Here is everything you need to know about the Off-Broadway and Off-Off Broadway shows in NYC in 2025. Throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens, Off- and Off-Off Broadway theatres present everything from the classics—plays and musicals—to cutting-edge experimental pieces, concerts, festivals, and immersive works.
PLAYING OFF-BROADWAY & OFF-OFF BROADWAY, 2025
54 Sings Broadway’s Greatest Hits (54 Below, 254 W. 54th St.) Come and hear the Broadway songs that made your heart soar. At this nightclub concert you’ll hear the classic Broadway songs of all time performed by today’s greatest stars. Hosting is the show’s producer/director Scott Siegel of Town Hall’s critically acclaimed Broadway by the Year series. Visit website for scheduled performances. Thru 6/21. (54below.org)
2025 New York City Fringe Festival (Various NYC venues) An open lottery-based theater festival that gives artists an opportunity to let their ingenuity thrive in an environment that values freedom of expression and artistic determination. Visit website for a complete rundown of works, playing schedule, and locations. 4/2 thru 4/20. (frigid.nyc)
Above Ground – Not Exactly a Comedy (La MamMa E.T.C., The Club, 74 A E. 4th St.) Actors, age 74 to 98, share their experiences of getting older using improv, storytelling, and dance. Revisiting memories of childhood, recalling moments of happiness and sadness, their stories evolve into vignettes framed by music. Thru 3/23. (lamama.org)
According to Howard (York Theatre Company, Theatre at St. Jean’s 150 E. 76th St.) An unconventional love story and a reminder that money can never buy (or substitute for) what love can offer. It's about winning—but at what cost? It's about decisions, choices, ideas, and intuition. Through a score reminiscent of Broadway’s Golden Age, the show delves into the life and times of one of the most fascinating individuals of the 20th-century, someone who shaped the world of aviation, film, business, and Hollywood gossip. 4/5 thru 4/13. (yorktheatre.org)
Alan Turing & The Queen of the Night (Players Theatre, Main Stage, 115 MacDougal St.) A queer fantasy. The musical mixes the gripping life story of Alan Turing with the enchanted world of Mozart's Magic Flute. 7/31 thru 8/31. (alanturingandthequeenofthenight.com)
All Nighter (Theatre at the 14th St. Y, 344 E. 14th St.) In this new play by Natalie Margolin, it’s finals week at a small liberal arts college in rural Pennsylvania. A tight-knit group of roommates pull one last all-nighter to complete their final assignments. Holed up in an old ballroom, the pressure mounts and the Adderall flows as the truths that bind this group together are put to the test. What will be left when the sun rises? Thru 5/18. (allnighterplay.com)
All the Beauty in the World (DR2 Theatre, 103 E. 15th St.) A new one-man play written and performed by Patrick Bringley in which, while looking for somewhere to heal from his brother’s death, he quits his high-profile journalism career and seeks refuge in The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Through his job as a museum guard, he starts his life anew, all while falling under the spell of the place and the people he meets there. As his connection to the art around him grows, so does Patrick, until he gradually emerges... transformed by all the beauty. 3/27 thru 5/18. (allthebeautyintheworldplay.com)
All the World’s a Stage (Theatre Row, Theatre 5, 410 W. 42nd St.) This new musical by Adam Gwon is a funny and heart-wrenching new musical centered around a small-town math teacher who reluctantly agrees to coach a misfit student for the 1996 State Thespian Competition. Enter the teacher’s outspoken new boyfriend and the devout school secretary, and he soon has trouble navigating his carefully compartmentalized life. 3/25 thru 5/10. (keencompany.org)
Amerikin (59E59 Theaters, Theater A, 59 E. 59th St.) In small-town Maryland, Jeff Browning wants to give newborn son every possible advantage – by joining a local white supremacist group. When his attempt to join is thwarted by surprising ancestry test results, the line between “us” and “them” gets incredibly blurry. As he scrambles to maintain appearances, his sanitized story starts to unravel when a prominent Black journalist and his daughter start asking questions. Part of the AMPLIFY Festival. Thru 4/13. (59e59.org)
Amm(i)gone (The Flea, 20 Thomas St.) Since creator/co-director/performer Adil Mansoor’s his mother -- a Quranic scholar -- discovered Adil’s queerness online, their once-close bond now needs rescue. The play invites audiences on a journey of heartbreak and repair between mother and son as they embark on an examination and translation of Sophocles’ Antigone into Urdu. Passionately mining Greek tragedy, Islam, and their own memories, they seek to recover their love across faith. Thru 4/7. (thenewflea.org)
AMPLIFY Festival (59E59 Theaters, 59 E. 59th St.) An unprecedented festival of three New York City premieres by one playwright. Showcasing the talent of local playwright Chisa Hutchinson, her final play in the series is Amerikin. Thru 4/13. (59e59.org)
Appropriate Behavior (Theater of Actors, 314 W. 54th St.) Deena, promising-college-student-now-drop-out returns home with surprise news after a mental breakdown triggered by a social media post that accidentally went viral. But she finds herself faced with her emotionally debilitating parents, codependent brother, and unevolved friends. How will she find her place in a world filled, not only with people who don’t understand her, but who don’t understand themselves? 4/7 thru 4/13. (hangingcowproductions.com)
As Time Goes By (Out of the Box Theatrics, 154 Christopher St., #1E) After their Grindr hook-up is snowed in, Adam and David are forced to do the unimaginable: learn each other's names. Trapped in a post-coital snow globe, they exchange quips and digs in a misguided attempt to connect. As they confront their insecurities and shared identity as gay Jewish men, they begin to expose their tightest-held secrets. Will they part ways unscathed, or does sharing yourself with an unexpected stranger mean more than you bargained for? Thru 3/23.(ootbtheatrics.com)
Astronauts Wanted (The Tank, 312 W. 36th St.) Inspired by the Mars One Project, which aimed to send the first human beings to Mars, the play mixes projections and physical theatre. The piece is based on real-life interviews with the Mars One project participants and in collaboration with the scientific community. Three volunteers, Sol, Sorcha and Tallulah are on their way to Mars. Playing with their fate, they push the boundaries of their own humanity and look deep within as they embark on a no-return mission. 4/4 thru 4/27.(thetanknyc.org)
The Audit & The American Dream (Urban Stages, 259 W. 30th St.) Two one-act plays. The Audit by Lynda Crawford follows a tax audit that takes an unexpected turn when a former military veteran-turned-auditor meets an aging hippie songwriter with a chaotic lifestyle; The American Dream by Juan Ramirez, Jr. is about a hopeful immigrant as she makes her way across the U.S. border with the help of a smuggler. Thru 3/16. (urbanstages.org)
AVALONA, A Musical Legend (Sanctuary at St. Paul & St. Andrew Theatre, 263 W. 86th St.) An immersive, multi-genre experience of song, storytelling, dance, and 3D digital projections. This original spiritual parable for adults follows Avalona, a woman confronting her inner demons and embarking on a journey of healing and self-discovery. Will she choose to live, love herself, and see beyond the illusions that veil her true essence? Thru 3/29. (avalonaimmersive.com)
Beau the Musical (154 Christopher St.) Eight actor-musicians tell the story of Ace Baker – a young queer man whose life is unexpectedly altered when he discovers his grandfather, who his mother said died, is still alive. Family secrets unravel as Ace rushes to make up for lost time with a man who changes his life by putting a guitar in his hand. 6/6 thru 7/27. (ootbtheatrics.com)
Becoming Eve (Abrons Arts Center, 466 Grand St.) A week before the High Holidays, three rabbis find themselves in a room fighting to save a family by building a bridge between orthodoxy and modernity. One of these rabbis is Chava, the child of a dynastic Hasidic rabbinical family and destined to become a leader of the next generation before the revelation of her trans identity clashed explosively with the strictly gendered world in which she was raised. 3/19 thru 4/27. (nytw.org)
Beckett Briefs (Irish Repertory Theatre, 132 W. 22nd St.) Three short plays by Samuel Beckett that run the gamut of existence from birth to the afterlife, presented on a single bill: Not I (a non-verbal woman suddenly hears voices and realizes it’s herself speaking); Krapp’s Last Tape starring Oscar winner F. Murray Abraham, (an aged man reviews his life through his younger self heard on autobiographical tapes); and Play (locked in their urns, a man, his wife, and his mistress relay the sordid details of their love triangle. Thru 3/16.(irishrep.org)
BIG FAMOUS (New 42 Studios, 229 W. 42nd St.) A workshop production of a high-energy, satirical “Polka Ponzi” musical based on the true story of Jan Lewan, a Polish immigrant who turned his accordion-fueled dreams into a glittering empire -- by any means necessary. He builds a polka dynasty that stretches from Pennsylvania’s Polish halls to the casinos of Atlantic City and beyond. But when the money stops flowing, and the walls start closing in, will he con his way out of trouble? 3/21 & 3/22. (directorscompany.org)
birthday birthday birthday (The Tank, 312 W. 36th St.) Marissa and Clark are best friends who share a birthday. Marissa and Clark are best friends who share a birthday party. And Marissa and Clark plan on doing anything in their power to share that birthday party for the rest of their lives - and then some. A multi-decade romp through race, class, and time the play is about who we choose, how we change, and what it takes to remember it all. 4/4 thru 4/23. (thetanknyc.org)
The Black Wolfe Tone (Irish Repertory Theatre, 132 W. 22nd St.) This thrilling new play by Kwaku Fortune is about identity, raging against the machine, and how young men deal or don’t deal with the darkness. This work was developed in collaboration with Fishamble: The New Play Company. 5/1 thru 6/1. (irishrep.org)
Bowl EP (Vineyard Theatre, 108 E. 15th St.) Kelly K Klarkson and Quentavius da Quitter need to find a name for their rap group. Through flirty interludes, cringy overshares, and practicing their ollies, they grow increasingly closer. Skating and Smoking. Skating and Drinking. Skating and exorcizing a demon. With live skating and original music, enter Bowl EP: a skateboard park, in the middle of a wasteland, at the edge of the galaxy. 5/1 thru 6/8. (nationalblacktheatre.org)
Brits Off Broadway 2025 (59E59 Theaters, 59 E. 59th St.) An annual Season showcasing work by UK writers and producers in NYC. Running from April to June, this year’s offerings showcase eight exceptional productions from small-mid scale companies, representing the breadth of British independent theater sector. Visit website for a complete roster of shows and schedules. 4/23 thru 6/29. (59e59.org)
Broadway Unplugged (Minton Playhouse, 206-210 W. 118th St.) Featured artists perform a curated selection of songs spanning various genres, creating a fresh and unique musical journey at every show. The evening culminates in a one-on-one interview between singer Jeremiah Abiah and the featured artist, offering insights into their artistic journey, inspirations, and personal stories, followed by a networking opportunity. Visit website scheduled artists. Monday evenings thru 8/18. (mintonsnyc.com)
Bus Stop (Classic Stage Company, 136 E 13th St.) On a snowy night in Kansas, a diner can be an oasis, a prison, a place to hide, or a place to discover yourself. When a bus is forced to take shelter from stormy weather outside, a mismatched group of dreamers and cowboys, waitresses and outcasts find unexpected warmth in one another. In William Inge’s 1955 classic, this playwright of the Midwest gives voice to memorable characters who’ll linger like the perfect cup of diner coffee. 5/8 thru 6/8. (transportgroup.org)
Canaan Unremembered (Court Square Theater, 44-02 23rd St., Long Island City, Queens) St.) This play by Judson Jones explores the always personal, often turbulent journey of faith. After losing a difficult pregnancy, a young evangelical faces another tragedy when she suffers a stroke that not only removes all memory of the relationship with her husband, but also removes all memory of the faith she has spent her life depending upon.3/24 thru 4/19. (theatreeast.org)
Casualty of War (Theatre Row, Theatre One, 410 W. 42nd St.) Written and performed by Sharon Lesser, this new comedy is the story of a mother’s sometimes hilarious, sometimes heartbreaking trip to Normandy’s D-Day beaches with her unwilling teenage son. Part of United Solo Festival. 4/8 & 4/15. (lamama.org)
Cellino V. Barnes (Asylum NYC, 123 E. 24th St.) This dark comedy hilariously chronicles the rapid rise and disastrous fall of Ross Cellino and Steve Barnes, the infamous NY-area injury attorneys and their real-life split. And for the month of December, the Cellino and Barnes firm is hosting the ultimate office holiday party. Follow Cellino V. Barnes on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and X (@cellinovbarnes) for more information on ticket deals, drink specials and seasonal giveaways. Thru 3/30. (cellino-v-barnes.com)
Ceremonies in Dark Old Men (Theatre at St. Clements, 423 W. 46th St.) This revival of Lonnie Elder III’s play is set in 1950s New York, centering on a widowed father, a barber who used to be a vaudeville performer whose life is thrown into turmoil when his daughter's long-standing resentments come to a head as his two sons' criminal enterprise unravels. Starring Broadway superstar Norm Lewis. 4/11 thru 5/18. (peccadillo.com)
Chamber Magic (Stage 42, 422 W. 42nd St.) Theatregoers, dressed to impress in cocktail attire, experience the mystifying artistry of Steve Cohen in an elegant and intimate salon within the legendary New York Palace. Recreating the up-close parlor entertainment of Manhattan in the early 20th century, Cohen conjures, mind-reads, and performs sleight of hand, along with a trick called Think-A-Drink. (chambermagic.com)
Charles Busch: My Leading Ladies (54 Below, 254 W. 54th St.) The Tony nominated actor/playwright/cabaret entertainer’s latest show features stories and songs devoted to the women who have inspired him, from showbiz legends to the remarkable aunt who raised him. Having created a unique place in the cabaret world as a sensitive musical interpreter artful raconteur, Busch’s eclectic songbook includes the best of Harold Arlen, Kurt Weill, and Stephen Sondheim. 3/21 & 3/22. (54below.com)
Chiaroscuro (The Flea, 20 Thomas St.) Named after the Italian artistic term referring to a stark contrast between dark and light, this work by Aishah Rahman explores the social implications of such contrast as it relates skin color, specifically within the Black community. The play is set on a love boat-type cruise ship for Black singles where "pretty" means light-skinned. All the men are dark, and Papa Legba, the African trickster spirit, is disguised as a ship steward. 5/26 thru 6/22. (nationalblacktheatre.org)
CLASS DISMISSED, Daniel Irizarry, photo by Suzanne Fiore.
