Segerstrom Center’s 2026-27 Broadway Season Features Six Local Premieres Plus Returning Favorites. Courtesy Culture OC

The Segerstrom Center for the Arts’ 2026-27 Broadway series, includes six Orange County premieres among its 11 musicals presented during the Costa Mesa venue’s 40th-anniversary season.

By Paul Hodgins of Culture OC

The series also includes the return of some perennial favorites, including one beloved Disney musical with a special Orange County connection.

“We always try to look for what’s new, what’s coming,” said Casey Reitz, president and CEO of Segerstrom Center for the Arts, who has an extensive background in New York theater. “What can we get to our audiences as quickly as we can? And we always kind of lean a little more into shows that I think will be pleasing for the whole family.”

“Beauty and The Beast,” which launches the Broadway season, is Disney’s first North American touring version of the show in more than 25 years. This production will reunite members of the original Broadway creative team to present a reimagined 30th anniversary production. Led by director/choreographer Matt West, the show features updated technology, costumes and sets. It retains its classic songs by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice.

(Seal Beach native Susan Egan made her Broadway debut as Belle in the original production, which premiered on April 18, 1994, at the Palace Theatre. Her performance was a breakout success that cemented her as a Broadway leading lady and established the blueprint for future Disney stage princesses.)

Reitz has a special soft spot for “Beauty and the Beast.” “It’s actually the first Broadway show I ever saw in New York City, along with ‘Chicago.’ That was my first foray into musicals.” Reitz said he’s curious and excited to see how the ‘90s classic will be reimagined...

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