The 2025-2026 Broadway Season

ENSEMBLE ARTS PHILLY
AND THE SHUBERT ORGANIZATION
ANNOUNCE THE 2025-2026 BROADWAY
SEASON FEATURING TONY®
AWARD-WINNING CLASSICS AND
GROUNDBREAKING NEW HITS

Season features highly anticipated Philadelphia premieres of
KIMBERLY AKIMBO, BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE MUSICAL,
SUFFS, CLUE, SHUCKED, THE OUTSIDERS, and THE NOTEBOOK

Smash hits include SIX, BEETLEJUICE, CHICAGO,
DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST,
THE SOUND OF MUSIC, and CIRQUE DREAMS HOLIDAZE

 SUBSCRIPTION PACKAGES NOW ON SALE!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Philadelphia, PA, March 17, 2025) – Ensemble Arts Philly is delighted to partner with The Shubert Organization to announce the 2025-2026 Broadway season with an extraordinary lineup of staged classics and new theatrical works. The season features 13 dazzling shows with a combined 27 Tony® Awards, 19 Drama Desk™ Awards, 6 Olivier Awards, and 2 Grammy Awards®, with a mix of blockbuster adaptations, uplifting storytelling, and crowd-pleasing favorites, approachable for longtime theatergoers and new audiences alike.

The 2025-26 lineup includes an array of stories brimming with spectacle and imaginative storytelling, like the returning smash hit musical Beetlejuice based on Tim Burton’s iconic film. The show follows a strange and unusual teenager, a recently deceased couple, and a degenerate demon who has a thing for stripes in a remarkably touching show about family, love, and making the most of every Day-O! Based on the 1985 hit movie, Back to the Future: The Musical follows Marty McFly as he's transported back in time to 1955, accidentally changing the course of history! Clue, the play inspired by the Paramount Pictures film and classic Hasbro board game, is the ultimate whodunit that will leave you dying of laughter and keep you guessing until the final twist. Disney’s Beauty and the Beast returns to the stage with members of the original creative team reuniting to bring this enchanting and timeless fairytale to life.

Audiences will experience best-selling novels adapted into dynamic stage productions in the 2025-2026 Broadway season. Each adaptation promises to breathe new life into the pages of these beloved books, with compelling performances and innovative stagecraft. Based on the novel by S. E. Hinton, The Outsiders gives a raw and powerful depiction of youth and socio-economic divides that challenge and inspire. The Sound of Music, based on the 1949 memoir from Maria von Trapp, continues to charm with its uplifting tale of love and courage amidst adversity. The deeply moving musical, The Notebook, based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks, depicts a poignant, lifelong romance that has captured hearts worldwide.

The Notebook is also one of several shows in the upcoming season that celebrates the astounding talent of female creatives, with music and lyrics by multi-platinum singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson, book by Bekah Brunstetter, and choreography by Katie Spelman. The two-time Tony® Award-winning musical, Suffs, focusing on the real-life fight for the 19th Amendment, features an all-female cast with a book written by American actress, singer, musician, and Tony® Award-winning composer, Shaina Taub. An array of shows highlight female characters rewriting their own destinies: SIX remixes five-hundred years of historical heartbreak into a revolutionary retelling of 21st-century female empowerment, focusing on the personal stories of Henry VIII’s six wives. Six-time Tony® Award-winner, two-time Olivier Award-winner, and Grammy®-winning musical, Chicago, showcases two rival murderesses set against the backdrop of Chicago’s Jazz Age. Kimberly Akimbo is a heartwarming musical that follows 16-year-old Kimberly struggling both personally and within her family unit; encompassing themes of self-discovery and acceptance, the Kimberly Akimbo tour currently stars Broadway veteran, Carolee Carmello. And musical comedy Shucked follows cousins Maizy and Lulu as they fight for (and occasionally against each other) the future of their town and own hearts.

This year’s 7-show subscription package includes: Kimberly Akimbo, Back to the Future: The Musical, Suffs, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Shucked, The Outsiders, and The Notebook.

