The France-Merrick Performing Arts Center Announces 2026/2027
Hippodrome Broadway Series

Sensational lineup to feature new national tour launches, market debuts and returning favorites

Starting at just $343, eight-show subscription packages include Maybe Happy Ending, Hell’s Kitchen, The Sound of Music, Death Becomes Her, The Outsiders, Heathers The Musical, Hamilton and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, with season add-on options SIX and ’Twas the Night Before…

BALTIMORE, Md. (Jan. 15, 2026) – Ron Legler, president of the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center, home of Baltimore’s historic Hippodrome Theatre, a venue managed by an affiliate of Broadway Across America, proudly announces its new 2026/2027 Hippodrome Broadway Series presented by CareFirst® BlueCross BlueShield.

The season kicks off in September with the North American tour launch of Maybe Happy Ending, winner of six Tony Awards, including best musical. Praised as “one of the best musicals in years” by USA Today, the inventive and deeply moving production sparks connection, adventure and maybe even love, all while exploring what it means to be human. Even if they’re not.

In October, subscribers can add the global pop musical sensation SIX as their first season option. From Tudor queens to modern pop icons, the high-energy, Tony Award-winning musical remixes history into a bold, celebratory experience of the six wives of King Henry VIII that has taken audiences across the globe by storm. SIX returns to Baltimore after a sold-out engagement in 2023.

November brings Baltimore’s debut of Alicia Keys’s hit Broadway musical, Hell’s Kitchen, the musical set to her 17-time Grammy-winning songbook and inspired by her community growing up in the New York City neighborhood of the same name. A New York Times Critic’s Pick, the relatable, raw and refreshingly fun musical is a celebration of finding yourself, your purpose and the people who lift you up.

Celebrating the holiday season in December is the return of Cirque du Soleil’s beloved family spectacle, ’Twas the Night Before…, back by popular demand as a season option. This reimagined take on the classic Christmas tale combines breathtaking acrobatics, whimsical storytelling and the spirit of the season to create a memorable experience for audiences of all ages.

Ringing in the new year in January 2027 is the arrival of The Sound of Music, a critically acclaimed new North American tour that brings the Rodgers & Hammerstein classic back to the Hippodrome. With its timeless story and irresistibly charming score, the musical is the iconic tale of a spirited nun who chooses not to live behind closed doors — and, by following her heart, learns to climb every mountain.

In February, audiences will delight in the outrageously funny Death Becomes Her, a sharp and stylish musical comedy adapted from the 1992 cult-classic film that starred Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn about beauty, rivalry and eternal youth. The Daily Beast calls it a “a cheek-aching laughter roller coaster — the most fun night out!”

Spring heats up in March with the multi-week return of Hamilton, the Pulitzer Prize-winning phenomenon that brings history to life with its electrifying score and powerful storytelling. A musical revolution that continues to inspire audiences worldwide, Hamilton is a story of passion, unstoppable ambition and the dawn of a new nation 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.

In April, Baltimore welcomes the market debut of The Outsiders, winner of four 2024 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Adapted from S.E. Hinton’s iconic novel, the powerful new musical navigates the complexities of self-discovery and celebrates friendship, family, belonging… and the realization that there is still “lots of good in the world.”

May brings the North American Tour launch of Heathers The Musical. Based on the 1989 cult film by Daniel Waters that starred Winona Ryder and Christian Slater, Heathers is set at Westerberg High, where popularity is a matter of life and death, and Veronica Sawyer, taken under the wings of three beautiful and impossible cruel Heathers, finds her dreams of popularity finally starting to come true.

The season concludes in June with Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Disney’s first North American touring production of the beloved musical in over 25 years. Featuring spectacular new designs and the Oscar®-winning score audiences know and love, the timeless tale promises a grand and magical finale to the season.

Three productions featured in the 2026/2027 Hippodrome Broadway Series are eligible for Maryland’s Theatrical Tax Credit Program established in 2022: Maybe Happy Ending, SIX and Heathers The Musical.

“This season reflects everything we strive to bring to Baltimore: bold new voices, iconic stories, and the very best of touring Broadway,” said Ron Legler, president of the France Merrick Performing Arts Center. “We are also proud to continue launching national tours from our historic Hippodrome Theatre this season, further solidifying Baltimore’s role as a home for Broadway beyond New York. Baltimore continues to be the destination for touring productions, and that success is made possible by the passion of our audiences and the loyalty of our subscribers. Their continued support allows us to bring world class theatre to the Hippodrome year after year.”

