Category: News

Broadway Marquees to Display ‘No Casino’ Message Before Final Times Square Hearing

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As the final hearing on a proposed Times Square casino approaches this Thursday, marquees at 14 Broadway theaters—including the Majestic, Palace, Samuel J. Friedman, and St. James—will light up from 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon with the messages “NO Crime, NO Chaos, NO Casino” and “No Times Square Casino.” The campaign urges the public to contact their elected officials to oppose a casino in the Theatre District.

At 1:30 p.m., members of the theater community, neighborhood residents, and local nonprofit groups will gather outside 235 West 44th Street to line up for the hearing and hold a media availability voicing their opposition.

A new Tulchin Research poll released Monday found that 67% of voters in the surrounding neighborhood oppose the casino project, while 64% said they would be less likely to vote for a candidate who supports it.

The No Times Square Casino Coalition, a grassroots movement that now includes more than 35 organizations, is leading the effort. Members range from major unions and nonprofits to neighborhood groups, including IATSE (Broadway’s largest union, representing seven locals and 168,000 workers), the United Federation of Teachers, the Ali Forney Center, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, the Hell’s Kitchen Neighborhood Association, and the Westside Neighborhood Alliance.

Coalition members include:
54 Below • American Bus Association • ATPAM • Audience Rewards • Bar Centrale • Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS • CHEKPEDS • Council of Chelsea Block Associations • Encore Community Services • Entertainment Community Fund • Hell’s Kitchen Block Alliance • Hell’s Kitchen Neighborhood Association • The Hippodrome • IATSE Locals One, 306, 751, 764, and 798 • Joe Allen • NOW-NYC • Orso • Project FIND • Sardi’s • TDF • Times Square Church • The Ali Forney Center • The Broadway League • The Shubert Organization • The Voice of Student Youth & Travel • The West 45th Street Block Association • The West 47th/48th Street Block Association • UFT • United Scenic Artists 829 • Westside Neighborhood Alliance

Dick Van Dyke 100th Birthday Documentary to Hit Theaters in December

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In honor of Dick Van Dyke’s 100th birthday, Fathom Entertainment will release Dick Van Dyke: 100th Celebration in theaters nationwide on December 13 and 14. The film will premiere earlier in the month at the Fischer Theatre in Van Dyke’s hometown of Danville, Illinois, where he will return to the stage of his old high school nearly 80 years after his first performance there. Tickets go on sale October 31.

Directed by Steve Boettcher, the documentary blends classic clips, rare footage, and fresh interviews with Van Dyke and his longtime collaborators. Drawing from over three decades of conversations, the film highlights his career across stage, television, and film, featuring reflections from co-stars Mary Tyler Moore, Carl Reiner, Rose Marie, Morey Amsterdam, Betty White, and Tim Conway.

Additional perspectives come from artists across generations. Chita Rivera, in one of her final interviews, recalls his Tony-winning breakout in Bye Bye Birdie. Michele Lee praises his dramatic turn in The Comic, while Derek Hough reflects on Van Dyke’s enduring influence on modern performers. Broadway producer Richard Jay-Alexander and entertainment journalist Gino Solamone also weigh in on his cultural impact, alongside neighbors and family friends from Danville.

At the center of the documentary is a candid, new interview with Van Dyke himself, who shares personal memories and behind-the-scenes stories—from his unlikely Hollywood break to his close relationships with Mary Tyler Moore and Julie Andrews.

Clips span his most beloved projects, including Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Bye Bye Birdie, The Dick Van Dyke Show, and Diagnosis Murder, as well as lesser-seen gems like his Emmy-winning variety series, musical performances with The Vantastix, and appearances in Mary Poppins Returns and the Night at the Museum films.

“This film has been a labor of love for more than thirty years,” said Boettcher. “It’s a living tribute to one of the greatest entertainers in history—a man whose career has spanned more than 80 years and who’s still going strong.”

PBS will also honor Van Dyke with a new American Masters episode, airing December 12 at 9:00 p.m. ET. The program will showcase never-before-seen footage, photos, and home movies chronicling his extraordinary career.