“Our theaters have been home to the great American genre of Broadway for more than 160 years. The Academy of Music, the Miller Theater, and the Shubert’s Forrest Theatre each represent a distinct period in theater history, hosting pre-Broadway runs of many iconic shows before their New York premieres and launching careers on stage and screen,” said Ryan Fleur, Interim President & CEO of The Philadelphia Orchestra and Ensemble Arts. “This year, our 13 presentations honor and connect with our rich legacy as presenters in Philadelphia – from shows that look at the past like Suffs (Fun fact: Susan B. Anthony spoke about women’s suffrage at our Academy of Music in 1870!) to looking ahead at the genre’s innovative future (or Back to the Future…)”

“We are delighted to partner with Ensemble Arts Philly to present another first-rate Broadway season in Philadelphia,” said Robert E. Wankel, Chairman and CEO of The Shubert Organization. “These carefully curated, powerful productions will inspire audiences, uniting everyone in a shared theatrical experience. We are especially proud to welcome productions of Shucked, Clue, and Chicago to the Forrest Theatre, adding to the long and rich history of our legendary Walnut Street venue.”

The full chronological season lineup includes:
·         Beetlejuice (July 29 – August 3, 2025, Academy of Music)
·         SIX (September 30 – October 5, 2025, Academy of Music)
·         Kimberly Akimbo (October 21 – November 2, 2025, Academy of Music)
·         Back to the Future: The Musical (November 18 – 30, 2025, Academy of Music)
·         Cirque Dreams Holidaze  (December 23 – 28, 2025, Miller Theater)
·         Suffs (January 6 – 18, 2026, Academy of Music) 
·         Clue  (January 20 – 25, 2026, The Shubert Organization’s Forrest Theatre)
·         Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (February 11 – 22, 2026, Academy of Music)
·         The Sound of Music (March 31 – April 5, 2026, Academy of Music)
·         Shucked (April 21 – May 3, 2026, The Shubert Organization’s Forrest Theatre)
·         Chicago  (May 12 – 17, 2026, The Shubert Organization’s Forrest Theatre)
·         The Outsiders (May 26 – June 7, 2026, Academy of Music)
·         The Notebook  (July 21 – August 2, 2026, Academy of Music)

"Ensemble Arts Philly's 2025-2026 Broadway series has incredible range and appeal with a dynamic mix of treasured classics and modern new productions – all curated specifically for Philadelphia audiences," said Frances Egler, Vice President of Theatrical Programming and Presentations, Ensemble Arts Philly’s resident Tony® Award voter, and curator of the Broadway series. “From the most recent winners of the Tony Award for Best Musical, Kimberly Akimbo and The Outsiders, to the slapstick and one-liners of Shucked and Clue, to the musical genius of female songwriters like Ingrid Michaelson in The Notebook and Shaina Taub in Suffs, the season promises to affect and inspire audiences show after show.”

“Our Broadway series exemplifies our commitment to presenting diverse programming that shares the power of the arts with the widest possible audience,” said Crystal Brewe, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing and Audience Experience Officer. “With approachable pricing options, rush tickets, matinee and evening performances, American Sign Language interpretation performances, captioning services, assisted listening devices, and more, we want everyone who visits us to have a positive and welcoming experience.”

For two-week runs at the Academy of Music and the Miller Theater, the American Sign Language and Audio Description performances will be held on the second Friday at 7:30 PM and the captioning performance will be held during the second Saturday matinee at 1:30 PM. For one-week runs at the Academy of Music and the Miller Theater*, the American Sign Language and Audio Description performances will take place on Friday at 7:30 PM and the captioning performance will take place during the Saturday matinee at 1:30 PM. For two-week runs at the Forrest Theatre, the American Sign Language performances will be held on the second Thursday at 7:30 PM. For one-week runs at the Forrest Theatre, the American Sign Language performances will be held on Thursday at 7:30 PM. Audio Description and captioning details for Forrest Theatre shows will be available at a later date.

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Subscriptions
Flexible 7-show packages are available now and include Tuesday through Sunday performances of Kimberly Akimbo, Back to the Future: The Musical, Suffs, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Shucked, The Outsiders, and The Notebook starting as low as $29.00 per show! Subscription packages also include a Wednesday matinee option. Single tickets for individual productions will go on sale at a later date.  

