'Phantom', 'Lion King' Return to Wharton Center

East Lansing's Wharton Center has announced its Broadway Series for 2026-27, and it includes several fresh shows along with a couple of returning all-time favorites.

Perennial Broadway classics The Phantom of the Opera and Disney's The Lion King are coming back in 2027. That news alone is enough to make even the most casual fan giddy. The Notebook, Alicia Keys' Hell's Kitchen, Boop! The Musical, and The Outsiders will be making their Wharton Center premieres.

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The season will also feature two special events: Beetlejuice (September 18-20, 2026), and SIX (December 1-6, 2026).

“We are one of the smallest communities in terms of population to do full-week Broadway shows like this," says Wharton Center Executive Director Eric Olmscheid. "It's only because our community supports us so well that we're able to.”

The Wharton Center schedule for 2026-27 features a couple of returning favorites along with four shows making their debut at the venue. (Photo via Canva)

Olmscheid says if you think you've already seen Phantom, think again.

“What makes this special is this amazing new production of the original work," he says. "They went back to the original show, and they rebuilt it from the ground up in its same majesty and magic that it's had since the beginning.”

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These days, The Lion King is often the gateway show that gets young theater-goers hooked on the stage. It returns to Wharton for a 3-week run.

How to Lock In Your Seats for 2026-27

Subscription packages to Wharton Center's 2026-27 season are on sale now. Subscriber benefits include flexible options when it comes to performance dates, exchanges, interest-free payments, and the ability to lock in one's seats.