Rent Tour

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. 

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is April 16, 2026 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.

Casting has been announced for a new international production of The Full Monty, which will play Japan this summer. Performances begin August 19 at Tokyo International Forum Hall C, where the production will run through September 7.

David Gersten, Vice-President of ATPAM, the Association of Theatrical Press Agents & Managers (IATSE Local 18032), died on Monday, April 6 after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.

TheaterWorksUSA will present THE MAGIC SCHOOL BUS: LOST IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM at the MAC, offering a theatrical journey through space for family audiences.

Chicago on Broadway will welcome the return of Sophie Carmen-Jones in the role of “Velma Kelly” and Jacqueline B. Arnold in the role of “Matron Mama Morton” beginning Monday, January 26 at the Ambassador Theatre. 

Next week, 54 BELOW will present some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond, including 54 Celebrates Hanukkah, Jantzen Theatrical’s Christmas in New York and more. 

While different tryout theaters have different relationships to the development of new shows, it’s worth looking at both which commercial rental theaters and which non-profit theaters have had the most Best Musical Tony Award winners come from their stages.

Earlier this year, it was announced that the Library of Congress had acquired the Stephen Sondheim collection. The legendary composer and lyricist passed away in 2021 at the age of 91 after a long and extraordinary career. His collection at the Library of Congress is in the midst of being catalogued, and this piece shares several highlights from the boxes of Sondheim’s lyric drafts, music manuscripts, rewrite notes, brainstorm pages, song list outlines, and more.

Only two new musicals are opening on Broadway in the first half of the 2025-2026 season: The Queen of Versailles and Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York). There has been much discourse on the topic of whether rising capitalization costs and the rareness of full recoupment is impacting the number of new musicals being produced on Broadway. 

Performances are now underway for Lincoln Center Theater's revival of Ragtime at the Vivian Beaumont Theater. Meet the cast of Ragtime here and learn all about the starry cast and talented ensemble's bio and credits!

Technology plays an ever-present role in the life of every human on earth. As computer technology and social media have begun to heavily impact everyday life, this has gradually been reflected in modern musicals on Broadway.

What did our critic think of AMERICAN IDIOT at At Short North Stage? In Short North Stage’s production of AMERICAN IDIOT, everything isn’t meant to be okay. The characters are disappointed, disillusioned, and defiant, and their story is depressing, dark, and disturbing.

Which Best Musical and Best Play nominees will take home the ultimate prize? BroadwayWorld has rounded up the winners of the Tony Awards, the Drama Desk Awards, the Drama League Awards and the Outer Critics Circle Awards for the last fifty years to compare winners year by year.

Natalie Venetia Belcon has won the 2025 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical for BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB.

SpotCo Managing Directors Callie Goff and Steve Sosnowski are welcoming back agency founder Drew Hodges as an Executive Creative Consultant. Learn more!

A strange, insistent music is coming back to Broadway. BroadwayWorld has just learned that Lincoln Center Theater will soon present Ragtime at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre. Performances begin September 26. Member onsale May 13. Public onsale May 28.

Asolo Repertory Theatre has announced complete casting for the epic closing of the 2024 – 2025 Season, Jesus Christ Superstar, which begins previews on May 14, 2025. Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Lyrics by Tim Rice and directed and choreographed by Josh Rhodes. Jesus Christ Superstar runs May 14 – June 15. 

This time, the reader question was: There are only three states in America without known Broadway musicals set within their borders. Can you guess which three? WE're breaking it down state by state.

The Missoula Children’s Theatre selected the most enchanting musical for the 2024-2025 Community Series finale. Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella will be on stage beginning in April.

This time, the reader question was: The Last 5 Years makes its Broadway debut this spring… but everyone you know already has the show memorized. How did that happen? Tepper unpacks the history of the beloved show.

Detrás de cada gran producción hay mujeres extraordinarias que hacen posible la magia del teatro musical. Es por eso que queremos hacer una mención especial a algunas de ellas que han dejado su huella en los escenarios.

Idina Menzel has returned to Broadway in Redwood, now playing at the Nederlander Theatre! Menzel famously got her start in Rent on Broadway, and has gone on to star in iconic productions including Wicked, Hair, Aida, The Wild Party, and more.

Disney Theatrical Group has announced the full casting for Hercules which opens at Theatre Royal Drury Lane this June. Learn more about the production and cast here!

Redwood on Broadway, starring Idina Menzel is now playing on Broadway at the Nederlander Theatre. The production also stars De’Adre Aziza, Michael Park, Zachary Noah Piser, and Khaila Wilcoxon. Meet the cast here!