At 99, Van Dyke remains one of the most enduring figures in entertainment history, with highlights including his Tony-winning role in Bye Bye Birdie, three Emmy Awards for The Dick Van Dyke Show, and iconic film performances in Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and beyond.

Fort Wayne Youtheatre Launches Season with Dracula at Canterbury School

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Fort Wayne Youtheatre, the fifth oldest youth theatre in the nation, will launch its 2025–26 season with a new staging of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, adapted by Don Fleming. The 70-minute production runs October 3–5, 2025, at the Canterbury School Fine Arts Center.

The story begins with Jonathan Harker’s fateful journey to Count Dracula’s castle in Transylvania, setting loose an ancient evil that soon reaches London. The adaptation follows the Count’s pursuit of Mina, Van Helsing’s intervention, and the climactic battle that seals Dracula’s fate.

A cast of 20 young performers will bring the tale to life in Canterbury’s new black box theatre. “We are staging the show in-the-round so that the audience surrounds the action,” said Artistic Director Christopher J. Murphy. “With no one more than a few rows back, we’re aiming for an intimate, spine-tingling experience—where ghouls may appear right behind you.”

Laura Bell Bundy and Kara Lindsay Cast to Star in Romy & Michele: The Musical

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Laura Bell Bundy and Kara Lindsay will headline the upcoming Off-Broadway production of Romy & Michele: The Musical, taking on the iconic roles of Romy White and Michele Weinberger.

Joining them onstage are Jordan Kai Burnett (Heather Mooney/Ensemble), DeMarius Copes (Ensemble), Ninako Donville (Ensemble), Erica Dorfler (Kelly Possenger/Ensemble), Michael Thomas Grant (Sandy Frink/Ensemble), Je’Shaun Jackson (Toby Walters/Ensemble), Pascal Pastrana (Billy Christianson/Ensemble), and Lauren Zakrin (Christie Masters/Ensemble).

As previously announced, the show will debut this fall at Stage 42. Previews begin Tuesday, October 14, ahead of an official opening on Tuesday, October 28.

Adapted from the cult classic film Romy & Michele’s High School Reunion, the musical features a book by the movie’s screenwriter Robin Schiff, music and lyrics by Gwendolyn Sanford and Brandon Jay (Orange is the New Black), orchestrations by Keith Harrison Dworkin (Emojiland), and direction by Kristin Hanggi (Rock of Ages).

“Romy and Michele have been icons of friendship, fashion, and individuality from the moment we first met them,” said producers Barry Kemp and Stephen Soucy. “Bringing their story to the New York stage is the perfect home for their bold and quirky spirit to be reborn. We can’t wait for audiences to enjoy this hilarious and heart-filled new musical.”

The story follows best friends Romy and Michele as they prepare for their ten-year high school reunion. What starts as a reluctant trip quickly turns into an outrageous scheme to reinvent themselves, set to a score inspired by the pop sounds of the ’80s and ’90s.

Additional casting and creative team members will be announced soon.

The production is led by producers Barry Kemp, Stephen Soucy, Peter Schneider, and Laurence Mark, with Showtown Productions serving as executive producer.

Broadway Honors Cleo Laine, George Wendt, Richard Greenberg, and Others on Sept. 9

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All 41 Broadway theatres will dim their lights for one minute at 6:45 PM ET on September 9 in memory of recently passed members of the Broadway community. This marks the second event in a new quarterly series of group dimming ceremonies. This evening, the tribute honors George Wendt, Beth Newburger, Edie Cowan, Mark Brokaw, Paul Libin, Richard Greenberg, Cleo Laine, Jack Batman, and Lloyd Williams.

Previously, this distinction—considered one of the most prestigious Broadway honors—was reserved for select individuals. The tradition, originally organized by the Broadway League across theatre owners and operators, was transferred earlier this year to the newly formed Broadway In Memoriam Committee. The move, along with the adoption of quarterly group ceremonies, responded to criticism over inconsistent or missing individual dimming tributes. Notably, Gavin Creel, Hinton Battle, and Adrian Bailey were later granted full solo dimming ceremonies following public outcry.

