BroadwayRadio: Last Week on Broadway (Feb. 17, 2026)
Episode Overview
BroadwayRadio's Matt Tamanini delivers a jam-packed, rapid-fire rundown of Broadway and Off-Broadway developments from the past week, delayed by President's Day and an avalanche of news. Key segments include major casting announcements, show development updates, high-profile transfers, notable Off-Broadway runs, and several screen adaptations. The focus: a cascade of new faces and projects making headlines as Broadway enters a busy spring.
Major Broadway Casting Announcements
Schmigadoon! The Musical at the Nederlander Theatre
Performances begin: April 4 (limited run through September 6)
- Headline: Anna Gasteyer joins as Mildred Layton, a surprise shift from the Kennedy Center’s production.
- Other key cast:
- Ann Harada returning as Florence Menlove
- Brad Oscar as Mayor Menlove
- Isabel McCalla as Emma Tate
- Ivan Hernandez as Doc Jorge Lopez
- Max Clayton as Danny Bailey
- MacKenzie Kurtz as Betsy
- Notably missing: announcements for Reverend Howard Layton, Countess Von Blerkham (originally Jane Krakowski’s role), and Oscar the Leprechaun (Martin Short's role).
- Quote:
“Maybe the biggest surprise or biggest change from the Kennedy Center production is the fact that Anna Gasteyer will be playing Mildred Layton.” (03:05)
The Fear of Thirteen at James Earl Jones Theatre
16-week run begins March 19
- Top billing: Adrien Brody, Tessa Thompson, and (newly joined) Tony nominee Ephraim Sykes.
- Additional cast: Michael Cavender, Eddie Cooper, Victor Cruz, Ebony Flowers, Joel Marsh Garland, others.
Operation Mincemeat: American Cast Takeover
Original UK cast final week: through Feb. 22
- New American leads: Tony nominee Julia Knightle and Jeff Creedy
- Additional cast: Brandon Contreras, Jesse Kirtley, Amanda Jill Robinson—these three promoted from standby to principal.
- Standbys: Sam Hartley, Jerriann Perez remain; new additions Robert Ariza, Alison Gwynn, Lexi Rabati.
Beaches, The Musical at the Majestic Theatre
Performances begin March 27; limited run through Sept. 6 before national tour
- Headliners:
- Jessica Vosk and Kelly Barrett return in lead roles from earlier productions
- Ben Jacoby cast as Michael Baron (romantic lead opposite Barrett)
- Brent Thiessen reprises John Perry (opposite Vosk)
- Note: Despite prior regional productions, this is promoted as “a world premiere—apparently a completely new version of the show.” (10:54)
Broadway Debuts & Swaps
- Jake Shane makes his Broadway debut in All Out, taking over for Ashley Park (scheduling conflicts; possibly Emily in Paris filming). He joins Ray Romano, Nicholas Braun, Jenny Slate. (Closes March 8.)
- Kelsey Watts takes over as Satine in Moulin Rouge! beginning March 24 (potential final Satine, run closes July 26).
- Timeline:
- Current Satine Meg Donnelly’s final: March 1
- Ariana Rosario: Satine March 3–22
- Kelsey Watts begins March 24
- Timeline:
Insider Tidbit (on Six)
- Jasmine Forsberg returns as Jane Seymour, after initial uncertainty regarding Kelsey Watts’ involvement.
- Quote:
“I do have some insider information...Jasmine did not know that she was going to be doing this until a week before the announcement came out.” (15:25)
New & Upcoming Projects
Imitation of Life (New Musical)
- Team: Book by Lynn Nottage, score by John Legend
- Premiere: Off-Broadway at the Shed, Fall 2026
- Directed by: Liesl Tommy
- Casting and dates TBD
The Interestings (World Premiere Musical)
- Team: Sara Bareilles (music & lyrics), Sarah Ruhl (book), Meg Wolitzer (source material & co-adapter), directed by Michael Arden
- Stage: Berkeley Rep, California
- Run: January 31–February 17, 2027
- Casting/creative details forthcoming, high expectation for star power.
Practical Magic (Musical Adaptation)
- Based on: Best-selling novel & hit film
- Team: Alice Hoffman (novelist & co-adapter), Peter Dugan (co-adapter), music by Norah Jones and Greg Wattenberg, directed by Maria Friedman
- Production/casting timeline TBA; aiming for Broadway, not just regional.
