Galileo, the new Broadway musical about the man whose discoveries reshaped how we see the heavens, begins previews on November 10, 2026, at the Shubert Theatre, 225 West 44th Street. Opening night is set for December 6, 2026.
Four-time Tony Award nominee Raúl Esparza stars in the title role, his first Broadway appearance in more than 13 years. Tony winner Michael Mayer directs.
What Galileo on Broadway Is About
The musical follows Galileo as he peers into the sky and sees something that challenges humanity’s understanding of the world. Unwilling to deny the truth, he finds himself on a collision course with the most powerful institution on Earth.
As his trusted confidant and friend Barberini rises to power, a religious war rages across Europe. Galileo is left to fight for his new theories and for the future he imagines for his brilliant daughter, Virginia. Belief, ambition and love pull the three out of orbit, and each must decide what they are willing to sacrifice for what matters most.
Galileo’s Broadway Cast: Esparza, Kushnier and Woods
Esparza is joined by Drama Desk Award nominee Jeremy Kushnier as Bishop Maffeo Barberini and Tony nominee Joy Woods as Virginia Galilei. Bradley Dean plays Bishop Grasso.
Esparza has been nominated for a Tony in every acting category. His Broadway credits include Company, Cabaret, Taboo, The Homecoming, Speed-the-Plow, Arcadia, Leap of Faith and The Rocky Horror Show. Woods earned Tony and Grammy nominations as Louise in the 2024 Broadway revival of Gypsy. Kushnier’s Broadway credits include Rent, Jersey Boys and Footloose.
The Creative Team Behind Galileo
The book is by Emmy winner Danny Strong, creator of “Dopesick,” and the original rock score is by Zoe Sarnak (The Lonely Few) and Michael Weiner (First Date). Mayer, whose Broadway credits include Spring Awakening and American Idiot, currently directs the Broadway revival of Chess, which features a new book by Strong. Choreography is by Tony nominee David Neumann, whose Broadway work includes Hadestown.
The design team includes set designer Rachel Hauck (Hadestown), costume designer Susan Hilferty (Wicked), lighting designer Kevin Adams (Spring Awakening), sound designer John Shivers and video and projection designer Ethan Tobman, whose work includes Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. Brian Usifer provides music supervision and orchestrations.
Visiting Galileo at the Shubert Theatre
Galileo is recommended for ages 10 and up, and the running time has not yet been announced. Doors open 30 minutes before curtain. There are no stairs at the entrance or to the orchestra level, while the mezzanine and balcony have steps. Closed captioning and prerecorded audio description will be offered through the GalaPro app starting in January 2027.
For more on the production, visit our Galileo show page, and catch up on the latest from the Great White Way in our Broadway news.
About the author
Miles covers international and touring theater, including Broadway news, for The Broadway Guide.