The James Earl Jones Theatre on West 48th Street begins previews of Wanted, a new musical about outlaw twin sisters Mary and Martha Clarke, on October 15, 2026, with opening night set for November 8. The booking places an original musical inside a 114-year-old house that was rebuilt in 2022 partly to accommodate musicals.
Key Takeaways
- Wanted begins previews at the James Earl Jones Theatre on October 15, 2026, and officially opens on November 8, 2026.
- The James Earl Jones Theatre opened as the Cort Theatre on December 20, 1912, and has been owned by the Shubert Organization since 1927.
- A 2021 to 2022 renovation added a wider stage, a trap room, and an upstairs rehearsal space that matches the stage footprint.
- The Shubert Organization lists the theatre at 1,092 seats across three levels, including 502 seats in the orchestra.
- Wanted’s book and lyrics are by Angelica Chéri, a descendant of the Clarke sisters, with music by Ross Baum.
Wanted Brings A Family Legend From 1893 Texas To West 48th Street
Wanted tells what its creators describe as the mostly true story of Mary and Martha Clarke, Black twin sisters living in Texas in 1893 who pass as white and become outlaws while fighting to protect their family and claim an inheritance denied to them. The musical frames the sisters as figures moving between two Americas with very different rules, and it uses a chorus of ancestors to guide them through the story.
The personal stake behind the material separates Wanted from much of the current Broadway season. Angelica Chéri, who wrote the book and lyrics, descends from the Clarke sisters, which turns the production into a family history adapted for the stage. Ross Baum, a Richard Rodgers Award winner, wrote the score, and Stevie Walker-Webb directs, with choreography by Chelsey Arce.
Solea Pfeiffer plays Mary Clarke and Liisi LaFontaine plays Martha Clarke. Grammy winner Ledisi takes her first principal Broadway role as Tallulah Clarke, the sisters’ mother, while Luke James plays Elijah and West End performer Bradley Jaden makes his Broadway debut as Jesse.
The show reached Broadway through several stages of development. It premiered at Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia, in 2020 and played Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey, in 2024 under its earlier title, Gun & Powder, before a June 2025 workshop in Manhattan.
The James Earl Jones Theatre Was Rebuilt With Musicals In Mind
The James Earl Jones Theatre’s physical upgrades help explain why the venue suits a production like Wanted. Architect Thomas W. Lamb designed the original building in 1912 for impresario John Cort, modeling its look on an 18th-century French palace. For most of the following century, the house was associated primarily with plays.
That changed during the pandemic shutdown. The Shubert Organization used the closure to carry out extensive renovation and construction, including a new contemporary wing on the building’s western side designed by Kostow Greenwood Architects. The work delivered a wider stage, a trap room beneath it, and an upstairs rehearsal studio sized to match the stage, additions that made full-scale musicals a practical option for the building.
The renovation also introduced wider seats, which slightly reduced the auditorium’s capacity in exchange for added comfort. The trade reflects a broader pattern in older Broadway houses, where owners balance historic architecture with modern production demands.
A Venue Name With Its Own Broadway History
The Shubert Organization renamed the Cort Theatre for James Earl Jones in September 2022, making it the second Broadway venue named after a Black artist. The renaming fulfilled a commitment under the New Deal for Broadway, a set of industry reforms presented by Black Theatre United that called on the Shubert, Nederlander, and Jujamcyn organizations to each name a theatre after a Black artist.
The choice carried personal history. James Earl Jones performed at the Cort Theatre in Sunrise at Campobello in 1958, early in a stage career that later earned him Tony Awards for The Great White Hope and Fences. Jones appeared in 14 Broadway productions at Shubert theatres, including two at the Cort, before his death in 2024.
Wanted now gives the James Earl Jones Theatre a musical written by a Black playwright about her own ancestors, a pairing that connects the venue’s name to the story on its stage.
James Earl Jones Theatre Seating Chart Spans Three Levels
The James Earl Jones Theatre sits at 138 West 48th Street, between Sixth and Seventh Avenues in the Theater District. The Shubert Organization lists 1,092 seats, while the Broadway League cites 1,084, a gap that stems from how box seats and standing positions are counted.
The seating chart is divided into an orchestra of 502 seats, two balcony levels, and 24 box seats. The square auditorium, decorated with high-relief plasterwork, keeps upper-level sightlines relatively close to the stage compared with wider Broadway houses. The nearest subway station is 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Center on the B, D, F, and M lines.
Preview Performances Offer A Lower-Cost Entry Point
Preview performances give the creative team time to adjust scenes, songs, and staging before critics review the show on opening night. For audiences, previews often provide an early look at a new work while it is still taking shape.
Theatregoers looking for reduced pricing can enter the $35 digital lottery for Wanted at the James Earl Jones Theatre, which offers a limited number of discounted tickets for each performance through the Telecharge rush platform.
Wanted Arrives During A Crowded Fall Season
Wanted joins a dense October calendar on Broadway. The revival of Other Desert Cities opens October 18 at the Hudson Theatre, Billy Crystal’s solo show 860 opens October 21 at the Imperial Theatre, and the revival of A Few Good Men opens October 29 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater.
Much of that lineup leans on revivals and star-driven solo work. Wanted enters as an original musical built on a little-known chapter of American history, which gives it a distinct position in the season. Its November 8 opening will show whether a renovated house designed for musicals can sustain a new title without the advantage of a familiar brand.
FAQs
Who Owns The James Earl Jones Theatre On Broadway?
The Shubert Organization owns and operates the James Earl Jones Theatre. The company purchased the building in 1927, 15 years after it opened as the Cort Theatre.
How Many Seats Are In The James Earl Jones Theatre?
The Shubert Organization lists 1,092 seats across three levels, including 502 in the orchestra and 24 box seats. The Broadway League cites a figure of 1,084.
What Was The James Earl Jones Theatre Called Before?
The venue was called the Cort Theatre from its opening in 1912 until September 2022, when the Shubert Organization renamed it after actor James Earl Jones.
When Does Wanted Open At The James Earl Jones Theatre?
Wanted begins previews on October 15, 2026, and officially opens on November 8, 2026.
What Is The Closest Subway Stop To The James Earl Jones Theatre?
The closest station is 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Center, served by the B, D, F, and M lines, a short walk from the theatre at 138 West 48th Street.
