Broadway's Spring 2026 Nostalgia Wave
Spring 2026 Broadway features "BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical" and "Beaches" starring Jessica, both harnessing classic IP with contemporary themes. Critics anticipate "Beaches" to be a standout, with buzz around its performances and adaptation from the beloved film about female friendship and resilience.
*BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical* features a new score from 16-time Grammy winner David Foster, with lyrics by Susan Birkenhead and a book by Bob Martin. The show follows Betty as she steps out of her black-and-white cartoon world into the vibrant color of New York City for a day off from stardom. The musical held its world premiere in Chicago during the 2023 holiday season, directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell. Jasmine Amy Rogers, who will reprise her role on Broadway, garnered critical acclaim for her portrayal of the iconic flapper, with many reviewers noting her star-making performance. *Beaches* has had a longer journey to the stage, with previous productions at the Signature Theatre in Washington, D.C. in 2014 and Chicago's Drury Lane Theatre in 2015. The creative team was revamped for a 2024 run in Calgary, featuring new music by Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Mike Stoller. Based on Iris Rainer Dart's 1985 novel, the musical's book is co-written by Dart and Thom Thomas, with lyrics also by Dart. The production, co-directed by Lonny Price and Matt Cowart, is set to include the Grammy-winning song "Wind Beneath My Wings," which was famously featured in the 1988 film adaptation. These shows are part of a larger trend of leveraging well-known intellectual property on Broadway. Productions like *Back to the Future: The Musical* and *The Great Gatsby* also tap into audience nostalgia for recognizable stories and characters, a strategy that producers hope will guarantee interest.
