Waterfront Playhouse opens musical Once March 5, previews March 4, part of 87th season

The Waterfront Playhouse in Key West opened its Mainstage production of the musical Once with a preview performance on March 4 and an official opening-night on March 5; the run continues through March 21, 2026 at 407 Wall St. The production is directed by the theater’s artistic director Patrick New and features leads Jillian Todd and Brendan Daugherty alongside an ensemble of actor-musicians drawn from Key West and Chicago.

Once is presented with a book by Enda Walsh and music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, and is based on the film of the same name. Promotional listings note that the show is a winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and summarize the story as that of a disillusioned Dublin street musician whose music and life are transformed by an unexpected encounter. The theater’s event copy calls the show "intimate, powerful, and deeply moving, this modern classic captures the magic of connection."

Staging for the Waterfront Playhouse production emphasizes the multi-role nature of the performers. The production description states, "This production emphasizes the communal nature of music-making, with performers shifting between roles as actors and musicians. The result feels at once spontaneous and finely crafted." Leads Jillian Todd and Brendan Daugherty are supported by actor-musicians who, according to the theater’s materials, move between acting and playing to create an onstage community of music-making.

Performances are part of the Waterfront Playhouse’s 2025-2026 season and are presented in the theater’s Mainstage series. Ticketing and box office contact information is available directly from the theater: purchase online at waterfrontplayhouse.org, email business_manager@waterfrontplayhouse.org, or call the box office at 305-294-5015. The theater also lists a membership hotline at 305-394-7445, and notes that "Subscription packages offer the best seats and VIP status."

The run of Once continues the theater’s 87th season; the Waterfront Playhouse’s next scheduled Mainstage production is Accomplice, running April 9-18, 2026. The theater’s online season copy highlights a mix of Main Stage and On The Edge programming and lists other upcoming and past titles including Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show, Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, The Informer, Bash, Ten Blocks on the Camino Real, and Trunk Material entries.

The Waterfront Playhouse bills itself on its website as "THE BEST PROFESSIONAL THEATER IN FLORIDA" as attributed to Florida Monthly Magazine on the theater’s site. Once continues at the Mallory Square-adjacent venue through March 21, closing this chapter of the 87th season before the April production begins.