Breaking Through

Next week, 54 Below will present some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond, including the cast of MJ, Norm Lewis, and many more. 

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is June 2, 2026 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.

Next month, 54 BELOW, Broadway’s Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond, including Grammy and Emmy winner Will Roland, Tony winner Norm Lewis and more. 

Benedict Cumberbatch, Indira Varma, Juliet Stevenson, David Harewood, and Toby Jones will gather at the Barbican's Cinema 1 for a one-night fundraiser benefiting Compass Collective, a charity supporting young refugees through the arts.

William 'Bill' Pullinsi, the director and producer credited with pioneering dinner theatre and founding Chicago's Candlelight Dinner Playhouse, has died at 86. His venues launched the careers of Mandy Patinkin, Shelley Long, and others.

Anthony Durone, president of the Lyric Opera of Kansas City Board of Trustees, has announced that Deborah Sandler Kemper, the company's General Director and Chief Executive Officer since 2012, will be retiring effective June 30, 2027, after 15 years of leadership.

Pittsburgh's RealTime Arts will host a series of 'Equitable Dinners' combining short plays, shared meals, and facilitated conversation around the theme 'We Hold These Truths: American Potluck,' with tickets available by suggested donation.

Tony Award-winner Bryan Cranston has shared that he expects the award-winning West End production of Arthur Miller’s All My Sons to transfer to Broadway next spring.

Manhattan School of Music will confer Honorary Doctor of Musical Arts degrees on mezzo-soprano J'Nai Bridges, Misty Copeland, Donna McKechnie, Jane Chu, and Jason Moran at its annual Commencement Ceremony at The Riverside Church in New York City.

The José Limón Dance Foundation announced its 80th Anniversary Gala, honoring Kristen Brogdon & Northrop and Anna Di Stasi, with the evening dedicated to Carla Maxwell at Lavan Midtown in NYC.

A new production of Shakespeare's As You Like It will be performed in London this summer, featuring an entirely trans and non-binary cast, introduced by Elliot Page.

Theatre Under the Stars announced its 2026 season featuring SISTER ACT and DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID at Stanley Park's Malkin Bowl, running July 3–August 22, 2026, with single tickets available May 19.

San Francisco / Bay Area is never lacking outstanding theatre, whether epic Broadway shows, engrossing dramas or bold fringe offerings. BroadwayWorld is rounding up our top recommended theatre every month. Check out our top picks in San Francisco for Spring 2026.

Ten years after the release of “Yesterday,” Tyler Shaw is looking back at where it all began while moving into a new phase of his career. His upcoming Run To You Tour reflects both sides of that moment. It brings early hits like “Kiss Goodnight,” “By My Side,” and “Wicked” back into focus, while also giving fans a first listen to new music that marks his next chapter. For an artist who has spent over a decade in Canadian pop, bringing these songs back to the stage lets them take on a new context.

If you are new to Death Note, there is a lot to catch up on. It has inspired multiple adaptations across television, film, novels, video games, and even stage productions, becoming one of the most influential franchises in contemporary Japanese pop culture. The musical features a score by Tony, Grammy and Emmy nominee Frank Wildhorn, lyrics by Jack Murphy and a book by Ivan Menchell. Wildhorn and Murphy's past collaborations include The Civil War, Swing, Wonderland, Carmen, and Count of Monte Cristo. Wildhorn is perhaps best known for Jekyll & Hyde, Bonnie & Clyde, The Scarlet Pimpernall, and Dracula. Wildhorn's work on Death Note led to more manga adaptations, including Fist of the North Star in 2021 and Your Lie In April in 2022. I see Death Note as this total international, breaking the glass ceiling of what manga can be musically, around the world,' Wildhorn recently told BroadwayWorld.

Next month, 54 Below will present some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond for Women's History Month, including Linda Eder, Kate Baldwin, Jenn Colella and more. 

What did our critic think of THE SOUND OF MUSIC at Orpheum Theatre Memphis?

It’s… Hairspray! BroadwayWorld is taking a look back at what the cast of this beloved musical has been up to since the show first graced the Broadway stage!

Hofesh Shechter Company has announced that world-renowned choreographer and composer Hofesh Shechter OBE has been appointed to the rank of Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.

Bristol Old Vic's executive partnership of Artistic Director NANCY MEDINA and newly appointed Executive Director Rebecca Dawson has outlined the ways Bristol Old Vic is delivering on the organisation's commitment to support theatre-makers of the future, and champion stories from the South West in a string of announcements that coincide with the Theatre's 260th anniversary year.

 Lyric Opera of Chicago will Gabriela Lena Frank and Nilo Cruz’s El último sueño de Frida y Diego. What unfolds is a dreamlike journey through memory, passion, and everything they created together — both on canvas and in life.

The Glen Tetley Legacy has announced a year-long international centenary celebration marking 100 years since the birth of choreographer Glen Tetley. Beginning in February 2026, leading ballet companies worldwide will perform major works from Tetley’s repertory.

Next month, 54 Below, Broadway’s Supper Club & Private Event Destination, will present some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond, including Vanessa Williams, Tony Danza and more. 

The National Theatre will present a star-studded 2026 season with Cate Blanchett, Sandra Oh, and others enhancing its global reach. Learn more about the full lineup here!

Irish traditional trio Socks in the Frying Pan will embark on a US coast-to-coast tour this St. Patrick's Day season with over 20 performances across 17 states from February 14 - March 15, 2026.