Industry members may nominate individuals for future ceremonies at BroadwayMarqueeInMemoriam.org. Submissions must include the nominee’s name, birth and death year, a description of their Broadway contributions, and a digital photograph.

Group tributes do not eliminate the possibility of individual ceremonies. The Broadway In Memoriam Committee may still grant a solo dimming for those deemed to have had a “profoundly significant and lasting impact on Broadway.” Individual theatre owners may also organize tributes at their own venues.

Producer and philanthropist Paul Libin will receive this top distinction with a solo dimming ceremony at all Broadway theatres, with the date to be announced.

Upcoming and Announced Broadway Shows: Full Schedule

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2025–2026 Broadway Season

ART

  • Theatre: Music Box Theatre

  • First Preview: August 28, 2025

  • Opening: September 16, 2025

  • Starring: Bobby Cannavale, James Corden, Neil Patrick Harris

  • Writers: Yasmina Reza (play), Christopher Hampton (translator)

  • Director: Scott Ellis

  • About: Revival of the Tony-winning play exploring the tensions between art and friendship.

PUNCH

  • Theatre: Samuel J. Friedman Theatre

  • First Preview: September 9, 2025

  • Opening: September 29, 2025

  • Starring: Camila Canó-Flaviá, Victoria Clark, Will Harrison, Cody Kostro, Piter Marek, Sam Robards, Lucy Taylor

  • Writer: James Graham

  • Director: Adam Penford

  • About: Based on the true-life book Right from Wrong by Jacob Dunne, following acclaimed runs in Nottingham and London.

WAITING FOR GODOT

  • Theatre: Hudson Theatre

  • First Preview: September 13, 2025

  • Opening: September 28, 2025

  • Starring: Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, Brandon J. Dirden, Michael Patrick Thornton

  • Writer: Samuel Beckett

  • Director: Jamie Lloyd

  • About: Absurdist masterpiece returns in a new production starring Reeves and Winter, longtime friends and “Bill & Ted” co-stars.

RAGTIME

  • Theatre: Vivian Beaumont Theatre

  • First Preview: September 26, 2025

  • Opening: October 16, 2025

  • Starring: Joshua Henry, Caissie Levy, Brandon Uranowitz, Colin Donnell, Nichelle Lewis, Ben Levi Ross, Shaina Taub, Anna Grace Barlow, John Clay III, Rodd Cyrus, Nick Barrington, Tabitha Lawing

  • Writers: Stephen Flaherty (music), Lynn Ahrens (lyrics), Terrence McNally (book)

  • Director: Lear deBessonet

  • About: Revival of the Tony-winning musical about intersecting lives at the turn of the 20th century, adapted from E.L. Doctorow’s novel.

LITTLE BEAR RIDGE ROAD

  • Theatre: Booth Theatre

  • First Preview: October 7, 2025

  • Opening: October 30, 2025

  • Starring: Laurie Metcalf, Micah Stock, John Drea, Meighan Gerachis

  • Writer: Samuel D. Hunter

  • Director: Joe Mantello

  • About: Samuel D. Hunter’s latest play, following an acclaimed premiere at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre.

BEETLEJUICE

  • Theatre: Palace Theatre

  • Opening: October 8, 2025

  • Starring: Justin Collette, Isabella Esler, Will Burton, Megan McGinnis, Jenni Barber, Jesse Sharp

  • Writers: Eddie Perfect (music & lyrics), Scott King & Anthony King (book)

  • Director: Alex Timbers

  • About: Musical adaptation of Tim Burton’s film returns to Broadway after a two-year U.S. tour.

LIBERATION

  • Theatre: James Earl Jones Theatre

  • First Preview: October 8, 2025

  • Opening: October 28, 2025

  • Starring: Betsy Aidem, Audrey Corsa, Kayla Davion, Susannah Flood, Kristolyn Lloyd, Irene Sofia Lucio, Charlie Thurston, Adina Verson

  • Writer: Bess Wohl

  • Director: Whitney White

  • About: Broadway debut following its world premiere earlier this year at Roundabout Theatre Company.

