ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Broadway Musical Comeback Led by ATG, Prince, and Miranda

other · 2026-08-13

After a sluggish 2025-26 season, Broadway is experiencing a revival in new musicals, with several major productions set for 2026-27. ATG Entertainment is securing $15 million to bring the Olivier Award-winning The Curious Case of Benjamin Button to Broadway in spring 2027, following a fall engagement at the Public Theater. Additionally, ATG will be purchased by Ari Emanuel's Mari for $6 billion. Other upcoming musicals include Paddington ($31 million), Purple Rain ($29.5 million), Dolly ($30 million), Galileo ($23 million), along with Wanted and The Warriors by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Eisa Davis. If all eight productions debut by spring 2027, they could reach levels comparable to those of 2011-12, 2012-13, 2017-18, and 2019-20.

Key facts

  • ATG Entertainment is raising $15 million to transfer The Curious Case of Benjamin Button to Broadway in spring 2027.
  • Ari Emanuel's Mari signed a deal to buy ATG for a reported $6 billion.
  • Benjamin Button will run at the Public Theater in fall before Broadway.
  • Paddington is capitalized at $31 million and is oversubscribed.
  • Purple Rain is capitalized at $29.5 million.
  • Dolly is capitalized at $30 million.
  • Galileo is capitalized at $23 million.
  • In 2025-26, only six new musicals opened on Broadway, the fewest in 25 years.

Entities

Artists

  • Prince
  • Lin-Manuel Miranda
  • Eisa Davis
  • Dolly Parton
  • Michael Jackson
  • Ari Emanuel
  • Patrick O'Shaughnessy

Institutions

  • ATG Entertainment
  • Mari
  • Public Theater
  • Roundabout Theatre Co.
  • Laura Pels
  • Sonia Friedman Productions
  • Al Hirschfeld Theatre
  • Providence Equity Partners
  • Universal Theatrical Group
  • Broadway Journal
  • Securities and Exchange Commission
  • Olivier Awards
  • Tony Awards

Locations

  • Broadway
  • London
  • New York
  • Berkeley
  • Chicago
  • Boston

Sources