New Dramatists brought its Annual Spring Luncheon to the Broadway Ballroom at the New York Marriott Marquis on May 26, honoring Stephen Schwartz with a crowd that reflected the reach of his work across Broadway. Ariana Debose was among the attendees, and she was listed with The Baker’s Wife as the event drew many of the creators and stars of the 2026 theatrical season.
The gathering put Schwartz, the award-winning Wicked composer, at the center of a room filled with artists connected to his musicals. Nicholas Christopher was also there, adding another name to a lineup that underscored how deeply Schwartz’s shows have shaped contemporary Broadway and the next season’s conversation.
The luncheon mattered because it was not just a tribute to one of musical theater’s most recognizable names. It also served as a public show of force from the Broadway community, with current and upcoming performers gathering around a composer whose work continues to feed new productions and new casting announcements. In that sense, the guest list told its own story: Schwartz’s influence is still active, and the people building the 2026 theatrical season were in the room to mark it.
That mix of present-tense Broadway energy and legacy recognition is what made the event stand out. The article’s attendee list included many Broadway artists and creators tied to Schwartz’s musicals, which made the luncheon feel less like a ceremonial stop and more like a snapshot of how a major creative circle keeps renewing itself. For DeBose, Christopher and the rest of the guests, the afternoon was a reminder that Schwartz’s work remains part of the conversation now, not just part of the past.
What happens next is straightforward: the 2026 theatrical season moves forward with the same artists and productions that were represented at the luncheon, while Schwartz’s place in Broadway life remains firmly in view.