Class Dismissed (La MaMa’s Ellen Stewart Theatre, 66 E. 4th St.) Your favorite professor slides into dementia while his two grad-students hallucinate a post-capitalist manifesto and his nemesis (the Other-Lit-Professor) performs love poems. Anticipate participation as we peel yuca, improvise dances, make butter, and invite you onstage to eat (bread), drink (rum), write on the set, and swap books. With live music, sing-alongs, and a different guest artist at each performance. 4/18 thru 5/4. (lamama.org)
Conversations with Mother, photo by Carol Rosegg.
Conversations with Mother (Theatre 555, 555 W. 42nd St.) Matthew Lombardo’s semi-autobiographical comedy traces the relationship between Italian matriarch Maria Collavecho (Caroline Aaron) and her gay son (Matt Doyle) spanning the course of five decades. As they continue to test their lifelong bond, the play depicts the outrageously funny and sometimes completely infuriating dynamic between a domineering mother and her rudderless son. Thru 5/11. (theater555.venuetix.com)
Cookie (SoHo Playhouse, 15 Vandam St.) A one-person, five-act tragicomic play that blends vaudeville’s theatricality with the raw intimacy of backstage confessions. It follows Cookie Jackson, a magnetic performer who captivates audiences with humor, wit, and dazzling showmanship. Yet, beyond the footlights, they wrestle with trauma, identity, and the struggle to reclaim their own story. 4/18 & 4/19. (sohoplayhouse.com)
Cooking With Butter (Players Theatre Loft, Steve & Marie Sgouros Theatre, 115 MacDougal St.) Set in Oklahoma and inspired by a high school speech during the 2020 presidential election, this musical follows Maggie, Kat, Tallie, Connor, and Daisie as they navigate the complexities of young love and self-discovery, all while bonding over the simple joy of making grilled cheese sandwiches. 4/3 thru 4/20. (theplayerstheatre.com)
Cowboys (SoHo Playhouse, 15 Vandam St.) Blending sketch, improv and clown, Business Casual tells the story of a gunslinging hero seeking revenge on the three men who killed his family. He must assemble a posse and set out on the journey of a lifetime. Along the way, they encounter gold miners, snake oil salesman, and just about every Western trope you could think of. 3/27 & 3/28. (sohoplayhouse.com)
Curse of the Starving Class (Pershing Square Signature Center’s Romulus Linney Courtyard Theater, 480 W. 42ndSt.) With their family home on the verge of collapse and the creditors closing in, the Tate family white knuckles to their past, while scratching and clawing their way towards a better future. Told through a contemporary biting lens, this classic story dismantles the American dream in its look at a family fighting to stay alive. Starring Calista Flockhart & Christian Slater. Thru 4/6. (thenewgroup.org)
DAKAR 2000, photo by Matthew Murphy.
Dakar 2000 (New York City Center, Stage I, 131 W. 55th St.) Rajiv Joseph wrote this world-premiere thriller set in Senegal on the eve of Y2K. When an idealistic Peace Corps volunteer survives a mysterious car accident, a State Department operative arrives at his hospital where she immediately takes command of the situation and his safety. They form an unlikely relationship, but when it becomes clear that they both have secrets, the volunteer is roped into a darker side of public service – one he can’t come back from. Thru 3/23. (manhattantheatreclub.com)
Danger and Opportunity (East Village Basement, 321 E. 9th St.) In this new play by Ken Urban, Christian and Edwin, a married gay couple, are in a rut when Margaret—Christian’s ex-girlfriend from Catholic high school—gets in touch after 20 years. 3/27 thru 4/17. (dangerandopportunity.com)
Deadclass, Ohio (The Tank, 312 W. 36th St.) A Jewish cemetery in Deadclass, Ohio is the place (and time) for a seance. Five generations of E’s family are buried there, as are M’s grandparents, Blue and Luna, who were married 70 years. Blue and Luna met as children fleeing Nazi occupation; later they moved together to Deadclass to build a family. After the war, both had returned to Krakow to find all their relatives were dead – their hometown had become a cemetery. Thru 3/23. (thetanknyc.org)
Deep Blue Sound (The Public Theater’s Shiva Theater, 425 Lafayette St.) On an island in the Pacific Northwest, the community gathers to address the disappearance of the local orca pod. Friendships fray, tumors grow, new love blooms, wood is chopped, poems are written. The seasons change. Will the whales ever return? Starring Tony winner Maryann Plunkett and Miriam Silverman. Thru 4/5. (publictheater.org)
Domino Effect (A.R.T./New York Theatres, 502 W. 53rd St.) On a warm summer night in Washington Heights, four generations of New Yorkers find themselves at a domino table, each with something to prove. The game itself becomes the unexpected bridge between generations, delving into themes of family, authenticity, and the intrinsic need to forge new connections across diverse, queer generations of immigrants. 4/4 thru 4/20. (peoplestheatreproject.org) (art-newyork.org)
Don’t Look Back (BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center, 190 W. St.) Based on Jean Anouilh’s Eurydice, this freestyle, sensual, ironic adaptation of the ancient Greek myth, centers on Orpheus, is a street musician at a train station. Eurydice, an actress on the platform is on her way to another performance. Love bursts out between them, inevitable as death and pitiless as life. Is suffering necessary for creativity? And is it worth looking back? Performed in Russian. 3/15 & 3/16. (cherryorchardfestival.org/2025)
Dracula (Players Theatre Loft, Steve & Marie Sgouros Theatre, 115 MacDougal St.) Visit website for additional information. 7/10 thru 7/27. (theplayerstheatre.com)
Drag Me To Joanne’s (Joanne Trattoria, 70 W. 68th St.) Hosted by the sensational Jupiter Genesis, the show—which takes place every Wednesday night beginning at 5:30pm—rotates New York’s best drag artists from week to week (and yes, there will be ample Lady Gaga action, seeing as the venue is owned by Lady Gaga’s parents, Joe & Cynthia Germanotta!). (joannenyc.com)
DRAG: The Musical (New World Stages, 340 W. 50th St.) Two Drag Houses vie for supremacy in a wig-snatching journey of fashion, family, and forgiveness. After a bitter split, two estranged queens bring their simmering tensions to a boiling point when they open competing clubs. In this tale of spite and survival, there’s only one rule: No Lip Synching Allowed. Written by drag star Alaska Thunderf*ck alongside songwriter Tomas Costanza and songstress Ashley Gordon. Thru 6/1. (dragthemusical.com)
Drunk Shakespeare (The Garden at Selene, 11 Hanover Sq.). Five actors meet as members of The Drunk Shakespeare Society. One of them has five shots of whiskey and then attempts to perform a major Shakespearean role while the four sober actors attempt to keep the script on track. Suffice to say, every wildly madcap show is different. Craft cocktails are available for purchase and entry is strictly 21+. (drunkshakespeare.com)
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS The Twenty-Sided Tavern (Stage 42, 422 W. 42nd St.) An interactive show in which the audience is the "fourth player," influencing key decisions via browser-based software” you vote on where the story will go. With a cast of five and over 30 playable characters, theatregoers experience an expansive fantasy and face riddles, puzzles, combat, and more, to help shape the story. With humorous and exciting reveals are around every corner, no two shows are alike! Thru 5/11. (thetwentysidedtavern.com)
El Quijote (Repertorio Espanol, Gramercy Art Theatre, 138 E. 27th St.) A stage adaptation following 12 adventures of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. Offering a visually immersive experience inspired by the timeless novel, the production ushers audiences into the whimsical and poignant journey of Quixote's chivalrous endeavors and Sancho's steadfast companionship as they navigate a world where reality and imagination intertwine. In Spanish with English subtitles. Thru 5/15. (repertorio.nyc)
En el Tiempo de las Mariposas (Repertorio Espanol, Gramercy Art Theatre, 138 E. 27th St.) "In the Time of the Butterflies" is a play based on the 1994 novel by Julia Álvarez. Both texts use fiction to recreate the historical account of four sisters under the regime of Rafael Leónidas Trujillo, also known as “El Jefe” [The Boss], through decades of violence in the Dominican Republic. In Spanish with English subtitles. Thru 5/8. (repertorio.ny)
Eurydice (Pershing Square Signature Center, 340 W. 42nd St.) In life, Eurydice loves books…and a great musician. One of the few heroines who dies twice, she falls to the underworld on her wedding day. In death, she reunites with her father and remembers her life again. Les Waters directs an innovative reimagining of one of Sarah Ruhl’s most beloved plays, inspired by a classic myth. Starring Stranger Things’ Maya Hawke in Off-Broadway debut. 5/13 thru 6/22. (signaturetheatre.org)
Eva Luna (Repertorio Espanol, Gramercy Art Theatre, 138 E. 27th St.) The coming-of-age story of Eva Luna, a woman born into poverty who rises up through the world to find her voice as a storyteller and a reflector of history. Enchanting, comical, and sly, the play follows the character’s journey from childhood to adulthood, and features characters that would change the course of Eva’s life forever. In Spanish with English subtitles. Thru 4/2. (repertorio.nyc)
EXES: The Musical (Chain Theatre, 312 W. 36th St.) In this one-woman rock opera, deegie, a powerhouse pop punk princess, takes a deep dive into her past relationships through her real diaries. Taking the audience on an unexpected journey through the fairytale romantic myths of popular culture, deegie’s diaries chronicle a range of boyfriends – from men who made clear they never wanted to be serious, to clingy, cloying men who held deegie too tight. Part of New York City Fringe Festival. 4/2 thru 4/8. (deegiemusic.com/exesthemusical)
Fight Night (59E59 Theaters, Theater C, 59 E. 59th St.) A gripping journey charting the comeback of Dan Coyle Jr., a failed amateur boxer from a long line of accomplished fighters. Existing in the shadows of an overbearing father and a brother's Olympic success, Dan's training slips in favor of girls and booze. Minutes before a crucial match, an accident exiles Dan from the ring, splintering the family apart. Years later, after the birth of his own son, his competitive spirit is ignited, and he tentatively takes the first steps on the road to his redemption. 4/1 thru 4/20. (59e59.org)
Five Models in Ruins, 1981 (Lincoln Center Theaters’ Claire Tow Theater, 150 W. 65th St.) Set against the backdrop of a crumbling European estate in the aftermath of Princess Diana’s wedding, Caitlin Saylor Stephens‘ dark comedy centers around a visionary photographer grappling with the power of her own gaze after she lands the gig of a lifetime—the cover of Vogue magazine—but quickly learns it could be her downfall. 4/19 thru 6/1. (lct.org).
