The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts is proud to celebrate its 25th birthday with a vibrant Broadway lineup that will run through the spring of 2027. The 2026‑2027 season features 14 productions and more than 150 performances staged at three of Philadelphia’s most iconic venues: the Academy of Music, the Miller Theater, and the Forrest Theatre.
Broadway highlights
Six productions are included in the subscription package, with five of them new to the city. Audiences can look forward to:
- The Great Gatsby (Oct. 20‑Nov. 1, 2026, Academy of Music) – a dazzling musical adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel.
- BOOP! The Musical (Nov. 17‑29, 2026, Academy of Music) – a colorful re‑imagining of the beloved Betty Boop character.
- Hell’s Kitchen (Jan. 5‑17, 2027, Academy of Music) – a coming‑of‑age story narrated by the music of Alicia Keys.
- Maybe Happy Ending (Mar. 23‑Apr. 4, 2027, Academy of Music) – an inventive look at life and what it means to be alive.
- Phantom of the Opera (Jun. 9‑27, 2027, Academy of Music) – Andrew Lloyd Webber’s timeless tale returns to Philadelphia.
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Jul. 28‑Aug. 8, 2027, Academy of Music) – magic and illusion bring the beloved wizarding world to the stage.
Additional productions round out the season, including Mamma Mia!, Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical, STOMP, The Book of Mormon, Waitress, Riverdance 30: The New Generation, Oh, Mary!, and The Who’s Tommy. Audiences can swap up to three shows from the original six‑show package, choosing from an impressive list of eight titles.
Dining and community spaces
The Kimmel Center continues to offer affordable ticket options alongside world‑class performances. Guests can enjoy a three‑course prix‑fixe meal at Leo, the Mediterranean restaurant at the Spruce Street entrance, led by Executive Chef Chris Cryer. For a quicker bite, Curtain Call provides grab‑and‑go fare, coffee, cocktails, free Wi‑Fi, and even a public piano. The Balcony Bar offers daily happy hour specials and Wednesday “Center City Sips” with city views.
Philadelphia Orchestra milestones
The Philadelphia Orchestra is also marking two major milestones: the start of its second 125‑year era and 25 years in the Kimmel Center. The season will feature Mahler’s 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th symphonies, Carmina Burana, a Star Wars film‑in‑concert, and the world premiere of a new arrangement of Leonard Bernstein’s MASS. Music Director Yannick Nézet‑Séguin will bring the opera Lohengrin to the orchestra stage, while composer‑in‑residence Joe Hisaishi will debut his new work Orbis on opening night, September 24.
Education and outreach
Each year the Kimmel Center welcomes roughly 40,000 students for arts‑education programs ranging from early‑childhood music experiences to summer sessions for middle‑ and high‑schoolers. Partnerships with the School District of Philadelphia aim to connect every student with the center at least three times during their K‑12 years. Recent highlights include a Jazz Fellowship that funded a full‑year study for bassist Lily Toner and a $5,000 scholarship from the United Negro College Fund for a student pursuing an arts career.
Discounted rush tickets, $10 “Broadway Bridges” tickets for students, and group rates for organizations such as the Girl Scouts help lower financial barriers. Generous donors also contribute tickets to schools and community groups.
Economic impact and community use
The Kimmel Center and the Philadelphia Orchestra together present about 1,500 events annually, generating an estimated $3.3 billion in economic activity and supporting roughly 55,000 jobs. The venues serve as community hubs, hosting mayoral debates, blood drives, graduation ceremonies, and weddings.
The annual Fall Arts Festival on September 19 (11 a.m.–3 p.m.) will kick off the season and celebrate the center’s 25th birthday with free performances and activities for families.
Shakespeare in Clark Park
In addition to the Broadway season, the city’s beloved outdoor series will present a new adaptation of Hamlet in Clark Park’s “The Bowl” from July 29 to August 2, offering another cultural highlight for residents.
Original reporting: Allentown News – 6abc Philadelphia — read the source article.
