English-Spanish adaptation of Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors, at the Severson Theatre in Santa Maria, directed by Christian Arteaga.
CLUE Tour to Launch Los Angeles Run In September; Tour Dates Announced
The North American tour of CLUE will open its third season at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles September 8-12, 2026, before visiting Memphis, St.
May Pang to Showcase John Lennon Photos in Santa Barbara in THE LOST WEEKEND
May Pang, John Lennon's companion during his 'Lost Weekend' era, will present candid photographs of Lennon for a two-day exhibition and sale at the Tamsen Gallery in Santa Barbara.
BUYER & CELLAR to Open Ensemble Theatre Company 48th Season
Brian McDonald will reprise his solo comedic performance as Alex in Jonathan Tolins' BUYER & CELLAR, directed by Jamie Torcellini at Santa Barbara's New Vic Theatre.
THE BANANA FACTORY, THE RINK AT THE END OF THE WORLD Set for LAUNCH PAD Reading Series
LAUNCH PAD will present free staged readings of two new plays by Julia Izumi and Megan Tabaque in downtown Santa Barbara, in partnership with Ensemble Theatre Company at The New Vic Theatre.
Cast Set For New Version of THE BODYGUARD on North American Tour
The full cast has been set for the new North American tour of THE BODYGUARD the Musical, which will launch in October.
Full Cast Set For MAYBE HAPPY ENDING North American Tour
Steven Huynh and Claire Kwon will reprise their Broadway roles as the MAYBE HAPPY ENDING North American tour launches in Baltimore on September 13, 2026, with over 30 additional cities to follow.
ELIJAH ROCK: MEMORIES UNLEASHED to Play New Vic Theatre in Santa Barbara
Ensemble Theatre Company will present ELIJAH ROCK: MEMORIES UNLEASHED, a one-night concert of song and story featuring music from the Great American Songbook, jazz, and blues.
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Jack Johnson Santa Barbara Bowl (10/03-10/03) |
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Ubu's Other Shoe Staged Reading: The Guys San Luis Obispo Repertory Theatre (1/29-1/30) |
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Buyer & Cellar The New Vic (10/07-10/25) |
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Murder For Two Rubicon Theatre Company (5/12-5/30) |
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Number the Stars San Luis Obispo Repertory Theatre (1/15-1/24) |
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John & Jen Rubicon Theatre Company (2/10-2/28) |
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Ragtime Rubicon Theatre Company (10/21-11/08) |
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Gutenberg! The Musical! San Luis Obispo Repertory Theatre (10/09-11/08) |
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The Father: A Tragic Farce The Father: A Tragic Farce (8/28-9/13) |
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Ubu's Other Shoe Staged Reading: The Vertical Hour San Luis Obispo Repertory Theatre (9/18-9/19) |
