How We Bring Broadway to Reno

Published April 10, 2026

How We Bring Broadway to Reno

by Dennyse Sewell

The Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts recently announced our 2026-2027 season of Broadway Comes to Reno. People often ask me about the process of booking these national touring productions, some inquiring whether I simply “call up Broadway and tell them when to send us their show.” As you can imagine, there are many factors at play in this industry, and it is indeed far more complex!

The reality: planning a new season is a two- to three-year advance process. It begins with our team traveling to New York each spring to see the new musicals and plays that have opened on Broadway that year, which will invariably include shows that may (or may not!) be heading out on the road in the next one to two years. We discuss with our partners at the Nederlander Organization,which shows resonated with us and that we think would play well in Reno. Then the longer booking process starts, during which offers of interest are extended to each individual show that meets our criteria. We aim for a mix each season that includes something for everyone, from family-friendly titles to enduring classics to pop culture hits to new and cutting-edge works. We are, however, limited to the shows that will be given a full national tour and also by the time of the year in which they will be playing our region of North America. The agents for the shows gather offers from cities all across the country and begin piecing together a schedule of how their show might be able to logistically navigate a national touring route that takes them from one city to the next. These schedules are primarily based around the ability to load out of one city on a Sunday night, drive all day Monday to the next city, load into the theater on Tuesday morning, and open a week of performances starting on Tuesday night. Maximum weekly continuity between cities is the key goal of these national tour agents, and they need to ensure their show can survive and turn a profit during their tour. 

With such a complicated tapestry of variables to consider, it becomes clear why none of the individual venues like the Pioneer Center have the privilege of dictating which shows we want on which specific dates for our ideal schedules. We operate within the constraints of the larger puzzle of each of these individual tour routes, and we adapt to constant adjustments from each show as they put together their own national touring map. Each production is its own separate LLC business, operating independently from the other productions on the road. During the early planning phases of a new season lineup for our Broadway Comes to Reno series, we are in constant flux as shows and dates change regularly. Each change has the potential to affect another show in our season like a line of dominoes, and then things are re-determined again. Just securing final dates can take up to a year of negotiating. The Broadway touring matrix is complex, to say the least!  Once everything has aligned and the contracts are signed for all the shows within our Broadway Comes to Reno season lineup, we gear up for our big public announcement... and for the upcoming 2026-2027 season, things aligned in a truly fabulous way!  We are so fortunate to be getting some incredible theatrical experiences coming to the historic Pioneer Center – from exciting “Best New Musical” Tony winners to beloved revivals to a worldwide blockbuster.  I’m excited to share a little more about each production that will be featured in our 2026-2027 season.

WATER FOR ELEPHANTS

“Many wonders await audiences in this gorgeously imaginative Broadway musical,” according to The New York Times in their review of WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, the first musical in our line-up beginning in October of 2026. It’s the story of a young man who jumps a moving train, unsure of where the road will take him. He finds a new home with the remarkable crew of a traveling circus and a life beyond his wildest dreams. The critically acclaimed bestselling novel by Sara Gruen comes to life in a unique, spectacle-filled new musical featuring circus acts, dance, puppetry, and more. I’m sure northern Nevada audiences will find connection and a moving experience when they see Water for Elephants live on our stage.
 

ELF, THE MUSICAL

Our holiday season will begin in mid-November of 2026 with a return of ELF, THE MUSICAL. Inspired by the hit film, it’s the hilarious and heartwarming tale of Buddy, a young orphan raised with the elves in Santa’s workshop at the North Pole. Upon discovering he is not an elf, but human, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and, in turn, helps the Big Apple rediscover the true meaning of Christmas. This all-new tour, based on the acclaimed 2024 new Broadway production, is a perfect way for families to ring in the holidays – children and adults laughing together. We are looking forward to having this silly and joyful show back at the Pioneer Center.
 

