Daniel Hillard is back in a dress, and this time he can tap dance. The stage musical version of “Mrs. Doubtfire” opened its run at Bass Concert Hall on the University of Texas campus, bringing the movie-turned-musical to Austin through September 27, 2026, with an exclusive post-show cast talkback for ticket holders on Wednesday night.
The engagement is presented by Texas Performing Arts as part of its Broadway in Austin series, according to Texas Performing Arts. Leading the cast is actor Craig Allen Smith in the title role of Daniel Hillard and his alter ego, Euphegenia Doubtfire. Smith performs alongside Collin Salvatorè, Alanis Sophia, and Theodore Lowenstein.
According to KEYE, Salvatorè plays Stuart Dunmire, described in the production as the new man in Miranda Hillard's life — a character the actor called “a darling antagonist and a good guy” in a preview conversation with host Trevor Scott, per the station's KEYE report. Stuart is written as respectful and responsible, someone who listens to and understands Miranda rather than simply competing with Daniel for her affection. Salvatorè also told the station that Mrs. Doubtfire's theatrical persona lends itself naturally to tap dancing, a flourish not present in the original 1993 film.
A Family Comedy With Deeper Stakes
At the heart of the story, Daniel Hillard disguises himself as a Scottish nanny to remain close to his children following his separation from his wife, per the same KEYE account. Theodore Lowenstein and Alanis Sophia round out the Hillard children as Christopher and Lydia, while Ava Rose Doty plays Natalie Hillard. The show, the station notes, focuses on family, parenthood, and navigating change, layering familiar characters from the film with theatrical surprises for the stage.
The stage version departs from its source material in more than just choreography. While adapted from the 1993 film starring Robin Williams and Anne Fine's 1987 novel “Madame Doubtfire,” the musical updates its setting to 21st-century San Francisco, weaving in modern technology and contemporary pop culture references, according to Wikipedia. That modernization sits alongside the story's family themes.
From a Pandemic-Delayed Broadway Run to a Sprawling Tour
The musical's path to Austin began years earlier and thousands of miles away. It made its world premiere at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre in 2019 before opening on Broadway at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre in December 2021, where original star Rob McClure earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical, according to the Internet Broadway Database. That Broadway run was disrupted by COVID-19 safety closures before it ended in May 2022.
The show's music and story carry a pedigree beyond the film adaptation itself. It features an original score composed by brothers Wayne and Karey Kirkpatrick, with a book co-authored by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O'Farrell — the same creative team behind the Tony-nominated Broadway musical “Something Rotten!” Wayne Kirkpatrick is a Grammy-winning songwriter who has written for Eric Clapton and Garth Brooks. The first North American national tour began September 24, 2023, at Shea's Performing Arts Center in Buffalo, New York, per BroadwayWorld; the production has also played London's West End, Manchester, Brazil, and Germany.
Bass Concert Hall's Role in a Packed New Season
Hosting a touring production of this scale is nothing new for Bass Concert Hall, Austin's largest theater venue on the UT campus. Texas Performing Arts operates venues on the UT campus and is part of UT Austin's College of Fine Arts.
“Mrs. Doubtfire” is part of Broadway in Austin. Single ticket prices for the Austin run range from $42 to $138, while full six-show season subscription packages start at $265, according to KMFA. Broadway in Austin is presented by Texas Performing Arts.
Performance dates, showtimes, and ticket information for “Mrs. Doubtfire” are available through Broadway in Austin online.
