Hard Times

Stuart Meltzer, Founding Artistic Director of Zoetic Stage, was named the recipient of the Carbonell Awards' George Abbott Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts, recognizing his decades of leadership in South Florida theatre.

A one-night-only concert, THEATRE ROYALTY DRURY LANE, hosted by Brian Conley, will bring together West End stars including Samantha Barks, John Owen-Jones, and Rachel Tucker at Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

Inspired by a true story and based on the Miramax motion picture written by Geoff Deane and Tim Firth, Kinky Boots features a warm and witty book by four-time Tony Award-winner Harvey Fierstein and a richly diverse musical score from Grammy Award-winning rock icon Cyndi Lauper, in her stunning theatrical debut. The production is directed and choreographed by Tony Award-winner Jerry Mitchell , with music supervision, arrangements and orchestrations by Stephen Oremus. Starring Strictly Come Dancing's Johannes Radebe as Lola and X-Factor star Matt Cardle as Charlie, this revival is directed by Leicester Curve's artistic director Nicolai Foster, What did the critics think?

Many fellowship programs help emerging leaders learn the craft and business of theater, in both nonprofit and commercial spaces. For this article, I spoke with several fellows about five things Broadway leaders don’t often say but that we learned as fellows.

The Broadway Women's Fund revealed its 2026 Women to Watch on Broadway list, the seventh list from the fund spotlighting women in leadership in theater.

It's hard to believe it’s already March.  We’ve had so many great theatrical opportunities this year, and this month is going to be no exception.

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. 

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.

Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Sammy Hagar will return this summer with a special limited run of his acclaimed, top-grossing Best of All Worlds Tour, joined by rock musician Rick Springfield. Check out dates and locations.

Chris Stapleton will continue his “All-American Road Show” through this fall with over 20 newly confirmed stops, including Nashville’s Nissan Stadium, Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Detroit’s Ford Field, and more. Take a look at the full schedule here.

One of the most effective things the musical gains by moving from page to screen to stage is permission to reframe the story without betraying it. By leaning harder into the Curtis brothers as the emotional spine, the musical clarifies a distinction that’s always been present in the text but rarely foregrounded this explicitly: Darry, Soda, and Ponyboy are family by blood, bound by obligation and grief; while the Greasers are family by choice, bound by loyalty and survival.

Actor, director, producer and playwright Anthony Wilkinson will return to Sound Waves Theater at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City in 2026 with a three-part residency.

Backed by powerhouse vocals, infectious energy and a tent dripping with Old-Hollywood glamour, TINSELCOLOR makes even the most familiar Christmas tunes feel freshly magical.

Pulitzer Prize Finalist Rajiv Joseph’s Gruesome Playground Injuries is back on the New York stage in a new production starring three-time Emmy Award nominee Nicholas Braun and two-time Tony Award winner Kara Young. Read the reviews here!

Next week, 54 Below will present some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond, including Melissa Errico, Sondheim Unplugged: The Final Season and more. 

The iconic rock musical Hair is back in a bold new Brazilian production directed by Charles Möeller and Claudio Botelho. Opening at São Paulo’s BTG Pactual Hall, the show celebrates the spirit of the 1960s counterculture — peace, love, and rebellion — through powerful anthems like Aquarius and Let the Sunshine In. With a cast of 30 led by Rodrigo Simas and Eduardo Borelli, this vibrant staging fuses rock, poetry, and raw emotion to explore freedom, identity, and protest in a turbulent era. Nearly six decades after its debut, Hair still pulses with youthful defiance and idealism, inviting audiences to sing, reflect, and feel the rhythm of a revolution that never truly ended.

The official music video for Chris Stapleton’s Grammy and CMA Award-winning song, “White Horse,” is out now. The video was filmed in Marfa, TX and stars acclaimed actor Josh Brolin. Watch it here.

The creators of PERFECT WORLD discuss how the true story of a brilliant young novelist who vanished in 1939 became the inspiration for their new musical, playing Nov. 1-9 at the El Portal Theatre.

Three tender stories of human relationships, presented through the lens of Appalachian culture, are beautifully captured in Ron Rash’s Hard Times now at Z Below. We first get a comedy, then a touching tale about sadness, to the amazingly hyperreal story of deprivation and hopelessness.

Chris Stapleton will extend his “All-American Road Show” into 2026 with two-night stands in Las Vegas, NV, Thackerville, OK and Uncasville, CT. The six new “Evening with Chris Stapleton” shows will feature Stapleton alongside his full band with no opener.

Two-time Academy Award nominee Bryan Buckley, producing team Academy Award winner Taika Waititi, international recording artist Rita Ora, Tony Award nominee Matthew Weaver and Hungry Man Productions just announced the development of FYRE FEST THE MUSICAL. We have all of the details!

After 18 years, Seth Bisen-Hersh has produced, emceed and accompanied his 900th weekly showcase at renowned midtown cabaret venue Don't Tell Mama. To celebrate, he will be presenting two concerts of his original songs.

Broadway World chats to John McGuiness, the musical director for the production, who has been involved in around 30 musicals in various roles. Learn more here!

The 7th season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK will return this fall on WOW Presents Plus, with twelve drag queens in the running to snatch the crown and become The UK’s Next Drag Race Superstar. Meet the new queens now!

Next month, 54 BELOW will present some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond, including Beth Leavel, Casey Likes, Joe Iconis and more. See the full month of programming here!