More About the Shows:

Tour Launches:

Maybe Happy Ending
Sept. 13-19, 2026

Winner of six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Maybe Happy Ending tells the deeply human story of a chance encounter that sparks connection, adventure and maybe even love. Helmed by Tony Award-winning director Michael Arden (Parade), Maybe Happy Ending has been called “one of the best musicals in years” (USA Today) and even “The best musical in eons!” (Observer). Don’t miss the totally original new musical adventure that explores what it means to be human. Even if they’re not.

Heathers The Musical

May 15-22, 2027

Following smash hit runs in London and New York, the WhatsOnStage “Best New Musical” winner premieres in Baltimore to launch its national tour.

Welcome to Westerberg High, where popularity is a matter of life and death, and Veronica Sawyer is just another of the nobodies dreaming of a better day. But when she’s unexpectedly taken under the wings of the three beautiful and impossibly cruel Heathers, her dreams of popularity finally start to come true. That is, until J.D., the mysterious teen rebel, teaches her that it might kill to be a nobody, but it is murder being a somebody…

Praised as “Outrageous Humor. An irrepressible musical” (New York Times) and “Mischievous fun” (New York Sun), Heathers The Musical has broken box office records with over 200 productions worldwide. Based on the hit film by Daniel Waters, Heathers The Musical features book, music and lyrics by Kevin Murphy and Laurence O’Keefe.

Market Debuts:

Hell’s Kitchen

Nov. 17-22, 2026

Welcome to Hell’s Kitchen, the hit musical from 17-time Grammy® Award-winning Alicia Keys — inspired by her life, her music and her community.

Your journey begins with Ali, a 17-year-old girl full of fire, searching for freedom, passion and her place in the world. Along the way, you’ll meet the musical mentor who changes her life, her dynamic family and the neighborhood that helps her grow. Relatable, raw and refreshingly fun, Hell’s Kitchen is a celebration of finding yourself, your purpose and the people who lift you up.

More than watching a performance, this experience pulls you out of your seat and has you buzzing when you leave, wondering who to tell about it first. The music — a mix of Keys’ greatest hits and new songs written exclusively for the show — is brought to life through exhilarating choreography. It’s a soundtrack of rebellion, life and love that speaks to you no matter where you’re from, where you’ve been or where you’re going.

Hailed as a New York Times Critic’s Pick that is, “thrilling from beginning to end — a rare must-see!” Hell’s Kitchen is directed by four-time Tony Award nominee Michael Greif (Rent, Dear Evan Hansen and The Notebook), with choreography by four-time Tony Award nominee Camille A. Brown, a book by Pulitzer Prize finalist Kristoffer Diaz and the music of Alicia Keys.

Feel the energy of this multi-award-winning musical and experience where dreams begin: Hell’s Kitchen.

The Sound of Music

Jan. 5-10, 2027

For 65 years, The Sound of Music has been one of our “favorite things.” With its timeless story and irresistibly charming score, this Rodgers & Hammerstein classic isn’t just meant to be enjoyed — it’s meant to be shared. Now, a critically acclaimed North American tour brings the cherished musical to stages across the country to teach a new generation to sing.

Directed by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O’Brien (Hairspray), this vibrant and romantic tale of Maria and the von Trapp family will captivate audiences with its universal themes of love, resilience and the power of music.

Featuring beloved songs like “Do-Re-Mi,” “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” and “Edelweiss,” The Sound of Music is the iconic tale of a spirited nun who chooses not to live behind closed doors — and, by following her heart, learns to climb every mountain.

The Sound of Music features music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, suggested by The Trapp Family Singers by Maria Augusta Trapp. 2025 marked the 60th anniversary of the Oscar-winning film, which continues to be one of the most successful movie musicals of all time.

Death Becomes Her

Feb. 2-7, 2027

THE TONY AWARD®-WINNING “PERFECT MUSICAL COMEDY” – DEADLINE

Some people will do anything to look eternally fabulous. But famous actress Madeline Ashton and her best frenemy Helen Sharp are about to go too far…thanks to a mysterious woman named Viola Van Horn and a secret potion that’s to die for.

Death Becomes Her is the Tony Award-winning drop-dead hilarious new musical comedy based on the classic 1992 film with direction and choreography by Tony winner Christopher Gattelli. Death Becomes Her is “a laugh-filled, tuneful musical to die for” (Variety) and “a cheek-aching laughter roller coaster — the most fun night out!” (The Daily Beast). Experience the “savagely funny” (Time Out) pop-culture phenomenon that’s been certified “hilarious” by The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, Goldie Hawn, Beyoncé (!!) and countless fans on Instagram, TikTok and beyond.

See it now and laugh for eternity.

The Outsiders

April 20-25, 2027

The winner of four 2024 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, is The Outsiders.

