'The Outsiders,' 'Hamilton' and more top the 2025-26 PNC Broadway in Louisville season
A spectacular new season of PNC Broadway in Louisville is headed to the Kentucky Center, including the 2024 Tony Award winning Best Musical "The Outsiders."
Straight from Broadway, the 2025-26 season will be packed with additional Tony Award winning premieres including, "Kimberly Akimbo," "MJ The Musical," "Water for Elephants" and "The Great Gatsby," based on the novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Not only that, the new season's other exciting touring shows bring to town the breathtaking "Disney's Beauty and the Beast," the box office smash hit "Hamilton," and Broadway's outrageous musical comedy "Book of Mormon." And for a limited engagement, "Riverdance" will return to the Kentucky Center stage as a season special.
Held at the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts, 501 W. Main St., the new season, announced Tuesday, kicks off in the fall of 2025 with "MJ The Musical," centered around the making of Michael Jackson's 1992 "Dangerous World Tour." In October, the dazzling "Water For Elephants" will premiere followed by the 2023 Tony Award winning Best Musical "Kimberly Akimbo" in December.
"This is one of the biggest, most current seasons we've ever had," Leslie Broecker, president of Broadway Across America Midwest, told the Courier Journal. "It's quite a feather in Louisville's cap to have the first national tour of the 2024 Tony Award-winning Best Musical, and the 2023 Tony Award-winning Best Musical. Couple that with three returning blockbusters and of course we're thrilled for new audiences to experience the 30th anniversary tour of 'Disney's Beauty and the Beast.'"
Currently, 2025-26 season tickets are only available to active subscribers for renewal. New subscription tickets will go on sale on April 2. A waitlist and more information is available at BroadwayinLouisville.com.
Here is everything you need to know about the 2025-26 PNC Broadway in Louisville schedule, including how to buy tickets.
All productions take place at the Kentucky Performing Arts building, 501 W. Main St. Performances typically run for one week, though 'Hamilton' runs for two weeks. Date/time options are Tuesday-Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 1 and 6:30 p.m.
WHAT: He is one of the greatest entertainers of all time. Now, Michael Jackson's unique and unparalleled artistry comes to Louisville in "MJ," the multiple Tony Award winning musical centered around the making of the 1992 "Dangerous World Tour." Created by Tony Award-winning Director/Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, the jukebox musical goes beyond the singular moves and signature sound of the star, offering a rare look at the creative mind and collaborative spirit that catapulted Michael Jackson into legendary status.
WHEN: Sept. 9-14
WHAT: The New Yorker calls "Water For Elephants 'stunning, emotional, heart-filled and gorgeously imaginative.' The Tony nominated show based on Sara Gruen's novel tells the spell-binding story of a young man who jumps a moving train unsure of where the road will take him and finds a new home with the remarkable crew of a travelingcircus where he discovers a life and love beyond his wildest dreams.
"This musical is based on a book in which an older gentleman is telling a story based on his youth," Broecker explained. "It's about how a great loss propels him into a life of magic and circus. 'Water For Elephants' is a beautiful story with the ups and downs of a great show."
WHEN: Oct. 14-19
WHAT: Winner of five Tony Awards, including the 2023 Tony Award for Best Musical, "Kimberly Akimbo" is a "very sweet show about a teenager with a rare genetic condition," said Broecker. The musical follows a teenage girl about to turn 16 who recently moved with her family to a new town in suburban New Jersey. In this funny, yet heartbreaking show, Kimberly is forced to navigate family dysfunction, her rare genetic condition, her first crush and possible felony charges. Ever the optimist, she is determined to find happiness against all odds and embark on a great adventure.
WHEN: Dec. 2-7
WHAT: "The Great Gatsby" arrives on the heels of the 100th anniversary of the Louisville celebration of author F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel. Several references about Louisville, where the author briefly lived, are sprinkled throughout the classic tale. As a Broadway musical, "The Great Gatsby" offers the audience an extravagant journey of love, wealth and tragedy that brings the roaring '20s to life on stage including a jazz and pop-influenced original score.
WHEN: Feb. 10-15, 2026
WHAT: Last seen in Louisville in 2015, Disney's 30th Anniversary production of "Beauty and the Beast" is a breathtaking musical filled with romance and grandeur. This enchanting and timeless tale has been brought to life like never before, with spectacular new sets and dazzling costumes. The show boasts the Oscar winning and Tony Award-nominated score, including the classic songs 'Be Our Guest' and 'Beauty and the Beast.' WHEN: March 10-15, 2026
WHAT: The New York Times calls the nine time Tony Award winning "Book of Mormon" the best musical of this century.' The Washington Post says, 'It is the kind of evening that restores your faith in musicals.' And Entertainment Weekly says, 'Grade A: the funniest musical of all time.' This outrageous musical comedy follows the adventures of a mismatched pair of missionaries, sent halfway across the world to spread the "Good Word." Contains explicit language.
WHEN: May 5-10, 2026
WHAT: "Hamilton" is the epic saga that follows the rise of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton as he fights for honor, love, and a legacy that would shape the course of a nation. Based on Ron Chernow's acclaimed biography and set to a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B, and Broadway, "Hamilton" has had a profound impact on culture, politics, and education. The musical features book, music, and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, and musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire. In addition to its 11 Tony Awards, "Hamilton" has won multiple awards including Grammy, Olivier Awards, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and an unprecedented special citation from the Kennedy Center Honors.
"This will be the third time the musical has come to Louisville and each time people fall in love with 'Hamilton' because you learn something more each time you see it on stage," said Broecker. "It's layered like an onion and you find something new each time you see the show."
WHEN: June 30 to July 17, 2026
WHAT: Adapted from S.E. Hinton's seminal novel and Francis Ford Coppola's iconic film, "The Outsiders" is the winner of the 2024 Tony for Best Musical. Set in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1967, Ponyboy Curtis, his best friend Johnny Cade and their Greaser family of "outsiders" battle with their affluent rivals, the Socs. The story navigates the complexities of self-discovery as the Greasers dream about who they want to become in a world that may never accept them. With a dynamic original score, "The Outsiders" is a story of friendship, family, belonging and the realization that there is still 'lots of good in the world.'
"The rumble scene is amazing and I believe will become a classic piece of choreography," Broecker told the Courier Journal. "The dancers perform on gravel in the rain and its just amazing. The story is the story but the way it's delivered on stage is something audiences don't want to miss."
WHEN: Aug. 18-23, 2026
WHAT: "Riverdance" is a globally renowned theatrical show primarily focused on traditional Irish music and dance, featuring intricate choreography, powerful rhythms and a captivating score. The show is a PNC Broadway in Louisville 2024-25 season option and not included in the regular season package.
WHEN: March 24-26, 2026
For more information, visit BroadwayinLouisville.com.
Reach features reporter Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: PNC Broadway in Louisville 2025-26 season: The Outsiders, Great Gatsby
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