Capitol Theatre Welcomes the Return of Broadway Shows
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WHEELING - The Capitol Theatre in Wheeling is ready to raise the curtain on a new season of Broadway shows beginning this fall, and season tickets will be available to the public starting this week.
The newly reimagined series - Broadway on Main Street - ushers in a new era of live theater in Wheeling, with an inaugural 2026-27 season featuring four productions set to take the Capitol Theatre stage beginning in October.
Kicking things off on Oct. 7 will be Meredith Willson’s "The Music Man," followed by Gerard Alessandrini’s "Spamilton: An American Parody" on Oct. 8. On Dec. 10, Dolly Parton’s "Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol" will help ring in the holiday season, and on March 29, Dr. Seuss’s "The Cat in the Hat" will be presented live on stage.
The new series marks the return of Broadway shows to the Capitol Theatre for the first time since May 2024. For many years, a series of touring Broadway shows has traditionally been one of the featured offerings at the Capitol. In recent years, however, many promoters of touring theater shows have shifted to larger markets where three- or four-night runs can be supported in light of production costs.
"One-night only shows are a little more difficult to secure," said Kelly Tucker, executive director of the Greater Wheeling Sports and Entertainment Authority, noting that most of the touring Broadway shows carry large production elements that require significant load-in and load-out efforts - making it more challenging to offer in smaller markets.
Yet the Broadway shows have been very popular among theater lovers in the Ohio Valley, and the series has been described as a "missing piece" of the puzzle when it comes to the variety of offerings at the theatre. Officials have been working behind the scenes for a while in an effort to bring theater back to the Friendly City.
"We decided to go out and find some shows ourselves," Tucker said. "The theater is actually presenting shows, and we gave the series a brand new name."
The previous series - known as Broadway at the Capitol - was presented by the previous promoter. The new series has been dubbed Broadway on Main Street, and officials hope it continues the tradition of bringing quality touring productions to Wheeling.
"We absolutely want it to be part of our calendar year after year," Tucker said. "Hopefully they’re very successful for us."
The touring theater production season typically begins in the fall and runs through the spring. Individual tickets to the upcoming shows will go on sale on Aug. 26, but those wishing to catch the full run of four shows will be able to purchase season tickets beginning this week.
Season subscriptions go on sale at 10 a.m. this Wednesday, July 22.
"We are offering some specials for subscribers," Tucker said, noting that season ticket holders receive the lowest ticket prices for all four shows, will secure the same seats to every show, get free popcorn at every show and can attend an exclusive kick-off pre-party with details to come. "We’re also planning dinners that will take place in the Capitol Theatre Ballroom before each show, and season ticket holders will get the first chance to make reservations before the general public."
The new series of shows will be the first to take place since the Capitol Theatre installed its new and improved fly system, increasing its production rigging capacity from 350 pounds to between 750 and 1,000 pounds.
"It’s very exciting," Tucker said. "We’ll be able to hold more production than we have in the past with the Broadway shows."
Officials said the goal of Broadway on Main Street is to create more than a season of shows, but to build a community of theater lovers who look forward to gathering at the Capitol Theatre year after year to experience the magic of live Broadway.
"We’re just excited that it’s back!" Tucker said.
For more information on season subscriptions and the upcoming Broadway on Main Street series of shows, visit www.capitoltheatrewheeling.com.