About Broadway In Worcester
Broadway in Worcester was founded in 2022 by Worcester native Eric Butler. Broadway in Worcester is committed to providing Central Massachusetts’ audiences with the opportunity to see Broadway’s most celebrated talents perform locally. Additionally, Broadway in Worcester seeks to partner with talent who have a demonstrated commitment to arts education. We embrace the opportunity to collaborate with those artists who support mentoring and stewarding the future generation of theater artists.
The inspiration for Broadway in Worcester was formed in 2015, while Butler was serving as Director of Development at his alma mater, Saint John’s High School. To commemorate the opening of the Robert R. Jay Performing Arts Center, Butler recruited Tony Award winner Kelli O’Hara to headline the festivities. Attendees were reminded of their love for Broadway, and seeing the show through their eyes first-hand made Butler realize how much he had taken for granted his opportunities to see world-class artists like Ms. O’Hara perform in New York and elsewhere. It was at this moment he realized how appreciated it would be to bring a little bit of Broadway to Worcester.
Following years of investing, producing, and collaborating with some of the industry’s most illustrious producers of Broadway,, national tours, and international productions, Butler formally launched Broadway in Worcester in March 2022 with a sold-out performance by Tony Award winner Laura Benanti and acclaimed musical director and pianist Billy Stritch at the Jean McDonough Art Center’s Brick Box Theater.
Broadway in Worcester looks forward to bringing an exciting line-up of stars to the City in the years to come!
About Eric Butler, Founder
Born and raised in Worcester, Eric serves Vice President of City Year, a national education nonprofit. He previously served as Director of Development at edX, a global online education platform founded by Harvard and MIT. As a commercial theater investor and producer, Eric’s portfolio includes productions of An American in Paris, Kinky Boots, On Your Feet!, Moulin Rouge, Romeo + Juliet starring Kit Connor and Rachel Zegler, and All In starring John Mullaney and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Locally, Eric serves as the Chair of the Board for the Worcester Cultural Coalition, a Board President for WCLOC Theater Company, and a corporator for the Worcester Art Museum. Eric has directed productions with WCLOC Theatre Company, Pilgrim Soul Productions, Calliope Productions, Clark University, and The College of the Holy Cross. He holds a B.A. in Psychology and Theatre from The College of the Holy Cross, an M.B.A. from Boston College’s Carroll School of Management, and is an alumnus of the Commercial Theatre Institute in New York City.
Where to Park
Parking is available at the WORCESTER COMMON GARAGE, the FEDERAL PLAZA GARAGE, and the WORCESTER PUBLIC LIBRARY.
