Three Changes - 2008 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 1

Perhaps the most well-known instance of a show changing titles during the development process belongs to the groundbreaking 1943 phenomenon, Oklahoma! The Rodgers and Hammerstein musical that changed the art form in terms of subject matter, integration of elements, and more was originally titled Away We Go! when it went out of town for a New Haven tryout. Oklahoma! is far from the only instance where a musical changed its title along the development road.

The Next Festival of Emerging Artists announced its 14th season, celebrating women immigrant composers with world premieres at PS21 in Chatham, NY, National Sawdust in Brooklyn, and Gibney Dance in NYC.

“Ogres are like onions.” It’s one of the most quoted lines from Shrek, and it captures the heart of the story better than any traditional fairy tale opening. This spring, Royal City Musical Theatre brings SHREK THE MUSICAL to the stage from April 17 to May 3 at the Massey Theatre, where the story unfolds layer by layer. What starts as a simple quest quickly opens up into something more, filled with unlikely friendships, fairy tale chaos, and a love story that strays from a traditional mold. 

The reviews are rolling in for Becky Shaw at Second Stage's Hayes Theater on Broadway. The Broadway production of Gina Gionfriddo’s Becky Shaw, directed by Trip Cullman, stars Patrick Ball, Emmy Award-nominee Madeline Brewer, Alden Ehrenreich, Linda Emond, and Tony Award-winner Lauren Patten.

Spring has sprung, and with it's arrival, comes new plays for theatre lovers of all kinds. Whether you live for intense dramas or would rather escape with zany comedies, there's something for everyone both on and off-Broadway in April 2026.

SNAP! Productions has booked us a seat on a roller coaster and it’s an extreme ride! Hang on, because the ups and downs will leave you breathless! Read the review here.

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.

I play the character of Goli. She's the youngest character in the play; she's 18. For Goli specifically, her relationship to English is really sweet. She's described as this young, sweet spirit in the classroom. She's just carefree and has fun.

Current star of Masquerade Telly Leung discusses with Jennifer Ashley Tepper playing the Phantom in the immersive production, the full circle from Rent fan to Rent actor, Gavin Creel’s leadership during a production that never was, and much more. 

Even if you’ve never seen a single production, chances are you’ve at least heard of Swan Lake. Maybe you’re like me and had your first exposure to the story thanks to the 1994 animated movie The Swan Princess.

San Francisco Opera will present a dynamic 2026-27 season, featuring a mix of classic operas and new productions. Highlights include premieres and revivals at the iconic War Memorial Opera House.

The Octagon Theatre, Bolton has announced that its Christmas show for 2026-27 will be Cinderella: A Fairy Tale, opening on Friday 20 November 2026. Learn more here!

January will ring in a new year programming to SFJAZZ, featuring an ambitious slate of concerts that celebrate the full spectrum of jazz and its global influence. The lineup features Chris Botti and more.

This season, three plays are receiving Broadway debuts which already made significant noise off-Broadway in their original productions, years ago. Becky Shaw, Bug, and Marjorie Prime will all be opening on Broadway in early 2026 in brand new productions. The first and last are spending time on Broadway at the Hayes under the auspices of Second Stage while Bug is being presented by Manhattan Theatre Club at their home, the Friedman. 

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.

This past week the DC theatre community lost one of its visionaries with the passing of Artistic Director/Director/Performer/Mentor Jerry B. Whiddon at age 77. For twenty years Jerry served as the Producing Artistic Director Of Round House Theatre. The company was born out of Street 70 which Jerry helped start in 1970.

“You have to prepare your soul and clear your mind as you’re getting ready to go on. I ask myself, ‘why are you sending this message?’ and ‘what does the message mean to you today?’ every day before I go out on stage.” Mary Mulovhedzi

Capital Stage’s twenty-first season has begun with a mesmerizing work from playwright Stefano Massini. The Lehman Trilogy is the 2022 Tony Award winner for Best Play, capturing the public’s admiration with its unique structure and storytelling style. Director Michael Stevenson tackles this ambitious piece with only three actors performing a myriad of characters.

After years of developing a revised version of the 1986 musical with Danny Strong (who has written the new book), Michael Mayer is finally ushering the final product back to Broadway, where it hasn't been seen in almost four decades. Before rehearsals began, Mayer checked in with BroadwayWorld to tell us all about how he's setting up the board to create a Chess for 2025.  ​

Cape May’s award-winning, Equity professional East Lynne Theater Company, will host a special evening for Stockton University students to experience Duncan Macmillan’s globally celebrated play “Every Brilliant Thing” on Thursday, Aug. 28.

At its heart, Sister Act: The Musical is a celebration of sisterhood and the unexpected bonds formed in the most unlikely places. While Deloris Van Cartier begins her journey chasing fame, her time with the nuns reveals a deeper calling: not spiritual in the traditional sense, but rooted in connection, community, and self-worth.

The Toxic Avenger stomps on stage dripping with radioactive swagger. Loud, brash, and gloriously unfiltered. Now playing at Austin Playhouse thru Aug 10, 2025. #BWW #ATXTheatre

Charlie Sheen will share his story, his way at New Jersey Performing Arts Center this September. Learn more about the event and see how to purchase tickets here!

This past season contained a higher than usual amount of Broadway shows involving death; in fact, Operation Mincemeat and Dead Outlaw both specifically revolved around transporting a corpse! And Death Becomes Her leans into the hilarity as two women become gorgeous living corpses before our very eyes, thanks to a touch of magic. But plays and musicals about death and its attendant macabre topics have been a part of the theatre landscape for many decades...

Chess is returning to Broadway for the first time since 1988! Catch up on the iconic musical's history, cast, songs, and plot before the revival begins.