San Francisco gets the first look at a stage musical of the 1976 Little League comedy. American Conservatory Theater opens the world premiere of The Bad News Bears: A Musical at the Toni Rembe Theater on February 26, 2027, with Taran Killam, Bonnie Milligan and Ava Briglia leading the team.
The production runs February 26 through April 4, 2027 at the Toni Rembe Theater, 415 Geary Street, as part of A.C.T.'s 2026/27 season. It follows the company's John Proctor Is the Villain (November 12–December 6) into the same house.
Killam, whose credits include Saturday Night Live and Broadway's Hamilton and Spamalot, plays Morris Buttermaker, the washed-up ballplayer who takes on a hopeless youth baseball side. Tony winner Milligan (Kimberly Akimbo, Head Over Heels) is Karen Turner, and Briglia, whose credits include Matilda the Musical and School of Rock, is Amanda Turner, the player on the roster who was once Buttermaker's stepdaughter. Playbill reports that the same three led an industry reading of the show in June 2025.
Eric Garcia wrote the book and lyrics and Brian Feinstein the music, adapting the Paramount Pictures film written by Bill Lancaster, which starred Walter Matthau and Tatum O'Neal. Sherri Eden Barber directs and Steph Paul choreographs. A.C.T. presents the musical under an arrangement with Paramount Pictures.
The writers are leaning into the location. In a joint statement on A.C.T.'s site, Garcia and Feinstein say the story of misfits and second chances suits "the Bay Area spirit," and promise that "no prior baseball knowledge" is needed.
The rest of the cast and creative team will be announced later. A.C.T. has scheduled post-show conversations on March 16, 21 and 31 and a Pride Night on March 17, and notes that the show contains occasional mild profanity, some crude humor and a storyline about alcohol abuse and recovery.
Tickets are on sale from the A.C.T. box office at 415-749-2228. For more information, visit the official website.
