The Smile of the World

A new Broadway season is here, full of exciting new shows and revivals of beloved classics. While many of them are original concepts or based on plays, some are based on books or the lives of famous people or real events, which you can add to your reading list. If you are seeing any of the these productions in 2026, check out how you can study up beforehand or unpack afterwards!

Charles Strouse, 96, the celebrated and multi-award-winning American film, television, and Broadway musical composer, died at his home in New York City on May 15.

It may be difficult to explain how a play set 75 years and half a world away can find success today, but DEATH OF A SALESMAN does just that. The play is brought to life by a brilliant cast who hit with their performances, led by an outstanding Anthony LaPaglia. There is enduring relevance, brought forth by this stunning performance.

It’s a boy! It’s a girl! No, it’s BEING RICHARD GREENE, a laugh-‘til-you cry intimate exploration of one “person’s” intimate journey of gender identity.

Georgina Hopson and Emily Havea deliver the requisite sass and shine as the leading ladies of GENTLEMEN PERFER BLONDES.

TFANA has extended the run of Alice Childress’s Wedding Band, directed by Awoye Timpo, to May 22. (The production, which began previews April 28—postponed from an original date of April 23 due to two COVID-19 cases—was formerly set to close May 15).

TFANA will present Alice Childress’s Wedding Band. Director Awoye Timpo’s new staging, running April 23–May 15, brings Childress’s masterpiece to New York audiences for the first time since 1972, when it made its New York premiere in a production directed by Childress and Joseph Papp.

After 20 months of darkened theaters and digital performances, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre dancers make their long-awaited return to the Benedum Center stage Oct. 22-24 for the company's 2021-2022 “Season Premiere” with the PBT Orchestra. 

This week (June 14-20) in live streaming: Rita Moreno visits Backstage Live, Show of Titles on demand, a Kerry Butler master class, a Guys and Dolls reunion, and so much more!

Abell Auction Co. has announced a June 17 online-only auction of Broadway legend Carol Channing's estate. The auction will feature will feature Broadway memorabilia, Tony Awards and Channing's belongings. 

BWW Reviewer Peter Nason chooses the best musical theatre characters from 1940-2020; see if your favorites are on our list of the best characters from Broadway musicals.

BWW Reviewer Peter Nason chooses the best film musicals since the sound era began; see if your favorites made the list!

Mint Theater Company Producing Artistic Director Jonathan Bank today announced the first cast member for the World Premiere pairing of Chekhov/Tolstoy: Love Stories, a program of short plays adapted from stories by two of the world's greatest authors, Anton Chekhov and Leo Tolstoy adapted for the stage by Miles Malleson (Conflict, Yours Unfaithfully).

Mint Theater Company Producing Artistic Director Jonathan Bank today announced the World Premiere pairing of Chekhov/Tolstoy: Love Stories, adapted for the stage by Miles Malleson (Conflict, Yours Unfaithfully), directed by Jonathan Bank & Jane Shaw. Performances will begin January 23rd and continue through March 14th only at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street). Opening Night is set for February 10th. Cast will be announced shortly.

Birdland will kick-off their great week of programming with the following acts:

Birdland will kick-off their exciting month of programming with the following acts:

Opened in 1928, the lavish Ohio Theatre was built to be a movie house, complete with an extravagant theatre organ to provide the soundtrack of the day's silent films. On July 20 and 21, the Ohio returns to its roots with the CAPA Summer Movie Series presentation of silent film The Freshman starring Harold Lloyd.

The Old Globe today announced the full cast for Guys and Dolls, a musical fable of Broadway.

Nobody will leave the theatre unaffected.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its schedule for May 22-May 28, featuring 'Four Generations of Miles' with Jimmy Cobb, Mike Stern, Buster Williams, Sonny Fortune, Glenn Close, Monday Michiru, and more. Scroll down for details!

The Old Globe today announced the remaining productions in its 2017 Summer Season, including a brand-new comedy, Ken Ludwig's Robin Hood!, and a Summer Shakespeare Festival lineup featuring Robert Sean Leonard in the title role of the towering history play Richard II, directed by Erica Schmidt. Shakespeare's exhilarating tragedy Hamlet follows, directed by Old Globe Erna Finci Viterbi Artistic Director Barry Edelstein, one of the leading American authorities on the works of Shakespeare.

The Old Globe today announced the first production of its 2017 Summer Season: Guys and Dolls, a musical fable of Broadway. Based on the stories and characters by Damon Runyon, with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, Guys and Dolls will be directed and choreographed by Josh Rhodes, returning to the Globe after the great successes of Ken Ludwig's Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, which he directed, and Bright Star, which he choreographed.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its schedule for April 25-May 1, featuring Benny Green Trio, Jonathan Brielle with Matt Bogart, Vienne Cox & Rose Hemingway, Barbara Carroll, and more!

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its April 2016 schedule, featuring: Pharoah Sanders Quartet, Yellowjackets, Showbiz After Hours with Frank DiLella, The Birdland Big Band, Karrin Allyson, The Matt & Brian Show, Arturo O'Farrill Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more. Scroll down for details!

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its April 2016 schedule, featuring: Pharoah Sanders Quartet, Yellowjackets, Showbiz After Hours with Frank DiLella, The Birdland Big Band, Karrin Allyson, The Matt & Brian Show, Arturo O'Farrill Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more. Scroll down for details!