Broadway in Tucson has announced its 2026–27 season, and the lineup is headlined by “The Outsiders” — winner of four 2024 Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
The season draws heavily from beloved American storytelling: “The Outsiders,” “The Notebook,” and “The Great Gatsby” all began as iconic books, became celebrated films, and are now smash musical theatre sensations. All performances take place at Centennial Hall on the University of Arizona campus.
Rounding out the year are three special engagements that raise the stakes even further: “Hadestown,” the eight-time Tony winner; “Disney’s The Lion King,” a generational classic and six-time Tony Award winner; and “Six the Musical,” a sharp, exhilarating take on history through the voices of Henry VIII’s six wives.
Broadway in Tucson 2026-27 Season
- The Who’s Tommy … Oct. 20-25, 2026
- Elf the Musical … Nov. 10-15, 2026
- The Outsiders … Feb. 2-7, 2027
- The Bodyguard … Feb. 23-28, 2027
- The Notebook … April 27-May 2, 2027
- The Great Gatsby … Aug. 17-22, 2027
Special Engagements
- Hadestown … Dec. 4-6, 2026
- Disney’s The Lion King … March 10-21, 2027
- Six the Musical … May 21-23, 2027
The Who’s Tommy
Oct. 20-25, 2026
In 1969, The Who created a rock opera that changed the course of music history. Myth and spectacle combine in this fresh reinvention that includes the unforgettable anthems “I’m Free,” “See Me, Feel Me,” “Sensation” and “Pinball Wizard.” After witnessing his father shoot his rival, the young Tommy Walker is lost in the universe, endlessly and obsessively staring into the mirror. An innate knack for pinball catapults him from reticent adolescent to celebrity savior. Tony Award-winning composer Pete Townshend and Tony Award-winning original director Des McAnuff find powerful resonance reexamining this classic story for today.
Elf the Musical
Nov. 10-15, 2026
ELF THE MUSICAL, inspired by the hit film, is the hilarious and heartwarming tale of Buddy, who embarks on a journey to New York City and, in turn, helps the Big Apple rediscover the true meaning of Christmas. This all-new tour, based on the acclaimed 2024 Broadway production “has cracked the code of all-ages comedy,” the kind that will leave children and grown-ups equally helpless with laughter” (New York Times). It’s a “VERY ‘SPARKLEJOLLYTWINKLEJINGLEY’ NIGHT OUT!” (The Daily Beast).
Hadestown
Dec. 4-6
Winner of eight 2019 Tony® Awards, this new musical by celebrated singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell and innovative director Rachel Chavkin (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812) is a love story for today. HADESTOWN intertwines two mythic tales — that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone — as it invites you on a hell- raising journey to the underworld and back. Mitchell’s beguiling melodies and Chavkin’s poetic imagination pit industry against nature, doubt against faith, and fear against love. Performed by a vibrant ensemble of actors, dancers and singers, HADESTOWN is a haunting and hopeful experience.
The Outsiders
Feb. 2-7, 2027
The winner of four 2024 Tony Awards®, including Best Musical, is THE OUTSIDERS. This classic coming-of-age story takes you to Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1967, where Ponyboy Curtis, his best friend Johnny Cade, and their family of Greaser “outsiders” dream about who they want to become in a world that will never accept them. THE OUTSIDERS features Danya Taymor’s Tony Award-winning direction that’s “refreshing, gritty, and endlessly effective.” (New York Times). With “high-octane choreography” (New York Magazine), THE OUTSIDERS has been described as “more pulse-pounding than anything else on Broadway!” (Time Out New York).
The Bodyguard
Feb. 22-28, 2027
Based on the 1992 film starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, THE BODYGUARD is a thrilling, romantic musical that combines high-stakes suspense with unforgettable music. Former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard, Frank Farmer, is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker. Both expect to be in charge of their situation … what they don’t expect is to fall in love. THE BODYGUARD features unforgettable classics “So Emotional,” “I Will Always Love You,” “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” “Saving All My Love,” and “One Moment in Time”, alongside thrilling plot twists and emotional drama. An electrifying combination of romance, suspense and chart-topping music.
Disney’s The Lion King
March 10-21, 2027
More than 100 million people around the world have experienced the phenomenon of Disney’s THE LION KING, and now you can, too, when Tucson’s best-loved musical returns to Centennial Hall. Winner of six Tony Awards®, including Best Musical, this landmark musical event brings together one of the most imaginative creative teams on Broadway. Tony Award®-winning director Julie Taymor brings to life a story filled with hope and adventure set against an amazing backdrop of stunning visuals. THE LION KING also features some of Broadway’s most recognizable music, crafted by Tony Award®-winning artists Elton John and Tim Rice.
The Notebook
April 27-May 2, 2027
Based on the best-selling novel that inspired the iconic film, THE NOTEBOOK tells the story of Allie and Noah, both from different worlds, who share a lifetime of love despite the forces that threaten to pull them apart. “Full of butterfly-inducing highs and beautiful songs” (Entertainment Weekly), THE NOTEBOOK is a deeply moving portrait of the enduring power of love. THE NOTEBOOK is directed by Michael Greif (Dear Evan Hansen, 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.
Six the Musical
May 21-23, 2027
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! 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!”
The Great Gatsby
Aug. 17-22, 2027
Hailed by Entertainment Weekly as “a Broadway extravaganza that explodes with life and energy,” THE GREAT GATSBY is the Tony Award®-winning new musical based on the classic American novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald. This story of extravagance and longing is “one wildly entertaining night at the theater and musical theater at its finest” (Theatrely). THE PARTY’S ROARING IN TUCSON!