Bucks County Playhouse Unveils Diverse 2026 Lineup with 'Rent,' 'South Pacific' and More
The historic Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope, Pennsylvania, has announced its diverse 2026 season, which promises to captivate audiences from February to January 2027. The five-show lineup features a mix of new works, American dramas, Broadway classics, and a holiday production that highlights the talents of world-renowned musical legends.
The season kicks off on February 19 with the world premiere of "Starstruck," a new musical comedy created by Emily Saliers of the Indigo Girls. Set in a small Idaho town, the show weaves a tale of romance, politics, and the clash between two individuals as they navigate their differences. The poignant drama promises to be an unforgettable experience for music lovers.
Next up is Tennessee Williams' Pulitzer Prize-winning classic "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," running from April 23 through May 23. This powerful American drama delves into the complexities of a wealthy Southern family's strained marriage and long-buried secrets, leaving audiences wondering what lies beneath the surface.
From June 18 to July 26, the theater will come alive with Rodgers & Hammerstein's iconic "South Pacific," a timeless World War II romance set on a Pacific island. Featuring songs including the beloved "Some Enchanted Evening," this classic musical promises to transport audiences to a bygone era of love, loss, and redemption.
The season's highlight for rock fans is Jonathan Larson's groundbreaking hit "Rent," running from August 13 through September 13. This critically acclaimed musical follows a group of young artists as they navigate the complexities of love, friendship, and survival in 1990s New York City. With its powerful music and poignant storylines, "Rent" promises to be an unforgettable experience for theater enthusiasts.
Finally, the season closes with Irving Berlin's festive holiday production "Holiday Inn: The New Irving Berlin Musical," running from November 19 through January 3, 2027. Set in a farmhouse turned seasonal entertainment venue, this charming show features iconic Irving Berlin standards including "White Christmas." This delightful holiday treat promises to be the perfect way to ring in the new year.
Tickets for each production will vary by performance and seating location, offering something for every taste and budget.
The historic Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope, Pennsylvania, has announced its diverse 2026 season, which promises to captivate audiences from February to January 2027. The five-show lineup features a mix of new works, American dramas, Broadway classics, and a holiday production that highlights the talents of world-renowned musical legends.
The season kicks off on February 19 with the world premiere of "Starstruck," a new musical comedy created by Emily Saliers of the Indigo Girls. Set in a small Idaho town, the show weaves a tale of romance, politics, and the clash between two individuals as they navigate their differences. The poignant drama promises to be an unforgettable experience for music lovers.
Next up is Tennessee Williams' Pulitzer Prize-winning classic "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," running from April 23 through May 23. This powerful American drama delves into the complexities of a wealthy Southern family's strained marriage and long-buried secrets, leaving audiences wondering what lies beneath the surface.
From June 18 to July 26, the theater will come alive with Rodgers & Hammerstein's iconic "South Pacific," a timeless World War II romance set on a Pacific island. Featuring songs including the beloved "Some Enchanted Evening," this classic musical promises to transport audiences to a bygone era of love, loss, and redemption.
The season's highlight for rock fans is Jonathan Larson's groundbreaking hit "Rent," running from August 13 through September 13. This critically acclaimed musical follows a group of young artists as they navigate the complexities of love, friendship, and survival in 1990s New York City. With its powerful music and poignant storylines, "Rent" promises to be an unforgettable experience for theater enthusiasts.
Finally, the season closes with Irving Berlin's festive holiday production "Holiday Inn: The New Irving Berlin Musical," running from November 19 through January 3, 2027. Set in a farmhouse turned seasonal entertainment venue, this charming show features iconic Irving Berlin standards including "White Christmas." This delightful holiday treat promises to be the perfect way to ring in the new year.
Tickets for each production will vary by performance and seating location, offering something for every taste and budget.
they're bringing back some classics like 'Rent' and 'South Pacific', which are surefire hits, but i'm not sure about the new musical 'Starstruck'... emily saliers is talented but i've heard mixed reviews about this one. still can't wait for it though! 
also hoping they'll do some more community outreach programs to make theater more accessible to everyone 
Emily Saliers' new musical "Starstruck" sounds like a total blast, and I'm low-key obsessed with the idea of seeing Irving Berlin's iconic holiday production "Holiday Inn: The New Irving Berlin Musical". Can't wait to grab my tickets and cheer on the talented performers! 
. And 'Starstruck' sounds like a great addition - Emily Saliers is an amazing songwriter and I'm sure her musical comedy will be a blast to watch 
.
But what really gets me excited is the mix of old and new works. It'll be interesting to see how these different shows come together on stage, I reckon 
. The playhouse has such a beautiful history and I don't want anyone to be priced out of attending a show just because of accessibility issues 
.
. Can't they mix it up a bit? Five shows that are all super popular is like seeing the same movie trilogy in a row... "Rent" again? Really? I mean, I love Jonathan Larson's work but come on, can't we get some new stuff? And what's with the lack of diverse productions about people from underrepresented communities? I'm sure there are talented artists waiting to be showcased 
. Maybe they should have a section for emerging artists or something...
. But what's even more impressive is the mix of new works & lesser-known musicals like "Starstruck" - it shows they're not just relying on the same old Broadway favorites 
!
but also kinda obvious considering how iconic it is... hope they can pull off the emotional depth that Jonathan Larson brought to the table 
i loved rent in high school and its still one of my all time faves cant wait to relive that experience on stage. 
holiday inn sounds like the perfect way to end the year i mean who doesnt love irving berlin songs?! 
its a diverse lineup for sure but i think its a great representation of classic american theatre whats the deal with cat on a hot tin roof tho im not super familiar with tennessee williams work
. What's not to love about a season that has a little bit of everything?
But seriously, it's awesome that Bucks County Playhouse is going all out with this diverse lineup. "Rent" and "South Pacific" are always winners in my book - those are some iconic shows. And I'm intrigued by "Starstruck" - a new musical comedy about politics and romance sounds like just the thing to make me laugh (or cry, or do both). Can't wait to see what other gems they have in store! 
like it's gonna change everything. what's wrong with just puttin a good show on stage? everyone's so worried about representation now but i think it's cool that there are some classic shows still gettin included 
. i'm def getting tickets to at least 3 of these shows, can't wait to see them perform live! 
can't wait to see what they have in store for us! 
cant wait to see the world premiere of starstruck too! emily saliers as the creator is amazing 
. Tickets look like they're going to sell out ASAP, so mark ur calendar & get ready for an unforgettable theatre experience! 
and festive vibes 