Subscribers save on average 25% on single ticket prices & fees and are offered a variety of exclusive event invitations, perks, and privileges, including the first opportunity to select the best seats in the house and the option to renew their seats each year. Additional subscriber benefits include flexible exchange options, priority ticket access, payment plan options, and more. 

This season continues to offer the ultimate flexibility, giving new and returning subscribers the option to swap up to 3 shows in the package into exclusive extra performances. Subscribers will also have first access to purchase additional tickets before they go on sale to the public. 

Packages start at just $29.00 per show and range from $200.00 to $924.00 for all seven shows, depending on seating and performance dates. The easiest way to subscribe and to find more information is online at www.ensembleartsphilly.org/broadway.

Group rates are available for groups of 10 or more and can be purchased from Ensemble Arts Philly. Visit the Ensemble Arts Philly website online at www.ensembleartsphilly.org/groupsales or reach out by phone at 215-790-5883 or 866-276-2947. For shows at the Forrest Theatre, groups are booked through Broadway Inbound at www.broadwayinbound.com or by calling 866-302-0995. 

For more information about the Ensemble Arts Philly Broadway lineup, please visit the website at www.ensembleartsphilly.org/broadway.

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 FULL DETAILS ABOUT THE 2025-2026 BROADWAY SERIES

BEETLEJUICE
July 29 – August 3, 2025 • Academy of Music

Beetlejuice earned his stripes on Broadway… now the ghost-with-the-most is coming to Philadelphia.

Based on Tim Burton’s dearly beloved film, this hilarious musical tells the story of Lydia Deetz, a strange and unusual teenager whose whole life changes when she meets a recently deceased couple and a demon with a thing for stripes.

With an irreverent book, an astonishing set, and a score that’s out of this Netherworld, Beetlejuice is “screamingly good fun!” (Variety). And under its uproarious surface (six feet under, to be exact), it’s a remarkably touching show about family, love, and making the most of every Day-O!

SIX
September 30 – October 5, 2025 • Academy of Music

DIVORCED, BEHEADED, DIED, DIVORCED, BEHEADED, SURVIVED.

From Tudor Queens to Pop Princesses, the six wives of Henry VIII take the mic to remix five hundred years of historical heartbreak into an exuberant celebration of 21st century girl power in SIX!

This new original musical is the global sensation that everyone is losing their head over. The New York Times says SIX “totally rules!” (Critic's Pick) and The Washington Post hails SIX as “Exactly the kind of energizing, inspirational illumination this town aches for! The Broadway season got supercharged!”

KIMBERLY AKIMBO
October 21 – November 2, 2025 • Academy of Music

Kimberly Akimbo features Tony® Award-winning book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abarire (Rabbit Hole), a Tony® Award-winning score by Jeanine Tesori (Fun Home), choreography by Danny Mefford (Dear Evan Hansen), and direction by Tony® nominated director Jessica Stone (Water for Elephants).

Kimberly (currently played on tour by three-time Tony® Award nominee Carolee Carmello) is about to turn 16 and recently moved with her family to a new town in suburban New Jersey. In this “howling funny heartbreaker of a show” (The New Yorker), Kim is forced to navigate family dysfunction, a rare genetic condition, her first crush... and possible felony charges. Ever the optimist, she is determined to find happiness against all odds and embark on a great adventure.


BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE MUSICAL
November 18 – 30, 2025 • Academy of Music

Great Scott! The multi-award-winning Back to the Future: The Musical is set to change musical theatre history.

When Marty McFly finds himself transported back to 1955 in a time machine built by the eccentric scientist Doc Brown, he accidentally changes the course of history. Now he’s in a race against time to fix the present, escape the past, and send himself.... back to the future.

Experience this high-voltage comedy as the iconic story is adapted for the stage by the movie’s creators Bob Gale (Back to the Future trilogy) and Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump) and is directed by the Tony® Award-winning John Rando.

Back to the Future: The Musical  features original music by multi-Grammy winners Alan Silvestri (Avengers: Endgame) and Glen Ballard (Michael Jackson’s Man in the Mirror), alongside hit songs from the movie including the “Power of Love,” “Johnny B. Goode,” “Earth Angel,” and “Back in Time.”


