Broadway & Live Theater — 2026-05-01
Broadway's spring 2026 season closed out with a bang as six new productions opened the week of April 21, pushing total weekly grosses to $40,365,196 for the week ending April 26. Every production of the 2025-2026 season has now officially opened, setting the stage for Tony Award nominations to be announced on May 5. Behind the scenes, the Tony community was also busy honoring legends and giving away special awards — André Bishop, Jules Fisher, and James Lapine will receive Lifetime Achievement Tony Awards.
Broadway & Live Theater — 2026-05-01
Key Highlights
Box Office Boom as Final Six Shows Open
The week ending April 26 was a watershed moment for the 2025-2026 Broadway season. According to Broadway News, the 40 running productions collectively grossed $40,365,196 — a rise driven by six new productions opening simultaneously: Schmigadoon!, The Balusters, Beaches, The Rocky Horror Show, Joe Turner's Come and Gone, and The Lost Boys.
As of April 25, every production of the 2025-2026 season has officially opened on Broadway, marking the end of the spring opening rush.
'Every Brilliant Thing' Leads Box Office, Moulin Rouge! Gets Celebrity Boost
Every Brilliant Thing starring Daniel Radcliffe hit an impressive $1.6 million at the box office. Meanwhile, Moulin Rouge! received a notable attendance boost linked to Megan Thee Stallion's involvement. Tony nominations, scheduled for announcement on May 5, are expected to provide an additional lift to grosses for nominated shows.
Lifetime Achievement Tony Awards Announced
André Bishop, Jules Fisher, and James Lapine will receive Lifetime Achievement Tony Awards, Playbill reported on April 30.
Mary-Mitchell Campbell Receives Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award
Music director Mary-Mitchell Campbell has been awarded the 2026 Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award, recognizing her extraordinary volunteerism and humanitarian efforts in the theatrical community.
Drama Desk Nominations Led by Beau and Mexodus
The 2026 Drama Desk Award nominations have been announced, with Beau and Mexodus leading the field.
Cinco Paul's Schmigadoon! Score Ruled Tony Eligible
In a notable awards-season development, the score for the Broadway musical Schmigadoon! by Cinco Paul has been ruled eligible for the Tony Award for Best Original Score.
Chita Rivera Award Nominations Include Cats: The Jellicle Ball, Schmigadoon!
The 2026 Chita Rivera Award nominations were announced April 30, with Cats: The Jellicle Ball and Schmigadoon! among those earning recognition for dance and choreography.
John Legend–Lynn Nottage Musical Imitation Life Sets Off-Broadway Dates
The eagerly anticipated musical Imitation Life, with music by John Legend and book/lyrics by Lynn Nottage, has set dates for its Off-Broadway run.
Review Spotlight
Five Brilliant Broadway Performances Captivating Critics in 2026
Entertainment Weekly stepped back to survey the spring 2026 Broadway season, singling out five standout performances that have demanded audience attention. The season has been notable for its density of openings and the broad critical conversation generated across new plays and musicals.
%3Amax_bytes(150000)%3Astrip_icc()%2FBest-Broadway-Performances-2026-c89ee16ea29a49069dee5866f169b368.jpg)
Deadline has been compiling a comprehensive review roundup of all Broadway spring openings, covering everything from Every Brilliant Thing to The Lost Boys and more — a testament to just how packed the closing weeks of the 2025-2026 season have been.
Meanwhile, Timeout New York released its critics' list of the best Broadway shows currently playing in NYC — a useful guide now that every production of the season has officially opened.
Coming Up
Tony Nominations: May 5, 2026
The biggest date on Broadway's immediate calendar is May 5, when Tony Award nominations will be formally announced. With every show now open, the full field is set. Schmigadoon!'s score has been ruled eligible, Every Brilliant Thing is riding high at $1.6M per week, and season-defining productions like Beaches, Joe Turner's Come and Gone, and The Lost Boys have all recently opened — meaning voters have had a chance to see everything. The nomination announcements are also widely expected to provide an immediate box office bump for recognized shows.
Upcoming: Rent Returns to the West End (2026)
Looking beyond New York, Jonathan Larson's Rent is set to return to London's West End in 2026.
Future: Jamie Lloyd's Evita Headed to Broadway with Rachel Zegler (2027)
In longer-range news, the Jamie Lloyd-directed production of Evita starring Rachel Zegler, which has been seen in London, will transfer to Broadway in 2027.
Future: Ragtime National Tour Launching 2027
Lincoln Center Theater's acclaimed revival of Ragtime will launch a North American tour in 2027.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
Powered by
