Hamilton, Rent headline Broadway Philadelphia's return to the stage

ByWendy Daughenbaugh WPVI logo
Broadway Philly's 2021-22 Season Preview | Hamilton, Rent and more
Broadway Philly's 2021-22 Season Preview | Hamilton, Rent and moreHamilton, STOMP and Rent headline the 2021-22 Broadway Philadelphia season of the arts.

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Broadway Philadelphia is back! Watch our exclusive preview of the upcoming season and how things will look differently.

Zoom shows were a great pandemic stop-gap but there is NOTHING like a live show. And Broadway is back in Philly with 13 shows with 42 combined Tony Awards.

Season Overview

The curtain is rising again this fall on at all of the theaters on the Kimmel Cultural Campus. This season of Broadway Philadelphia includes 13 shows with a combined 42 Tony Awards coming to the Merriam Theater, the Forrest Theatre, and the Academy of Music.

Broadway Philadelphia | Tickets

Academy of Music

240 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19102

Merriam Theater

250 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19102

Forrest Theatre

1114 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Kimmel Center

300 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19102

If you become a Broadway Philadelphia subscriber, your first show is in 2022. if you can't wait, or you just want more, there are several shows in the fall.

Non-subscription series

If you become a Broadway Philadelphia subscriber, your first show is in 2022. if you can't wait, or you just want more, there are several shows in the fall, starting with the blockbuster Hamilton, which features a six-week run at the Academy of Music in October.

Hamilton: October 20-November 28, 2021 -- Academy of Music

Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles: October 29-31, 2021 -- Merriam Theater

Anastasia: November 23-28, 2021 -- Merriam Theater

STOMP: December 28, 2021-January 2, 2022 -- Merriam Theater

Rent: 25th Anniversary Farewell Tour: March 4-6, 2022

Merriam Theater

Waitress: March 29-April 3, 2022

Academy of Music

Hairspray: May 17-22, 2022

Merriam Theater

We go behind the scenes to see where Broadway sets are born and some of those stages in action.

Subscription Series

The Broadway Philadelphia subscription package includes six shows with some deep discounts. Those shows are getting ready to hit the road now so we went behind the scenes to the place where some of the biggest sets on Broadway are born.

Hudson Scenic Studio

130 Fernbrook St, Yonkers, NY 10705

Pretty Woman: The Musical: January 4-16, 2022

Academy of Music

Hadestown: February 9-20, 2022

Academy of Music

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical: February 22-27, 2022

Academy of Music

Oklahoma!: March 8-20, 2022

Forrest Theatre

To Kill a Mockingbird: July 12-24, 2022

Academy of Music

Dear Evan Hansen: August 16-28, 2022

Forrest Theatre

The Kimmel Cultural Campus has a number of resident companies gearing up for the fall season as well.

Resident companies of the Kimmel Cultural Campus return to the stage

Broadway isn't the only thing coming back. The Kimmel Cultural Campus has a number of resident companies gearing up for the fall season as well.

The Kimmel Cultural Campus is home to four performing arts groups that make up a community for the artists, and an oasis for art lovers.

Shuttered through the pandemic, they are finally gearing up for live performances once again.

The Philadelphia Ballet, formerly the Pennsylvania Ballet, will put on a small performance at the Performance Garage this fall, then return to the Academy of Music just in time for the holidays and the traditional staging of George Balanchine's The Nutcracker.

Philadanco, founded in 1970 by Joan Myers-Brown, returns to the Kimmel Center in December, going into the more intimate Perelman Theater with their presentations of modern dance.

Opera Philadelphia has outdoor performances at the Mann Center, until returning to the Kimmel Cultural Campus in January -- including one that will add fireworks to the excitement.

The company also started a digital channel during the pandemic -- a venture started out of necessity, but one which they plan to continue moving forward.

After more than a year on the digital stage, The Philadelphia Orchestra welcomes Yo Yo Ma to its opening night celebration in October in Verizon Hall. During the pandemic, the musicians also staged small, community-based performances at places like Harriet's Bookshop in Fishtown, and the William Way LGBT Center.

The Philadelphia Orchestra | Facebook | Instagram

215-893-1999 Tickets

Philadelphia Ballet | Facebook | Instagram

215-893-1999 Tickets

Philadanco! | Facebook | Instagram

9 North Preston Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104

215-387-8200 General Inquiries

Opera Philadelphia | Facebook | Instagram

1420 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102

215-732-8400 Tickets & Information

The space was a safe haven for residents during the pandemic, and it's always been a source of education and inspiration for the next generation.

Kimmel Cultural Campus

Theaters have been dark since last March, but the Kimmel Cultural Campus has been anything but silent. The space was a safe haven for residents during the pandemic, and it's always been a source of education and inspiration for the next generation.

Kimmel Cultural Campus Education & Community Programs| Website

With theatres open, there's been a tremendous focus on safety, with improved air circulation and frequent cleanings a top priority for facilities.

Clean + Safe

While the Kimmel Cultural Campus is gearing up to welcome audiences back, there's been a tremendous focus on doing it safely. Crews have been at work improving indoor air circulation and filtration to meet the recommended guidelines from the city and the CDC. There's also a heightened commitment to keeping touchpoints clean. Because COVID-19 safety guidelines can evolve, be sure to sign up for the Kimmel's Know Before You Go email to stay up to date on the latest recommendations.

Kimmel Cultural Campus Safe & Clean Commitment | Know before you go email list

The return of live shows is vital for our collective psyche but it's also a critical part of Philadelphia's economic recovery from the pandemic.

Economic Impact

The return of live shows is vital for our collective psyche but it's also a critical part of Philadelphia's economic recovery from the pandemic. It's a $4.1 billion industry. The Kimmel Cultural campus alone brings in $585 million a year, according to the city's chief cultural officer Kelly Lee. That money, she says, supports 5,000 jobs while also boosting bars and restaurants in the theater district that rely on those patrons for business.

You can help the curtains rise again on the Kimmel Cultural Campus through a direct donation or just by going to see a show. Subscribers to this season of Broadway Philadelphia are being offered the option to swap out two shows (Hamilton excluded) from their package.

Kimmel Cultural Campus | Facebook | Instagram

Tickets for HAMILTON on sale now

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