With summer season climate upon us, why not benefit from one of many native treasures of the area? Wolf Entice Nationwide Park for the Performing Arts, positioned in Vienna, Virginia, has hosted patrons in its iconic open-air amphitheater and different services for the reason that Seventies. (The present Filene Middle was rebuilt within the Nineteen Eighties after a hearth destroyed the unique venue.) Musical acts, opera, and touring productions have graced the stage, delighting numerous audiences.
This yr, Arlington’s Tony Award–successful Signature Theatre has partnered with Wolf Entice to deliver Broadway within the Park to a sold-out crowd for the sixth yr in a row. Coordinated by Signature Theatre’s creative director Matthew Gardiner, this was a night of crowd-pleasing songs and gems from reveals each in style and obscure. The patrons seated underneath the cover and people sitting within the spacious garden space acquired a bang for his or her buck.
Underneath the impeccable music course of maestro Jon Kalbfleisch, 20 musical theater gems had been dropped at life with gorgeous vocals, headlined by Broadway powerhouses Tituss Burgess and Heather Headley. The New York expertise was joined by a who’s who of regional performers, every bringing their very own vocal energy to the outside venue.
After a lilting and lyrical overture — “Evening Waltz” from Sondheim’s A Little Evening Music — the live performance kicked off with the opening quantity from Jason Robert Brown’s Songs from a New World that includes vocalists regularly seen at Signature and different regional phases: Alex De Bard, Kevin McAllister, Crystal Mosser, Jake Odmark, Nova Y. Payton, Sarah Anne Sillers, and Tobias A. Younger. A feast for the ears, their voices blended completely (props to the sound mixing!), and the night acquired off to a powerful begin.
Headley subsequent took the stage for an understated and touching rendition of “Over the Rainbow,” shifting from easy a cappella to full accompaniment. The Greatest Actress Tony-winner (for Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida), who has additionally earned a Grammy, would return a number of occasions to carry out “Straightforward As Life” and “Written within the Stars,” each from Aida, in addition to the haunting Kurt Weill and Maxwell Anderson track “Misplaced within the Stars.” Headley’s heat, wealthy voice was additionally completely suited to Marsha Norman and Lucy Simon’s “Maintain On,” from their adaptation of The Secret Backyard.
Subsequent on the invoice, Burgess took the stage along with his attribute grand character and humor. The stage and tv performer aimed his comedic barbs at harpist Eric Sabatino, who good-naturedly took the ribbing. Along with Kalbfleisch and the orchestra, Burgess and Sabatino dropped at life the stunning allure track “A lot Extra,” from The Fantasticks, the long-running Off-Broadway romance. Later in this system, Burgess provided different surprises. His jazz-infused, intimate vocals had been completely suited to the lesser-known traditional “Guess Who I Noticed In the present day?” from The New Faces of 1952, which Nancy Wilson made a jazz normal. Having originated the function of the all-singing and dancing crab Sebastian within the stage model of The Little Mermaid, Burgess talked about how he would watch a fellow castmate carry out a showstopper each evening within the Disney extravaganza. “The bitch was singing my track,” Burgess joked because the vamp to “Poor Unlucky Souls” started, main into Ursula’s massive quantity.
Signature veteran Nova Y. Payton — just lately a Helen Hayes–nominated Dolly Levi in Olney’s Good day, Dolly! — introduced her clarion, trumpet-like voice to the jazzy rendition of “Sunny Aspect of the Avenue,” from After Midnight, and the tender and transferring “The Story Goes On,” from Maltby and Shire’s Child. Payton additionally joined Sillers, Mosser, and De Bard on the rousing Smokey Joe’s Cafe earworm, “I’m a Girl.”
De Bard, Mosser, and Sillers had been additionally featured in a showcase of Andrew Lloyd Webber tunes, which grew into a gorgeous mash-up the place their voices had been completely suited. Mosser’s crystal clear soprano started the phase with “Love Adjustments All the things,” from Features of Love. Siller adopted with the stand-out tune from Tune and Dance, “Sudden Tune,” ending with De Bard’s model of “I Don’t Know The way to Love Him” from Jesus Christ Celebrity.
What in regards to the males? How about Jake Odmark singing the stunning ballad from Bernstein’s On the City, “Fortunate to Be Me”? Or the magnificent baritone of Kevin McCallister filling the amphitheater with the opening quantity from Man of La Mancha — “I, Don Quixote”? Or Tobias A. Younger’s expressive and heart-wrenching efficiency of “I (Who Have Nothing)” (from Smokey Joe’s Cafe)? All three gents had been in superb vocal type for certain.
Headley returned to the stage for yet another solo spot, topping an already gorgeous night of track with the splendid love track “It All Fades Away,” from Jason Robert Brown’s musical adaptation of The Bridges of Madison County.
Headley additionally took a second to acknowledge Kalbfleisch and his first-class orchestra, in addition to the native expertise featured in this system, a gracious gesture that acquired heat and enthusiastic applause from the capability crowd.
The night closed with a track from the present Tony Award–successful revival of Ragtime, “Make Them Hear You,” that includes all 9 artists, an ideal ending to a night of Broadway’s greatest.
After all, Broadway within the Park was a one-night-only live performance, however each Signature Theatre and Wolf Entice proceed to host occasions all through the summer season. Pippin continues by means of July 26 in Arlington. The outside park in Vienna options a wide range of acts and occasions, resembling Riverdance 30: the Subsequent Technology, Harry Connick Jr., and Bob Dylan — to call however just a few. Take a look at their collection of occasions right here.
Working Time: 90 minutes, with no intermission.
Broadway within the Park carried out on June 20, 2026, produced by Signature Theatre and Wolf Entice performing on the Filene Middle, at Wolf Entice Nationwide Park for the Performing Arts, 1551 Entice Highway Vienna, VA. Common data for upcoming reveals is accessible by calling 703.255.1900, or by going on-line.
See the digital program right here.
Signature Theatre and Wolf Entice current
Broadway within the Park
that includes Tituss Burgess and Heather Headley. With Alex De Bard, Kevin McCallister, Crystal Mosser, Jake Odmark, Nova Y. Payton, Sarah Anne Sillers, and Tobias A. Younger
Directed by Matthew Gardiner
Music course by Jon Kalbfleisch
SEE ALSO:
Signature Theatre and Wolf Entice announce ‘Broadway within the Park’ headliners (information story April 19, 2026)
