The Big Life

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is May 26, 2026 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed over the weekend.

Origin Theatre Company will present an Off-Broadway revival of Enda Walsh's MISTERMAN, starring Broadway's Daniel Marconi, as the centerpiece of its 18th annual Origin Irish Theatre Festival at Theater Row in New York.

Queen Latifah, the musician and actress who appeared onscreen in the films of Chicago and Hairspray, will join season 30 of NBC’s Emmy Award-winning musical competition series “The Voice” as a coach this fall.

The full cast has been announced for the 20th anniversary UK and Ireland tour of JERSEY BOYS, led by Luke Baker as Frankie Valli, with the production opening at New Wimbledon Theatre and booking through 2027.

Astounding triple-threat talent is on display in big production numbers with attention-grabbing scenic elements by brilliant designers add to the artistic wonder of the entire production helmed by EWP Artistic Director Lily Tung Crystal, choreographed by Janelle Dote Portman, with music direction by Marc Macalintal.

For BroadwayWorld's Debut of the Month, we are featuring Esteban Andres Cruz, who is currently making their Broadway debut in Dog Day Afternoon, opposite Jon Berthal. Read the full interview with Esteban here!

Dallas is never lacking outstanding theatre, whether epic Broadway shows, engrossing dramas or bold fringe offerings. BroadwayWorld is rounding up our top recommended theatre every month. Check out our top picks for Spring 2026 in Dallas!

Broadway has a long history of one-person shows, including many that have been added to the canon in this century.  Seeing one actor powerfully create a whole world on stage can be an exceptional experience. Of course, one handers are hardly one-person projects; while there may only be one actor on stage, they are collaborating with an entire team of creatives, designers, and behind-the-scenes personnel to bring a show to life. 

OFC Creations Theatre Center in Rochester, NY, will present its 2026-2027 Broadway in Brighton Series featuring shows like HAIRSPRAY, MISS SAIGON, and the regional premiere of THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK.

Broadway alums Kumail Nanjiani, John Leguizamo and Dan Fogler, alongside O’Shea Jackson Jr., have joined previously announced Josh Hartnett in the cast of the action thriller All Day & All Night.

The play, written by Bekah Brunstetter is a touching dramedy that explores how faith collides with love when a devout Christian baker refuses to create a wedding cake for the daughter of a deceased best friend because it will be a lesbian marriage. 

On March 13th & 14th, the North Carolina Symphony will be presenting HOLLYWOOD HITS. Two guest vocalists are coming down to the Triangle area to perform iconic songs from memorable movies and binge-worthy TV such as A STAR IS BORN, TOMMY, ROCKETMAN, BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY, ROCK OF AGES, LOVE ACTUALLY, TOP GUN, ELVIS, and more.

The Drama Desk–nominated musical Children’s Letters to God, with book by Stuart Hample, music by David Evans, and lyrics by Douglas J. Cohen, will receive a fresh new presentation at the Laurie Beechman Theatre.

The new Broadway season is in full swing, full of exciting new shows and revivals of beloved classics. While many of them are original concepts or based on plays, 12 have related films or series that you can watch from home. If you are seeing any of the below productions in 2026, check out how you can study up beforehand or unpack afterwards!

Next month, 54 Below will present some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond for Women's History Month, including Linda Eder, Kate Baldwin, Jenn Colella and more. 

Netflix has debuted the teaser for their forthcoming Pride and Prejudice series featuring Elizabeth Bennet (Emma Corrin) and Mr. Darcy (Jack Lowden). Check it out now.

Good theatre can be socially and emotionally regulatory. Finding a safe space to talk about heavy things in a nice way, in an ugly way, straight forward, or hidden in plain sight—The Bent’s production of In the Wake by Lisa Kron offered this in a really good piece of theatre.

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. 

Rock band Simple Plan has announced the next chapter of their U.S. headline run with the “Bigger Than You Think! Tour – The Sequel!”, returning to the road this summer. 

It’s… Hairspray! BroadwayWorld is taking a look back at what the cast of this beloved musical has been up to since the show first graced the Broadway stage!

MEANWHILE PARK has announced the winners of its Playwright Prizes for 2026 and 2027, celebrating innovative theater in Salt Lake City. Learn more here!

SFJAZZ will present a diverse lineup of jazz performances in February 2026, featuring renowned artists and ensembles. The month-long event will take place at the iconic SFJAZZ Center in San Francisco.

The festival runs from 25 February to 8 March in Glasgow.

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.

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.