by Nicolas Pacelli
This year’s Broadway in Austin preview event proved that everything truly is bigger in Texas, announcing the titles for
a record-breaking ELEVEN show season this upcoming year!
The event, hosted by Bob Bursey (Executive and Creative Director, Texas Performing Arts) and Lauren Reid (President, John Gore Organization), celebrated not only the season to come, but the rich culture of theatre going and theatre education in Austin.
At the event, put on by Texas Performing Arts, our hosts not only revealed the eleven titles coming to Bass Concert Hall in 2026/2027, but also highlighted high school thespians, celebrated theatre educators, and welcomed a plethora of broadway talent and special guests to the stage. The energy from the crowd was increasingly exuberant throughout the night, and by the end of the evening, most everyone was ready to be back in their seats soon for a broadway show!
Some of the nights highlights apart from the season reveal itself included stellar performances from TPA’s Select Ensemble. This group of talented high schoolers is hard at work preparing for this years Heller Awards, but stopped by to help open and close the show with mashups of broadway classics from Oklahoma!, Young Frankenstein, and more! Perhaps the best surprise of the night was the presentation of the second ever Texas Performing Arts Educator of the year award. TPA staff presented five finalists from over 100 nominees, sharing sentiments from their students as they took the stage. The award ultimately went to Lamar Middle School’s dance co-director, Natalia Luna. Ms.Luna received a cash prize, season tickets to Broadway in Austin, and was surprised with a luxury summer getaway to Broadway.
Little extra moments like these really helped round out the event, seeing the impact of live theatre beyond the audience.
As the season was revealed, the audience was surprised with special guests, fun facts, and more! Let’s take a look at the season to come, starting with the Seven shows included in the standard season pass.
MRS. DOUBTFIRE: Sep 22 – 27, 2026
This years season opener is the new, internationally acclaimed hit musical based on the classic film we all know and love. A comedic, family friendly story like this is a great way to kick off the season! It featured songs including:
Just Pretend
I’m Rockin’ Now
Make Me a Woman
A BEAUTIFUL NOISE: THE NEIL DIAMOND MUSICAL: Nov 3 – 8, 2026
This jukebox biopic celebration of one of America’s Icons is coming to Austin this fall, fresh off dominating its season on broadway at the box office. To get the audience even more excited, original broadway cast member Max Sangerman took the stage and performed a few songs by Neil Diamond himself. By the end of his short set, you could every single audience member belting their hearts out to the iconic “Sweet Caroline”. The hits songs featured
include:
A Beautiful Noise
I’m A Believer
Cracklin’ Rose
Forever In Blue Jeans
Sweet Caroline
BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB: Dec 1 – 6, 2026
Recipient of FIVE Tony Awards at the most recent Ceremony, Buena Vista Social Club is lauded for its engrossing
choreography, emotional storytelling, and unbelievably incredible music. The audience was also delighted to learn that this show will host this years “School Day Performance”, allowing hundreds of students from around central Texas to experience what may be their first broadway show. The rich world of Cuban culture includes songs like:
El Carretero
De Camino à la Vereda
Candela
Bruca Maniguá
HELL’S KITCHEN: Feb 23 – Mar 3, 2027
To present the fourth show of the season, our hosts brought out We Are Austin host Trevor Scott to have a live conversation with Alicia Key’s Head of Staff and Hell’s Kitchen Executive Producer, Ana Lara. The audience were treated with a look behind the scenes at what it takes to produce a broadway show as successful and crowd-pleasing as Hell’s Kitchen, which tells the true story of Alicia Key’s life, filled with all of her hit songs, new and old, such as:
Seventeen
Empire State of Mind
If I Ain’t Got You
Unthinkable (I’m Ready)
Then, Broadway cast member Kelsee Kimmel took the stage and performed two transcendent songs from the show that brought the house down. By the end of her second song, half of the house was on their feet, erupting with applause.
