What Happens On Broadway Doesn’t Stay In New York
By Joanna Wurmann
Photography By Matthew Murphy
What begins on Broadway doesn’t end in Manhattan—it travels across the country and beyond. Productions born on New York’s iconic avenue influence theaters nationwide, from California to Florida, and internationally in cities like London and Toronto. Broadway is more than a destination, it’s the launchpad for a theatrical network that makes it, symbolically, the longest street in America.
This is the work of Broadway Across America (BAA), part of the John Gore Organization. Since 1982, BAA has produced and managed tours in more than 45 markets, bringing the best musicals to millions of people. Their productions have reached audiences as far as London, Japan, and China, earning awards and global recognition along the way.
Not every show takes to the road. Musicals begin in one of Broadway’s 41 theaters, and only those that resonate with audiences are selected for national tours. Once chosen, producers cast additional performers, replicate production elements, and design tour-friendly versions of sets—all while striving to deliver the same dazzling experience as New York.
Each tour is a logistical feat, involving 50 to 60 cast and crew members traveling together with the help of semi-trailers loaded with sets, costumes, lighting, props, and sound equipment. Known as “bus and truck shows,” these productions face challenges ranging from weather delays to tight turnarounds. Yet, remarkably, crews can unload on a Monday morning, build a stage, and deliver a polished performance by Tuesday evening.
These tours make Broadway accessible far beyond Times Square. Whether you live in Boise or Nashville, you can experience some of the most acclaimed musicals without traveling to New York. And for South Florida audiences, the experience is especially rich.
In Miami, Broadway has had a home for 20 years at the Adrienne Arsht Center, which opened in 2006 and now hosts more than 300 events annually. The 2025/2026 season at the Ziff Ballet Opera House will feature The Wiz (October 7–12, 2025), Clue (December 2–7, 2025), & Juliet (December 30, 2025–January 4, 2026), Moulin Rouge! (March 17–22, 2026), The Notebook (May 5–10, 2026), and The Book of Mormon (June 9–14, 2026). Subscriptions range from $252 to $932.
In Fort Lauderdale, the Broward Center for the Performing Arts—one of the ten most-visited theaters in the world—hosts BAA’s regional home. Its 2025/2026 Bank of America Broadway season includes six South Florida premieres: Life of Pi, Kimberly Akimbo, Water for Elephants, & Juliet, Back to the Future, and Hell’s Kitchen. Returning classics include Les Misérables and Riverdance 30 – The New Generation. Subscriptions range from $323 to $1,193.
Broadway is more than a street—it’s a cultural movement. Thanks to organizations like BAA, the transformative power of live theater continues to inspire audiences across North America, one city and one performance at a time.
Special thanks to Tiffany Macklin, Marketing and PR Manager at Broadway Across America, for her support in sharing this story with our readers!
