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Across the Pond: 5 NYC theatre highlights from May

In our monthly series, we're catching you up on the Broadway and Off-Broadway news you shouldn't miss, especially if you're planning a stateside theatre trip.

Gillian Russo
Written byGillian Russo

Welcome to our Across the Pond series, where the editor of our sister site New York Theatre Guide rounds up the most exciting theatre news in NYC from the past month.

From the 2026 Tony Award nominations to celebrity Broadway debuts, here are 5 major headlines in NYC theatre from May, plus one moment you should look forward to in June.

Planning an NYC trip? Visit New York Theatre Guide for tickets to the shows featured below and dozens more events on Broadway and beyond.

Summary

  • Major NYC theatre news from May includes the 2026 Tony Award nominations; the Broadway transfer of Evita starring Rachel Zegler; and the Broadway debuts of Tracee Ellis Ross and Meg Stalter
  • Coming up is the Tony Awards ceremony on 7 June

Coming up: The 79th annual Tony Awards

Broadway's about to get paranormal.

It's endgame for Chess and Death Becomes Her on Broadway.

Tracee Ellis Ross and Meg Stalter will make their Broadway debuts this summer.

Don't cry for Rachel Zegler, New York.

The Lost Boys and Schmigadoon! led the Tony Award nominations.

The Lost Boys and Schmigadoon! led the Tony Award nominations.

The Tony Award nominations were announced on 5 May, and The Lost Boys and Schmigadoon! led the pack with 12 nominations each, including for Best Musical. Best Musical Revival nominee Ragtime closely followed with 11, itself trailed by three shows with 9 nods: Best Play Revival nominee Death of a Salesman and Best Musical Revival nominees Cats: The Jellicle Ball and The Rocky Horror Show.

Find the complete nominees list, discover fast facts about the nominees, and book tickets to Tony-nominated Broadway shows all on New York Theatre Guide. Plus, check out LondonTheatre.co.uk's roundup of the nominated shows we hope to see in the U.K. someday.

The Lost Boys and Schmigadoon! led the Tony Award nominations.

Don't cry for Rachel Zegler, New York.

It's official: Rachel Zegler will be reprising her Olivier Award-winning performance as Eva Peron in Evita on Broadway in spring 2027. Sadly, Zegler won't be performing "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" on a balcony outside the theatre like in London, but we can't wait to see what new bits of inventive staging Jamie Lloyd has up his sleeve.

Book Evita tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

Book tickets
Don't cry for Rachel Zegler, New York.

Tracee Ellis Ross and Meg Stalter will make their Broadway debuts this summer.

It's going to be a brilliant summer for Tracee Ellis Ross, the Golden Globe-winning Black-ish star who's making her Broadway debut in Every Brilliant Thing. She succeeds Mariska Hargitay in the interactive solo play from 7 July to 9 August.

And oh, Meg, how could we forget about Meg Stalter? Also on 7 July, the Hacks breakout star will make her own Broadway debut in Oh, Mary! She takes the bratty curls from Maya Rudolph, who departs 5 July.

Book Every Brilliant Thing Broadway tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

Book Oh, Mary! Broadway tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

Tracee Ellis Ross and Meg Stalter will make their Broadway debuts this summer.

It's endgame for Chess and Death Becomes Her on Broadway.

It's your last chance to see two blockbuster Broadway musicals. Chess plays its final performance on 21 June, with Aaron Tveit, Lea Michele, and 2026 Tony nominee Nicholas Christopher belting the powerhouse score by Tim Rice and ABBA's Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus.

The musical comedy Death Becomes Her, about feuding frenemies who take an eternal youth potion with ghastly side effects, is only alive on Broadway through 28 June. Hopefully the rumors are true that it'll be resurrected in London!

Book Chess tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

Book Death Becomes Her tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

It's endgame for Chess and Death Becomes Her on Broadway.

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The Breakfast Club

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Broadway's about to get paranormal.

All Broadway venues supposedly house a ghost or two, but the August Wilson Theatre is turning up the scare factor with the arrival of Paranormal Activity. The show already freaked out London audiences with the story of James and Lou, who move from Chicago to London only to find that they can't escape what's been haunting them.

Book Paranormal Activity Broadway tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

Book Paranormal Activity West End tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk.

Broadway's about to get paranormal.

Coming up: The 79th annual Tony Awards

Liberation won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in May, but will it win the Tony Award for Best Play? Will Schmigadoon! take home Best Musical as it did at the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards? We'll find out during the ceremony on 7 June, hosted by pop star P!nk.

The main event begins at 8 p.m. ET, so it might be too late to tune in from the U.K. (unless you're really dedicated). But you can learn more about the 2026 Tony Awards and find a full winners list, highlights, and more on New York Theatre Guide's website and socials during and after the ceremony.

Coming up: The 79th annual Tony Awards