Fog and Filthy Air cast, photo by Peter Welch.
Fog and Filthy Air (Theater for the New City, 155 First Ave.) Following a desperate phone call, Tim arrives at the Hound Dog Motel, outside Memphis, Tennessee, to rescue his parents from a road trip to Graceland gone horribly wrong. As the mystery of how they became stranded unravels, Father tells of hitting a fog bank, leading to his having an emotional breakdown. The play is an intense drama that finds humor in the worst of circumstances. Thru 3/23. (theaterforthenewcity.net)
A Freeky Introduction (Atlantic Theater Company’s Linda Gross Theater, 336 W. 20th St.) Everybody talks about freedom, but few know how to get there. That's because they don't know their Freek. Fear not, Freeky Dee is here with a mix of poetry, ministry, and magic...plus I got a DJ with me. Together, we'll move you past your fears and doubts to bring your inner Freek all the way out! You wanna get free? Then come get your Freek on! 5/16 thru 6/15. (atlantictheater.org)
Freestyle Love Supreme (Gramercy Theatre, 127 E. 23rd St.) Brainchild of Lin-Manuel Miranda, Thomas Kail, and Anthony Venezale, this time around the show features Andrew Bancroft, Aneesa Folds, Arthur Lewis, Kaila Mullady, and Chris Sullivan, plus special guests Tony winner James Monroe Iglehart (3/19) and Christopher Jackson & Utkarsh Ambudkar (3/21). Two performances only 3/19 & 3/21. (thegramercytheatre.com)
Fresh Ink Reading Series (59E59 Theaters, 59 E. 59th St.) The 2025 edition of this annual event offers the first opportunity to hear brand new plays from the Dorothy Strelsin New American Writers Group. Visit website for a complete schedule of productions. 4/1 thru 4/11. (primarystages.org)
Friends! The Musical Parody (Jerry Orbach Theater at The Theatre Center, 210 W. 50th St.) The unauthorized comedic musical that lovingly pokes fun at TV’s Friends celebrates the adventures of Ross, Monica, Rachel, Phoebe, Joey, and Chandler as they navigate the pitfalls of work, life, and love in 1990s Manhattan. The show recreates favorite moments from all 10 seasons of the iconic sitcom through an uncensored, fast-paced, music-filled romp! (ticketmaster.com/friends-the-musical-parody-new-york)
FRIGID New York (UNDER St. Marks, 94 St. Marks Place) Featuring a rich and eclectic schedule of shows events providing both emerging and established artists the opportunity to create and produce original work of varied content, form, and style, and to amplify their diverse voices, FRIGID New York serves up an ongoing roster of plays, festivals, burlesque, standup, cabaret, open mics, and beyond. Visit website for a complete schedule of performances. (frigid.nyc)
GARSIDE'S CAREER, photo by Maria Baranova.
Garside’s Career (Mint Theater Company at Theatre Row, 410 W. 42nd St.) The story of Peter Garside’s soaring flight from working engineer to member of Parliament, propelled by a ‘silver tongue’ and an insatiable fascination with his power to persuade: “You don't know the glorious sensation of holding a crowd in the hollow of your hand, mastering it, doing what you like with it.” Peter’s fiancé knows the danger of Peter’s fascination, “The itch to speak is like the itch to drink, except that it’s cheaper to talk yourself tipsy.” Thru 3/15. (minttheater.org)
Gazillion Bubble Show (New World Stages, 340 W. 50th St.) A family phenom for your family from the Yang family of bubble virtuosos. Audiences delight to an “unbubblievable” experience -- and some even find themselves inside a bubble. Mind-blowing bubble magic, spectacular laser lighting effects, and momentary soapy masterpieces will make you smile, laugh, and feel like a kid again. (gazilllionbubbleshow.com)
Gertrude Lawrence: A Love Way to Spend an Evening (59E59 Theaters, Theater C, 59 E. 59th St.) The dazzling 1930s star of musical comedy tells her own story in her own words. From London’s East End to glamorous Broadway, her story is packed with witty dialogue and songs by everyone from Noel Coward to Kurt Weill. This theatrical cabaret is written & performed by Lucy Stevens who embodies the spirit of Gertie: a feisty, strong woman who transcended the class ceiling, forging her stage and screen career into her 50s. Part of Brits Off Broadway 2025. 5/13 thru 5/25. (59e59.org)
Ghosts (Lincoln Center Theater’s Mitzi Newhouse Theater, 150 W. 65th St.) After several years abroad, Helena Alving’s son has returned home, carrying with him a terrifying secret. Ibsen’s Ghosts is a devastating moral thriller in which ideas of love, duty and family are mercilessly put to the test. This spectacular new version, written by Irish playwright Mark O’Rowe, you by the throat from the outset and refuses to let go – all the way to its electrifying climax. Thru 4/26. (lct.org)
Gimme Please! (BAM Fisher-Fishman Space-321 Ashland Pl., Brooklyn) The play follows the journey of two friends—from initial meeting to lasting connection. Audiences are invited to watch and explore as the two friends pretend, provoke, and persist in getting what they want and need from the world and each other. Through the use of live music, light, and magic, this story draws audiences in with its deep sense of play and honest exploration of growing up and finding your path. 3/28 thru 3/30. (bam.org)
Glass. Kill. What If If Only. Imp. (Public Theater, 425 Lafayette St.) A girl made of glass. Gods and murders. A pack of ghosts. And a secret in a bottle. A kaleidoscope of stories, each short play is a testament to how playwright Caryl Churchill has “remade the landscape of contemporary drama—and earned herself a place among the greats” (The Guardian). 4/3 thru 5/4. (publictheater.org)
Gloaming, Nowhere (SoHo Playhouse, 15 Vandam St.) A neo-Appalachian patchwork kolaidoscopic collage, blending the old and the new, brimming with a sense of mystic adventure. Writer and Performer J.S. Streible inhabits the enigmatic “Storyteller,” who welcomes us to Nowhere. Upon our arrival, he redefines the possibilities of a one-person musical integrating multiple characters, poetry, lyrical dialogue, and southern pop songs played on various instruments. An indelible experience. Thru 4/5. (sohoplayhouse.com)
Goddess (Public Theater, 425 Lafayette St.) This original musical with a book by Jocelyn Bioh (Jaja's African Hair Braiding) and songs by Michael Thurber, was inspired by the myth of Marimba and centers on a mysterious singer who arrives in a Kenyan Afro-jazz club and casts her spell on everyone -- including a young man visiting home from studying in America, who suddenly questions his life plans.Starring Amber Iman. 4/25 thru 6/1/2025. (publictheater.org)
Grangeville (Pershing Square Signature Center, 480 W. 42nd St.) Across a void of thousands of miles and oceans of hurt, two half-brothers tentatively reconnect over the care of their ailing mother. Grangeville is a new play about the fallibility of memory, the stories we tell to make sense of our suffering, and the complexity of forgiveness. Starring Paul Sparks and Brian J. Smith. Thru 3/16. (signaturetheatre.org)
Grape Culture (SoHo Playhouse, 15 Vandam St.) A conversation exploring the ubiquitous nature of "grape" culture – an ethos whose tentacles touches us all. The show reveals how every human is deeply impacted by the "grapey" consciousness that society is built upon. We are not interested in blaming men, or blaming anyone for this paradigm - but rather unmasking the power dynamics that allow "grape" culture to thrive. 4/10 thru 4/12. (sohoplayhouse.com)
The Great Privation (Playwrights Horizons’ Peter Jay Sharp Theater, 46 Walker St.) Subtotiled “How to flip ten cents into a dollar,” this darkly comic new show begins in 1832 where a a mother and daughter stand vigil behind the African Baptist Church in Philadelphia at the grave of a recently deceased loved one. Today, on the same grounds, another mother and daughter work as counselors at what is now a sleep-away camp. Timelines collide, unearthing our nation’s long history of harm in the name of scientific advancement at the cost to Black bodies. Thru 3/23. (sohorep.org)
He Said, She Says (wild project, 195 E. 3rd St.) At age 63, after a lifetime of secrecy, Caragh Donley came out as transgender. In this Spalding Gray-esque work, Donley takes explores themes of identity, transformation, and the resilience of the human spirit. Infused with humor and vulnerability, the work challenges societal perceptions of gender while offering a profound reminder: it is never too late to embrace who you truly are. Part of 2025 New York City Fringe. 4/5 thru 4/19. (tickets.frigid.nyc/event)
Heart Ripped Out Twice and So Can You! (SoHo Playhouse, 15 Vandam St.) An enthusiastic sales representative pitches you on existence, but the darker realities of life keep pushing through her carefully constructed presentation - not to mention phone calls that make this sale personal. Written after a harrowing health journey and a devastating breakup, Linnea wonders: is it worth it? A (mostly) comedy about pain. 4/25 thru 5/3. (sohoplayhouse.com)
HEATHERS THE MUSICAL, U.K. cast, photo by Pamela Raith.
Heathers the Musical (New World Stages, 340 W. 50th St.) Welcome to Westerberg High, where popularity is a matter of life and death, and Veronica Sawyer is just another nobody dreaming of a better day. But when she's unexpectedly taken under the wings of the three beautiful and impossibly cruel Heathers, her dreams of popularity finally start to come true. That is until JD turns up, the mysterious teen rebel who teaches her that it might kill to be a nobody, but it is murder being a somebody. 6/22 thru 9/28. (heathersthemusical.com)
The Heterosexuals (SoHo Playhouse, 15 Vandam St.) A deep-dive into the shocking world of Heterosexuality. They walk among us! But where did they come from? And what do they think they’re wearing? Find out in this explosive solo show based on undercover research gathered while posing as one of their own! Combining elements of storytelling, satire, comedy, and deep personal humiliation, the show spills the T on what The Queers really think about The Straights. 3/20 thru 3/22. (sohoplayhouse.com)
Hold Me in the Water (Playwrights Horizons. 416 W. 42nd St.) When Ryan falls for a man he just met, he’s ready for the romance of his dreams. But as their connection grows, Ryan learns that new heights of joy can bring deep insecurities to the surface. Disarmingly vulnerable and playfully provocative, Hold Me in the Water is a funny and tender solo play about the passion and intimacy of first love. 4/10 thru 5/4. (playwrightshorizons.org)
House of Blue Robes (59E59 Theaters, Theater B, 59 E. 59th St.) Hell’s Kitchen, 1985. Roommates Alphonso Ramirez, an actor, and Schlomo D., an aspiring rapper, are struggling to break through as artists. Alphonso is torn between his love for Marisol and his father’s old-world ideas, while Schlomo’s own tortuous relationship with girlfriend Maylin Chang has brought his life to a standstill. When Alphonso meets Florence, a transplant from Naples, their connection sets a series of events in motion, to devastating effect for all. Part of LAByrinth Theater Company’s Lab: Stripped. Thru 3/16. (59e59.org)
How to Embarrass Your Immigrant Parents (SoHo Playhouse, 15 Vandam St.) A biting and irreverent storytelling experience exploring a universal theme: wanting to understand your parents but struggling to see eye-to-eye. Abby Govindan takes audiences on a hilarious journey about her struggles with mental health, fitting in, and finding common ground with the ones you love. It’s is a love letter to Abby’s Indian heritage and her wonderful parents, without whom none of this would be possible. 3/19 thru 3/22. (sohoplayhouse.com)
Hugh Jackman Live: From New York, With Love (Radio City Music Hall, 1260 6th Ave. bet. 50th & 51st Sts.) Two-time Tony winner Hugh Jackman is back in the Big Apple for a 12-show concert engagement. Hollywood’s Wolverine and Broadway’s Harold Hills performs some of his most iconic numbers including songs from The Music Man, The Greatest Showman, and The Boy from Oz. Playing select weekends thru 10/4. (fromnywithlovehj.com)
Humpty Dumpty (Chain Theatre Main Stage, 312 W. 36th St., 3rd Fl.) In Eric Bogosian’s new play, when four friends decide to take a vacation in Upstate New York’s rural ski country, no sooner do they get to their cozy cabin, than the lights go out, their phones stop working, and their comfortable world is turned upside down. What begins as a pleasant break from their urban lives morphs into a trying and ultimately fatal journey down the rabbit hole of survival. 4/3 thru 5/3. (baryshnikovarts.org),
I Don’t Trust Adults (SoHo Playhouse, 15 Vandam St.) Comedian Ruby Karp's one woman show tells the story of six adults who caused "failed child star" Ruby Karp to be forever suspicious of grown-ups. How many adults publicly wrote hit articles on her? How many theater teachers made her cry? Is Mark Zuckerberg *allegedly* involved in all of this? It's a show for young people who dream of having autonomy, for adults who are healing from other adults, and especially, for the theater kids who never got cast. 3/26 thru 5/3. (sohoplayhouse.com)
IGNITE Concert Festival (Baruch Performing Arts Center, 55 Lexington Ave.) Concerts and special events showcasing work-in-process shows, creating dialogue around the art form of musical theater, and celebrating the legacy of Prospect artist work. Meet the voices who are shaping the next generation of the American musical, Visit website for the line-up of events and schedule. 3/27 thru 4/13. (prospectmusicals.org)
The Imaginary Invalid (New World Stages, 240 W. 50th St.) In Molière’s comedy, Monsieur Argan (Mark Linn-Baker) is a notorious hypochondriac whose nonexistent illnesses blind him to the con men and women (his new wife) who prey on his fears to fatten their purses. His plan: marry his daughter to a doctor so he'll have free round-the-clock on-site healthcare for the rest of his life. Newly translated by Mirabelle Ordinaire and adapted for Red Bull by Jeffrey Hatcher. 6/2 thru 6/29. (redbulltheater.com)
iIN SCENA! FESTIVAL "The Popess," photo by Luigi Russo.
