Broadway Hits, Artown Magic, and a Summer to Remember at the Pioneer Center
Published July 3, 2026
Broadway Hits, Artown Magic, and a Summer to Remember at the Pioneer Center
Once upon a time, the Pioneer Center’s mainstage traditionally went dark during the summer months. Our community has continually grown over the years, and we’ve evolved our programming in response to the changes around us – not least of which, the post-pandemic reality that Broadway touring schedules now operate on a year-round basis across the country. We are thrilled that our historic stage in the heart of downtown Reno is now a reliable contributor to the vast landscape of summer events that this region has to offer, and we have some exciting options coming up this summer that we know our community will enjoy.
photo credit Marc J Franklin
Our line-up in July is perfectly timed to complement Artown, northern Nevada’s beloved month-long celebration of the arts. Broadway fans are in for a treat as we finish out the 31st season of Broadway Comes to Reno with two productions, followed by a sumptuous local ballet production from Sierra Nevada Ballet. Be sure to get your official Artown Passport stamped at our box office while you are here for any of our July events!
HELL’S KITCHEN, with music and lyrics by Alicia Keys, plays June 30-July 5
Kicking off the month in spectacular fashion, Broadway Comes to Reno presents the long-awaited tour of Hell’s Kitchen, playing the Pioneer Center mainstage for eight performances June 30-July 5. I loved this show when I first saw it in New York! Inspired by the life and music of Grammy Award-winner Alicia Keys, this explosive new musical is set in New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood in the 1990s. It features an iconic catalog of Alicia Keys songs, including “Girl on Fire,” “No One,” and “Fallin’,” along with new music written exclusively for the show. Hell’s Kitchen was nominated for 13 Tonys when it debuted on Broadway in 2024 and we are honored that the tour is stopping in Reno during its first season on the road. The musical follows Ali, a 17-year-old girl full of fire who is searching for freedom, passion, and her place in the world. Rebellious and stifled by an overprotective single mother, Ali is lost until she meets her mentor — a neighbor who opens Ali’s heart and mind to the power of the piano. Set to the rhythm of the 90s, Hell’s Kitchen is a love story between a mother and daughter. It's about finding yourself, your purpose, and the community that lifts you, remembering where dreams begin.
The Sound of Music; photo credit Jeremy Daniel
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s THE SOUND OF MUSIC plays July 14-19
We close out our 31st season of Broadway Comes to Reno by presenting the beloved classic The Sound of Music for eight performances July 14-19. This classic masterpiece needs little introduction! For 65 years, The Sound of Music has been one of everyone’s “favorite things.” With its timeless story and irresistibly charming score, this final collaboration from Rodgers & Hammerstein is meant to be shared. This critically acclaimed North American tour is bringing the cherished musical to stages across the country, including ours, teaching a new generation to sing. Featuring beloved songs like “Do-Re-Mi,” “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” and “Edelweiss,” The Sound of Music is the iconic tale of a spirited nun, Maria, who learns to follow her heart and “climb every mountain” upon becoming governess to the von Trapp children during Hitler’s rise to power over Austria. Whether you’re introducing the next generation to the magic of musical theater or revisiting a cherished favorite, The Sound of Music is a can’t-miss experience.
Sierra Nevada Ballet presents COPPÉLIA on July 25
For one night only on July 25, Sierra Nevada Ballet will present the full-length story ballet Coppélia on the Pioneer Center stage. Celebrated as one of the greatest comic ballets of the 19th Century, we follow the story of a young woman, Swanhilda, who discovers that her fiancé, Franz, is infatuated with a lifelike mechanical doll created by the very eccentric Dr. Coppélius. Swanhilda concocts a plan to teach both men a lesson and hilarity ensues. Adapted from the story by E.T.A. Hoffman, this production is choreographed by SNB Founding Director, Rosine Bena and Associate Artistic Director, Ananda Bena-Weber.
But of course, the activity and excitement don’t stop in July! We will also host a wide range of programming at the Pioneer Center during the month of August, ranging from orchestral performances to multi-cultural dance festivals to cult-classic film screenings.
The Reno Phil presents SUMMER BREEZE: YACHT ROCK CLASSIC on August 2
Our long-time partner and resident company, The Reno Phil, has a perfect concert to add to your summer plans – and I personally can’t wait for this event! Set sail on a musical journey where the smooth sounds of the ’70s and ’80s come to life in a unique orchestral experience. Featuring favorite songs from Hall & Oates, Toto, Christopher Cross, The Doobie Brothers, Jimmy Buffett, and Steely Dan, you’ll be immersed in a wave of summer nostalgia as rich orchestral arrangements breathe new life into classic yacht rock hits. Summer Breeze: Yacht Rock Classic plays the Pioneer Center stage for just one performance on August 2.
The Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts; photo credit Andy Barron
DOG DAYS OF SUMMER DANCE FESTIVAL returns August 14-16
While I intend to go more in depth on this festival in my next column, this is your warning to mark your calendars now for the 5th Annual Dog Days of Summer Dance Festival. This free performance event, produced by the Pioneer Center, takes place outdoors on our plaza over three evenings, August 14-16. Featuring a total of 12 local dance companies with a different line-up each night, the entire weekend is also a spotlight benefit for SPCA of Northern Nevada, helping to raise money and awareness to support their mission. The plaza and food trucks will open at 5:30pm for a 7:30pm show on all three evenings. Bring your chairs and join us for our favorite block party. Thank you to Western Alliance Bank for joining us this year as our title sponsor of the event.
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS 40th Anniversary Screening hosted by Ellen Greene on August 26
I am so excited about this next event – I watched this movie countless times as a kid, despite one (hilariously) traumatizing performance by Steve Martin… and if you know the film, you know what I am talking about! Little Shop of Horrors is the 1986 cult-classic sci-fi musical comedy feature film directed by Frank Oz and adapted from the long-running off-Broadway musical by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman. A nerdy florist, Seymour Krelborn (Rick Moranis), cultivates a man-eating, blood-thirsty plant named Audrey II. As the plant brings fame to his Skid Row shop, it demands increasing human sacrifices, forcing Seymour to balance his love for coworker Audrey (Ellen Greene) with the plant's deadly appetite. This special screening of the film will be hosted by Ellen Greene, who originated the role of Audrey in the stage musical and continued on to star in this film adaptation. Exclusive meet-and-greet packages, including a piece of signed memorabilia and a photo-op, are also available.
We can’t wait to share this extraordinary summer with you. Tickets to all of the productions playing the Pioneer Center this summer are available now on www.pioneercenter.com. And as a friendly reminder, fraudulent ticketing sites continue to target theater patrons through online search engines — please protect yourself and purchase only through our official site.
See you at the Pioneer Center soon!
Dennyse Sewell is the CEO of the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts in Reno, Nevada
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