“Broadway Giants” celebrates musical theatre legends Andrew Lloyd Webber and Stephen Sondheim

Missouri State University’s Department of Theatre and Dance, in collaboration with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, will present “Broadway Giants: Lloyd Webber and Sondheim” at 7:30 p.m. March 7, 2026, in the Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts.

“Broadway Giants” honors the musical legacies of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Stephen Sondheim. Associate Professor and Musical Theatre Coordinator Josh Young is the show’s co-producer, writer and director.

Young built “Broadway Giants” around three Sondheim compositions and six Lloyd Webber compositions. He then included songs from people who influenced Sondheim and Lloyd Webber as well as the new generation of composers they have since influenced. The narrative throughout “Broadway Giants” provides historical context while telling the story of Sondheim and Lloyd Webber, their work and their far-reaching influence.

“I’m excited for the community to see the show,” Young said. “I think people will be shocked at the level of talent that we have this year. I think we have some of the most talented students in the country, and I would love for the community at large to know that.”

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Production includes song by Missouri State alum

Sondheim inspired Nathan Tysen, a graduate of Missouri State’s musical theatre program and one of those new generation of songwriters. The GRAMMY- and Tony Award-nominated composer has granted permission for “Broadway Giants” to use one of his songs.

“We’re doing one of his songs orchestrated for a 60-piece orchestra,” Young said. “Even on Broadway, it only got a 12-piece band, so he’s very excited that we’re doing this.”

For Young, using Tysen’s work enhances the quality and reputation of Missouri State’s musical theatre productions. But it’s also a means to connect students with people in the industry.

“Using his work is strategic,” Young explained. “Now he’s invested, and he’ll get to see our students work. And down the road, he might be like, ‘Remember that student who sang my song in that symphony?’ I hope stuff like that happens.”

“90% of directing is casting”

Young man and young woman dancing on stage during a rehearsal — Jovi Garcia and Hayden Austneberg practice some of their “Broadway Giants” choreography.

“They say that 90% of directing is casting, and I believe that to be true,” Young mused. In addition to the actual cast, a show is successful — and a director’s job easier — with the right production team as well, he added.

Among the professionals who are assisting Young with “Broadway Giants” are Theatre and Dance Music Director Heather Luellen and Springfield Symphony Orchestra Director Kyle Pickett.

“[Luellen is] kind of my partner in crime in the program,” Young said. “She’s done a lot of work, and she always has this great historical knowledge of how relationships work in Missouri State University, but also how the relationship works with the Symphony, and then who does what there.”

Young and Pickett’s collaborative relationship goes back to their work “Carousel” in 2025.

“Kyle and I talked about me doing a concert just by myself,” Young recalled. “And I said, well, instead of that, I’ve always wanted to do ‘Carousel.’ How about we involve students and faculty? That was a great collaboration for everybody.”

Young and Pickett hope to continue their collaboration by bringing a new production to the Springfield area every year. For 2026, it’s “Broadway Giants.”

Talented team of professionals

Other members of Young’s talented team include theatre and dance costume designer Professor Cynthia Winstead, lighting designer Professor Micheal Foster, and the show’s choreography team, Assistant Professor Jessica Madden and student choreographer Zoey Ronko.

“We’ve filled our program with great storytellers so that when I cast a project like this, I can say, here’s the material, let’s see what you do with it,” Young said. “And I don’t have to do too much. I’m blessed in having incredibly talented students and incredibly talented colleagues.”

“I think 90% of directing is the people who you surround yourself with. And luckily, I’m surrounded by very, very competent and talented people.”

Giving students real-world opportunities

When Young and Pickett met to develop their 2026 collaboration, they discussed several ideas for different shows. But Young saw an opportunity for a project that would have several roles for students.

“I was like, what if we do a big gala to honor the masters of musical theatre, and that will make it so we can do songs from tons of different pieces, tons of different musicals,” Young recalled. “At least half of the musical theatre department will get time to shine. And that’s what we did.”

In particular, Young is excited about the opportunity for students to perform with an orchestra.

“We try to give them opportunities so they can learn how to do the thing that they want to do,” Young said. “I didn’t get to sing with a 30-piece orchestra until I was 30. This is a huge opportunity for a young musical theatre major.”

“Looking back, if I would have had an opportunity like that, it would have been life-affirming for me,” Young continued. “I hope they really cherish this opportunity to sing with a 60-piece orchestra. It’s a very rare thing in college musical theatre.”

Young man singing during rehearsal — Jerry Pinkard III rehearses for “Broadway Giants.”

Focusing on student success

Young is driven by a mission to ensure all his musical theatre students enjoy successful careers.

“I took it upon myself to make it my job that my students graduate employed, not [just] employable,” he emphasized. “My goal is that they have a job to graduate into. Not just having an agent or a manager, but they have work secured.”

Young said every choice he makes when working with students goes back to ensuring they have work.

“That goes from the people that I introduce them to, the guest artists that we have come here, our initiatives, and things like [Broadway Giants]. I don’t know that other schools do things like this, but this type of concert hybrid is something that’s done a lot in New York. And it’s getting them ready for a skill that they’ll need that other people are thrown into.”

Be a joy in the room

Young man and young woman singing on stage during a rehearsal — Katie Ferrell and Leighton Soignier rehearse their roles for “Broadway Giants.”

Another thing student members of the “Broadway Giants” cast will remember, thanks to Young’s guidance, is how to conduct themselves professionally on stage and off.

“Anybody can be replaced,” Young said. “But there are things that you can do to make yourself more desirable. We teach that here.”

“You have to have many irons in the fires in this business and you have to maintain those relationships,” Young continued. “We make sure in the recruitment process that these are people that we want to have in the room to collaborate and to contribute. And if it’s somebody who doesn’t respond to emails and who doesn’t handle themselves like a professional, there’s just too much competition. There’s not much room for being difficult.”

In the end, it all goes back to what Young said about directing.

“You have to be a joy to have in the room. And you have to be somebody who contributes artistically. You have to be somebody [about whom] the director says, ‘90% of directing is casting.’”