WATER FOR ELEPHANTS: Apr 6 – 11, 2027
The circus is coming to Austin with the fifth show of the season! Based on the beloved novel, this musical sensation will dazzle audiences with its non-stop acrobatics, magic, and emotion. Songs such as these fill the stage with electric staging:
The Road Don’t Make You Young
Easy
The Lion Has Got No Teeth
I Choose The Ride
DEATH BECOMES HER: Apr 27 – May 2, 2027
The crowd gave their biggest reaction yet to the announcement of this comedic masterpiece as one of the season’s shows that follows two frenemies who are facing the reality of their new lives under the curse of eternal youth. The audience was entranced by a performance of the shows opening number by Broadway cast member Nasia Thomas. Other notable tracks include:
For The Gaze
Tell Me, Ernest
Confrontation
If You Want Perfection
HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD: May 19 – 30, 2027
It’s not every day we get a play at Broadway in Austin, let alone one as popular as this epic continuation of the beloved book series. The closest you may ever come to seeing wizardry before your eyes is in the hands of the cast and crew of this Tony Award winning play. This one is most definitely a can’t miss for any theatre lovers.
After the Seven Show package was revealed, the 8th Bonus show and 3 other season options got the audience even more excited than they thought possible.
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA: Jan 20 – 31, 2027
This updated version of Broadway’s longest running show of all time was met with thunderous applause. The hosts even testified to the quality of this new version of the show that is brighter, bolder, and richer with the iconic music than ever before. All of the classic songs will be heard, including:
The Phantom of the Opera
Masquerade
The Music of the Night
All I Ask of You
Think of Me
SEASON OPTION: WAITRESS: Oct 21 – 23, 2026
Austin is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of this funny and heartfelt musical with iconic music by Grammy award-winner Sara Bareilles. Waitress tells the story of young expert pie maker trying to find a fresh start in her small town. Bareilles’ score includes hits like:
Opening Up
Bad Idea
When He Sees Me
She Used to Be Mine
SEASON OPTION: BEETLEJUICE: Mar 19 – 21, 2027
The juice is loose in Austin next March with the return of this renowned hit musical comedy based on the beloved film. Full of spooks, scares, and laugh-out-loud comedy gold, Beetlejuice is sure to deliver with a great theatrical experience. The spunky score includes titles such as:
The Whole “Being Dead” Thing
Dead Mom
Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)
Say My Name
SEASON OPTION: THE BOOK OF MORMON: June 8 – 13, 2027
Closing out the season next June is The Book of Mormon, one of Broadways most successful shows of all time, and what some are calling the funniest show of the century. Some of the most enjoyed songs include:
Hello!
You and Me (But Mostly Me)
Turn It Off
I Believe
Demand will be high for this final season option that follows a mismatched pair of Mormons that find themselves far
from the world they know, so make sure to be ready to grab those tickets.
Information for tickets can be found on the Texas Performing Arts website, and tickets for subscribers are already on
sale. Broadway in Austin is delivering a record-breaking season full of hits that is sure to reward audiences with another great year at the theatre!
More info:
Broadway in Austin 7- or 8-show subscription packages go on sale beginning at 8:30 p.m. on Monday, March 9. 7-show packages start as low as $290. All current 2025-2026 Subscribers will be automatically renewed risk-free for the 2026-2027 Season on Thursday, March 19, 2026. Existing subscribers can log into their account now to view their invoice prior to renewals. New patrons can visit BroadwayInAustin.com to learn more and subscribe.
“This season represents everything I love about Broadway—bold new shows, beloved favorites, and stories that speak to everyone,” said Texas Performing Arts’ Executive and Artistic Director Bob Bursey. “With 11 extraordinary productions headed to Austin, this is our biggest season yet. I’m especially looking forward to new musicals like Alicia Keys’ Hell’s Kitchen, the runaway hit Buena Vista Social Club™, and the wickedly funny Death Becomes Her. I also can’t wait for our audiences to see the epic stagings of The Phantom of the Opera and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child—both huge productions full of theater magic. There is truly something for everyone, and I couldn’t be more excited for our audiences to make another season of great memories as they experience the best of Broadway with us.”
Check out all our past show reviews at Austin 101 Magazine.
