The First - 1981 - Broadway Articles Page 2

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. 

Broadway's biggest landmarks are easy to spot, but some of the Theatre District's most fascinating stories are hiding in plain sight. From historic theaters and legendary rehearsal spaces to tucked-away tributes and unexpected Broadway landmarks, these lesser-known stops will add a whole new act to your next walking tour!

There's no better way to introduce your family to the wonders of live theatre than with the magic, the mystery, the memory of Cats. What began as a musical about cats after Andrew Lloyd Webber picked up a book of poems in an airport bookshop has become one of the longest running shows in Broadway's history. Winner of seven Tony Awards including Best Musical, Cats features 20 of Andrew Lloyd Webber's timeless melodies, including the hit song 'Memory.' What did the critics think of Drew McOnie's new production?

Cats makes a highly-anticipated return in a brand-new production for the Open Air Theatre stage. If you love dance, felines, or the score this should leave you purring.

Craft Latino will reissue Héctor Lavoe's 1981 self-produced album ¡Que Sentimiento! on 180-gram vinyl, marking its first return to print in 45 years with new AAA mastering.

Emmy Award nominee Eureka O'Hara, known for “RuPaul's Drag Race' and HBO's “We're Here”, will step into the pumps of drag icon Divine, leading Divine: Beyond The Flamingos!, a new play written and directed by Donnie. 

Stratford Festival's Meighen Forum will continue its 2026 season this August with an expansive lineup of discussions, interviews and special events, including Global Theatre Week, Readers and Writers Week, plus more.

Craft Recordings will reissue THE BLUEGRASS ALBUM, the 1981 debut from THE BLUEGRASS ALBUM BAND featuring Tony Rice and J.D. Crowe, remastered on vinyl and digital platforms.

Michael Harrison for Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals announced first casting for a new touring production of CATS, set to open at Theatre Royal Plymouth following its Regent's Park Open Air Theatre run.

See some of the top outdoor concerts across NYC's five boroughs this week with singer-songwriter Andrew Bird, tributes to Aaliyah and Ella Fitzgerald, social dance, and more!

Comedian Jerry Seinfeld will bring his stand-up show to the North Charleston Performing Arts Center, with tickets set to go on sale to the public in August.

The album, released on Biscoito Fino, explores the work of Brazilian saxophonist and composer Paulo Moura and is being submitted for Latin Grammy consideration in multiple categories.

Ministry and Al Jourgensen announced the band's final album, 'Hate To Go (Take Out Or Delivery),' on Cleopatra Records, along with a goodbye tour spanning Europe and the U.S.

Cabaret Voltaire's CODE is set for a remastered reissue, giving fans a restored version of the influential electronic album.

Teatro Paraguas will present the premiere of ESPERANZA, a play with music by Carlos Morton based on the 1954 film Salt of the Earth, at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque.

Universal's Halloween Horror Nights announced all-new haunted houses based on Evil Dead Burn, the sixth film in the Evil Dead franchise, bringing the horror sequel to life at its annual event.

Theatrical Press Agent, award-wining Author (Jameson Currier), Independent Publisher devoted to gay literature and later an Artist, died of a sudden heart attack at his home in in Chatham Center, New York.

Mötley Crüe launched 'The Return of the Carnival of Sins' tour with an opening night performance, marking the band's return to the road.

AGMP Concerts will present a series of performances at The Assembly in Leamington Spa to mark the venue's 100th anniversary, featuring Macy Gray, The Blockheads, Trevor Horn & His Band, Incognito, and The Ordinary Boys.

James Rana will read the first chapter of Vladimir Nabokov’s “Pnin” at The Dormer House in Cape May, NJ.  Every Thursday, Classic American Tales (CAT) presents stories written by noteworthy authors, read by a variety of performers, with lemonade and homemade desserts also served. 

One might think of cabaret artists as veteran performers who leave Broadway and look for gigs elsewhere.  While that might be true, Robert Yacko--a veteran of Broadway, off-Broadway, and regional theaters across th country--has put together a fresh 'new show' that brings Broadway with him.  I enjoyed every minute of his collaboration with music director/accompanist Gerald Steinbach. 

The Actors' Gang will present Two Gentlebots of Verona, a free, family-friendly adaptation of William Shakespeare's Two Gentlemen of Verona, from August 1–30, 2026 in Culver City and Burbank as part of its annual Free Shakespeare in the Park for Families series.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will premiere Power of Love, a newly commissioned ballet choreographed by Jamar Roberts, celebrating Luther Vandross with arrangements by Marcus Miller and Ron Gillyard.

Tony Danza returns to 54 Below with his Sinatra tribute show this July, joined by Linda Eder and a packed lineup of Broadway and cabaret stars.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will return to the theater’s mainstage for a five-week holiday engagement. Audiences will experience premieres by contemporary choreographers Jamar Roberts, Yue Yin, and William Forsythe, and more.