With Mardi Gras rolling on streets across the metropolis, local acting companies are pausing productions to enjoy the parades that are live shows of color, light, music and entertainment.
But after the last float rolls, theater returns with plenty of options for everyone to enjoy — now and in the future.
Connection, community, conversation
Crescent City Stage, the nonprofit professional theater company, recently announced the first half of its 2026 season with the three Cs being the thrust of the work. The shows will spread across the city in a variety of locations, in both traditional production spaces and unique venues.
“We’re thinking intentionally about how theater brings people together,” said Elizabeth Newcomer, artistic director. “This season is about creating moments of connection, between artists and audiences, and among our community, through work that feels welcoming, meaningful and alive.”
“One Night Only …” will be a new series in the company’s arsenal of works, featuring shows aimed at drawing new audiences.
Nell Nolan and Michael Newcomer
Michael Newcomer, producing executive director, will join stage veteran and social columnist for The Times-Picayune Nell Nolan in a production of “Love Letters,” the A.R. Gurney show about a life-long relationship between letter writers. The show is Feb. 27 at CCS’s Studio, 6063 Magazine St. Tickets start at $38.
In April, head out to the banks of the Mississippi River for “Bard at the Batture,” an outdoor work that features excerpts from William Shakespeare in a family-friendly setting. Located at the foot of Walnut Street, the production will include several monologues. It will be done in partnership with The Batture.
The Contemporary Arts Center’s Black Box Theatre will be the spot for an evening in May with the regional premiere of the Pulitzer Prize-winning “Primary Trust” by Eboni Booth. The play looks at a man whose life is upended when he loses his job at a bookstore.
The local company also provides classes and coaching for a variety of ages.
For information, visit crescentcitystage.com.
‘Nants’ ingonyama bagithi baba’
Broadway blockbuster “The Lion King,” the Disney stage version of the wildly successful animated classic, will return to the Saenger Theater later this year for an extended run at the Canal Street auditorium.
Scheduled for three week from Oct. 21 to Nov. 8, the Tony-winning musical has been telling the story of Simba, Nala and the fierce pride of lions for almost three decades in New York.
Touring companies of “The Lion King” have brought the show around the globe in English, Japanese, German, French, Mandarin and more.
The lion will not sleep tonight when ‘The Lion King’ plays at the Saenger Theatre in October, starting the next season of Broadway in New Orleans.
The show will be the highlight of the local Broadway series of current stage works that run into 2027.
“We are thrilled to welcome ‘The Lion King’ back to New Orleans,” said David Skinner, general manager of the Saenger. “This standout production is a cornerstone of a dynamic and thoughtfully curated 2026-27 Broadway season, and we cannot wait to share the full lineup with our audiences soon.”
Peter Hargrave is Scar and David Lancy Wilson is Mufasa in ‘The Lion King.’
Conceived by Julie Taymor and filled with music by Elton John and Tim Rice, the show is a theatrical experience that uses advanced puppetry, movement and more to tell the story of a pride of lions that roughly follows the Shakespearean story of “Hamlet,” with murderous relatives, unfettered quests for power and the usual dose of karma in the end.
In addition to the opening “Circle of Life,” the show is packed with powerhouse numbers like “Can You Feel The Love Tonight,” “I Just Can’t Wait to be King” and “Hakuna Matata.”
The full season will be announced March 3, and season ticketholders will have a chance to renew at that time, with a certain number of new subscriptions offered.
For information, visit saengernola.com.
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.nola.com ’