THE OUTSIDERS 

The winner of four 2024 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, THE OUTSIDERS comes to Reno in January 2027. Adapted from S.E. Hinton’s seminal novel and Francis Ford Coppola’s iconic film, this thrilling new musical features a dynamic original score by Jamestown Revival (Jonathan Clay & Zach Chance) and continues to play full houses on Broadway in New York City. We zoom in on Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1967 as Ponyboy Curtis, his best friend Johnny Cade, and their Greaser family of ‘outsiders’ battle with their affluent rivals (the Socs), navigate the complexities of self-discovery, and dream about who they want to become in a world that may never accept them. The Outsiders reminds us that there is still “lots of good in the world.”
 

JERSEY BOYS

JERSEY BOYS was last scheduled to play the Pioneer Center in May 2020 - alas, the pandemic shutdown spoiled those plans, and we have been “beggin” for its return to the road ever since. Next year, the original Broadway sensation will celebrate 20 years since its Tony Award-winning premiere with a new national tour!  Jersey Boys takes us behind the music and inside the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. From the streets of New Jersey to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, this is the musical that’s too good to be true, featuring their hit songs like “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Oh, What a Night,” “Walk Like a Man,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” “Beggin’” and “Working My Way Back to You.”  You can celebrate your Valentine with Jersey Boys at the Pioneer Center in February 2027.
 

THE BODYGUARD

Coming in March 2027 is a new production – THE BODYGUARD.  Based on the 1992 film starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, The Bodyguard is a thrilling, romantic musical that combines high-stakes suspense with unforgettable music. Former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard Frank Farmer is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker.  What they don’t expect is to fall in love! The stage version features unforgettable, chart-topping music from the Whitney Houston catalogue like “Queen of the Night,” “So Emotional,” “I Will Always Love You,” “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” "Saving All My Love," and "One Moment in Time", alongside thrilling plot twists and emotional drama.  The musical premiered in London’s West End and has seen several tours throughout the UK and Europe.  We are excited to be presenting it in Reno for the first time!
 

MAYBE HAPPY ENDING

Our next production may not be a title you’ve heard of yet, but it is one of the most unique and moving experiences I’ve had in recent years. Winner of 6 Tony Awards in 2025, including Best Musical, Reno audiences will be among some of the first in the nation to enjoy MAYBE HAPPY ENDING in May 2027. Set in Seoul, Korea 30 to 40 years in the future, this original new work tells the story of a chance encounter that sparks connection, adventure, and maybe even love, exploring what it means to be human – even if they are not. Helmed by Tony Award-winning director Michael Arden (Parade), Maybe Happy Ending has been called “one of the best musicals in years” (USA Today).  “Like Pixar at its very best, it nourishes the soul in a way few Broadway shows even attempt to do” (New York Post).  I couldn’t agree more. You won’t want to miss this one!
 

HAMILTON

Finally, back by popular demand, the Pioneer Center will present HAMILTON. Last here as our post-pandemic opener in 2021, this Tony Award-winning Best Musical has been seen by more than 28 million people around the world. The epic saga 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 by Lin-Manuel Miranda that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B and Broadway, Hamilton has had a profound impact on culture, politics, and education. In addition to its 11 Tony Awards, it has won Grammy and Olivier Awards, and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. July 2027 will see the celebrated return of Hamilton to the Pioneer Center - for one week only!

 

In addition to these exceptional titles, it is also my pleasure to announce our new title sponsor of the Broadway Comes to Reno series: PLUMAS BANK. Now marking more than four decades of serving communities across northern Nevada and California, Plumas Bank continues to demonstrate the important role community banking plays in supporting local economic growth. Following its 45th anniversary milestone, the bank remains deeply committed to investing in the communities it serves through personalized support for small businesses, financial literacy initiatives, philanthropic giving, and engagement in the arts. The Pioneer Center is proud to partner with Plumas Bank as we work together to bring the magic of live Broadway musicals to downtown Reno.

For more information on all of the productions in our upcoming season plus the other exciting Broadway shows coming to the Pioneer Center later this summer, visit our official website pioneercenter.com.  

We look forward to welcoming you back to the historic Pioneer Center soon!

Dennyse Sewell is the CEO of the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts in Reno, Nevada

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