In Scena! Italian Theater Festival NY (Various Locations throughout New York’s five boroughs) Full theatrical productions that have already toured in Italy, as well as readings of Italian plays in translation, lectures, and exchanges between Italian and International artists. The goal is to promote greater awareness of Italian theater and Italian artists and to build a bridge between the artistic scenes in Italy and the US. Visit website for events, descriptions, schedules & locations. All events are free with shows performed either in Italian with English supertitles or in English. 5/5 thru 5/19. (inscenany.com)
In the Unlikely Event of an Actual Emergency (Chain Theatre, 312 W. 36th St.) This compelling play, written by and starring John Mullican, follows Arturo, a guarded airline passenger traveling to Cape Cod to settle his late mother’s affairs. When turbulence spirals into disaster, Arturo is thrown into a dreamlike realm between life and death where he encounters his late parents and a childhood friend. There they challenge him to confront his past, let go of guilt, embrace change, and the power of love and forgiveness. Part of the 2025 NYC Fringe Festival. 4/2 thru 4/20. (tickets.frigid.nyc/event)
In Two Minds (59E59 Theaters, Theater B, 59 E. 59th St.) Playwright Joanne Ryan makes her US debut with this deeply personal, funny, and life-affirming new play that explores the disruptive roller coaster of living with bipolar disorder.When an anxious, retired mother has construction work done on her house, she temporarily moves in with her daughter. Stuck together in a studio apartment, they are forced to face the complex nature of an adult child struggling to cope with a parent's mental illness. 4/2 thru 4/20. (59e59.org)
Indoor Kids (Players Theatre Loft, Steve & Marie Sgouros Theatre, 115 MacDougal St.) Two lonely children have no one to talk to but their Labradoodles until, in 2007, they become next-door neighbors – and a once-in-a-millennium bond that transcended ordinary bestfriendship to become something magical. Even in the face of seemingly insurmountable differences, they form a bond that literally nobody understands. 8/20 thru 8/24. (theplayerstheatre.com)
Iolanthe (Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College, 524 W. 59th St.) New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players concludes its 50th Anniversary Season with this fanciful Victorian tale with a heady mix of drama and comedy,exploring whether a man who is half a fairy can find happiness in a world where to marry a mortal is a capital crime.Iolanthe's topsy-turvy plot isa commentary on human nature, human foibles and political institutions that are all too familiar in any age. 4/5 & 4/6. (nygasp.org)
Irishtown (Irish Repertory Theatre, 132 W. 22nd St.) Ciara Elizabeth Smyth’s hilarious and searing new comedy explores the commercialization of culture, inviting audiences to experience the fragile creative process and the potential collapse of a collective. Featuring Kate Burton and Saoirse-Monica Jackson. 4/2 thru 5/25. (irishrep.org)
The Irrepressible Magic of the Tropics (INTAR Theatre, 500 W. 52nd St.) A wildly theatrical send up of magical realism, this new play by Julián Mesri is at once a farcical romp through Latin American history and literature and a critical exploration of capitalism, colonialism, and US-led economic imperialism. Thru 3/16. (intartheatre.org)
Jim Caruso’s Cast Party (Birdland Jazz Club, 315 W. 44th St.) A potent mix of Broadway stars, jazz swingers and cabaret legends, in addition to new faces and rising talent from every genre. The buoyant, sharp and charming Caruso guides the entire affair, while musical genius Billy Stritch holds court at the ivories and leads the Cast Party Symphony Orchestra (Steve Doyle on bass and Daniel Glass on drums). Monday nights @ 9:30pm.(birdlandjazz.com)
The Jonathan Larson Project (Orpheum Theatre, 126 2nd Ave.) Conceived by Jennifer Ashley Tepper, the project is treasure trove of songs by the Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning writer of Rent, who passed away at the age of 35 in 1995. The show features 20+ songs from unproduced Larson shows, including 1984 and Superbia, songs cut from Rent and tick, tick…BOOM!, along with songs originally written for theatrical revues and the radio. Thru 6/1. (thejonathanlarsonproject.com)
JOY: A New True Musical (Laura Pels Theatre, 111 W. 46th St.) An uplifting work based on the true story of entrepreneur and inventor Joy Mangano. Her journey now comes to life on stage. From single motherhood and financial struggles to building a business empire, Joy’s story epitomizes the power of resilience and determination, an inspiring celebration of a woman who never gave up and redefined the American Dream! Starring Tony nominee Betsy Wolfe in the title role. 6/23 thru 8/17. (joythemusical.com)
Kafka (59E59 Theaters, Theater B, 59 E. 59th St.) A hundred years after his death at the age of 40, Kafka remains the voice of the outsider and the disempowered. Multi-award-winning writer and performer Jack Klaff portrays Kafka’s friends, lovers, and critics - including Alan Bennett, Bertolt Brecht, Albert Camus, Samuel Beckett, Albert Einstein, among many others - to paint a mosaic of his life. Little-known details about Kafka, the man with the matchless imagination, are revealed in this bracing, off-kilter, always-surprising show. Part of Brits Off Broadway 2025. 6/12 thru 6/29. (59e59.org)
Photo by Russ Rowland.
Katsura Sunshine’s Rakugo (New World Stages, 350 W. 50th St.) (75 mins., no intermission) Rakugo, the 400-year-old Japanese art of comic storytelling, features a lone storyteller using only a fan and a hand towel for props. He performs a comic monologue followed by traditional stories handed down from Master to Apprentice for centuries. Sunshine is the only Western Rakugo Master and has performed all around the world promoting Rakugo and Japanese culture. Thru December, 2025. (rakugo.lol)
Kings…come home (Victoria Theatre @ The Apollo, 233 W. 125th St.) After leaving their original home, they embark on a journey to find prosperity, opportunity, and safety. They discover a house in the middle of a field, move in, and create their utopia—until the walls begin to shift, and the house gradually falls apart. As their journey continues, we witness the enduring effects of their constant displacement and how it reshapes their reality. Thru 3/16. (nationalblacktheatre.org)
Kevin McDonald: Superstar (SoHo Playhouse, 15 Vandam St.) Kevin McDonald and friends bring you back to the 90‘s in a comic rock opera written by Kevin. Based on the true story of his relationship with his girlfriend, “Cheater,” and a stupid, awful thing he did in New York City while traveling with the Kids in the Hall. Featuring performances by Janeane Garofalo, Frank Conniff, Dave Hill, John Wlaysewski, and Robin Rothman. 3/19 thru 3/23. (sohoplayhouse.com)
Krapp’s Last Tape (Irish Repertory Theatre, 132 W. 22nd St.) One-third of Irish Rep’s triptych Beckett Briefs, this classic one-act stars Oscar winner F. Murray Abraham as an aged man reviews his life through his younger self heard on autobiographical tapes. Part of Beckett Briefs. Thru 3/16. (irishrep.org)
La Breve y Maravillosa Vita de Oscar Wao (Repertorio Espanol, Gramercy Art Theatre, 138 E. 27th St.) Oscar, a nerd from New Jersey, dreams of becoming the Dominican J.R.R. Tolkien and finding love, but he may never get what he wants. Blame the “fukú”—a curse that’s haunted his family for generations, following them from Santo Domingo to the US. Now as he attends his first semester at Rutgers, he finds himself willing to risk everything in the name of love. In Spanish with English subtitles. Thru 4/29. (repertorio.nyc)
La Casa de Bernarda Alba (Repertorio Espanol, Gramercy Art Theatre, 138 E. 27th St.) This emotionally charged tale delves into Bernarda's tyrannical reign over her daughters, revealing secrets, forbidden desires, and the suffocating pressures within the household. As tensions rise and hidden passions surface, the story spirals into a web of deceit and tragic consequences. In Spanish with English subtitles. Thru 5/13. (repertorio.nyc)
La Gota Fria (Players Theatre Loft, Steve & Marie Sgouros Theatre, 115 MacDougal St.) In this new family comedy, when the matriarch of the Gonzalez family falls ill, her loved ones rally around her: a blind but hyperaware grandfather, a frenzied daughter, her doting husband -- and the meddlesome family friend with a particular interest for the Gonzalez women, including the cat. Thru 3/23. (theplayerstheatre.com)
La Gringa (Repertorio Espanol, Gramercy Art Theatre, 138 E. 27th St.) A young woman born in NYC travels to Puerto Rico for the first time to meet her family and to discover her roots. Her misconceptions are transformed and she learns that being Puerto Rican is a matter of heart and spirit. In Spanish with English subtitles. Thru 6/10. (repertorio.nyc)
label*less (Theatre Row, 410 W. 42nd St.) This new musical is part concert, part theatrical experience that combines brand-new original music with hit pop songs you know to spark connection and inspire understanding. The show takes audiences on an emotional journey through the challenges we all face, highlighting the power of resilience, empathy, and hope. With each story, the show breaks down barriers and encourages us to see beyond labels, reminding us of our shared humanity. 3/20 thru 3/30. (labellessmusical.com)
The Last Bimbo of the Apocalypse (Pershing Square Signature Center, Alice Griffin Theater, 480 W. 42nd St.) In 2006, The New York Post infamously labeled Paris, Lindsay and Britney “The Three Bimbos of the Apocalypse.” But who is the fourth girl in that famous photo? Today, three Gen Z internet sleuths investigate that icon – Coco, an early 2000’s one-hit wonder who mysteriously vanished. Their epic musical quest leads them to uncover the truth, deliver justice and rewrite pop history. 4/22 thru 5/13. (thenewgroup.org)
Last Call (New World Stages, 340 W. 50th St.) For half a century, American conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein and Austrian conductor Herbert von Karajan were fierce rivals. Late in their lives these titans of classical music crossed paths one last time at the Sacher Hotel in Vienna. Inspired by true events, the play brings us to this meeting as both men struggle to find common ground through their music and their lives over one last drink. Thru 5/4. (lastcalltheplay.com)
The Last Laugh (59E59 Theaters, Theater A, 59 E. 59th St.) This side-splitting love letter to the golden age of TV comedy imagines a meeting between a trio of legendary British comics: Tommy Cooper, beloved for his magic tricks that didn’t work; Eric Morecambe, whose double act is the focus of the 2003 Broadway hit The Play What I Wrote; and Bob Monkhouse, renowned for his witty remarks as a game show host. Dying is easy, comedy is hard. Part of Brits Off Broadway 2025. 4/23 thru 5/25. (59e59.org)
Let’s Love! (Atlantic Theater Company’s Linda Gross Theater, 336 W. 20th St.) Ethan Coen’s world-premiere comedy is a trio of one-acts exploring love in all its miserable glory. The world is a confusing place and we are a confused people. But it's easier to be confused together, so---let's love! 3/19 thru 4/27. (atlantictheater.org)
Liberation (Laura Pels Theatre at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre. 111 W. 46th St.) It's 1970: somewhere in Ohio, six women meet on a basement basketball court, determined to shake up their lives and change the world. Fifty years later, one of their daughters tries to understand where things fell apart. A provocative, wildly theatrical world premiere that poses vital questions about friendship, legacy, and the true meaning of liberation. Thru 4/6. (roundabouttheatre.org)
Life And Trust (Conwell Tower, 69 Beaver St.) A tale of money, sex, and power in the heart of the Financial District, Life And Trust is a historic bank that bankrolled New York’s greatest innovations for centuries. Guided by its notorious chairman J.G. Conwell, the mysterious institution now opens its doors for a lucky few. Will you be among those willing to pull back the curtain on American ambition? (lifeandtrustnyc.com)
Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole (New York Theatre Workshop, 79 E. 4th St.) Despite being the voice that built Capitol Records, Nat “King” Cole’s groundbreaking NBC variety show faced cancellation as they could not find a sponsor. Now, on the night of his final broadcast, Nat (Dulé Hill) must decide whether to quietly step out of the spotlight, or, as his friend Sammy Davis Jr. (Daniel J. Watts) urges, “go out with a bang.” Spring, 2025. (nytw.org)
Lillias White-Divine Sass: A tribute to Sarah Vaughan (54 Below, 254 W. 54th St.) In this album-release concert, Ms. White takes audiences on a journey through the music like, and times of Sarah Vaughan, from her remarkable win at Apollo Theatre’s amateur night contest through her collaborations and tours with renowned musicians, to her legendary appearances at Carnegie Hall. Featuring music by Dizzy Gillesp9e, Duke Ellington, Billy Eckstein, Erroll Garner, George Gershwin, and Vaughan herself. 3/26 thru 3/29. (54below.org)
The Lineup with Susie Mosher (Birdland Theater, 315 W. 44th St.) A wild, anything-goes variety show featuring entertainers from the Broadway, cabaret and comedy scenes, ranging from today’s hottest headliners to the best up-and-coming stars of tomorrow. Mosher – a noted actress and singer from Broadway and beyond – hosts this spontaneous weekly extravaganza. Tuesday nights at 8:30pm. (birdlandjazz.com)
Lists of Promise (Theater for the New City,155 Fist Ave.) A blended theatrical and aerial performance piece inspired by When God Was a Woman by Merlin Stone and created for the stage by Ildiko Nemeth and Lisa Giobbi with Marie Glancy O'Shea. This sharply humorous production looks at women's positions in society through historical, political, and mythological lenses. The lists that govern women's lives – past and present – serve as an organizing theme. Thru 3/30. (theaterforthenewcity.net)
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Andrew Barth Feldman in Little Shop (c) Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade.
