Oberlin Music Theater Brings "The World Goes ’Round" to Playhouse Square

Oberlin Music Theater takes center stage this spring with The World Goes ’Round, presented in partnership with Great Lakes Theater. Running May 16-17, 2026, at the Hanna Theatre in Playhouse Square, the production brings the music of Kander and Ebb to one of Northeast Ohio’s premier stages. The Cleveland performances build on an earlier run of the same production and cast, first staged in January 2026 at Hidden Valley Theatre in Carmel Valley, California. 

Conceived by Scott Ellis, Susan Stroman, and David Thompson, The World Goes ’Round is a revue celebrating the legendary songwriting team behind Cabaret, Chicago, and more. Directed by Oberlin Assistant Professor of Music Theater Alex Sanchez, an award-winning choreographer who worked with Susan Stroman in Big The Musical on Broadway, and featuring music direction by Oberlin Music Theater Ensemble Director Dale Rieling, the production showcases Oberlin’s emerging performers in a fast-paced evening of musical theater.

Winner of three Drama Desk Awards in its original production, the show weaves together iconic songs such as “Mr. Cellophane,” “Maybe This Time,” “Cabaret,” and “New York, New York.” The result is a blend of humor, romance, and drama set amid a larger narrative of human perseverance and hope.

For Sanchez, the material is both nostalgic and meaningful. “My first experience with Kander and Ebb was performing in the musical Chicago at my high school,” he says. “Though the content of the show was clearly more mature than my age, I recognized the humor of the lyrics and the catchiness of the melodies. We also recognized how the content had a lot of witty commentary on the corruption of politics and media.”

At its heart, The World Goes ’Round reflects what Sanchez describes as the full spectrum of the human experience. “Kander and Ebb themes can be categorized as the fighting spirit,” he says. “Their songs embody a yearning for a better life…and celebrate the spirit in the face of despair and challenges.” 

That sense of resilience pulses throughout the production, making it especially fitting for a collaboration that connects Oberlin’s Music Theater program with the professional stage at Great Lakes Theater. “It is my hope that you will experience this wonderful journey with us and walk away feeling hopeful and humming these glorious tunes on your way home,” adds Sanchez.

EVENT DETAILS:
Show times are May 16 & 17 at 7:30pm and May 17 at 3pm. 
The Hanna Theater, 2067 East 14th Street Cleveland, Ohio 44115

TICKET INFORMATION: General admission tickets, $36.00 ($24.00 for those 25 and under with ID), are available online, via the Box Office at Playhouse Square or by phone by calling
(216)241-6000.