Adapted from S.E. Hinton’s seminal novel and Francis Ford Coppola’s iconic film, this thrilling new musical features a book by Adam Rapp with Justin Levine, music and lyrics by Jamestown Revival (Jonathan Clay & Zach Chance) and Tony Award winner Justin Levine, music supervision, orchestration and arrangements by Justin Levine, choreography by Rick Kuperman & Jeff Kuperman, and direction by Tony Award winner Danya Taymor. Entertainment Weekly says, “The Outsiders has the power to inspire an entire generation.”

In Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1967, Ponyboy Curtis, his best friend Johnny Cade and their Greaser family of “outsiders” battle with their affluent rivals, the Socs. The Outsiders 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.”

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast

June. 16-20, 2027

Be Our Guest at Beauty and the Beast, Disney’s first North American touring production of the beloved musical in over 25 years. This enchanting and timeless tale, filled with the romance and grandeur audiences know and love, 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.” Reuniting to create this new production are members of the original Tony Award-winning artistic team, including composer Alan Menken, lyricist Tim Rice and book writer Linda Woolverton, with direction and choreography by Matt West, scenic design by Stanley A. Meyer, costume design by Ann Hould-Ward and lighting design by Natasha Katz. Beauty and the Beast is the beloved musical that will fill your heart with joy and Disney magic.

Returning Favorites:

SIX (Season Option)

Oct. 25-Nov. 1, 2026

From Tudor Queens to Pop Icons, the SIX wives of Henry VIII take the microphone to remix five hundred years of historical heartbreak into a Euphoric 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 SIX: LIVE ON OPENING NIGHT Broadway album debuted at Number 1 on the Billboard cast album charts and surpassed one billion streams worldwide!

‘Twas the Night Before… (Season Option)

Dec. 17-27, 2026

Cirque du Soleil’s first-ever holiday-themed family theatrical, ’Twas the Night Before…, returns to Baltimore this December. With something for everyone in the family to enjoy, this vibrant story is a festive flurry of love and cheer, featuring the breathtaking acrobatics Cirque du Soleil is known for – from a mesmerizing aerial straps duo and daring hoop diving to gravity-defying hair suspension and high-energy dancing. The production is performed by a cast of 26 artists from around the world and features lovable characters alongside a soundtrack of Christmas favorites reimagined by Cirque du Soleil.

Hamilton

March 9-28, 2027

A revolutionary story of passion, unstoppable ambition, and the dawn of a new nation.

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. Hamilton 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, it has won Grammy®, Olivier Awards, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and an unprecedented special citation from the Kennedy Center Honors.

The Hippodrome’s eight-show 2026/2027 subscription package includes:

MAYBE HAPPY ENDING | Sept. 13-19, 2026
HELL’S KITCHEN | Nov. 17-22, 2026
THE SOUND OF MUSIC | Jan. 5-10, 2027
DEATH BECOMES HER | Feb. 2-7, 2027
HAMILTON | March 9-28, 2027
THE OUTSIDERS | April 20-25, 2027
HEATHERS THE MUSICAL | May 15-22, 2027
DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST | June 16-20, 2027

Season options include:

SIX | Oct. 25-Nov. 1, 2026
‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE… | Dec. 17-27, 2026

Current subscribers are invited to renew their subscriptions starting today, January 15, and will receive an email with more information. Patrons seeking new eight-show subscriptions for the Hippodrome’s upcoming season can join the Hippodrome’s priority waitlist to be among the first in line, with packages going on sale in March 2026. The eight-show package prices begin at just $343.

Subscriptions are available:

Online at BaltimoreHippodrome.com/Season
By phone at 800.343.3103 (M-F, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.)
In-person at the Hippodrome Theatre Box Office, located at the corner of Eutaw and Baltimore Streets (M-F, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. and show dates 11 a.m.–curtain)

Individual ticket on-sale dates will be announced throughout the year, starting this summer. Groups of 10 or more should contact BaltimoreGroups@BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com or call 888.451.5986.

Current subscribers will receive announcements via email. The Hippodrome Broadway Series offers an array of subscriber benefits, including:

Guaranteed seats to every package show at Subscriber prices
Priority purchase opportunities and a flexible six-part payment plan
Dedicated patron services
Exchange privileges
Upgrade opportunities
First-access to the Hipp Club, the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center’s pre-theatre experience featuring elevated dining and beverage options, priority theatre entrance, concierge service and more.

In addition, subscribers can take advantage of Hippodrome Live special offers plus membership privileges to Broadway Across America, a national network of more than 45 North American cities where Broadway is presented. *Benefits may not apply to all shows.