Broadway's Best Kept Secrets 5/22 - Off-Broadway transfer pipeline is getting spicy
May 22 2026, 09:48:08 AM
From today's email, I think only the 4th is 'new' information? Or information we could have guessed from the message boards, but this is from Jeffrey Richards producer office. - Paddington is eyeing Broadway for 2027, but no theatre has been confirmed. SFP has said the transfer is basically happening, but they are still looking at the economics of Broadway. It has momentum after winning seven Olivier Awards, including Best Musical.
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BLACK SWAN REHEARSALS UNDERWAY AT A.R.T.
May 19 2026, 05:18:14 PM
Rehearsal photos just dropped for Black Swan at A.R.T. and the company is STACKED -- Melanie Moore and Amber Iman leading, with what looks like a serious ensemble around them. A.R.T. has been on a hot streak as a Broadway feeder (1776, Gatsby, on and on) so naturally eyeing this for a transfer...
The big question for me: how do you make the Black Swan film's psychological-horror-meets-ballet aesthetic actually work on stage without it just being a dance recital with a fog
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Disney Testing Musician Replacements in Australia
May 18 2026, 02:30:12 PM
https://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/9248970/musicians-vanishing-from-australias-major-productions/ Musicians are disappearing from Australia's biggest stage shows as technology usurps their roles. The world's highest grossing musical returned to Sydney in April with a smaller orchestra after Disney cut all four string parts from the 2026 season of The Lion King.
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TOP HAT proshot on Great Performances TONIGHT - set the DVR
May 16 2026, 12:05:54 PM
PSA for everyone who keeps complaining that golden-age musicals never get filmed -- the West End production of Irving Berlin's TOP HAT premieres tonight on PBS:
https://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/irving-berlins-top-hat-about/17681/
Great Performances has been on an absolute tear lately with proshots, and I'm here for it. TOP HAT is one of those scores that's just packed with standards back-to-back (Cheek to Cheek, Top Hat White Tie and Tails, Isn't This a Lovely Day) and the tap choreography in the West End production was apparently a showstopper.
Anyone in the UK who caught this live -- worth staying up for? And bigger question: why aren't producers and equity getting together over here to make this more affordable?
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ILLINOISE heading back to Chicago in 2027 -- who's going?
May 16 2026, 12:05:02 PM
Just saw that Chicago Shakespeare is bringing ILLINOISE home in their 2026-27 season!
https://www.chicagoshakes.com/productions/2627-illinoise/
For a show that was so quintessentially CHICAGO in its DNA (and named after the state!), it feels almost overdue that it's getting a proper Midwest homecoming. The Broadway run was such a unique experience -- that dance-forward storytelling, the Sufjan score live -- and the question is whether the original Justin Peck choreography and Jackie Sibblies Drury book stay intact or get reimagined for the Yard at Chicago Shakes.
Anyone else hoping for some original cast to return? I'd love to see Ben Cook or Ricky Ubeda back on stage. And does this make a tour more likely down the line?
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Sardi’s to Lay Off Dozens During Renovations
May 2 2026, 10:36:31 AM
https://www.ourtownny.com/news/sardi-s-to-lay-off-dozens-during-renovations-AN5807992
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Bette's Political Ditty
Apr 26 2026, 11:12:11 AM
Love it, and wish she'd do one more Broadway show.
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We sent critics to the long-running shows they've never seen. Do they still stand up?
Apr 24 2026, 02:24:32 PM
https://exeuntmagazine.substack.com/p/long-running-shows-west-end-phantom-les-mis-hamilton-play-that-goes-wrong
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Best Actress in a Musical could consist of all first-time Tony nominees for the first time in 24 years
Apr 23 2026, 10:41:37 AM
According to Gold Derby's prediction data, this year's Best Actress in a Musical lineup is expected to include Caissie Levy for Ragtime, Christiani Pitts for Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), Marla Mindelle for Titaníque, Lea Michele for Chess, and Sara Chase for Schmigadoon. All of them would be first-time Tony nominees.
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Joe's Pub - Less Broadway?
Apr 16 2026, 06:41:36 AM
I remember years ago that Joe's Pub had Broadway artists doing concerts there all the time, and I even attended a couple of this site's benefits there (please bring those back!).
It was always a much preferred venue for me to 54 Below, but it seems like no Broadway artists are playing there regularly. Is that a venue decision or just the competition of 54 Below?
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Rachel Tucker & Amy Lennox = Thelma and Louise the Musical
Apr 16 2026, 06:39:43 AM
https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/World-Premiere-of-THELMA-LOUISE-and-More-Set-For-The-Young-Vics-2026-27-Season-20260416
Love the cast!
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The BWW Tech Support Thread
Apr 15 2026, 06:54:35 AM
Thanks Rob, and for what it's worth - I've had no issues in the last few weeks and have noticed the site as loading a lot faster, especially on my ancient iPad. We appreciate you here, and hope your Mom is doing better!
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How Is Tyler Perry Co-Producing on Broadway While Still Flagged by Actors’ Equity?
Apr 14 2026, 02:15:17 PM
https://www.onstageblog.com/editorials/2026/4/14/tyler-perry-is-still-on-equitys-do-not-work-list
This is actually a good question - Equity?
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Ragtime Tour? PBS Filming?
Apr 10 2026, 12:34:49 PM
I'm hearing rumors that both are possible... Anyone have the inside scoop?
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Betty Buckley: ‘Cats’ Were Always Meant to Vogue
Apr 5 2026, 08:35:07 AM
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/04/opinion/cats-musical-ballroom-culture-broadway.html?unlocked_article_code=1.YVA.OK8n.6qkFiSLnYbL6&smid=re-nytopinion
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SCHMIGADOON! Previews
Apr 5 2026, 08:34:32 AM
The cast alone makes this worth the trip to the theater. Not a single weak link in the bunch, which is increasingly rare. The standout for me was Max Clayton — my first time seeing him, and he absolutely commanded attention with a powerhouse solo early in Act 1. I sincerely hope awards voters take notice. Sara Chase was a delight, and it was great to have her back on a Broadway stage.
Alex Brightman is as talented as ever, but the material doesn't give him much to work with &
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Outsiders Tour Cast vs. Broadway Cast?
Mar 28 2026, 08:23:26 AM
Has anyone seen both? Thinking of catching the tour while visiting family...
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Tony Kushner Directing THE NORMAL HEART Benefit Reading at The Public
Mar 26 2026, 04:25:29 PM
For Barbra, I'd pay! Plus with the walking help she needed at the Oscars, why not do a part in a wheelchair? Other than that she never would, ahha.
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Tony Kushner Directing THE NORMAL HEART Benefit Reading at The Public
Mar 26 2026, 03:39:08 PM
Just saw this on Playbill — Tony Kushner is directing a benefit reading of Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart at The Public. I mean... the Angels in America playwright taking on the other towering AIDS-era masterwork? This feels like an event.
https://playbill.com/article/tony-kushner-will-direct-the-normal-heart-benefit-reading-for-the-public
Any chance it won't be a million dollars a ticket?
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Mexodus Tour?
Mar 25 2026, 10:11:53 PM
https://www.reddit.com/r/Broadway/comments/1s3u4iq/mexodus_to_tour_in_202627/
would love it if true - anyone know?
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