ROB LAKE MAGIC WITH SPECIAL GUESTS THE MUPPETS

  • Theatre: Broadhurst Theatre

  • First Preview: October 28, 2025

  • Opening: November 6, 2025

  • Starring: Rob Lake

  • Creator: Rob Lake

  • About: Magician Rob Lake teams with The Muppets for his Broadway debut.

THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES

  • Theatre: St. James Theatre

  • First Preview: October 8, 2025

  • Opening: November 10, 2025

  • Starring: Kristin Chenoweth, F. Murray Abraham, Melody Butiu, Stephen DeRosa, Greg Hildreth, Tatum Grace Hopkins, Isabel Keating, Nina White

  • Writers: Stephen Schwartz (music & lyrics), Lindsey Ferrentino (book)

  • Director: Michael Arden

  • About: Musical based on the 2012 documentary about socialite Jacqueline Siegel, premiered at Boston’s Emerson Colonial Theatre in 2024.

CHESS

  • Theatre: Imperial Theatre

  • First Preview: October 15, 2025

  • Opening: November 16, 2025

  • Starring: Aaron Tveit, Lea Michele, Nicholas Christopher, Hannah Cruz, Bradley Dean, Sean Allan Krill, Bryce Pinkham

  • Writers: Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus (music), Tim Rice (lyrics), Danny Strong (new book)

  • Director: Michael Mayer

  • About: First Broadway revival of the iconic musical about Cold War-era chess rivals.

OEDIPUS

  • Theatre: Studio 54

  • First Preview: October 30, 2025

  • Opening: November 13, 2025

  • Starring: Mark Strong, Lesley Manville

  • Writers: Sophocles (original), Robert Icke (adaptation)

  • Director: Robert Icke

  • About: Modern interpretation of Oedipus Rex following a record-breaking London run.

TWO STRANGERS (CARRY A CAKE ACROSS NEW YORK)

  • Theatre: Longacre Theatre

  • First Preview: November 1, 2025

  • Opening: November 20, 2025

  • Starring: Sam Tutty, Christiani Pitts

  • Writers: Jim Barne & Kit Buchan

  • Director: Tim Jackson

  • About: Original musical comedy with successful runs in London’s West End and Boston’s A.R.T.

MARJORIE PRIME

  • Theatre: Hayes Theatre

  • First Preview: November 20, 2025

  • Opening: December 8, 2025

  • Starring: Danny Burstein, Christopher Lowell, Cynthia Nixon, June Squibb

  • Writer: Jordan Harrison

  • Director: Anne Kauffman

  • About: Broadway debut of Pulitzer Prize finalist play about Alzheimer’s patients using technology to relive memories.

BUG

  • Theatre: Samuel J. Friedman Theatre

  • First Preview: December 17, 2025

  • Opening: January 8, 2026

  • Starring: Carrie Coon, Namir Smallwood, Randall Arney, Jennifer Engstrom, Steve Key

  • Writer: Tracy Letts

  • Director: David Cromer

  • About: First Broadway production of Tracy Letts’ cult classic play via a new Steppenwolf staging.

BECKY SHAW

  • Theatre: Hayes Theatre

  • First Preview: March 18, 2026

  • Opening: April 8, 2026

  • Writer: Gina Gionfriddo

  • Director: Trip Cullman

  • About: Broadway debut of Pulitzer Prize finalist comedy about a disastrous blind date

Alicia Keys to Perform Special Post-Show Concerts at Broadway’s Hell’s Kitchen

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Ali, meet Alicia! Fifteen-time Grammy winner Alicia Keys will make her Broadway performance debut later this month with two special post-show concerts at the Shubert Theatre, home of her jukebox musical Hell’s Kitchen. Following evening performances September 26 and 27, Keys will take the stage alongside members of the cast for intimate live sets.