Little Shop of Horrors (West Side Theatre, 407 W. 43rd St.) The wildly acclaimed Tony-winning musical revival is now a long-running Off-Broadway hit! The story follows hapless flower-shop employee, Seymour, who finds himself trapped under the blood-thirsty fronds of the plant he's named Audrey II, after the girl of his dreams. (littleshopnyc.com)
Lobster (The Tank, 312 W. 36th St.) Nora loves Patti Smith. Nora is Patti Smith. Nora is stoned out of her mind in the Chelsea Hotel, no, the Chelsea Hotel is her mind, actually, the Chelsea Hotel is an out-of-use portable classroom in the Pacific Northwest, but that portable is a breeding ground for lobsters young women. 4/24 thru 5/18. (thetanknyc.org)
Love Life (New York City Center, 131 W. 55th St.) The only collaboration between Kurt Weil and Alan Jay Lerner, this Encores! musical depicts a love story that takes place over 200 years of American history, through the eyes of a family who never ages. This rarely staged production directed by Tony winner Victoria Clark (Kimberly Akimbo) is considered by some to be the first concept musical, an inspiration for musical theater favorites such as Cabaret, Chicago, and Company. 3/26 thru 3/30. (nycitycenter.org)
Love’s Concordia Bar (The Flea, 20 Thomas St.) In this new pop musical, Pragma suspects her girlfriend Ludus, might be cheating on her. Determined to uncover the truth, Pragma decides to follow Ludus one night. Her pursuit leads her to Love’s Concordia Bar, a mysterious burlesque club owned and operated by Love itself. The bar has only one rule for entry: you must be in love to step inside. 4/16 thru 4/19. (eventbrite.com/e/loves-concordia-bar)
Lowcountry (Atlantic Theater Company’s Linda Gross Theater, 336 W. 20th St.) When Tally, a down-and-out actress and gig worker, returns to her rural hometown, she swipes right on a disgraced high-school teacher fresh out of an ankle bracelet. This world-premiere work is a dark, twisted romcom about the psychic distress of looking for love in the digital age and the carceral state. 5/29 thru 7/6. (atlantictheater.org)
Lunar Eclipse (Tony Kiser Theater, 305 W. 43rd St.) Late on a summer night, in a field on their Kentucky farm, a long-married couple, George and Em, have come to watch a lunar eclipse. As the seven stages of the celestial phenomenon unfold, the two sip bourbon and reflect on land and legacy, children and dogs. But as more and more is revealed, they realize they are as much a mystery to each other as the heavens above. A funny, moving, universal story of a couple reckoning with the time they’ve spent on earth and the time they have left. 5/14 thru 6/22. (2st.com)
MACBETH IN STRIDE, photo by Lauren Miller.
Macbeth in Stride (Harvey Theater at the BAM Strong, 651 Fulton St., Brooklyn) A dazzling theatrical event created and performed by Obie Award-winning artist Whitney White a with an ensemble and a live band. The work examines what it means to be an ambitious Black woman through the lens of one of Shakespeare’s most iconic characters. The production uses pop, rock, gospel, and R&B to trace the fatalistic arc of Lady Macbeth while lifting up contemporary Black female power, femininity, and desire. 4/15 thru 4/27. (bam.org)
Machinal (Wild Project, 195 E. 3rd St.) The story of the first woman sent to the electric chair - a young woman's explosive journey from corporate drone to passionate rebel ignites this electrifying drama of love, murder, and liberation. Part of the NYC Fringe Festival. 4/2 thru 4/18. (frigid.nyc)
Maddie (Players Theatre, Main Stage, 115 MacDougal St.) In this new musical, Nick and Jan Cheyney have recently moved into a dilapidated attic apartment in downtown New York City. Beneath the peeling wallpaper, they are amazed to uncover a message scrawled in lipstick by 1920s dancer Madeline Marsh. Fascinated by the discovery, they are unprepared for the return of its ghostly author, still desperate to become a movie star. 5/8 thru 6/8. (maddienyc.com)
The Magic City (New Victory Theater, 209 W. 42nd St.) This live, cinematic shadow puppet show follows nine-year-old Philomena in a modern adaptation of Edith Nesbit’s 1910 novel. Philomena’s great love is building miniature structures out of books, toys, and other found objects. While adjusting to a new home, she wakes up to discover the tiny city she created has come alive! This production uses overhead projectors, paper shadow puppets, actors on camera, and live music to update the story for new audiences. Ages 6+. 3/27 thru 4/13. (newvictory.org)
The Magic of Light (Downstairs at La MaMa, 66 E. 4th St.) An account of a concert that introduced Ukrainian epic songs and the bandura to an international urban audience in 1875 – a performance featuring drawn images that were projected using a magic lantern while the epic was sung. The current production boasts beautiful music, ancient texts, poetry, and mesmerizing visuals to illuminate a lost past, see the harsh reality of the present and look toward a brighter future. Thru 3/16. (lamama.org)
Malaise Dans La Civilisation (PAC NYC, Perelman Performing Arts Center, 251 Fulton St.) Four tourists walk into a theater with no regard for rules or decorum. By turns careless and carefree, hilarious and absurd, they interact with their surroundings, triggering a series of ordinary accidents and mundane mishaps. These explorers gradually transforms an empty stage into a universe filled with possibilities. Presented in either French or English, with appropriate surtitles. Visit website for schedule. Thru 3/22. (pacnyc.org)
Marilyn Maye (54 Below, 254 W. 54th St.) A timeless icon who’s been entertaining audiences for over eight decades, Marilyn Maye breathes new life into classics, carryng the torch from her peers who originated tunes of the Great American Songbook to the future generation of singers. Every performance during this run will feature a special 97th birthday celebration for Manhattan’s Queen of Cabaret. 4/8 thru 4/19. (54below.org)
Maybe Tomorrow (Mezzanine Theatre at the A.R.T./New York Theatres, 502 W. 53rd St.) Inspired by a true story, this new play centers on Gail and Ben who appear to be thriving: new job, new city, baby boy on the way. But the challenges of reality mean they must navigate the complexities of a relationship tested by time. In need of a break, Gail retreats to the bathroom of their mobile home. As the outside world slowly slips away from her, we are left to wonder: was it ever there to begin with? Thru 3/15 thru 5/6. (abingdontheatre.org)
Memnon (The Classical Theatre of Harlem, 1850 Amsterdam Ave.) This stunning new work by Will Powers brings to life the story of Ethiopia's powerful king as he answers the call to defend Troy. Weaving a narrative that is at once epic and intimate, the play tells the story of a man caught between past and present, myth and reality. 7/5 thru 7/27. (cthnyc.org)
Mike & Mindy’s Wild Weekend Jam (Players Theatre, Main Stage, 115 MacDougal St.) A couple since the 1980s, Mike and Mindy share a dream of becoming singing sensations. Ten years later while working day jobs and booking gigs and auditions, they learn a hot-shot music producer might attend one of their “Wild Weekend Jams” at their place in Brooklyn. Only Mindy’s old-school Italian father objects and Mike storms out, leaving Mindy to wonder if she’ll be able to find him in time to make their dream of success become a reality. 5/8 thru 6/8. (theplayerstheatre.com)
Mike Birbiglia: The Good Life (Beacon Theatre, 2124 Broadway) Comedian/raconteur/actor Mike Birbiglia debuts his latest show in New York before heading on tour. 3/19 thru 3/22. (ticketmaster.com/mike-birbiglia)
MINDPLAY at Arena Stage, photo by Chris Ruggiero.
