Broadway Series Returns to UIS

Broadway productions will return to the University of Illinois Springfield Performing Arts Center this fall as the venue reopens Sangamon Auditorium following a major renovation and unveils its 2026-2027 Broadway Series.

The upcoming season will feature four touring productions, including three making their Springfield debut, along with the return of a Tony Award-winning musical as a special add-on performance. The announcement marks the return of Broadway performances to Sangamon Auditorium after renovations were completed to improve the theater for both audiences and performers.

The 2026-2027 Broadway Series opens with Jersey Boys on Oct. 2, followed by Mystic Pizza on Jan. 26, 2027, The Simon & Garfunkel Story on March 6, and Shucked on May 11. Hadestown, the Tony Award winner for Best Musical that previously sold out during its Springfield engagement, will return as an optional add-on performance on Oct. 24, 2026.

Sarah Brewer, interim director of the UIS Performing Arts Center, said the season represents the return of Broadway to Springfield while giving audiences an opportunity to experience performances inside the renovated auditorium.

The renovation included the installation of new seating designed to improve comfort and accessibility, updated carpeting, refreshed interior finishes, enhanced patron amenities and a number of behind-the-scenes improvements intended to better serve performers and audiences.

Broadway subscription packages are now available and include preferred seating, discounted pricing and priority access.

The return of the Broadway Series comes as the UIS Performing Arts Center enters a new chapter following the completion of the auditorium renovation. Earlier this summer, longtime Performing Arts Center Director Bryan Rives retired after nine years leading the facility, with Sarah Brewer assuming the role of interim director while the university conducts a national search for a permanent replacement.

With the renovated Sangamon Auditorium reopening and a lineup featuring both established favorites and Springfield premieres, the UIS Performing Arts Center will once again serve as a destination for national touring Broadway productions during the 2026-2027 season.