Broadway in Chicago’s Free Summer Concert Returns to Millennium Park With 13 Show Previews, Hosea Sanders and Val Warner Hosting Monday Night

ByLeo Hart August 10, 2026

Crowds gather at Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park for a Broadway in Chicago concert

CHICAGO, IL — The Broadway In Chicago Summer Concert is back Monday at Pritzker Pavilion, turning Millennium Park into a free outdoor sampler of the season ahead. The annual event spotlights songs and scenes from 13 productions playing, or soon headed to, area theaters.

ABC7’s Hosea Sanders and Val Warner are hosting the night, which is designed as a lively showcase for musical theater fans who want an early look at what’s coming to Chicago stages.

What fans will hear on the lawn

The lineup reaches across a wide mix of titles. Scheduled previews include “The Outsiders” at Cadillac Palace, “The Notebook” at the Nederlander, “Jekyll & Hyde” coming to Broadway Playhouse on Sept. 8, and “Waitress,” which returns to the Nederlander in October.

Also on tap are a first look at Tony winner “Maybe Happy Ending,” which arrives in Chicago early next year, plus previews from “Heathers,” “The Sound of Music,” and “The Who’s Tommy.”

Why the concert has become a summer ritual

Each August, Broadway In Chicago uses the concert to give audiences a broad taste of its theatrical calendar in one place. The format mixes performance, promotion and festival atmosphere, with the added draw that admission costs nothing.

That makes the event a steady favorite for theatergoers who want to hear what’s coming without buying a ticket to every show. The free model also helps fill the pavilion and the lawn with a big crowd of casual listeners and devoted fans alike.

How the night will work at Pritzker Pavilion

Organizers are opening the pavilion at 4:30 p.m. Monday, with the concert set to begin at 6:15 p.m. Attendance is first come, first served, so fans hoping for seats are being urged to arrive early.

The event is scheduled to go on rain or shine, and those who do not get pavilion seating can still spread out on the lawn and catch the free performances in Millennium Park.

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Leo Hart

Music industry veteran with 10+ years of hands-on experience in live event production and concert management across the United States. Leo has coordinated everything from intimate 50-person indie showcases to large-scale festivals drawing 20,000+ attendees, managing stage schedules, venue logistics, artist relations, and backstage operations. As the founder of Chicago Music Guide, he brings an insider's perspective to music news, covering tours, album releases, festival announcements, and industry trends with the depth that only comes from having lived it firsthand.