Mindplay (Greenwich House Theater, 27 Barrow St.) Created and performed by acclaimed mentalist/illusionist/storyteller Vinny DePonto, who co-wrote the piece with Josh Koenigsberg, Mindplay guides participants on a jaw-dropping, interactive journey as DePonto reads minds while revealing his own. Blurring the line between illusion and reality while investigating the wildly unreliable nature of memory, the show will send audiences reeling into the night. Thru 4/20. (mindplaynyc.com)
minor*ity (WP Theater, 2162 Broadway bet. 76th & 77th) An international African arts conference, is celebrating its Diamond Jubilee in Paris and the panel line-up this year is sure to cause a stir. This play by francisca da silveira is a powerful three-hander that interrogates Black identity, the plurality of the African diaspora, and what it means to be a sought-after artist of color. 3/29 thru 4/27. (wptheater.org)
The Mistake (59E59 Theaters, Theater C, 59 E. 59th St.) 1945. The U.S. drops two atomic bombs on Japan, heralding a terrifying new era of warfare. The stories of the Hungarian scientist who helps create the atom bomb, the daring American pilot who delivers it, and the Japanese daughter who suffers the devastating consequences, fatally intertwine across countries, continents, and decades. With verbatim testimonies, this powerful new play explores the events surrounding the catastrophic "mistake" that launched our nuclear age. Part of Brits Off Broadway 2025. 4/24 thru 5/11. (59e59.org)
The Monocle After-Hours (Friki Tiki, 357 W. 44th St.) Lempicka cast member Natalie Joy Johnson brings her onstage club, “The Monocle,” to life every Thursday night following performances of Lempicka. Featuring different guest stars from the Broadway community each week, this cabaret show in the heart of Broadway’s theatre district is a showbiz insider’s dream. (thefrikitiki.com)
The Monsters: A Sibling Love Story (New York City Center, 131 W. 55th St.) For a long time, Lil has been obsessed with fighting and one fighting in particular: her estranged older brother, an aging but successful figure in the local Mixed Martial Arts circuit. One day she decides to show up on his doorstep in this world premiere sibling love story about reunions, resentment, reconnection, and wrestling with demons. Written and directed by Ngozi Anyanwu. Winter, 2026. (manhattantheatreclub.com)
A Mother (Baryishnikov Arts’ Jerome Robbins Theater, 450 W. 37th St.) Through a multilayered approach, combining heartfelt storytelling and a soaring blend of disco, gospel, reggae, and Jewish music, the play creates a visceral experience of loss, resilience, and transformation. A Mother is set against the vibrant backdrop of 1970s/80s Miami, and places a story of first love in the broader historical context of the race riots following Arthur Lee McDuffie’s murder by police officers. 3/29 thru 4/13. (baryshnikovarts.org),
MOYA (New Victory Theater, 209 W. 42nd St.) In a thrilling acrobatic celebration of South African culture and heritage, this production is set against the backdrop of Nelson Mandela’s Rainbow Nation: the manifestation of a dream that all of South Africa’s people, a nation of 11 official languages and diverse cultures, can unite and cultivate a future of peaceful co-existence and harmony. Ages 5+. 4/11 thru 4/27. (newvictory.org)
Much Ado (About Nothing) (Under St. Marks, 94 St Marks Place.) A black box meditation on fathers and daughters, brothers and cousin-sisters, best friends and exes, love renounced and rekindled...and horrible bosses of all kinds. Featuring a multigenerational cast of Black, Latin, Asian, Middle Eastern and White actors embodying the richness of New York City and our country. Thru 3/30. (frigid.nyc)
My First Ex-Husband (Manhattan Movement and Arts Center, 248 W. 60th St.) With razor-sharp wit and zero filters, playwright Joy Behar dives into the messy truths of love, marriage, and divorce, revealing the chaotic, funny, and often eye-opening realities of relationships. In a series of stories -- as relatable as they are outrageous – Behar serves up the undeniable truth that sometimes the best revenge is a good laugh. Each month rotates cast members from theatre, TV, and film; visit website for this month’s players. Thru 4/20. (myfirstexhusband.com)
Nayatt School Redux (Performing Garage, 33 Wooster St.) A reanimation of the original 1978 Wooster Group piece by Elizabeth LeCompte and Spalding Gray. Beginning with a new monologue, Kate Valk reveals archival video recordings of Gray in the original and tells her own story of how she came to work with the Wooster Group. Then Valk in the ‘70s and how the current company channeled the final scenes, deepening its exploration of T.S. Eliot’s The Cocktail Party. Thru 3/29. (woostergroup.org)
Odd Salon NYC (Parkside Lounge, 317 E. Houston St.) This bi-monthly show curates cocktail hour lectures highlighting strange-but-true stories from history, science, art, and adventure, live on stage, over cocktails. Experts and amateurs come together to explore overlooked and under-told stories, about everything from lost cities to engineering failures to daring heists, questionable taxidermy, tales of epic revenge, and beyond. Visit website for playing schedule. (frigid.nyc)
Oedipus (Studio 54, 254 W. 54th St.) Creator/director Robert Icke transforms Sophocles’ epic tragedy into an essential, explosive, sensual human thriller catapulting the secrets of the past into a high-stakes present. Starring Olivier Award winners Mark Strong and Lesley Manville, reprising their critically acclaimed and current Olivier-nominated roles as Oedipus and Jocasta. Coming in November for a limited 14-week engagement. (oedipustheplay.com)
The Office! A Musical Parody (Jerry Orbach Theatre at The Theatre Center, 210 W. 50th St.) It's a typical morning at Scranton's third largest paper company until, for no logical reason, a documentary crew begins filming the lives of the employees of Dunder Mifflin. A hilarious, unauthorized parody of the Long-running hit TV show. (theofficemusicalparody.com)
O.K.! (INTAR Theatre, 500 W. 52nd St.) In an Oklahoma theatre, it's 90 minutes to curtain for O.K.!, a bilingual parody of a famous musical, when Melinda receives a phone call that sends her spiraling. Due to the state's recent abortion ban, her upcoming appointment has been canceled -- and her meltdown captures the attention of her wisecracking New York Latina cast mates who come to her rescue. 5/10 thru 6/8. (intartheatre.org)
On the Evolutionary Function of Shame (Pershing Square Signature Center, Irene Diamond Stage, 280 W. 42ndSt.) In the beginning, two people got kicked out of a garden for eating fruit. Many years later, Adam—a transgender man expecting a child—meets with his twin sister, Eve, a pioneering scientist. She offers her brother prenatal services from her cutting-edge practice. But what exactly does that entail? And does Adam even want Eve’s help? This new work by D.A. Mindell is part of Second Stage Theater’s Next Stage Festival. Thru 3/19. (2st.com)
Origin 1st Irish Theatre Festival (Various NYC venues.) As in prior years, this 17th annual event is devoted to producing and presenting the theatrical work of contemporary Irish playwrights from around the world. A total of 12 new productions – five from Ireland and seven produced locally – will be vying for awards on the festival’s closing night. Visit website for a complete schedule of events, descriptions and venues. 4/1 thru 4/28. (origintheatre.org)
Photo by Krystal PagaÌ.
Parrots at the Pagoda (Pregones Theater, 304 W. 47th St.) A drag origins story inspired by the life and times of Johnny Rodríguez, standout vocalist and trios musician, pioneering female impersonator and empresario, owner of legendary El Cotorrito club in Puerto Rico, and brother to Tito “El Inolvidable” Rodríguez. Johnny’s world of vibrant costumes and timeless music immerses audiences in the journey of this queer trailblazer and icon. 5/1 thru 5/25. (pregonesprtt.org)
Passengers (The Perelman Performing Arts Center, 251 Fulton St.) Montreal’s acclaimed troupe The 7 Fingers pulls into PAC NYC for a theatrical journey that is not to be missed. The passengers on this train express their hopes and dreams through an astonishing blend of cirque, music, and dance, telling human stories with superhuman skills. Poetic goodbyes. Anticipatory reunions. Fateful encounters. A genre-defying entertainment that makes a perfect date night or family adventure. 6/12 thru 6/29. (pacnyc.org)
PAW Patrol Live! “A Mighty Adventure” This brand-new live stage show follows Chase, Marshall, Skye, and the rest of the pack after they save Adventure City using their Mighty Pup Powers. Now it’s time for the “PAW-some-est” street party ever, but when supervillain scientist Victoria Vance feels left out of the festivities, she unleashes her latest invention to crash the party and steal the spotlight for herself! Can the Mighty Pups outsmart Victoria and keep the party pumping? 4/26 & 4/27. (msg.com/pawpatrol)
Perfect Crime (Anne Bernstein Theater at The Theater Center, 210 W. 50th St.) This ultra-long-running murder mystery is the story of brilliant but money hungry psychiatrist/ suspected cold-blooded killer Margaret Brent, her wealthy husband, deranged patient, and the handsome detective who's falling in love with her while trying to solve the crime. (perfect-crime.com)
Pericles (Cathedral of St. John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam Ave.) A choral adaptation of Shakespeare’s epic about losing and re-discovering faith. Reconceived by playwright and songwriter Troy Anthony, this new production, performed by Public Works community members from all over New York City, is a celebration of life, love, and transformation. Inspired by Gospel music and the rousing power of the Black church. 8/28 thru 9/1. (publictheater.org)
Pi,Comedy Fashion Show (Actors Temple Theatre, 339 W. 47th St.) Fashion designer, painter and musician PimComedy hosts a 90 minute journey deep into the mind of the creator for an evening of weirdness and abstract art. Theater & love, performance art, located in Hell’s Kitchen. Story of overcoming a murderous ex-girlfriend. Thru 4/1. (actorstempletheatre.com)
Pinkalicious the Musical (Actors Temple Theatre, 339 W. 47th St.) Pinkalicious can't stop eating pink cupcakes despite warnings from her parents. Her pink indulgence lands her at the doctor's office with Pinkititis, an affliction that turns her pink from head to toe—a dream come true for this pink loving enthusiast. But when her hue goes too far, only Pinkalicious can figure out how to get out of this predicament. Thru 5/18. (pinkaliciousthemusical.com)
Platinum Dreams (York Theatre Company,Theatre at St. Jean’s 150 E. 76th St.) Set in 1977, with a score made of ‘70’s rock, ‘40’s big-band, and modern musical theatre, the story follows Lila Haliday, a musical movie star of the 1940’s looking for a comeback by recording a solo album, Dan Hardin, a rock star looking to keep his relevance on the charts, and Jamie Stiles, a record producer/studio owner/Dan’s former writing partner & lover. As destiny brings together the three, they ultimately grow to accept each other, go on with their lives, and fulfill their dreams. Thru 3/16. (yorktheatre.org)
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Photo by Jeremy Daniel.
