Raúl Esparza returns to Broadway in “Galileo,” a new musical about power, science, and the cost of telling the truth
Broadway loves a comeback. It loves a big idea even more.
“Galileo,” a new musical inspired by the life of Galileo Galilei, will arrive on Broadway this fall with four-time Tony Award nominee Raúl Esparza in the title role, marking his first Broadway appearance in more than 13 years. The production begins previews on November 10 at the Shubert Theatre, with opening night set for December 6.
Esparza’s return to Broadway alone gives theater fans something to talk about, but “Galileo” is not arriving as a small chamber piece about a man and his telescope. The musical is being positioned as a large-scale Broadway event about discovery, belief, institutional power, and the dangerous act of being right too early.
The show features a book by two-time Emmy Award winner Danny Strong, whose television work includes “Dopesick” and “Empire,” with music and lyrics by Zoe Sarnak and Michael Weiner. Tony Award-winner Michael Mayer will direct, with choreography by Tony Award nominee David Neumann. The cast will also include Jeremy Kushnier and Tony Award nominee Joy Woods.
“Galileo” follows the famed scientist as his astronomical discoveries force him into conflict with one of the most powerful religious institutions in the world. It is a story rooted in history, but its Broadway timing feels pointed: In an era when science, public trust, political pressure, and personal conviction are locked in battle, Galileo’s story does not feel like a museum piece. It feels current.
The creative team suggests the production is aiming for both intellectual weight and theatrical scale. The design roster includes Rachel Hauck on sets, Susan Hilferty on costumes, Kevin Adams on lighting, John Shivers on sound, and Ethan Tobman on video and projection design. Tobman’s credits include creative work for Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” and Sphere residencies, a signal that “Galileo” may lean into a visually ambitious vocabulary for Broadway audiences.
The musical had its world premiere at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre before setting its sights on New York.
For Esparza, the role offers the kind of combustible material that has long suited him: a brilliant man under pressure, fighting not just for survival, but for the right to name what he sees. His return gives the production a built-in Broadway headline, but the larger question is whether “Galileo” can turn biography into something more urgent.
That is the challenge — a musical about Galileo Galilei could easily become a lesson, but Broadway audiences do not need a lecture. They need stakes. They need danger. They need a reason to feel that the man looking up at the sky is also looking directly at us.
Advance fan presale begins on May 27 at 10 a.m. ET at GalileoMusical.com. General sales begin May 29 at 10 a.m. ET through Telecharge.
Tickets will be available through May 30, 2027.
www.galileomusical.com
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