Shubert Theatre Unveils 2026-2027 Broadway Season in New Haven

The Shubert Theatre in New Haven pulled back the curtain on its 2026-2027 Broadway Series Tuesday night, and the reveal was anything but a dry PowerPoint in a conference room.

Guests packed the historic theater on College Street for what turned out to be a proper preview event, complete with free charcuterie, open drinks, and live performances that had the room on its feet before the evening was half over. Not a bad way to sell a season.

The Night’s Standout Moment

The first performer walked on stage with no introduction. No preamble, no bio read from a card. He simply stood at the mic and opened his mouth.

What came out stopped the room.

He sang “What Would I Do If I Could Feel?,” the Tin Man’s signature number from The Wiz, with a voice that filled every corner of the Shubert’s ornate hall. People around the crowd started whispering, trying to place him. Nobody could. That didn’t stop at least a few audience members from developing what one attendee later described, diplomatically, as “a small crush.”

The performer wasn’t costumed as the Tin Man. Didn’t need to be. The longing in the lyrics did the work: I could cry/I could smile/I might like that for a while. His name, revealed later in the evening, is Phillip Johnson Richardson, and he’ll be playing the Tin Man when The Wiz revival runs at the Shubert from October 1 through October 4.

If that performance is any preview of what the full production delivers, those four dates will sell fast.

McDonald Takes the Stage

After Richardson left the audience buzzing, Shubert executive director Anthony McDonald walked out to formally introduce the season. A large screen above and to his left cycled through clips from the upcoming shows as he spoke.

The Broadway lineup he laid out:

Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical runs November 18 through 22, 2026. Beetlejuice follows February 26 through 28, 2027. The Book of Mormon lands April 30 through May 2, 2027. Heathers The Musical closes the Broadway run June 1 through 6, 2027.

The Grinch himself made a live appearance, arriving in full green costume to deliver a short, deliberately awful bit that got genuine laughs. “That was a huge inconvenience for me. And you’re welcome,” he announced, then strutted off stage.

Hard to argue with that energy.

A Standing Ovation

The night’s second showstopper came when Sara Al-Bazali performed “I Say No” from Heathers The Musical. Her delivery was commanding enough that a chunk of the crowd stood up. Mid-presentation. For a preview performance at what is, technically, a marketing event. That’s a real reaction.

Heathers, for those who came of age in the late ’80s or caught the 2018 TV adaptation, follows the sharp-elbowed social politics of Westerburg High with music that swings between pop anthems and something darker underneath. The stage musical has built a devoted following since its off-Broadway run, and the Shubert booking gives New Haven audiences a rare chance to catch it close to home rather than making the trip down to the city.

This reporting draws on the New Haven Independent’s firsthand account of Tuesday’s event.

Why This Season Matters for New Haven

The Shubert sits at the center of New Haven’s cultural geography in a way that’s easy to take for granted. It’s one of the oldest continuously operating theaters in the country, and its Broadway series pulls audiences from well beyond the city itself, drawing from the shoreline, the Farmington Valley, and yes, plenty of commuters who’d otherwise write off a weeknight show as too much trouble.

A season anchored by The Wiz revival, Beetlejuice, and The Book of Mormon is about as crowd-friendly as a lineup gets. Mix in the more adventurous Heathers booking and you’ve got something for most tastes.

McDonald also hinted at additional announcements beyond the Broadway slate, though details weren’t released Tuesday night.

Season subscriptions and single-ticket information are available through the Shubert’s website. Given how quickly New Haven’s theater calendar fills up, booking the October Wiz dates sooner rather than later seems like the obvious move.