When the announcement finally came, it felt less like press release and more like a call to celebration. Derek Hough, the Emmy-winning choreographer and star of Dancing With the Stars, stood beside Dick Van Dyke, the timeless actor, dancer, and comedian who just turned 100, to reveal what many thought would never happen: a 2026 cross-country tour uniting two generations of stage brilliance.
Titled One Last Ride, the tour is more than a series of performances. It is a revival, a gift, and a symbolic farewell to an era when dance and Broadway storytelling carried the magic of wonder into every corner of America.
A Meeting of Generations
For Derek Hough, the tour is an opportunity to pay tribute to the man who inspired him long before he ever set foot on a Hollywood soundstage. “I grew up watching Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,” Hough told reporters at the Los Angeles launch event. “Dick Van Dyke’s movement, his humor, his ability to turn joy into art—he is the reason so many of us dance today. Sharing a stage with him at this point in his life feels like a dream I never dared to have.”
Van Dyke, smiling with his trademark twinkle, brushed off the compliments. “I just wanted to make people laugh and maybe get them to tap their toes,” he said, his voice cracking slightly as he leaned on the podium. “But to be here, a hundred years old, still talking about dancing—still doing it—it’s nothing short of a miracle. And this miracle gets even better because I’m not doing it alone. Derek is the future. I’m just tagging along for the ride.”
The title One Last Ride nods both to Van Dyke’s classic film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the recognition that this may be the final large-scale project of his storied career.
The Tour Experience
The 2026 tour promises a blend of Broadway nostalgia, ballroom precision, and modern theatrical spectacle. The pair have designed the show to move through eras of American performance art: from the golden age of musicals to the glitz of Las Vegas, from classic tap routines to contemporary fusion.
Audiences can expect beloved numbers re-imagined, including the chimney sweep sequences from Mary Poppins, the slapstick brilliance of The Dick Van Dyke Show, and heartfelt nods to Broadway staples like Bye Bye Birdie. Derek Hough will lead a company of dancers bringing fresh choreography that honors the originals while giving them new energy.
There will also be intimate moments. “We’re going to share stories, memories, and even some mistakes along the way,” Hough explained with a laugh. “Because that’s what makes this real—this isn’t about perfection. It’s about connection.”
The Cities and Dates
The tour will travel to 20 cities across the United States, beginning with a grand opening night at New York City’s legendary Radio City Music Hall on April 10, 2026. From there, it will weave through historic theaters and iconic venues:
- New York, NY – Radio City Music Hall (April 10)
- Boston, MA – Wang Theatre (April 15)
- Chicago, IL – Chicago Theatre (April 22)
- Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium (April 29)
- Atlanta, GA – Fox Theatre (May 3)
- Dallas, TX – Majestic Theatre (May 8)
- Austin, TX – Moody Theater (May 11)
- Las Vegas, NV – The Colosseum at Caesars Palace (May 17)
- Los Angeles, CA – Dolby Theatre (May 23)
- San Francisco, CA – Orpheum Theatre (May 28)
- Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre (June 2)
- Denver, CO – Buell Theatre (June 7)
- Minneapolis, MN – State Theatre (June 12)
- Philadelphia, PA – Academy of Music (June 18)
- Washington, D.C. – Kennedy Center (June 22)
- Miami, FL – Adrienne Arsht Center (June 28)
- Orlando, FL – Dr. Phillips Center (July 1)
- Detroit, MI – Fox Theatre (July 7)
- St. Louis, MO – Fabulous Fox (July 11)
- New York, NY – Closing Night, Radio City Music Hall (July 20)
The final performance back in New York is already being described as a “homecoming” event, closing the loop where the tour began.
Behind the Curtain
The tour’s creative team reads like a who’s who of stage and screen. Emmy-winning production designer Derek McLane (known for The Oscars and Broadway’s Moulin Rouge!) will oversee the stage visuals. Music will be arranged by Stephen Oremus, the Tony Award-winning music director behind Wicked and The Book of Mormon.
Costumes are being crafted to honor classic Broadway attire while allowing freedom for high-energy dance. “We wanted to make sure Dick can move with ease but still look like the legend he is,” costume designer Marina Toybina explained.
Rehearsals will begin in January 2026 in Los Angeles, with both stars expected to document their process through social media, giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of history.
A Legacy in Motion
For Dick Van Dyke, this tour is more than nostalgia—it is testimony. “I want people to know that even at my age, you don’t stop moving,” he said. “You don’t stop creating. The day you stop is the day you stop living.”
For Derek Hough, it is both apprenticeship and stewardship. “We’re not just dancing,” he said. “We’re keeping alive the spirit of an era that shaped everything we know about theater and performance. To bring that to today’s audiences—kids, families, longtime fans—is a responsibility I take to heart.”
Fan Reactions
News of the tour immediately lit up social media. Within minutes of the announcement, hashtags like #OneLastRideTour and #VanDykeAndHough trended worldwide. Fans from across generations voiced their excitement:
- “My grandma introduced me to Dick Van Dyke. Now I get to take her to see him one last time. This is beyond special.”
- “Derek Hough carrying the torch with Van Dyke by his side? This is the Broadway-dance crossover I didn’t know I needed.”
- “A hundred years old and still going? Dick Van Dyke is living proof that art keeps us young.”
Ticket presales begin in November 2025, with general sales opening December 1. Insiders predict immediate sellouts, particularly in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
Why It Matters
The One Last Ride tour is not simply about entertainment—it represents continuity. It is about a century of artistry flowing into a new generation, about the endurance of creativity, and about how dance and performance transcend time.
In a world often fractured by division, the sight of a 100-year-old legend and a 40-year-old star sharing the same stage offers a rare reminder: art is timeless, joy is ageless, and movement is universal.
As Derek Hough put it, “We’re not just dancing. We’re reminding people that joy doesn’t retire.”
And as Dick Van Dyke, ever the optimist, leaned into the microphone at the end of the announcement, he said simply: “Let’s ride.”
