On Stage 1935

Patrick Hamilton (1904-1962) wrote his semi-autobiographical trilogy as a dark celebration of the seedy, smoggy, smutty London he inhabited in the late 1920s. Published first as Bob’s story (The Midnight Bell 1929), then with Jenny’s back-story (the salaciously titled The Siege of Pleasure 1932) and finally Ella’s simultaneous story to Bob’s (The Plains of Cement 1934, originally titled ‘Time, Gentlemen, Please’), Twenty Thousand Streets Under the Sky – A London Trilogy was compiled and published in one volume 1935.

BroadwayWorld is saddened to report that Jaye P. Morgan, the singer/actress who adopted the name of the famous banker after serving as class treasurer of her High School and quickly thereafter achieved great fame and success on television, recordings and in the theatre, died on August 24, 2026, of natural causes at age 94.

Theatre has always intersected with politics, and the presence of American presidents in Broadway, off-Broadway, and regional theatre plays and musicals is a major part of this. Did you know that all of our heads of state have been featured in shows, whether as characters or as plot points that are part of the action? Dramatizing current and former leaders of our nation is a way to examine their affect on society at the time and how political events, even those of many years ago, still impact us all. 

Two new sponsors have joined Garden Theatre on Plant's upcoming season in Winter Garden, Florida, following a sold-out opening concert tribute to Elton John.

Over the years, Broadway has seen a number of family acts sharing the stage. It’s extra special when family members team up to write a Broadway show together. The Great White Way has seen many instances of this historically, in a variety of different situations. While last week’s column focused on spouses penning shows together, this week is all about blood relatives partnering to write work. 

Micaela Diamond and Will Pullen have joined Manhattan Theatre Club's Broadway revival of Clifford Odets' Awake and Sing!, directed by Tyne Rafaeli at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre.

Battery Dance will present its 45th annual Battery Dance Festival in New York City, continuing its decades-long tradition of free outdoor performances featuring national and international dance companies.

Drama professor, historian, director, and writer Amnon Kabatchnik has penned a new book in his reference series, Bloody Broadway: Plays of Menace, Murder, and Mystery, Volume II.

Over the years, Broadway has seen a number of family acts sharing the stage. It’s extra special when family members team up to write a Broadway show together. The Great White Way has seen many instances of this historically, in a variety of different situations. 

Princeton Summer Theater’s (PST) 2026 season continues with THE 39 STEPS, a noir farce full of danger, mystery, and laughs.

There's a cruise ship in the grounds of Kilworth House this summer. The ship's grand upper deck, with its gently smoking cowl vents and sweeping staircases, sits nestled among the woods, and is the setting for Kilworth's annual musical production, which this year is Anything Goes.

This season, 46th Street will join these special ranks when the new musical Warriors moves into the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. Warriors, with book, music, and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Eisa Davis, moves in across the street from Hamilton in its long-time home at the Richard Rodgers. Hamilton, with book, music, and lyrics by Miranda, already has a history of inspiring block party vibes on 46th Street with Ham4Ham, their in-person lottery turned pop-up concert event. Will there be a crossover lottery event for both shows? Perhaps Warriors will be the Lunt-Fontanne show to finally reopen the theater’s long-dormant retractable rooftop and wave to their neighbors? 

Epheverie Theatre Company will co-produce WONG SIDE OF TIME, a new queer Asian musical inspired by Anna May Wong, as part of the SheNYC Festival at Classic Stage Company in Manhattan.

Simon & Schuster Audio will release the 1993 Broadway benefit reading of Larry Kramer's THE NORMAL HEART on digital audio for the first time, featuring Kevin Bacon, Stockard Channing, Harry Hamlin, and a rare stage appearance by Barbra Streisand.

Williamston Theatre announced THE 39 STEPS as the final production of its 19th season, with cast members Patrick Loos and Ryan Patrick Welsh returning after appearing in DIAL M FOR MURDER earlier this season.

2026 is halfway over, which means that the 2026/27 Broadway season has just begun! All eyes are already on the lineup for the new Broadway season and many Broadway productions have already revealed full details of their upcoming engagements.

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.

Manhattan Theatre Club will produce a new production of Clifford Odets’ landmark 1935 drama Awake and Sing!, led by Danny Burstein, Jessica Hecht, and Jeremy Shamos. Learn more here!

BEHIND THE SPOTLIGHT at AMT Theater, a lecture series of interesting info and personal opinions and experiences by three men of the the theater with something to say. Read some highlights of the series

The full cast has been set for Atonement, coming to Chichester Festival Theatre this month. The production is by Ian McEwan and adapted for the stage by Christopher Hampton.

Arts Centre Melbourne's Australian Museum of Performing Arts will host ENCORE!, featuring 50 iconic objects from Australia's performing arts history, including costumes worn by Kylie Minogue, Hugh Jackman, and Olivia Newton-John.

Along with the impeccable acting and Diana Wyenn's brilliant direction, the most striking element of the production is Randy Wong-Westbrooke’s scenic design which features a half-dome representation of a rocket engine.

What did our critic think of THE 39 STEPS IS A DELIGHTFUL ROMP AT ELMWOOD PLAYHOUSE at Elmwood?So pronounced is the raucous, madcap flavor of the show – consciously channeling the vaudevillian humor of early 20th Century English music halls, a setting that bookends the play – that the plot itself virtually plays second fiddle to the non-stop shenanigans, which are enough to make you plotz with guffaws throughout.

Battery Dance will present its 45th Annual Festival at Wagner Park, featuring a week of free nightly performances, community workshops, and a one-night commemorative show marking the U.S. semi-quincentennial.

Hale Centre Theatre has released rehearsal footage of HARMONY, the regional premiere of Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman's acclaimed musical, now playing through August 1, 2026 at the Sorenson Legacy Jewel Box Stage.