May 2018 Highlights on Broadway and Beyond

Check out our guide to the biggest theatrical events of the month.

As we kick off May with the nominations announcement for The 72nd Annual Tony Awards, there is no doubt that we are now fully strapped in and ready for the ride that is Awards Season in New York City. All eligible productions for this year's Tonys have now officially opened on the Great White Way, so why not take a look at all the Broadway shows currently on offer and treat yourselves as we steamroll our way towards Radio City Music Hall, where the 2018 Tony Awards ceremony will be held on Sunday, June 10.

Remember - If you want to catch Second Stage Theater's much-loved Broadway production of Lobby Hero, starring Michael Cera, Chris Evans, Bryan Tyree Henry, and Bel Powley, at The Hayes Theater, then your last chance is May 13, folks!

Away from the bright lights of Broadway, there is no sign of things slowing down off-Broadway with a plethora of new productions beginning previews and officially opening this month. New offerings come to us from such reputable companies as Signature Theatre, Vineyard Theatre, New York Theatre Workshop, Manhattan Theatre Club, Roundabout Theatre Company, Playwrights Horizons, Atlantic Theater Company, among many others, and May also welcomes in the beginning of the much-loved (and free) Shakespeare in the Park season.

Here are some of the dates to look out for this month...

May 1

"Smash" alumni Leslie Odom, Jr. and Katharine McPhee (currently making her Broadway debut in Waitress) announce the nominations for the biggest night in the theatrical calendar - The 72nd Annual Tony Awards - from The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center. Be sure to check out who's been nominated for those prestigious Tonys!

Meanwhile, Off-Broadway welcomes the latest Signature Theatre production as previews begin for Pulitzer Prize-winner Stephen Adly Guirgis' Our Lady of 121st Street, directed by Tony Award winner Phylicia Rashad. An official opening night is set for May 20 at Pershing Square Signature Center.

Our Lady of 121st Street Tickets are available now for performances through to June 10, 2018.

May 3

Summer and Smoke - Classic Stage Company's first-ever production of a Tennesse Williams play - officially opens off-Broadway. The production stars Tony Award nominee Marin Ireland in the lead role of Alma Winemiller and the limited engagement runs through to May 20. On the same evening, the New York premiere of Unexpected Joy - a new musical from the team that brought us Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens - officially opens at York Theatre Company and also runs through to May 20.

Summer and Smoke Tickets are available now for performances through to May 20, 2018.

May 6

Tyler Glenn, lead singer of multi-platinum rock band, Neon Trees, makes his Broadway debut in the Tony Award-winning Best Musical Kinky Boots when he takes on the role of Charlie Price for a limited engagement from May 6 through to July 15, 2018. He assumes the role from current cast member and "American Idol" winner David Cook, also making his Broadway debut, who is set to play his final performance on May 5 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre.

Kinky Boots Tickets are available now for performances through to January 13, 2019.

It's also finally time to celebrate all things Off-Broadway with The 33rd Annual Lucille Lortel Awards, held at NYU Skirball Center and co-hosted by Laura Benanti and Jason Jones. The ceremony will also honor acclaimed playwright, activist and performer Eve Ensler, most recently seen off-Broadway in her self-penned solo show In the Body of the World, with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Check out all the nominations for this year's awards here!

May 7

On May 7 the winners of the 2018 Outer Critics Circle Awards will be announced. The ceremony itself will then be held at 3pm on May 24 at Sardi's, where all the winners will receive their respective trophies. See who's been nominated here!

New York Theatre Workshop's production of Caryl Churchill's Light Shining in Buckinghamshire, directed by Tony Award nominee Rachel Chavkin, also officially opens.

May 8

Broadway favorite Gavin Creel returns to his Tony Award-winning role as Cornelius Hackl at the Shubert Theatre on May 8 in the Tony Award-winning "Best Revival of a Musical" Hello, Dolly! Mr. Creel puts back on his Sunday clothes following a leave of absence to recover from back surgery and we wish him well with the rest of this acclaimed production's Broadway run.

Hello, Dolly! Tickets are available now for performances through to August 25, 2018.

Off-Broadway, the world premiere of Obie Award winner Clare Barron's new comedy Dance Nation officially opens at Playwrights Horizons.

May 9

The final Encores! production of 2018 begins performances at New York City Center on May 9 and runs through to May 13. The popular series concludes with Me and My Girl, starring two-time Tony Award winner Christian Borle as Bill Snibson and Olivier Award winner Laura Michelle Kelly as Sally Smith.

May 14

Our Lady of 121st Street isn't the only Signature Theatre production officially opening this month. Dominique Morisseau's Paradise Blue, directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, opens at the Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre in the Pershing Square Signature Center on May 14.

Paradise Blue Tickets are available now for performances through to June 3, 2018.

May 15

If you want to catch Dear Evan Hansen favorite Mike Faist in his Tony-nominated role of Connor Murphy, then your final chance is May 13, or why not help to welcome Broadway alum Alex Boniello to the Broadway company, as he assumes the role from May 15?

Dear Evan Hansen Tickets are available now for performances through to April 21, 2019.

May 18

The 84th Annual Drama League Awards will be presented on May 18 at the Marriott Marquis Times Square... We already know that Tony Award winner Idina Menzel will receive The Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theater Award and that Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw is set to receive The Founders Award for Excellence in Directing Award, but who will be honored with the coveted Distinguised Performace Award?... Check out all the nominees here.

May 21

Recipient of one of this year's Special Tony Awards, John Leguizamo is also set to show off his hosting talents as he invites us to join him for The 63rd Annual Obie Awards at Terminal 5 to honor the best of Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway.

May 23

One of the most eagerly anticipated off-Broadway productions of the year sees the creators of The Scottsboro Boys - Susan Stroman, David Thompson, and John Kander - reunite for a new musical at the Vineyard Theatre. The Beast in the Jungle officially opens on May 23!

The Beast in the Jungle Tickets are available now for performances through to June 17, 2018.

May 29

One of New York City's most-loved traditions returns on May 29 as performances begin for this first production of the 2018 Shakespeare in the Park season. The Public Theater stages a new revival of Othello under the direction of Ruben Santiago-Hudson, starring Chukwudi Iwuji (as Othello), Corey Stoll (as Iago) and Heather Lind (as Desdemona). Performances run through to June 24 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park and free tickets are distributed at the venue each day on a first-come-first-served basis. 

May 31

The 50th Anniversary Broadway premiere production of Mart Crowley's groundbreaking 1968 play The Boys in the Band officially opens at the Booth Theatre on May 31! Boasting a stellar cast of out and proud actors, including Jim Parsons, Zachary Quinto, Matt Bomer and Andrew Rannells, this may well be the theatrical highlight of the summer!

The Boys in the Band Tickets are available now for performances through to August 11, 2018.

And finally, off-Broadway, Tony Award winner and Broadway favorite Idina Menzel returns to the New York stage to star in the world premiere of Joshua Harmon's Skintight, which begins previews on May 31 at Roundabout Theatre Company's Laura Pels Theatre.

Skintight Tickets are available now from May 31 through to August 26, 2018.

And that's all, folks, for May 2018... We'll be back next month with another round-up, including The 72nd Annual Tony Awards on Sunday, June 10!