CIRQUE DREAMS HOLIDAZE
December 23 – 28, 2025 • Miller Theater

Cirque Dreams Holidaze returns to the Miller Theater after celebrated previous engagements with a brilliant and whimsical family holiday spectacular. This annual tradition wraps a Broadway-style production around an infusion of contemporary circus arts. As lights dim and the music swells, audiences will have visions of sugarplums dancing in their heads as a fantastical cast of holiday storybook characters come to life. Broadway World exclaims, “Lose yourself for 90 minutes and go back to those wonderful dreams you had as a kid.”

Featuring an ensemble of aerial circus acts, sleight-of-hand jugglers, fun-loving skippers, breath-catching acrobatics, and much more, the Dayton Daily News proclaims, “A new set of eyes should be added to my Christmas list…there’s no way the stunts I witnessed onstage actually happened as most of them aren’t humanly possible.”

Imaginative and fun for the whole family, Cirque Dreams Holidaze features a world-renowned cast of performers accompanied by an original music score including new twists on seasonal favorites such as “Deck the Halls,” “Winter Wonderland,” and “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” Singers, dancers, penguins, toy soldiers, and reindeer invoke the dreams behind a child’s eye on the most magical of nights. Amidst a backdrop of new sets, scenery, and storylines, this family-friendly production is sure to put a twinkle in your eye!

*Cirque Dreams Holidaze will not have performances with American Sign Language, Audio Description, and Captioning.


SUFFS
January 6 –18, 2026 • Academy of Music

Direct from Broadway comes the acclaimed Tony® Award-winning musical Suffs about the brilliant, passionate, and funny American women who fought tirelessly for the right to vote. From the singular mind of history-making artist Shaina Taub, this “thrilling, inspiring and dazzlingly entertaining” (Variety) new musical boldly explores the triumphs and failures of a struggle for equality that’s far from over. Winner of the Outer Critics’ Circle Award for Best New Musical.


CLUE
January 20 – 25, 2026 • The Shubert Organization’s Forrest Theatre

Murder and blackmail are on the menu when six mysterious guests assemble at Boddy Manor for a night they’ll never forget! Was it Mrs. Peacock in the study with the knife? Or was it Colonel Mustard in the library with the wrench? Based on the fan-favorite 1985 Paramount Pictures movie and inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, Clue is the ultimate whodunit that will leave you dying of laughter and keep you guessing until the final twist.


DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
February 11 – 22, 2026 • Academy of Music 

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast brings the beloved tale as old as time to the stage in a stunning theatrical production. This enchanting musical follows the story of Belle, a bright and independent young woman, and the Beast, a prince cursed to live in a monstrous form until he can learn to love and be loved in return. Set in a magical castle filled with enchanted objects and memorable characters, the show combines lavish sets, breathtaking costumes, and iconic songs like "Be Our Guest" and "Beauty and the Beast."

Audiences are transported into a world of romance and adventure, where themes of inner beauty, redemption, and the transformative power of love take center stage. With its captivating performances and heartwarming story, the Beauty and the Beast Broadway tour continues to enchant audiences of all ages, celebrating the magic and timelessness of Disney's classic fairy tale.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC
March 31 – April 5, 2026 • Academy of Music

For 65 years, The Sound of Music has been one of our “favorite things.” With its timeless story and irresistibly charming score, this Rodgers & Hammerstein classic isn't just meant to be enjoyed – it's meant to be shared. Now, a critically acclaimed North American tour brings the cherished musical to stages across the country to teach a new generation to sing.

Directed by three-time Tony® Award winner Jack O’Brien (Hairspray), this vibrant and romantic tale of Maria and the von Trapp family will captivate audiences with its universal themes of love, resilience, and the power of music.

Featuring beloved songs like “Do-Re-Mi,” “Sixteen Going on Seventeen,” and “Edelweiss,” The Sound of Music is the iconic tale of a spirited nun who chooses not to live behind closed doors – and, by following her heart, learns to climb every mountain.

The Sound of Music features music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, suggested by The Trapp Family Singers by Maria Augusta von Trapp. 2025 marks the 60th anniversary of the Oscar^®-winning film, which continues to be one of the most successful movie musicals of all time.