“After the show, we’re doing something really special—me and my keys will be there, and I can’t wait to share this intimate moment with the beautiful Hell’s Kitchen community,” Keys said in a statement.

The musical currently stars Amanda Reid as Ali, Jessica Vosk (Wicked) as Jersey, Christopher Jackson (Hamilton) as Davis, Phillip Johnson Richardson (The Wiz) as Knuck, and Tony winner Kecia Lewis (Ain’t Misbehavin’) as Miss Liza Jane.

Featuring music and lyrics by Keys and a book by Kristoffer Diaz, Hell’s Kitchen is inspired by the singer-songwriter’s own life. The story follows 17-year-old Ali and her mother Jersey in their cramped Times Square apartment, as Ali dreams of a bigger future while navigating her estranged father’s return.

Directed by Michael Greif with choreography by Camille A. Brown, the production opened April 20, 2024, after previews began March 28. The show went on to earn 13 Tony Award nominations, winning for Maleah Joi Moon and Kecia Lewis’ performances, and also took home the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.

The creative team includes music director Lily Ling, orchestrators Adam Blackstone and Tom Kitt, arrangements by Keys and Blackstone, scenic design by Robert Brill, costumes by Dede Ayite, lighting by Natasha Katz, sound by Gareth Owen, projections by Peter Nigrini, hair and wigs by Mia Neal, and makeup by Michael Clifton. Foresight Theatrical serves as general manager, with Danny Maly as production stage manager.

Angela Grovey Joins the Broadway Cast of Chicago

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Angela Grovey, who made her Broadway debut in Leap of Faith, will return to the Main Stem this month in the Tony-winning revival of Chicago at the Ambassador Theatre. Beginning September 15, Grovey will take over the role of Matron “Mama” Morton. She is also known for playing Krystal in the Onyx Collective/Hulu series Reasonable Doubt.

The current Broadway cast features Rachel Schur as Roxie Hart, Bianca Marroquín as Velma Kelly, Tam Mutu as Billy Flynn, Jacquline B. Arnold as Matron “Mama” Morton, Raymond Bokhour as Amos Hart, and R. Lowe as Mary Sunshine. The ensemble includes Zach Bravo, David Bushman, Jessica Ernest, Jeff Gorti, Chelsea James, Arian Keddell, James T. Lane, Marty Lawson, Joseph London, Barrett Martin, Sharon Moore, Drew Nellessen, Celina Nightengale, Kristen Faith Oei, Denny Paschall, Mikayla Renfrow, Sean Samuels, and Samantha Sturm.

Now in its 28th year on Broadway, the Chicago revival began as part of New York City Center’s Encores! series before opening at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on November 14, 1996. It later transferred to the Shubert Theatre, where it ran until 2003, and then moved to the Ambassador Theatre, where it continues its record-setting run.

Since its 1996 debut, Chicago has been performed in 36 countries and seen by more than 33 million people worldwide. It is currently the second-longest running Broadway production in history, following the recent closing of The Phantom of the Opera.

With a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander, and lyrics by Ebb, the revival is directed by Walter Bobbie and choreographed by Ann Reinking. The design team includes John Lee Beatty (sets), William Ivey Long (costumes), Ken Billington (lighting), and Scott Lehrer (sound), with casting by ARC. Produced by Barry and Fran Weissler, the revival won six 1997 Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical.

Marty Lauter and David Merino Set to Share the Role of The Emcee in Cabaret

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Emcee understudies Marty Lauter (better known to many as Marcia Marcia Marcia from RuPaul’s Drag Race) and David Merino will step into the spotlight at Broadway’s Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club for the production’s final two weeks at the August Wilson Theatre. They’ll cover the role while Billy Porter recovers from illness. The revival has now confirmed their performance schedules.

Merino will lead September 9–11 and again September 19–21, while Lauter will take on the role September 12–18.

The immersive revival of John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Joe Masteroff’s Cabaret will now conclude September 21, earlier than originally announced. The production had been set to run through October, but the closing was moved up after producers confirmed Porter would not return during the run. Porter is expected to make a full recovery from sepsis.

