There will be no waltzing Off-Broadway this season, at least for the J2 Spotlight Musical Theater Company.

The Off-Broadway company's 2026 production of the rarely performed Arthur Laurents, Richard Rodgers, and Stephen Sondheim musical Do I Hear a Waltz? has been cancelled due to rights issues.

In a statement posted on the company website, Co-Founders Jim Jimirro and Robert W. Schneider explain, "Last week, Concord, the licensing agency which had granted us the contractual rights to present Do I Hear a Waltz, informed us that they had made an error in the legal process, and were forced to withdraw the rights. Even though we had no responsibility, there was no choice but to comply. This show has always been at the top of our dream list and we are crestfallen that we cannot reintroduce this great score to our audiences at this time. But, to quote a Waltz lyric from Stephen Sondheim, 'We're gonna be all right.'"

A replacement for the musical, which was scheduled for a limited run April 30-May 10, 2026, will be announced at a later date. The forthcoming season also includes the company's previously announced staging of Jerry Herman's Milk and Honey, which will be presented April 16-26. 

With music by Rodgers, lyrics by Sondheim, and a book by Laurents (adapted from his play The Time of the Cuckoo), Do I Hear a Waltz? follows an American secretary who sets off on a solo trip to Venice. As she explores the wonders of the city, she becomes unexpectedly enchanted by a charming Venetian shopkeeper.

Premiering on Broadway in 1965, the original production ran 220 performances at the 46th Street Theatre (now the Richard Rodgers), and garnered three Tony nominations, including Best Original Score as well as Best Actress for Elizabeth Allen. Melissa Errico starred in a 2016 staging for City Center Encores!

Visit J2SpotlightNYC.com.