International and UK News
Midnight at the Never Get (UK Premiere)
- Venue: Menier Chocolate Factory, July 11–Sept. 12
- Director: David Cromer
- Star: Ben Platt
- Theme: 1960s forbidden romance between two men in NYC; co-written by Mark Sonnenblick (co-writer of “Golden” from K-Pop Demon Hunters—likely Oscar winner this spring).
Off-Broadway Updates
True starring Jesse Tyler Ferguson
- Venue: House of the Redeemer (Upper East Side mansion, immersive staging)
- Run: March 6–April 12 (6 weeks, 34 shows)
- Team: Directed by Rob Ashford, produced by Oliver Henry Roth
- Note: 99-seat immersive production, expected to sell out.
- Quote:
“This one will be tough to come by.” (19:59)
Wild Party (City Center Encores)
- Team:
- Jasmine Amy Rogers as Queenie
- Tanya Pinkins (returning as Dolores, Tony Winner, original Broadway cast)
- Jelani Aladdin, Jordan Donica, Leslie Margarita, others
- Direction: Lili-Anne Brown; Choreography: Katie Spellman
- Run: March 18–29
Show Extensions
- The Monsters (Manhattan Theater Club): now through May 22
- Heathers (New World Stages): extended through September 6 (over a year; anniversary sing-along planned)
- You Got Older (Cherry Lane Theatre): now through April 2 (stars Alia Shawkat, Peter Friedman, et al.)
Stage-to-Screen News
- Stranger Things: The First Shadow filmed with original cast for future release (likely on Netflix, the show’s co-producer).
- Suffs recorded for PBS’s Great Performances, airing/streaming May 8.
- Death of a Salesman film: Corey Hawkins and Kelvin Harrison Jr. in talks; Jeffrey Wright and Octavia Spencer confirmed.
- Brotherhood (new musical film): Mauricio Martinez (lead); production begins April, theatrical release planned for fall.
Upcoming Openings This Week
Off-Broadway
-
The Dinosaurs (Playwrights Horizons) opened Feb. 16.
- Writer: Jacob Perkins; Director: Les Waters
- Cast: Elizabeth Marvel, April Matthis, Maria Elena Ramirez, Mallory Portnoy, Kathleen Chalfant, Kylie McQuail
- Premise: Women gather for stories of recovery across decades in an ever-shifting world.
-
Burnout Paradise (Astor Place Theatre, from Feb. 18)
- Created by Ponycam: five actors, four treadmills, escalating tasks (comedy/physical feat/satirical).
- Quote:
“A euphoric, euphoric visceral celebration of our tendency to run full tilt towards life's endless challenges.” (36:40)
Broadway
- Every Brilliant Thing opens Feb. 21 at the Hudson Theatre
- Star: Daniel Radcliffe
- Format: Matinee debut at 2pm (ahead of planned 7:30pm); limited run through May 24
- Likely extension possible as Tony eligibility approaches.
Notable Quotes & Moments
- “I mean, it took me freaking 48 hours just to accumulate all of the news that happened over the past week. We are getting into that part of the year.” (02:01)
- “With Maria Friedman involved [Practical Magic], I don’t think this is something…that is just going to be, like, hey let’s do it regionally and nowhere else.” (13:56)
- “Midnight at the Never Get…set in the 1960s, and without giving too too much away…really, really liked. It has to do with a romance between two men when it was against the law in New York City.” (18:17)
- “This is a show that has had tremendous success around the world, especially in Australia. It seems fascinating. I cannot wait to check this one out.” – on Burnout Paradise (38:21)
Episode Takeaways
- Spring 2026 is shaping up to be a season of major comings and goings—new faces in beloved roles, promotions from standby, original American casts debuting in UK imports, and a surge of high-caliber, celebrity-driven new musicals in development.
- Off-Broadway continues its reputation for vital, immersive, and starry projects (e.g., Jesse Tyler Ferguson in True).
- Screen adaptations of theater remain robust, with TV and film projects capturing both new works and acclaimed revivals (Stranger Things, Suffs, Death of a Salesman, Brotherhood).
- Several new musicals (from John Legend, Sara Bareilles, Norah Jones) and book adaptations point toward continued star-powered innovation and high crossover potential.