The World Over - 2002 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 4

The history of shows that have transferred from off-Broadway to Broadway is well documented. Hundreds of Broadway plays and musicals started out off-Broadway before making the leap to a Broadway house. But much more rare is the circumstance of a show starting out off-off-Broadway (that’s right, two ‘off’s!) and traveling all the way to the main stem. One of these shows is playing right now, and is a major theatre success story with off-off-Broadway roots!

While much of the dramatic weight of Angels in America undeniably stems from the specter of AIDS, it would do the play a huge disservice to reduce it to a story about disease alone. What Theater West End makes clear is that Kushner’s work is as much about identity, loss, and the human struggle to reconcile who we are deep down with who we present to the world.

Titusville Playhouse’s HAIRSPRAY delivers a high-energy 'Baltimore fairytale' that stays true to the show's tradition of camp and exuberance. Featuring several standout performances, the production deftly balances infectious musical numbers with a technicolor parade of 1960s fashion. While celebrating the show's joyous optimism, the production acknowledges modern perspectives on diversity and offers a refreshing, timely escape for 2026 audiences.

The Broadway production of Ragtime was a glorious accomplishment, a riveting testament to the original American musical and to all that America itself could be. The show ran for 834 performances at the Ford Center, closing in the final year of the 20th century. It was nominated for 13 Tony Awards, taking home four.

The Boston Modern Orchestra Project (BMOP) has announced the wide-ranging program of its Winter-Spring 2026 season, approaching its 30th year. Season’s highlights include Boston performances of a trio of monodramas, the revival of a neglected opera, and the world premiere of three BMOP-commissioned orchestral works.

All Out Arts has announced the lineup for the 2026 Fresh Fruit Festival, a prominent LGBTQ+ arts event in NYC, set for April 20-May 3 at The Wild Project.

Black Ensemble Theater celebrates 50 years of its mission-based theater with a full season of musicals and special events. The company will continue with the Plays With A Purpose series for school groups, Black Playwrights Initiative, and more.

Nick Jonas, most recently seen on Broadway in The Last Five Years, is celebrating the start of 2026 with the release of his brand new single, “Gut Punch,” out now. Listen to it here.

The 1/12 concert kicks of the Orchestra of St. Luke's 2026 season, which celebrates American music in honor of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration.

BBC Radio 4 stalwart and veteran of a quarter century of highly acclaimed stand-up comedy Simon Evans has announced a UK tour of his new stand up show Staring at the Sun.

For its 2026 season, Chautauqua Opera Company is deepening its commitment to developing new operas while bringing fully staged productions to Chautauqua Institution's Amphitheater.

New Hampshire Theatre Project will present Discovering Magic with Andrew Pinard on December 26, 27, and 28 with Friday and Saturday evening performances at 7:30pm and Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2:30pm.

Following 25 years of producing multidisciplinary arts programming, uplifting historically excluded stories, and fostering connections through the art of story, Mirror Stage has announced it will be sunsetting operations and active programming.

Goo Goo Dolls will take their live show back on the road in 2026 with an extensive run of U.S. tour dates with Neon Trees. Kicking off on July 24, the summer tour includes performances at Minneapolis’ Mystic Lake Amphitheater, Richmond’s Allianz Amphitheatre at Riverfront, and more.

Music fans are being invited to return to the early ‘noughties' for a new Friday night party which is set to launch the 2026 Live at Arley series of open-air concerts. Learn more here!

Les Misérables has seen major success in China with the launch of its staged concert production at Shanghai Grand Theatre, reports China Daily. The musical began performances on November 4 and will run through December 28 as part of the “See You in Shanghai!” initiative from SMG Live.

Audible Theater will present the special 25th anniversary reading of Tectonic Theater Project’s The Laramie Project, live for four performances only at Audible’s Minetta Lane Theatre.

Phish will return to Sphere in Las Vegas next year for nine shows, set for April 16-18, April 23-25, and April 30-May 2. A ticket request period is now underway and will continue through 9:00 am PT / 12:00 noon ET on Monday, December 8.

Following successful sold-out performances in 2025, critically acclaimed comedian Katt Williams announces The Golden Age Tour. Featuring all-new material, this arena tour will bring Williams to more than 25 cities across North America, including North Charleston Coliseum.

The Actors' Gang is presenting the World Premiere of Children of the Winter Kingdom – The Bonkers Adventures of Holly and Spruce, an original family-friendly fantasy fairy tale for the theater written by Adam Dugas and Mary Eileen O’Donnell and directed by Dugas for a limited three-week engagement from December 4 to 20 at the Actors’ Gang in Culver City.

If Encores can transfer many of its productions to Broadway, why not MasterVoices—starting with its current revival of Sweet Smell of Success? If you missed its brief run (November 21–22), keep an eye out for future MasterVoices offerings. The show proved to be an electric, full-throttle performance within the grand Frederick P. Rose Hall, part of Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Here are a few top picks to consider in NYC this week including Melissa Errico, a new work by William Finn, Mandy Gonzales singing Lin-Manuel Miranda, and more.

The Baldwin Wallace University Music Theatre will present the world premiere of the new musical 'Star Machine' in both New York City and Cleveland as part of a long-running spring partnership with Playhouse Square.

Ramin Karimloo and Hadley Fraser will bring their unique kind of concert to the Princess of Wales Theatre in From the Rehearsal Room: Toronto for one night only.

Kelli O’Hara will star alongside Academy Award winner Tom Hanks in the world premiere of This World of Tomorrow, a new play by Hanks and James Glossman based on Hanks’ short stories, about a lonely scientist from the future who travels through time in search of true love.