The Play That Goes Wrong (New World Stages/Stage 4, 340 W. 50th St.) (2 hrs.) A madcap hybrid of Monty Python and Sherlock Holmes, this award-winning comedy is bringing down the house—literally—Off-Broadway. It’s opening night of The Murder at Haversham Manor where an unconscious leading lady, corpse that can’t play dead, and actors who trip over everything are only some of the hilarious mishaps. (broadwaygoeswrong.com)
The Pocket Park Kids (Theatre Row, 410 W. 42nd St.) The story of neighborhood kids coming together to save a neglected city park. With original music, puppetry, and an inspiring message about sustainability, the play highlights how "small people can get big things done." The production is inspired by the United Nations Global Goals for Sustainability, encouraging audiences to embrace environmental stewardship and community action. Thru 3/16. (nycchildrenstheater.org)
Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: The Super Live (Palladium Times Square, 1515 Broadway) The hit 2.5D musical sensation based on the wildly popular manga (comic book) concludes its U.S. tour in NYC. he visually stunning show follows the stories of Usagi Tsukino, a teenage girl who transforms into the heroic Sailor Moon. Together, with her fellow Sailor Guardians, she battles many dark forces to protect the Earth from evil. 4/25 & 4/26. (sailormoonsuperlive.com)
The Price (Theatre at St. Clements, 423 W. 46th St.) Set in an attic of a condemned Manhattan building at the end of the 1950s, Arthur Miller’s classic work examines the price we pay for the choices we make or fail to make in life. Four unforgettable characters struggle to make sense of the past and create a future in this 1968 tour de force masterpiece of Miller's pen. Thru 3/16. (thepriceoffbroadway.com)
Pride & Prejudice (59E59 Theaters, Theater A, 59 E. 59th St.) Jane Austen’s much-loved tale of Ms. Bennett and Mr. Darcy’s courtship comes to New York with the original cast of three – playing 18 unforgettable characters -- after sold out runs in London and on tour in the UK. In short, the quintessential British romantic comedy and blueprint for so many other stories arrives in a new adaptation from Guildford Shakespeare Company. Part of Brits Off Broadway 2025. 5/30 thru 6/29. (59e59.org)
Prince F***** (Playwrights Horizons, 416 W. 42nd St.) Playwright Jordan Tannahill’s meta-theatrical satire homes in on power, privilege, and colonization by imagining a world ruled by a queer monarch. Featuring a queer, trans, and non-binary acting ensemble. 5/29 thru 7/6. (sohorep.org)
Project Ritual Cabaret 2025: Resist Stance (Coney Island USA, 1208 Surf Ave., Brooklyn) For its 8th annual incarnation, this groundbreaking event’s artists were asked to explore what RESISTANCE! means to them and how it leads to transformation — on a personal, societal or human level. Visit website for participants and complete playing schedule. 3/28 thru 3/30. (coneyisland.com)
Prosperous Fools (Theater for a New Audience, Polonsky Shakespeare Center, 262 Ashland Pl., Brooklyn) Written by and starring the MacArthur genius and incomparable force of theatrical nature Taylor Mac, this work was inspired by Moliere’s Le Bourgeois gentilhomme, is a brilliant and courageous exploration of philanthropy and its hypocrisies; a retooled comedy of manners for an age with no manners. 6/1 thru 6/29. (tfana.org)
Puppetopia 2025 (HERE Arts Center, 145 6th Ave.) HERE’s festival of new puppetry returns for its fourth annual edition. Curated by HERE co-founder Barbara Busackino and Dream Music Artistic Director and star Alum Basil Twist, the festival presents original work. 4/30 thru 5/11. (here.org)
Recurring (59E59 Theaters, Theater B, 59 E. 59th St.) A gripping, cinematically vivid drama that graphically unveils how a deep and horrific history insinuates itself into a woman’s present and future. Through fragmented memories propelled by sharp suspense, acid humor, and a gripping magical realism, we’re spun through a dizzying array of events—from adulthood to girlhood, back and forth—culminating in a visceral confrontation with the horrifying truth of what she endured. Part of LAByrinth Theater Company’s Lab: Stripped. 3/21 thru 3/30. (59e59.org)
Remembrance (Theater for the New City, 155 First Ave.) A play showing the mental and physical effects on a daughter whose mother has Alzheimer's. The play aims to reveal the victimization of the caregiver. Five actors play six characters: Mom, her daughter (present and past), two doctors (a Geriatrician and an Alzheimer's specialist), and a Caribbean woman who is a professional caregiver, Lincoln Center usher, dancer and deeply religious woman. 3/20 thru 4/6. (sheencenter.org)
The Return of Benjamin Lay (Sheen Center, 18 Bleecker St.) Benjamin Lay - shepherd, sailor, revolutionary, and the British Empire's first revolutionary abolitionist - returns from the grave almost 300 years after his death, as feisty and unpredictable as ever. 3/14 thru 4/6. (sheencenter.org)
Rheology (HERE Arts Center, 145 6th Ave.) Obie-winning writer/director Shayok Misha Chowdhury's newest work is a performance memoir created and performed with his mother, the physicist Bulbul Chakraborty. In the production, an artist son studies his mother while she studies the strange behavior of sand. Together, they try to understand the science and perform the story of how things flow. 4/22 thru 5/17. (here.org)
Riverdance 30—The New Generation (Radio City Music Hall, 6th Ave.) Grammy-winning music and mesmerizing choreography has left Riverdance audiences in awe and made it a global cultural sensation. This new production rejuvenates the much-loved Irish dance original with new choreography, costumes, and state of the art lighting, projection and motion graphics. And for the first time the show welcomes “The New Generation” of performers, all of whom were not born when show began 30 years ago. 3/28 thru 3/30. (ticketmaster.com)
Saturday Church (New York Theatre Workshop, 79 E. 4th St.) A new musical following devoted son/fierce acolyte at his aunt’s church, Ulysses. An encounter on the subway leads him to Saturday Church, a sanctuary for LGBTQ+ youth. Caught between these two worlds, he wrestles with family, faith and identity as he strives to find the place where he can love and be loved—in all his fabulousness. Featuring a book by Emmy nominee Damon Cardasis & Pulitzer Prize winner James Ijames The score is by Grammy nominee Sia with additional music by Grammy winner Honey Dijon. 2025/26 Season. (nytw.org).
The Seat of Our Teeth (Public Theater, 425 Lafayette St.) This adaptation of Thornton Wilder’s iconic The Skin of Our Teeth, will play at the Public in the fall of 2025. Exact dates TBA. (publictheater.org)
A Series of Unfortunate Folks (Players Theatre Loft, Steve & Marie Sgouros Theatre, 115 MacDougal St.) This sketch comedy group presents a lineup of hilarious sketches. 6/6 & 6/7. (theplayerstheatre.com)
Seussical the Musical! (ART/NY The Mezzanine Theatre, 502 W. 53rd St.) A fun musical comedy in which the elephant Horton finds a speck of dust containing the Whos. But Horton faces a double challenge: to protect the Whos from a world of naysayers & dangers, and to guard an abandoned egg, left in his care by the irresponsible Mayzie La Bird. And although Horton faces ridicule, danger, kidnapping and a trial, the powers of friendship, loyalty, family and community, ultimately emerge triumphant. 5/8 thru 5/18. (epicplayersnyc.org)
Shellshocked (59E59 Theaters, Theater B, 59 E. 59th St.) A heroic, young, and shellshocked soldier, Wesley Hepton returns home from the trenches. To help support the family, his mother submits his art portfolio to painter Mr. Lupine. Wesley attends an interview to become his apprentice. But on arrival, he encounters another kind of madness that threatens to push him to destruction as he discovers the ulterior motives behind the artist’s palette.Part of Brits Off Broadway 2025. 5/14 thru 6/8. (59e59.org)
Sierra Boggess (54 Below, 254 W. 54th St.) Broadway favorite Sierra Boggess (The Little Mermaid; The Phantom of the Opera) takes the stage with a new evening of songs and stories. An in-demand performer both on Broadway and London’s West End, Boggess sings the songs that mean the world to her. 5/8 thru 5/12. (54below.org)
Singfeld! An Unauthorized Musical Parody About Nothing! (Jerry Orbach Theater, 210 W. 50th St.) This unauthorized parody of the hit sitcom Seinfeld follows Jerry, Elaine, George, Kramer, and other iconic (albeit peripheral) characters as they navigate the highs and lows of living and loving in New York City. The hilarious score features such songs as “What’s the Deal with Musicals?,” “The Ballad of Bubble Boy,” and “The Yadda Yadda Song.” (singfeld.com)
Someone ExtraoridinariX! (Players Theatre Loft, Steve & Marie Sgouros Theatre, 115 MacDougal St.) As she tries to audition and stay employed, Chilean immigrant actress Mona is coming up on her Visa deadline when she encounters Maggie, an American songwriter, and Vicho, a Mexican actor and playwright. Helped and/or hindered by “Someone,” Mona tries to navigate her deadlines, boss, and budding relationship. 5/1 thru 5/18. (theplayerstheatre.com)
Song of the North (New Victory Theater, 209 W. 42nd St.) A cast of 500 handmade puppets and nine actors and puppeteers create a spectacular experience of unity and collaboration. This classic Persian tale combines the manual art of shadow puppetry with projected animation to tell the courageous tale of Manijeh, a heroine from ancient Persia, who must use all her strengths and talents to rescue her beloved, Bijan, from a perilous predicament of her own making and help prevent a war. Ages 8+. Thru 3/23. (newvictory.org)
Spanglish Affair Open Mic (UNDER St. Marks, 94 St. Marks Place) A new bimonthly open mic for the Spanish & Spanglish-speaking community to develop and share their work. Performers get between 5 and 8 minutes each and are invited to sing, dance, do comedy, performance art, spoken word, burlesque, poetry, and share work in progress, with no prior experience required. Every other first Wednesday; visit website for schedule. (frigid.nyc)
A Special Relationship (59E59 Theaters, Theater C, 59 E. 59th St.) On the morning of their children’s wedding, British dad Monty is hosting American dad Pete and his family. Everyone else has gone to the church for the rehearsal but they’ve stayed behind to put up a gazebo. Communication proves challenging and not just because the instructions are in Chinese. Can these headstrong men from opposite sides of the pond forge an alliance long enough to set up for the wedding? Part of Brits Off Broadway 2025. 5/29 thru 6/29. (59e59.org)
Spring Spark Theatre Festival NYC (The Chain, 312 W. 36th St., 3rd Fl.) A wide range of diverse shows featuring timely topics such as lgbtqia identity, AI, women empowerment, mental illness, caretaking, climate change, politics, love and connection, and the legacy of past icons. Over 200 artists will be featured in the expansive program of six new musicals and numerous plays and solo shows. Visit website for a complete schedule of performances and descriptions. Thru 3/23. (emergingartiststheatre.org)
A Streetcar Named Desire (Harvey Theater at the BAM Strong, 651 Fulton St., Brooklyn) This staggering revival of the Tennessee Williams’ classic comes to New York following sold-out runs in London. When a desperate Blanche unexpectedly visits Stella and Stanley, her estranged sister and brother-in-law, she brings with her a complicated past that ignites a smoldering tension within the walls of the stifling New Orleans apartment. As reality and illusion collide, a violent conflict rises to the surface that changes their lives forever. Thru 4/6/25. (bam.org)
STRIPPED: House of Blue Robes (59E59 Theaters, 59 E. 59th St.) Hell’s Kitchen, 1985. Roommates Ralph Ramirez, an actor, and Schlomo D., an aspiring rapper, are struggling to break through as artists. Ralph is torn between his love for Marisol and his father’s old-world ideas, while Schlomo’s own tortuous relationship with girlfriend Maylin Chang has brought his life to a standstill. When Ralph meets Florence, a transplant from Naples, their connection sets a series of events in motion, to devastating effect for all. Thru 3/16. (59e59.org)
Sugarcraft (59E59 Theaters,Theater C, 59 E. 59th St.) You’re invited to Lady Dupray’s parlour for a cooking presentation by Mary Eales who dazzled the royal court with her recipe for ice cream – and now her innovation, once only available to Queen Anne and her guests, will be crafted for you. As Mary’s presentation unfolds, snippets from her past bubble up and we see how she’s used the power of sugar to overcome seemingly impossible odds. But her past is hurtling towards a secret future that hangs on the success of her presentation. Thru 3/15. (59e59.org)
Sumo (Public Theater, 425 Lafayette St.) In an elite sumo training facility in Tokyo, six men practice, eat, love, play, and ultimately fight. Akio arrives as an angry, ambitious 18-year-old expecting validation, dominance, and fame. Desperate to move up the ranks, he slams headlong into his fellow wrestlers. With sponsorship money at stake, their bodies on the line, and their futures at risk, the wrestlers struggle to carve themselves—and one another—into the men they dream of being. Thru 3/30. (publictheater.org)
SWALLOWS, photo by Jason Rodgers.
