There鈥檚 a familiar theme running through the upcoming Broadway season at Playhouse Square: Books. Four of this year鈥檚 musicals are adaptations of classic literature.
The nation's second-largest theater district has been rolling out information about its 2025-26 season over the past several weeks. The final announcement on Wednesday was for "The Outsiders," based on S.E. Hinton's 1967 book.
David Greene, senior vice president of programming at Playhouse Square, said the show is 鈥渆xtra special鈥� because the theater district helped develop the piece. Playhouse Square then received co-producer credit when the show took home the 2024 Tony for Best Musical.
"The show is jam packed with emotion," he said. "It really talks about and focuses on the consequences of conflict. There's also tons of hope in the story. It's really a gritty, incredible, moving production.鈥�
With the emphasis on book adaptations this year, Greene said people 鈥渞eally just want a good story.鈥�
鈥淪ome of the greatest stories have already been written, right?鈥� he said. 鈥淭hese shows really embrace that and enhance the story 鈥� using music to tell the story and to further the story and add dance and these incredible productions.鈥�
The season kicks off with 鈥淭he Notebook,鈥� taking elements from Nicholas Sparks鈥� 1996 book and its 2004 film adaptation. It鈥檚 one of two national tours launching from Cleveland this year.
鈥淲e have incredible stage crews that are really trusted throughout the industry,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e only have so many dates and so many venues, but to get to open back-to-back shows in the fall is incredible.鈥�
The next production, opening Oct. 10, is a quasi-jukebox musical telling Alicia Keys鈥� life story through some of her biggest hits alongside new material.
鈥溾�橦ell's Kitchen鈥� will be ... rehearsing in the KeyBank State,鈥� Greene said. 鈥淎bout 10 days after 鈥楾he Notebook鈥� closes, 鈥楬ell鈥檚 Kitchen鈥� will open. There鈥檒l be a bevy of activity happening at Playhouse Square: Well over 100 people from each of those shows immersing themselves in Cleveland and adding to the economic vitality of this neighborhood."
In January, Playhouse Square welcomes 鈥淪tereophonic,鈥� which is about making music 鈥� but it鈥檚 not a musical.
鈥淚t's an inside view to the challenges that ensue during the creative process,鈥� Greene said. 鈥淭here's gender dynamics, interpersonal conflicts, jealousy, all the things that either hinder or help make a great album.鈥�
The production won the 2024 Tony for Best Play. Its score, by Win Butler of Arcade Fire, was Tony nominated but lost to Shaina Taub鈥檚 work on 鈥淪uffs.鈥� The historical musical focuses on the women鈥檚 suffrage movement. Greene likens it to 鈥淗amilton.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 an accessible way to learn about a really important movement in our nation's history,鈥� he said, citing themes of 鈥渇ighting for equality, internal conflicts 鈥� resilience and perseverance.鈥�
鈥淲ater For Elephants,鈥� adapted from Sara Gruen鈥檚 2006 book, follows 鈥淪uffs.鈥� Greene said he was amazed by the unusual work of the composers, PigPen Theatre Co., and choreographers Jesse Robb and Shana Carroll.
鈥淭hey bring this exciting element that combines circus and traditional dance that audiences haven't seen together,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was one of the things that wowed me the most in seeing the show in New York, in just how seamlessly that all came together.鈥�
The show is followed by 鈥淭he Outsiders鈥� and then 鈥淭he Great Gatsby,鈥� which Greene called a 鈥渄azzling鈥� adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel.
鈥淚t weaves jazz-inspired music and really lively choreography,鈥� Greene said. 鈥淎 very high-impact, physical production.鈥�
Greene expects high demand from school groups for the final two shows, as they鈥檙e based on books read in almost every school system in the country.
Many of the Broadway Series performances are preceded by 鈥淏roadway Buzz,鈥� free pre-show talks hosted by Cleveland theater pioneer Joe Garry. Tickets for the upcoming season are available Feb. 26.
2025-2026 KeyBank Broadway Series
"The Notebook"
September 6-27, 2025
"Hell's Kitchen"
October 10鈥揘ovember 1, 2025
"Stereophonic"
January 6鈥�25, 2026
"Suffs"
February 3鈥�22, 2026
"Water For Elephants"
March 10鈥�29, 2026
"The Outsiders"
April 28鈥揗ay 17, 2026
"The Great Gatsby"
June 9-28, 2026
