Fourth season brings three leading Broadway talents to Houston:
Television, Film, and Stage Star Tituss Burgess, Two-time Tony Award®-winning Norbert Leo Butz, Tony®, Grammy®, and Emmy-Award® Winning Audra McDonald
Houston, TX – The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts announces the Beyond Broadway 2026-2027 season bringing top tier entertainment to Houstonians with intimate and engaging concert performances from Broadway’s biggest names. Beginning October 2026, the fourth season will include Tituss Burgess, Norbert Leo Butz, and Audra McDonald. Three-show Subscriptions on sale now with single tickets on sale to the public Summer 2026. Visit TheHobbyCenter.org for subscriptions and more information.
“Beyond Broadway builds on what audiences already love about the Hobby Center while expanding what we offer,” said Hobby Center CEO Mark Folkes. “This series allows us to bring in artists who represent the best of the genre and to present them in a way that’s authentic. It reflects an evolution in how we think about our role—as a curator of thoughtful, high-quality performing arts experiences for Houston audiences. Following appearances by Renée Elise Goldsberry, Bernadette Peters and Sutton Foster in previous years, this fourth season continues our passion to serve audiences more meaningfully.”
Kicking off the new season is television, film and stage star Tituss Burgess with Tituss Burgess in Concert playing October 24, 2026 in Zilka Hall at the Hobby Center.
2027 brings two Broadway powerhouses with Tony Award®-winners Audra McDonald and Norbert Leo Butz with An Evening with Audra McDonald, January 16 in Sarofim Hall and Broadway, My Way with Norbert Leo Butz on March 20 in Zilkha Hall.
“Beyond Broadway strips away the costume and the character and lets you meet the artist—which audiences rarely experience,” said Deborah Lugo, Vice President of Programming and Education at the Hobby Center. “This series gives Audra McDonald, Norbert Leo Butz and Tituss Burgess the space to show exactly who they are as performers and as people. At the Hobby Center, that kind of intimacy is intentional, bringing audiences closer to the artist in a way that feels personal.”
More information on each Beyond Broadway show to be announced at a later date.
THE HOBBY CENTER PRESENTS THE 2026-2027 SEASON OF “BEYOND BROADWAY”:
Tituss Burgess in Concert | October 24, 2026 | Zilka Hall at the Hobby Center
Whether you know him from “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” Season 2 of “Schmigadoon,” or one of his many star turns on Broadway (Oh, Mary!, Moulin Rouge, Guys and Dolls, The Little Mermaid, Jersey Boys), you know that Tituss Burgess is one of the entertainment industry’s most versatile and dynamic performers, with his work in television, film, and theater generating both critical and commercial acclaim. Now he’s bringing his act to the Hobby Center for a special one-night-only concert! He’ll perform a wide swath of music ranging from classic and modern Musical Theatre hits to songs by John Mayer, Shirley Bassey, Bette Midler, music from Porgy & Bess, and much more.
An Evening with Audra McDonald | January 16, 2027 | Sarofim Hall at the Hobby Center
An intimate evening with Tony, Grammy, and Emmy Award-winning singer/actor featuring her signature mix of songs from Broadway, the Great American Songbook, and beyond. It’s her first performance at the Hobby Center and she is bringing her incredible music director, Andy Einhorn – a native Houstonian to join her!
Broadway, My Way with Norbert Leo Butz | March 20, 2027 | Zilkha Hall at the Hobby Center
An Evening with Two-time Tony Award Winner Norbert Leo Butz In this special evening of story and song, Mr. Butz sings highlights from his storied three decades on the boards of Broadway. From his humble beginning as the 7th of 11 children (His first bed was a drawer!) to being one of only 9 actors to win a Tony Award twice for Best Actor in a Broadway Musical. Norbert originated roles on Broadway in The Last Five Years, Wicked, Big Fish, and Harry Connick Jr’s Thou Shalt Not (Tony nomination) in the Lincoln Center 2018 revival of My Fair Lady (Tony nomination) and his two Tony Winning performances in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Catch Me If You Can. Mr. Butz television and film credits include Netflix’s Bloodline, Fosse/Verdon, Gladiator: American Sports Story, as well as The Exorcist sequel and the Bob Dylan bio pic A Complete Unknown. Expect the unexpected in this singular evening of musical entertainment, by one of Broadway’s legendary leading men.
TICKETING: 3-show subscriptions start at $89. Subscriptions are available now online at TheHobbyCenter.org/BeyondBroadway and in person at the Hobby Center Box Office (800 Bagby, Houston, TX 77002). Single tickets on sale Summer 2026.
3-Show Beyond Broadway Season Subscription Package Benefits:
- Access to the best seats
- Discounted package pricing
- 10% Discount on additional Beyond Broadway tickets
- Complimentary self-parking in the Hobby Center parking garage, one pass per show per subscription account (subject to availability)
- Exclusive presale access for select Hobby Center presented programming
Patrons can become a “Hobby Center Insider” by signing up at thehobbycenter.org/news/stay-connected where they receive perks such as access to purchase tickets before public on sale including Beyond Broadway pre-sale access.
Sponsors for the 2026-2027 Beyond Broadway series are Admiral Transfer and Rigging / Ensell Family, Ken Bohan and Dean O’Kelley, and Amy Cope-Gibbs and Jon Gibbs.