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Around the BroadwayWorld is our monthly snapshot of the biggest stories making waves across the global theatre community. In this August 2026 edition, two major national tours are gearing up to hit the road, with the casts of OH, MARY! and JERSEY BOYS offering behind-the-scenes looks at their rehearsal processes, while BroadwayWorld exclusively revealed that Aliya Grace will lead the upcoming BOOP! THE MUSICAL tour launching this fall.
This month’s interviews bring conversations with Derek Hough on his Symphony of Dance: Encore tour, Melissa Errico on channeling Barbra Streisand in Provincetown, Steppenwolf’s Audrey Francis on the company’s upcoming 2026/27 season, and the touring cast of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST at the Hollywood Pantages.
On regional stages, the world premiere musical FREAK THE MIGHTY opens at Seattle Rep, DIRTY DANCING THE MUSICAL officially launches its national tour at the Ordway in Minneapolis, MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS returns to The Muny with Patti Murin, Colin Donnell, and Beth Leavel, and THE NOTEBOOK brings its sweeping score to The National Theatre in DC.
Meanwhile, Alicia Keys surprised audiences at the HELL’S KITCHEN opening in San Diego, and CRAZYSEXYCOOL: The TLC Musical shared a first look at Arena Stage. Plus, explore production photos, performance videos, and interviews from Singapore to the Stratford Festival and so much more from across the BroadwayWorld.
Exclusive
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Nicole Rosky | Philadelphia This fall, Aliya Grace will star as Betty Boop in the North American Tour of BOOP! The Musical, which will officially launch its 50-week tour at Rochester, NYs West Herr Auditorium Theatre, playing October 3-10. |
Interviews
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Sally Henry Fuller | Atlanta Derek Hough is back on tour this summer, and you could say the triple-threat superstar doesnt have to be. But live performance is Houghs happy place. |
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R. Scott Reedy | Boston Singer, actress, and author Melissa Errico who will perform her concert The Streisand Effect as her debut at Town Hall in Provincetown on August 23 says she first became aware of Barbra Streisand when, as a teenager, she saw Yentl, the 1983 movie musical co-written, co-produced, and directed by, and starring, the show business icon. |
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Joshua Wright | Chicago Steppenwolf co-Artistic Director Audrey Francis discusses the company’s 2026/27 season, including TOPDOG/UNDERDOG and ADIRONDACK CHAIR CIRCLE, and stepping onstage herself in the psychological thriller ELLEN B. |
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Joshua Wright | Los Angeles Conductor Larry Blank discusses MUSIC OF THE NIGHT: ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER AND FRIENDS, the Pasadena POPS season finale on August 29 at the LA County Arboretum, featuring guest vocalists Valerie Perri, Hugh Panaro, and Scarlett Strallen. |
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Amanda Callas | Los Angeles I talk with Dance Captain Michael Seltzer and learn more about creating the magic behind the musical. |
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Melissa Heckscher | Los Angeles BroadwayWorld hits the red carpet at the Los Angeles premiere of Disneys Beauty and the Beast to ask the cast what beauty means to them, which moments in the show they love most, and what they’re doing while in L.A. |
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Jared Fessler | Minneapolis / St. Paul The national tour of Dirty Dancing: The Musical will officially launch at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in Saint Paul, Minnesota, bringing the beloved story from the big screen to the stage. The production runs from August 12 through September 6, 2026, featuring the music, dancing, and unforgettable moments that have made Dirty Dancing a favorite for generations. |
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Caryl Kristine Guillermo | Singapore Director Timothy Koh talks to us in much depth about his journey as a director and with Pangdemonium, giving hints of what to expect from their final production, and contributing to the future of the Singapore theatre scene. |
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Ilana Lucas | Toronto BroadwayWorld spoke with Chameroy about what makes a musical sizzle, trusting your scene partnereven when its the stage itselfand how to balance explosive humour with laid-back cool. |
Reviews
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Jared Fessler | Minneapolis / St. Paul What did our critic think of DIRTY DANCING THE MUSICAL at Ordway Center For The Performing Arts? |