SHUCKED
April 21 – May 3, 2026 • The Shubert Organization’s Forrest Theatre

Shucked  is the Tony® Award-winning musical comedy The Wall Street Journal calls “Flat out hilarious!” Featuring a book by Tony® Award winner Robert Horn (Tootsie), a score by the Grammy Award-winning songwriting team of Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, and directed by Tony® Award winner Jack O’Brien (Hairspray), this corn-fed, corn-bred American musical is sure to satisfy your appetite for great musical theater.


CHICAGO
May 12 – 17, 2026 • The Shubert Organization’s Forrest Theatre

After 28 years, Chicago is still the one musical with everything that makes Broadway shimmy-shake: a universal tale of fame, fortune, and all that jazz, with one showstopping song after another and the most astonishing dancing you’ve ever seen. No wonder Chicago has been honored with 6 Tony® Awards, 2 Olivier Awards, a Grammy®, and thousands of standing ovations. As we celebrate our 28th anniversary, you’ve got to come see why the name on everyone’s lips is still... Chicago.


THE OUTSIDERS
May 26 – June 7, 2026  •  Academy of Music

A winner of four Tony® Awards, including Best Musical, and 2 Drama Desk Awards is The Outsiders.

Adapted from S.E Hinton’s seminal novel and Francis Ford Coppola’s iconic film, this thrilling new Broadway musical features a book by Adam Rapp with Justin Levine; music and lyrics by Jamestown Revival (Jonathan Clay & Zach Chance) and Justin Levine; music supervision, orchestration, and arrangement by Justin Levine; choreography by Rick Kuperman & Jeff Kuperman; and direction by Tony® Award winner Danya Taymor.

In Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1967, Ponyboy Curtis, his best friend Johnny Cade, and their Greaser family of ‘outsiders’ battle with their affluent rivals, the Socs. The Outsiders navigates the complexities of self-discovery as the Greasers dream about who they want to become in a world that may never accept them. With a dynamic original score, The Outsiders is a story of friendship, family, belonging... and the realization that there is still “lots of good in the world.”


THE NOTEBOOK
July 21 – August 2, 2026  •  Academy of Music

The Notebook  is a new hit musical based on the best-selling novel that inspired the iconic film. Allie and Noah, both from different worlds, share a lifetime of love, despite the forces that threaten to pull them apart, in a deeply moving portrait of the enduring power of love.

The Notebook is “full of butterfly-inducing highs, stunning performances, and beautiful songs” (Entertainment Weekly). Chris Jones of The Chicago Tribune says The Notebook is “absolutely gorgeous, not to be missed,” and The New York Daily News calls it “a love story for the ages.”

The Notebook  is directed by Michael Greif (Dear Evan Hansen, Next to Normal, RENT) and Schele Williams (The Wiz, Aida) and features music and lyrics by multi-platinum singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson, book by Bekah Brunstetter (NBC’s This Is Us), and choreography by Katie Spelman.  

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THE SHUBERT ORGANIZATION
The Shubert Organization is America’s oldest professional theatre company and the largest theatre owner on Broadway. Since the dawn of the 20th century, Shubert has operated hundreds of theatres and produced hundreds of plays and musicals both in New York City and throughout the United States. Shubert currently owns and operates 17 Broadway theatres, six off-Broadway venues, and the Forrest Theatre in Philadelphia. Under the leadership of Robert E. Wankel, Chairman and CEO, The Shubert Organization continues to be a leader in the theatre industry. Shubert delivers innovative ticketing solutions via its Telecharge interface, API distribution, and private-label technology, offering unparalleled distribution and marketing to the theatre industry and beyond. Its consumer-facing brands—Telecharge for retail ticket sales and Broadway Inbound for group buyers, tour operators, and the travel industry—sell millions of tickets each year. The Shubert Foundation, sole shareholder of The Shubert Organization, Inc., is dedicated to sustaining and advancing live performing arts in the United States. The Foundation provides general operating support to not-for-profit theatres and dance companies. Foundation grants in 2023 totaled $37.9 million to 635 grantees. For more information, visit www.shubert.nyc.

ABOUT ENSEMBLE ARTS PHILLY
For more information about ENSEMBLE ARTS PHILLY, visit www.ensembleartsphilly.org.

TD Bank is a Proud Sponsor of Ensemble Arts Philly. 

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