WHARTON CENTER UNVEILS 2025-2026 BROADWAY SERIES
- The Chronicle News
- Mar 5
- 5 min read
A SEASON SO GOOD
EAST LANSING, MI — Get ready for a spectacular season filled with electrifying music, thrilling adventures, and unforgettable characters! Wharton Center’s 2025-2026 Broadway Series features an exciting lineup, with six Broadway shows making their Wharton Center premiere and two beloved favorites returning—bringing an exciting array of must-see productions direct from New York City that will captivate audiences all season long.
Subscribers get first access to the season, with six-show packages starting at just $238. Subscribers can also enjoy priority access now to special events like Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, risk-free ticket exchanges, interest-free payment plans, and much more. Packages are on sale now.
WHARTON CENTER’S 2025-2026 BROADWAY SERIES:
A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical: Sept 16–21, 2025
The Wiz: Dec 9–14, 2025
Back to the Future: The Musical: Jan 13–18, 2026
Kimberly Akimbo: Mar 10–15, 2026
Clue: Apr 7–12, 2026
& Juliet: Jun 23–28, 2026
PLUS, TWO SPECTACULAR SPECIAL EVENTS:
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast: Oct 14–19, 2025
Hadestown: Jan 30–Feb 1, 2026
The 25-26 season boasts a collective 55 Tony Award® nominations with 26 wins, including three Tony Award® winning Best Musicals: KIMBERLY AKIMBO (2023), HADESTOWN(2019), and THE WIZ (1975).
“This season is truly something special,” says Wharton Center Executive Director Eric Olmscheid. “It’s a lineup that blends nostalgia, innovation, and pure Broadway brilliance—whether you’re reliving a favorite classic or discovering something brand new.
We’re beyond thrilled to present six Broadway premieres at Wharton Center, while also welcoming back beloved favorites like Beauty and the Beast and Hadestown! This season is going to be nothing short of extraordinary.”
SHOW DESCRIPTIONS
A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical: Sept 16–21, 2025
In collaboration with Neil Diamond himself, A BEAUTIFUL NOISE tells the story of how a kid from Brooklyn became a worldwide rock sensation. The score features fan favorites including "Forever in Blue Jeans," "Sweet Caroline," and "America." A BEAUTIFUL NOISEis "a delight for your ears, eyes, and heart—an example of Broadway getting it totally right!" (New York Amsterdam News).
The Wiz: Dec 9–14, 2025
The all-new 2024 revival of the Broadway hit, direct from New York! THE WIZ retells L. Frank Baum’s “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” with a groundbreaking twist that changed the face of Broadway. The Tony Award® winning musical is known for its incredible score featuring “Ease On Down The Road,” “Mean Ole Lion,” “Don’t Nobody Bring Me No Bad News,” and more packed with soul, gospel, rock, and 70s funk. THE WIZ is “a new production for a new century!” (Broadway World) and “a cause for celebration!” (Chicago Tribune).
Back to the Future: The Musical: Jan 13–18, 2026
Great Scott! The nostalgia-rich Broadway production, BACK TO THE FUTURE, is based on the Universal Pictures/Amblin Entertainment film. Marty McFly is a rock ‘n’ roll teenager who is accidentally transported back to 1995 in a time-traveling DeLorean invented by his friend, Dr. Emmett Brown. But before he can return to 1985, Marty must make sure his high school-aged parents fall in love in order to save his own existence. Now he’s in a race against time to fix the present, escape the past, and send himself … back to the future. Winner of the 2022 Oliver Award for Best New Musical, when BACK TO THE FUTURE hits 88mph, it’ll change musical theatre history forever.
Kimberly Akimbo: Mar 10–15, 2026
A new musical about growing up and growing old (in no particular order), KIMBERLY AKIMBO is the winner of five Tony Awards® including Best Musical. It features Tony Award® winning book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire (Shrek), a Tony Award® winning score by Jeanine Tesori (Fun Home), choreography by Danny Mefford (Dear Evan Hansen), and direction by Tony ®nominated Jessica Stone. Kimberly is about to turn 16 and recently moved with her family to a new town in suburban New Jersey. In this “howlingly funny heartbreaker of a show” (The New Yorker), Kimberly navigates family dysfunction, a rare genetic condition, her first crush … and possible felony charges. She is determined to find happiness against all odds and embark on a great adventure.
Clue: Apr 7–12, 2026
Murder and blackmail are on the menu when six mysterious guests gather at Boddy Manor for a night they'll never forget during CLUE. Based on the fan-favorite 1985 Paramount movie, and inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, CLUEis the ultimate whodunit that leaves audiences nationwide dying of laughter and guessing until the final twist. CLUE is "extraordinarily entertaining," and "strikes contemporary parallels on the way to its grand reveal" (The New York Times).
& Juliet: Jun 23–28, 2026
Created by the Emmy-winning "Schitt's Creek," this hilarious new musical flips the script on the greatest love story ever told. & JULIET whisks audiences away in a fabulous journey as she ditches her famous ending for a fresh beginning, and a second chance at life and love—her way. Juliet’s new story bursts to life through a playlist of pop anthems as iconic as her name, including “Since U Been Gone," "Roar," "Baby One More Time," “Larger Than Life,” “That’s The Way It Is,” and "Can't Stop the Feeling!" —all from the genius songwriter/producer behind more #1 hits than any other artist his way. & JULIET is "a pull-out-all-the-stops sensation that gets your heart racing!" (The Washington Post).
SPECIAL EVENTS:
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast: Oct 14–19, 2025
Disney’s first North American production of the beloved musical in over 25 years is making its way back to Wharton Center this fall. This enchanting and timeless tale is being brought to life like never before while telling the story of romance and grandeur audiences know and love. The Oscar-winning and Tony® nominated score by Alan Menken includes the classic songs “Be Our Guest” and “Beauty and the Beast.” With the incredible direction and choreography by Matt West, Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST is “the most lavish, opulent, eye-popping show ever!” (New York Daily News).
Hadestown: Jan 30–Feb 1, 2026
COME SEE HOW THE WORLD COULD BE.Welcome to Hadestown, where a song can change your fate. Winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards®including Best Musical, and the 2020 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, HADESTOWN is a haunting and hopeful theatrical experience that grabs you and never lets go.
“Each season we strive to curate a best-of-Broadway season for our community,” says Olmscheid. “In 2025-26 we have stories that inspire, productions that dazzle, and music that will stay with you long after the curtain falls. I can’t wait for our community to experience these incredible shows together, and I hope you will join us!”
Broadway subscriptions go on sale Monday, March 3, with six-show packages starting at just $238.
Visit WhartonSeason.com for more details and to secure your seats!
The Broadway at Wharton Center Series is supported by MSU Federal Credit Union.
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