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Jay Irwin | Seattle Dear Readers, shows about overcoming adversity are not a new thing. Its pretty much a staple of many storylines. But what has been coming up more and more are the shows about overcoming a physical adversity. Of course theres one of my favorites, Hairspray dealing with racism and body positivity. Theres the recent How to Dance in Ohio about autistic teens at a school dance. And then theres Kimberly Akimbo with the teen girl who ages so fast she looks like shes in her 60s. And what all these physical malady shows have in common is they strive to push those emotional buttons of ours. And now along comes Freak the Mighty at the Seattle Rep, in conjunction with Cleveland Play House. A new World Premiere musical that gleefully pushes those buttons to wonderful effect. And while those buttons are pushed eliciting many a sniffle or tear in the audience, the show could use some tightening up to become truly mighty. |
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James Lindhorst | St. Louis Meet Me in St. Louis is exactly what you hope, want, and expect from a stage adaptation of the classic movie musical. What makes this Muny staging special are the wonderful portrayals, the beautiful set, video, and costume designs, and the many nostalgic nods to St. Louis. |
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Louis Train | Toronto THE GREAT GATSBY is most definitely not your high school lit class. At the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre, the music is loud, the dancing is hot, and the passions are hotter. |
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Aidan O’Connor | Washington, DC The Notebook at The National Theatre remarkably utilizes Allie & Noahs lifelong love as an emotional smokescreen for the underlying calamity, time. Guided by a sweeping score, the beloved story is somehow even more impactful in musical form. |
Videos
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Chloe Rabinowitz | Colorado Theatre Aspen is now presenting Grease through the end of August. Get a first look at rehearsal footage for the production, directed by Patrick O’Neill. |
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Joshua Wright | Maine Ogunquit Playhouse has released additional footage of CITY OF ANGELS, the Tony Award-winning musical, now playing through August 22, 2026. |
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Sam Anctil | Philadelphia Jersey Boys is getting ready to hit the road for its 20th Anniversary North American Tour. Watch in this video as the company hits the rehearsal room in preparation for the big launch! |
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Sam Anctil | Philadelphia Oh, Mary! is hitting the roadand its new company is ready to unleash Mary Todd Lincoln on the rest of America. Check out the full interview with the cast and creative team of the Oh, Mary! national tour in the video! |
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Stephi Wild | San Diego Alicia Keys’HELLS KITCHEN recentlyopened at the San Diego Civic Theatre. In a surprise to the audience members in attendance, Keys took the stage following the show and gave a post-show speech. Check out the video here |
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Joshua Wright | Seattle Seattle Rep has shared a sizzle reel from its world premiere musical FREAK THE MIGHTY, offering glimpses of the production now playing through September 6. |
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Michael Major | St. Louis The Muny has released a new video of their production of Meet Me In St. Louis, starring married couple Patti Murin and Colin Donnell, along with Katerina McCrimmon, Beth Leavel, and more. The musical returns to the Muny for the first time since 2018. |
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Joshua Wright | Utah Hale Centre Theatre shared a new trailer for its current production of JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, now running on its stage in Sandy, Utah. |
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Joshua Wright | Washington, DC Arena Stage posted a new performance clip showing the company of CRAZYSEXYCOOL: The TLC Musical performing TLC’s 1995 hit ‘Waterfalls.’ The video, produced by Miceli Productions, gives audiences a preview of the musical built around the group’s Billboard-topping, MTV VMA-winning single. |
Photos
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Rachel Stone | Chicago Theater Wit will present the Chicago premiere of Tim Venable’s ADOLESCENT SALVATION, directed by Guillermo Cienfuegos, featuring Jordan Levene, Piper Jean Bailey and Brandon Acosta. |
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Joshua Wright | Los Angeles Amber Liekhus and Jamar Gilbert lead August Wilson’s drama about a volatile 1927 Chicago recording session, directed by Gregg T. Daniel as part of A Noise Within’s Wilson cycle. |
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Rachel Stone | San Francisco / Bay Area Silicon Valley Shakespeare will present Oscar Wilde’s comedy of mistaken identities under the redwoods of Sanborn County Park in Saratoga, running in repertory with Much Ado About Nothing. |