Joining the company are Marisha Wallace as Sally Bowles, Calvin Leon Smith as Clifford Bradshaw, Steven Skybell as Herr Schultz, Ellen Harvey as Fraulein Schneider, Henry Gottfried as Ernst Ludwig, and Michelle Aravena as Fritzie/Kost.

As with its celebrated West End staging, the August Wilson Theatre has been transformed into an in-the-round Kit Kat Club. Audiences are assigned entry times before each performance to experience the prologue, which begins roughly 75 minutes before curtain. At select ticket levels, that experience includes full dinner service as the prologue company of 12 dancers and musicians immerse audiences in the world of the show.

Adapted from Christopher Isherwood’s Goodbye to Berlin and John Van Druten’s I Am a Camera, Cabaret follows American writer Clifford Bradshaw as he arrives in Weimar Berlin, falling into the nightlife of the Kit Kat Club and into a relationship with English singer Sally Bowles, all against the shadow of the rising Nazi regime.

The revival’s creative team features choreographer Julia Cheng, club/set/costume designer Tom Scutt, lighting designer Isabella Byrd, sound designer Nick Lidster (for Autograph), and music supervisor/director Jennifer Whyte. Hair and wig design are by Sam Cox, makeup design by Guy Common, with prologue composition and music direction by Angus MacRae. Jordan Fein serves as prologue director. Casting is by Bernard Telsey and Kristian Charbonier, and Thomas Recktenwald is production stage manager.

Art Emerges as Broadway’s Next Star-Driven Hit, Plus Last Week’s Grosses

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Broadway audiences’ appetite for star-driven plays shows no signs of fading. In its first full week of performances, the new revival of Art became Broadway’s fifth highest-grossing production—an achievement once rare for a non-musical. Recent seasons have seen the trend pick up momentum, with box office bonanzas for Othello starring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal, Glengarry Glen Ross with Kieran Culkin and Bob Odenkirk, and Goodnight, and Good Luck featuring George Clooney. Art now looks poised to join that list, bringing in $1.25 million at the relatively intimate Music Box Theatre.

Another standout last week was John Proctor Is the Villain, which closed at the Booth Theatre September 7. Demand for a final look at Kimberly Bellflower’s play sent grosses soaring to $1.05 million—its second-highest total of the run and more than $200,000 above the previous week. The only week to beat that number was the July 13 departure of original star Sadie Sink.

Even with those successes, overall grosses slipped nearly 18% to $25.14 million across 27 shows. The dip came as Broadway lost one production (Purpose, the Best Play winner, closed) and moved past Labor Day into the post-summer lull. Attendance fell nearly 10%, while average ticket price slid to $116.86—still strong, but lower than recent highs.

The top of the box office remained familiar territory. Hamilton ($2.15 million) and Wicked ($2 million) were both sell-outs, followed by Mamma Mia! ($1.5 million), The Lion King ($1.4 million), and Art.

To counter the seasonal slowdown, Broadway Week launched September 8 with two-for-one ticket offers across most productions—meaning New Yorkers and visitors alike can now catch some of the season’s hottest shows at bargain prices.

The $1 Million Club (weekly grosses):

  • Hamilton ($2.15 million)

  • Wicked ($2 million)

  • Mamma Mia!

  • The Lion King

  • Art

  • Maybe Happy Ending

  • Just in Time

  • Oh, Mary!

  • Death Becomes Her

  • John Proctor Is the Villain

  • MJ The Musical

    (11 of 27 currently running productions)

The 90s Club (90%+ capacity):

  • Just in Time (102.88%)

  • John Proctor Is the Villain (102.51%)

  • Hamilton (101.18%)

  • Oh, Mary! (100%)

  • Wicked (100%)

  • Art

  • Maybe Happy Ending

  • Mamma Mia!

  • Hadestown

  • Death Becomes Her

  • The Lion King

    (11 of 27 currently running productions)