Stage Brief
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Happy hump day! Jennifer Hudson is stepping into the producer's chair for a Dreamgirls revival, Ray Romano is making his Broadway debut, and we're saying goodbye to original Peter Pan star Sondra Lee at 97.
⭐ Casting & Creatives
Jennifer Hudson Joins as Producer for Dreamgirls Broadway Revival
Oscar and Grammy winner Jennifer Hudson has joined the producing team for the upcoming Broadway revival of Dreamgirls, the musical in which she made her film debut. Hudson won an Academy Award for her portrayal of Effie White in the 2006 film adaptation of the iconic show about a 1960s girl group.
St. Louis American, Deadline, Broadway News, Broadway Shows
Ray Romano Set for Broadway Debut in Simon Rich's All Out
Ray Romano, known from "Everybody Loves Raymond," will make his Broadway debut in Simon Rich's new show, All Out: Comedy About Ambition. He accepted the role as part of a "Year of Yes" philosophy, noting the show's sketch-based format involves four comedic actors performing from chairs with scripts.
Cynthia Erivo, Lena Waithe Join Cats: The Jellicle Ball as Producers
BroadwayWorld, YouTube, Broadway.com
Broadway Stars to Perform at New York Pops Stephen Schwartz Gala
Shoshana Bean, Auliʻi Cravalho, Judy Kuhn, Lindsay Mendez, and Ben Platt will perform with The New York Pops. This star-studded concert, honoring composer Stephen Schwartz at the orchestra’s 43rd Birthday Gala, is set for Monday, April 27, 2026, in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage.
Stars Preview New Musicals at Broadway Across America Conference
💼 Industry & Business
Sondra Lee, Original Star of Peter Pan and Hello, Dolly!, Dies at 97
Broadway actress Sondra Lee has died at age 97. Lee originated roles in Mary Martin's Peter Pan and Hello, Dolly!, two landmark productions that helped define Broadway's golden age.
Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter, The Guardian, AccessWDUN, New York Daily News, People.com, Indiana Gazette Online, Boston Herald, New Castle News, TheaterMania
Broadway Grosses Dip Due to Snow; Hell's Kitchen Closes, Every Brilliant Thing Begins
BroadwayWorld, TheaterMania, podcasts, TicketNews, Broadway Direct
📜 Today in Broadway History
On this day in 1983, Broadway lost a titan: Tennessee Williams
Did you know that February 25th marks the passing of Tennessee Williams, the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright behind classics like 'A Streetcar Named Desire' and 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof'? His evocative dramas, often exploring themes of memory, desire, and disillusionment, left an indelible mark on American theatre.
Happy Birthday to Mary Coyle Chase, the imaginative mind behind 'Harvey'!
Born on this day in 1906, Mary Coyle Chase gave us the beloved Pulitzer Prize-winning play 'Harvey,' about Elwood P. Dowd and his invisible six-and-a-half-foot-tall rabbit friend. It's a charming reminder that sometimes, the best companions are the ones only you can see!
"The impossible is possible tonight."
— Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella
— Eric