5th Avenue Theatre

HAIRSPRAY Cast Unveiled At San Francisco Playhouse
by A.A. Cristi - May 15, 2026

San Francisco Playhouse will close its 2025-26 season with HAIRSPRAY, the eight-time Tony Award-winning musical, directed by Artistic Director Bill English with a reimagined production emphasizing racial politics and cultural satire.

Cast Set for HAIRSPRAY at San Francisco Playhouse
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 14, 2026

San Francisco Playhouse has revealed the full cast and creative team for Hairspray, the eight-time Tony Award-winning musical featuring songs including “You Can’t Stop the Beat” and “Good Morning Baltimore.”

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR Student Production Will Be Performed By The 5th Avenue Theatre Company’s Rising Star Project
by Stephi Wild - May 14, 2026

The 5th Avenue Theatre Company's Rising Star Project will present a student production of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, featuring 71 students from 41 Washington State schools working alongside professional mentors.

Video: First Look at JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR at The 5th Avenue Theatre
by Joshua Wright - May 13, 2026

The 5th Avenue Theatre has released first look footage of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's iconic rock opera now playing through May 17, 2026 in Seattle.

Video: SUFFS is Now Available to Watch in Full For Free
by Stephi Wild - May 11, 2026

Shaina Taub's Tony-nominated musical Suffs is available to watch now in full! The capture was filmed during the show's original Broadway run. Watch the video here.

ALWAYS...PATSY CLINE To Play This Summer At Gretna Theatre
by Marissa Faith Curley - May 10, 2026

This summer, Gretna Theatre opens its 2026 season with Always... Patsy Cline, bringing audiences a heartfelt, toe-tapping tribute to the legendary country singer. Inspired by the true story of Patsy Cline’s friendship with devoted fan Louise Seger.

Patti Murin, Colin Donnell, and More Will Lead MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS at The Muny
by Stephi Wild - May 5, 2026

The Muny announced the principal cast for MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, with Patti Murin, Colin Donnell, Katerina McCrimmon and others joining previously announced Beth Leavel in the production's return to Forest Park.

Industry Pro Newsletter: Are 8 PM Curtains Hurting Broadway? Plus: Your 2026 Tony Nominations Guide
by Alex Freeman - May 4, 2026

As New York prepares for the 2026 Tony Award nominations and honors the recent Lucille Lortel winners, producers are facing tough questions about whether traditional 8 PM curtain times are driving audiences away. The business landscape is shifting heavily behind the scenes, marked by the merger of licensing giants BMG and Concord, looming strike ballots in the West End, and the Kennedy Center's controversial two-year shutdown. Despite these logistical and financial challenges—including a devastating embezzlement case at a Pennsylvania community theatre—there is plenty of positive momentum to report, from the rapid financial recoupment of the Suffs national tour to new initiatives supporting theater education and large-scale playwriting.

Video: Jenn Colella and Grace McLean Lead 'Fire & Tea' in SUFFS PBS Clip
by Josh Sharpe - May 4, 2026

A new performance clip of 'Fire & Tea' has been released from the filmed version of Suffs, featuring Jenn Colella and Grace McLean. Check it out now, ahead of its PBS debut this Friday.

SUFFS North American Tour Recoups Investment
by Stephi Wild - May 1, 2026

The North American Tour of SUFFS announced recoupment after just 28 playing weeks, having reached more than 375,000 patrons. The Tony Award-winning musical continues touring with upcoming engagements in Washington, D.C., Chicago, Memphis, and Fort Worth.

Video: Nikki M. James Performs 'Wait My Turn' in Clip from SUFFS PBS Capture
by Josh Sharpe - May 1, 2026

A new performance clip has been released from the filmed version of Suffs, coming to PBS Great Performances next week. Watch the musical number 'Wait My Turn,' featuring Nikki M. James as Ida B. Wells.

OPERATION MINCEMEAT Reveals 2026-27 Tour Dates and Cities
by Stephi Wild - Apr 30, 2026

The Tony and Olivier Award-winning OPERATION MINCEMEAT announced a full North American tour route spanning over 25 cities, including Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC, as the Broadway production hits 500 performances.

THE GREAT PRIVATION Closes Theatre Exile Spring Season
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 30, 2026

Theatre Exile will stage the Philadelphia premiere of THE GREAT PRIVATION, a dark comedy by Nia Akilah Robinson set in 1832 and the present day, examining grave robbing's impact on poor and Black communities.

Broadway in Seattle Generated $42.6M Economic Impact, New Data Shows
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 28, 2026

Seattle Theatre Group and the Broadway League released economic impact data showing Touring Broadway generated $42.6 million in spending in Seattle, with $18.1 million tied to audience spending at local businesses.

Katy Geraghty, John Bolton, and More Join HAIRSPRAY at the Muny
by Stephi Wild - Apr 21, 2026

The Muny announced the principal cast for HAIRSPRAY, opening its 108th season at Forest Park. Katy Geraghty and Richard Kind lead the production, which marks the show's return to the St. Louis stage for the first time since 2015.

5th Avenue Theatre Will Present World Premiere Musical ALICE IN NEVERLAND
by Joshua Wright - Apr 16, 2026

Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre announced ALICE IN NEVERLAND, a new musical blending Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan, co-produced with Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, with book, music, and lyrics by Phil Kenny and Reston Williams.

HAIRSPRAY Will Come to San Francisco Playhouse This Summer
by Stephi Wild - Apr 15, 2026

San Francisco Playhouse will close its 2025-26 season with HAIRSPRAY, the eight-time Tony Award-winning musical directed by Artistic Director Bill English, featuring choreography by Phoenyx Rose.

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR Sets Cast and Creative Teams at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre
by Stephi Wild - Apr 10, 2026

Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre announced the full creative team and remaining cast for JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, with Adam Standley joining as King Herod. Learn more here!

SUFFS Broadway Cast to Reunite for GREAT PERFORMANCES Town Hall Event
by Josh Sharpe - Apr 6, 2026

The Town Hall will host a special screening of Great Performances' Suffs', followed by a discussion with Shaina Taub, Leigh Silverman, and Nikki M. James, along with a live piano performance from the original cast.

Industry Pro Newsletter: BroadwayWorld Now Speaks 20 Languages — and More Big News
by Alex Freeman - Apr 6, 2026

This week's theater news spans continents and crosses languages — quite literally. In New York, Rattlestick Theater announces a meaningful tribute to one of Off-Broadway's greatest champions, renaming its West Village home in honor of the late playwright Terrence McNally, while Broadway Cares celebrates the generosity of the theater community with a record-breaking fundraising run on Governors Island. Across the Atlantic, the beloved West End hit Paddington the Musical prepares to bring its score to audiences worldwide with an eagerly anticipated cast recording release. And speaking of reaching audiences worldwide, BroadwayWorld announces a major expansion of its multilingual platform, now available in 20 languages ahead of a landmark year for international visitors to the U.S. Meanwhile, in Chicago, the theater community is grappling with hard questions about legacy, accountability, and who gets to define excellence, as the city's storied Jeff Awards face growing calls for reform.