Swallows (La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, 66 E. 4th St.) Aging ‘90s heartthrob Brodie and his middle-aged girl band, The Swallows, are preparing to film a music video in their crumbling Valley McMansion when a buried secret threatens their fragile existence. Celebrated for her NYC alt-scene solo performance, multidisciplinary artist Jill Pangallo takes an exciting leap with her debut play, fusing comedic storytelling and provocative themes. 3/28 thru 4/6. (swallowstheplay.com)
The Swamp Dwellers (Theater for a New Audience, Polonsky Shakespeare Center, 262 Ashland Pl., Brooklyn) In this 1958 work, Wole Soyinka creates a quietly tragic tale. In a rustic hut in the Niger Delta, an aging couple living on flooded land is visited by a Yoruba holy man and a blind Muslim beggar who trigger a crisis of faith and trust. Corrupt religion, family betrayal, environmental disaster, post-colonial exploitation, urban modernity encroaching on rural tradition: themes both timeless and palpably contemporary. 3/30 thru 4/20. (tfana.org)
Sweetwater: The Gospel of Iman (National Black Theatre, 2031 National Black Theatre Way) The work delves into the strength of chosen family and honors the forgotten through the eyes of Umar, a young gay black writer residing in New York City during the AIDS epidemic. Umar and his closest female friend, Charlie, conjure the spirits of the lives lost by evoking the power of love, friendship, and magic. 6/25 thru 6/29. (nationalblacktheatre.org)
Taming of the Shrew (Cullum Theatre, American Theatre for Actors, 314 W. 54th St.) Enjoy a five-star journey to Padua in this uproarious Shakespearean classic—a sharp-witted battle of the sexes in a world where wealth dictates power. Known for its fresh and accessible approach to Shakespeare, Frog & Peach Theatre Co. delivers a fast-paced, beautifully acted performance that remains true to the Bard’s text while resonating with modern audiences. Thru 3/23. (our.show/frogandpeachshrew)
Ted Snowden Reading Series (New York City Center, Stage I, 131 W. 55th St.) A rehearsed reading series dedicated to the support and development of innovative new works. Visit website for a complete schedule of plays and their descriptions. Mondays only. Free, but RSVPs are required. Thru 3/31. (manhattantheatreclub.com)
Those Who Remained (La MaMa, The Club, 74A E. 4th St.) In this transformative multimedia solo show, writer/performer Sophia Gutchinov explores the depths of love through a personal lens of Indigenous ceremony and modern dating. Drawing from her Italian-Mongolian heritage, she weaves a narrative that bridges the cultural divide of her background of a Buddhist father and Catholic mother. Projections, comedy, and spoken word, create an immersive experience that confronts personal roots and identity. Recommended for audiences 16+. 5/8 thru 5/18. (lama.org)
The Threepenny Opera (BAM Howard Gilman Opera House, 30 Lafayette Ave., Brooklyn) Murderous antihero Mackie Messer (a.k.a. Mack the Knife) slashes through Victorian London in Bertolt Brecht’s scandalous satire that electrified Weimar-era German audiences. A century later, Brecht’s razor-sharp book, propelled by Kurt Weill’s infectious score is brought to life by Barrie Kosky’s Berliner Ensemble sly and perversely sexy production. 4/3 thru 4/6. (bam.org)
Thursday is a Cabaret at Joanne’s (Joanne Trattoria, 70 W. 68th St.) The popular, cozy restaurant owned by Lady Gaga’s parents, Joe and Cynthia Germanotta, is serving up a rotation of incredible performers every Thursday from 6 to 8pm for a one-of-a-kind experience. The only charge is that of your meal—no cover charge for the performance.(joannenyc.com)
Titanique (Daryl Roth Theatre, 101 E. 15th St.) A musical celebration that turns one of the greatest love stories of all time into a hysterical and joyful slay-fest. Want to find out what really happened to Jack and Rose on that fateful night? Leave it to Céline Dion to casually hijack a Titanic Museum tour and enchant the audience with her totally wild take, recharting the course of Titanic’s beloved moments and characters with her iconic song catalog. (titaniquemusical.com)
Touch (The Tank, 312 W. 36th St.) In Florida, Betty, a widow, is having a difficult time adjusting to life without her husband. She's driving her son crazy as she dips her toe into online dating. Bob, a widower, gets a call from his recently divorced daughter: she's coming to visit. With poignancy, pathos, and humor, a cast of seven travels the vicissitudes of navigating life after loss, reaching across the generational divide, getting older, and just being human. Thru 3/16. (thetanknyc.org)
The Trojans (the cell theater, 338 W. 23rd St.) An original 80's synthwave musical in which warehouse workers re-enact the legendary tales of their home town’s high school glory days, loosely following the mythic heroes and demi-gods of The Iliad. The Trojans uses cassette tape loops and vintage analog synths to create a weathered soundtrack of neon-drenched nostalgia, set in the shadow of a corporate warehouse, reminiscent of today’s labor giants like Amazon. 3/19 thru 4/19. (thecelltheatre.org)
Trophy Boys (MCC Theater’s Susan & Ronald Frankel Theater, 511 W. 52nd St.) “Feminism has failed women” is the prompt given to the debate team of an elite all-boys prep school one hour before the final match of their high school careers. As they develop compelling arguments to demolish their sister school, a "rumor" leaks about their team that threatens to blow up everything they have worked for. Tony-winning director Danya Taymor (The Outsiders) helms this sharp exploration of power and privilege. 6/5 thru 7/13. (mcctheater.org)
True Crime: The Musical (The Players Theatre, 115 MacDougal St.) Musical improv duo Beautiful Dreamers (Jillian Vitko & Maggie Lalley) created this one-of-a-kind show, where they get an audience suggestion of the victim, the murder weapon, and the location — from there, they completely improvise a musical right before your eyes to get to the bottom of this never-before-seen and never-to-be-seen again murder case. Assorted Fridays thru 5/16. (theplayerstheatre.com)
Twelfth Night (Delacorte Theater in Central Park) This high-powered production of the Bard’s classic comedy revels in midsummer madness as twins Sebastian and Viola survive shipwreck, revenge plots, and the trick doors of love. Starring b, Bill Camp, Khris Davis, Peter Dinklage, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Junio Nyong’o, Lupita Nyong’o, Sandra Oh, Daphne Rubin-Vega, and Moses Sumney, the play marks the debut of the “revitalized” Delacorte. Visit website for directions to the theater. 8/7 thru 9/14. (publictheater.org)
Two Sisters Find a Box of Lesbian Erotica in the Woods (HERE Arts Center, 145 6th Ave.) Set inside an intimate archive of towering bankers’ boxes, the play teases a literary reading, a dialogue, an interview, a magazine. A researcher collides with a librarian, paranormal investigators are abducted by aliens, and a pet shop owner receives a late-night visitor. As these narratives weave and connect, the private becomes public. The work asks how we become visible to ourselves. 3/28 thru 4/26. (newgeorges.org)
Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) (A.R.T./New York Theatres, 502 W. 53rd St.) Dougal is a naive, impossibly upbeat Brit, flying to New York for his Dad's second wedding. The Dad he's never known. Waiting for him at the airport is Robin, the sister of the bride. She's a native New Yorker, she's late for work, and she doesn't have time to stop and see the sights. From 5/30. (art-newyork.org)
The Ungodly (59E59 Theaters, Theater B, 59 E. 59th St.) 1645. A dark shadow is spreading across England with suspicions of witchcraft on the rise. In the remote village of Mistley, Susan Edwards, step-sister of self-proclaimed Witchfinder General Matthew Hopkins, has a choice to make. Does she remain rational in a community torn apart by fear, intolerance, and hysteria or become seduced by the idea that her baby’s death was caused by witches controlled by Satan? Part of Brits Off Broadway 2025. 4/24 thru 5/11. (59e59.org)
The United States vs Ulysses (Irish Arts Center, 726 11th Ave.) James Joyce’s novel Ulysses had been banned on first publication in the States—that was, until a hungry young publisher and an ambitious lawyer teamed up to take on the puritans. Can they convince the judge that Ulysses is not obscene? And what happens when Ulysses gets under their skin–and Molly Bloom gets into their heads? 4/30 thru 6/1. (irishartscenter.org)
Until Tomorrow Comes (Black Box Theatre, Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre, 111 W. 46th St.) In the early 1980’s, six friends come closer than they ever thought they would. In an Intro to Philosophy class, they begin to learn the meaning of life and what it is to truly live. When something outside of their control begins to unravel inside their favorite club, they realize the bonds they created will be the only thing to save them. 8/9 thru 8/11. (roundabouttheatre.org)
[Untitled Miniature] (HERE Arts Center’s DOT Theater, 145 6th Ave.) Theater in Quarantine presents a new performance installation. Over eight days Joshua William Gelb will be trapped naked in a tiny box for 24 non-consecutive hours and streamed live to the internet. This immersive performance art installation will be presented live in-person and live-streamed on URHERE (http://URHERE.art). 3/18 thru 3/25. (here.org)
Upside Down (AMT Theater, 354 W. 45th St.) In this new musical comedy, Jack and Robert are two mainstream gay songwriters whose dream is to have a Broadway show, and decide to create the world's first-ever straight musical. The show was inspired by a recent Gallup poll citing 92.4 percent of the population considered themselves straight while the balance identified as LGBTQIA+. So, what if those in the minority were, in fact, the majority? Thru 4/5. (amttheater.org)
Vanya (Lucille Lortel Theatre, 121 Christopher St.) Direct from a sold-out run in London, Andrew Scott (Ripley, Fleabag, All of Us Strangers) brings to life multiple characters in Tony Award® winner Simon Stephen’s (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time) radical new version of Anton Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya. Thru 5/11. (vanyaonstage.com)
Wayfaring Strangers (The Pit NYC, 154 W. 29th St.) A wholly improvised bluegrass musical. featuring brand spankin’ new lyrics to old-timey bluegrass standards, played by a rotating cast on traditional instruments like banjo, guitar, bass, fiddle, mandolin, washboard, egg shakers and, uh, kazoo. Assorted Sundays, Thru 6/22. (theater-of-the-apes.com)
we come to collect: flirtation, with capitalism (The Flea, 20 Thomas St.) An emerging vision instigated and performed by Jenn Kidwell, with Brandon Kazen-Maddox, Jordan McCree, and artistic collective the blackening, this world premiere of melds genres from stand-up, to performance art, to carnival, and questions work-life’s inherent imbalance. Eyyyyyy, capitalism is trying to holler at you. Whatever will you say? Find out in over 90-ish minutes of comedic performance stylings that beg your engagement. 8/26 thru 9/28. (thenewflea.org)
We Had A World (NY City Center, 131 W. 55th St.) A dying woman calls her grandson and asks him to write a play about their family, specifying it be “as bitter and vitriolic as possible”. In this searing, funny and deeply personal play, Tony nominated playwright Joshua Harmon recreates 30 years of family fights, monstrous behavior, enormous cruelty, and enduring love. Starring Tony winner Joanna Gleason and Andrew Barth Feldman. Thru 4/27. (manhattantheatreclub.com)
Who is Jimmy Pants? (York Theatre Company, Theatre at St. Jean’s 150 E. 76th St.) This zany, loving satire of bio-jukebox musicals is both a comical nod to the current epidemic of jukebox shows and a homage to the entertainment value and joy that they bring to audiences. Featuring clever choreography and a lively original score spanning the 1960’s through the 2000’s. It’s Spinal Tap meets The Drowsy Chaperone, with a rocking musical score. 3/22 thru 3/30. (yorktheatre.org)
Wine in the Wilderness (Classic Stage Company’s Lynn F. Angelson Theater, 136 E 13th St.) In this rarely-seen play by Alice Childress set against the backdrop of the 1964 Harlem riot on a hot summer night, fortune has smiled on artist Bill Jameson – his friends just introduced him to a model for the final piece of his triptych on Black womanhood. But this woman, Tomorrow Marie, is no mere muse, and she’s about to give Bill much more than he bargained for. Directed by Tony-winner LaChanze. Thru 4/13. (classicstage.org)
The Wizard and I: Liz Callaway Sings Stephen Schwartz (54 Below, 254 W. 54th St.) Featuring songs from an extraordinary career that has spanned nearly 60-years (and in every form of media), as well as a brand-new song, Liz honors Stephen in her signature way, pairing his iconic songs with tales of their lifelong professional relationship and friendship. Featuring Academy Award and Grammy-winning tunes from Wicked, Godspell, Pippin, The Baker’s Wife, and more. 5/14 thru 5/17. (54below.org)
The Wizard of Oz (Vital Theatre Company at Actors Temple Theatre, 339 W. 47th St.) A classic tale that has been entertaining audiences for ages. Rediscover the joy of following the yellow brick road with Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tinman, the Cowardly Lion, and even munchkin puppetry, as they travel through a re-imagined world of Oz. Thru 5/17. (vitaltheatre.org/oz)
Wonderful Town (New York City Center, 131 W. 55th St.) The story of two sisters in 1935 who move from Ohio to Greenwich Village to pursue their artistic dreams and maybe find love along the way. Ruth (Anika Noni Rose), an aspiring writer, and Eileen (Aisha Jackson), an aspiring actress, encounter an assortment of colorful characters as they strive and sing to delightful tunes by the great Leonard Bernstein with lyrics by legendary musical-comedy duo Betty Comden and Adolph Green. 4/30 thru 5/11. (thetownhall.org)
Wounded (SoHo Playhouse, 15 Vandam St.) Carrol could’ve been somebody, after all he had a book made into a movie, but his unhealed past got in the way. Katie had a devoted husband and a bright and beautiful little girl until, in a split second, everything changed. In spite of graduating with honors from Baylor, Robert stumbled down the road to addiction and eventually prison. In Jiggs Burgess’ darkest of comedies, a trio of lost souls cross in a take-no-prisoners battle of psychological warfare. Thru 3/16. (sohoplayhouse.com)
BROADWAY, OFF-BROADWAY, OFF-OFF BROADWAY
In case you’re wondering about theatre classifications, here’s the basic formula:
- Broadway: 500 seats or more
- Off-Broadway: Between 100 & 499 seats
- Off-Off Broadway: Under 100 seats
