A History of Musicals About Friendship
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - May 10, 2026
Friendship is nearly always a side element in musicals. From the comic sidekick of the leading character to the backup pals who provide background vocals, friends are part of the fabric of many shows—but rarely are they the main event.
The Fleshtones Set New York 50th Anniversary Celebration
by Josh Sharpe - May 4, 2026
Fifty years after first igniting New York’s underground rock scene with their blend of garage rock, punk, and R&B, The Fleshtones will celebrate their 50th anniversary with a special hometown concert on August 7 at Bowery Ballroom.
WEST SIDE STORY Set for NYMT's 50th Anniversary Season
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 23, 2026
National Youth Music Theatre announced its 50th anniversary summer season in Birmingham, including a large-scale production of WEST SIDE STORY at Birmingham Hippodrome, new musicals, and workshops following a record year of over 1,300 auditions.
PADDINGTON THE MUSICAL Extends Until February 2028
by Stephi Wild - Apr 13, 2026
PADDINGTON THE MUSICAL, winner of 7 Olivier Awards and 9 WhatsOnStage Awards, has extended its West End run through February 13, 2028, with best ticket availability from Winter 2026.
16 Theater Books for Your Spring 2026 Reading List
by Nicole Rosky - Apr 26, 2026
Need a great book to spring into the new season? This spring, Broadway's best have put pen to paper to turn out theatre page-turners of every kind. From theatre biographies to theatre fiction; theatre books for kids to theatre history; check out our collection of 16 new Broadway books for every theatre lover's Spring 2026 reading list.
Review: STEREOPHONIC at DPAC
by April Sigler - Mar 18, 2026
Stereophonic, the most Tony-nominated play of all time and winner of 5 Tony Awards including Best Play, offers a compelling fly-on-the-wall look at a 1970s rock band recording their next album. With strong performances and music that feels like a character of its own, the show immerses you in the creative process, even if its scale and runtime occasionally soften the intimacy.
Review: STEREOPHONIC at National Theatre
by David Friscic - Feb 13, 2026
The heightened reality replete with elongated pauses –(do people really wait this long in real life to answer one another?) that emanates from the stage of the Pulitzer- Prize and Tony -winning production of Stereophonic –now being produced in a touring /edited two hour and 50-minute version at the National Theatre-- certainly grabbed my attention.
Review: A BEAUTIFUL NOISE: THE NEIL DIAMOND MUSICAL at ASU Gammage
by Herbert Paine - Jan 29, 2026
Titled after Neil Diamond’s 1976 album of the same name, A BEAUTIFUL NOISE: THE NEIL DIAMOND MUSICAL aims for something more intimate and riskier than the average jukebox musical. Rather than simply charting a performer’s rise to fame, it presents a man in conversation with his past where he’s both haunted and sustained by the songs he wrote to survive it. The structure is unorthodox and quietly daring.
NOISES OFF and More Join Barrington Stage Company 2026 Season
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 28, 2026
Barrington Stage Company has added four titles for the theater’s 2026 season, including two Pulitzer Prize-winning modern classics, one of the greatest theatrical farces ever written, and a world premiere play.
Dusti Bongé Art Foundation to Exhibit Unseen Late Works in THINKING IN COLOR
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 13, 2026
The Dusti Bongé Art Foundation will present 'Thinking in Color: Selections from the Vault', featuring 40 previously unseen works by Mississippi modernist Dusti Bongé. This exhibition, curated by DBAF Executive Director Ligia Römer, PhD, includes watercolor, ink, and tempera pieces that highlight Bongé's vibrant use of color and thematic diversity. The works, inspired by her Gulf Coast surroundings, dreams, and Zen Buddhism, will be on display for the first time, offering a unique insight into he
Did You Know These Broadway Revivals Started As Flops?
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - Jan 11, 2026
It wasn’t until later on in theatre history that revivals began including shows that weren’t initially well received or financially successful in their initial engagements. As musical theatre continued to evolve, and more shows entered the canon, a consensus began to grow about shows being worthy of additional exploration even if they hadn’t been hits the first time around. What about musicals that had been ahead of their time, musicals that had fallen prey to circumstances, early works by writers who became successful later on, and of course, shows that found an audience after closing via their cast recordings?
A History of Musical Concept Albums
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - Jan 4, 2026
The idea of the concept album took flight at the same time as the idea of the rock musical. A concept album introduces audiences to the score of a musical by deliberately releasing an album of the songs before any live production exists at all. The concept album ostensibly stands on its own terms.
PADDINGTON THE MUSICAL Extends to February 2027
by Stephi Wild - Dec 8, 2025
With Paddington The Musical opening to critical acclaim at the Savoy Theatre, the production has announced an extension through 2026 – Michael Bond’s centenary year - until 14 February 2027.