Broadway

Welcome to the Russian countryside! Here's your first look at [*Uncle Vanya*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/33211-uncle-vanya) on Broadway, with [Steve Carell](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/steve-carell) making his Broadway debut in the title role. The starry cast, directed by Lila Neugebauer, also includes [Anika Noni Rose](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/anika-noni-rose) (*Caroline, or Change*), [Alfred...

See photos of Steve Carell and the cast of 'Uncle Vanya' on Broadway

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The star of *The Office* makes his Broadway debut in the latest revival of the classic play, which also stars Anika Noni Rose, Alfred Molina, and more.

You're gonna hear her roar! Maya Boyd will be the next Juliet in [*& Juliet*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/25598-and-juliet-tickets) on Broadway, beginning performances on May 14 at the [Stephen Sondheim Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/stephen-sondheim-theatre).

Boyd made her Broadway debut earlier this year in the cast of *Merrily We Roll Along*. In *& Juliet*, she will now replace [Lorna...

Maya Boyd to join '& Juliet' Broadway cast

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After making her Broadway debut earlier this year, the actor will now replace Tony Award nominee Lorna Courtney in the title role of the acclaimed musical.

See two stars, alike in dignity! [Rachel Zegler](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/rachel-zegler) and [Kit Connor](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/kit-connor) will lead a new revival of [*Romeo + Juliet*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/40696-romeo-and-juliet-on-broadway) on Broadway. The Shakespeare production, directed by Sam Gold, will run this fall, with a theatre and dates to be announced.

Zegler is best known for starring as Maria in Steven...

Rachel Zegler, Kit Connor to star in ‘Romeo + Juliet’ on Broadway

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The *West Side Story* and *Heartstopper* stars will play Shakespeare’s tragic young lovers in the production, which features music by Jack Antonoff.

As the star of *The Office*, [Steve Carell](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/steve-carell) may be known for his comedic chops, but the roles he's played since that show’s Emmy Award-winning run have shown he can do so much more. He earned an Oscar nomination for playing a maniacal wrestling coach in *Foxcatcher*, played the father of a drug addict (played by Timothée Chalamet) in *Beautiful Boy*, and now makes his Broadway debut in the title role in Anton Chekhov’s [*Uncle...

All the celebrities who have starred in 'Uncle Vanya,' including Steve Carell

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The award-winning actor, best known for starring in *The Office*, is the latest person to tackle the coveted title role of Chekhov's classic family drama.

Family trees are in bloom on Broadway this spring. Beginning with Joshua Harmon’s *Prayer for the French Republic* at the top of the year, numerous family dramas have proved the staying power of the fertile, timeless genre. Not to mention, these shows' families include the likes of actors Steve Carell, Jessica Lange, and Sarah Paulson.

Playing right now are Paula Vogel’s [*Mother Play*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/31354-mother-play-on-broadway) at the [Hayes...

Learn about all the family dramas on Broadway this season

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Each play in the genre is just as unique as any given family, as evidenced by this spring's star-studded shows *Mother Play*, *Appropriate*, and *Uncle Vanya*.

Great news for Huey Lewis fans: You can hear his music live again. For the first time since Meniere's disease impaired the '80s rock star's ability to hear music, forcing him to stop performing with his band The News, his songs are back on not one stage, but two.

Lewis isn't singing them, but those familiar with the Huey Lewis and The News hits "The Power of Love" and "Back in Time" will thrill to hear them nonetheless. Both those songs appear in this season's Broadway musical adaptation of...

How Huey Lewis shaped 'The Heart of Rock and Roll' on Broadway

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The new musical is set to nearly 30 hits by Huey Lewis and The News, and the band's frontman was a crucial and active collaborator throughout its journey.

And they were roommates! Per an April 11 [report from the New York Post](https://nypost.com/2024/04/11/entertainment/patti-lupone-mia-farrow-to-star-in-broadways-the-roommate/), three-time Tony Award winner [Patti LuPone](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/patti-lupone) and seven-time Golden Globe nominee Mia Farrow will co-star in the new Broadway play *The Roommate* this fall. According to the report, performances will run at the [Booth...

Patti LuPone, Mia Farrow reported to star in 'The Roommate' on Broadway

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According to a report in the New York Post, the actresses will perform in the 2015 play by Jen Silverman for a limited engagement beginning in August.

Photos have been released of [*Patriots*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/38891-patriots) on Broadway, starring *Boardwalk Empire* and *Dopesick*'s [Michael Stuhlbarg](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/michael-stuhlbarg). Russia meets New York at the [Barrymore Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/barrymore-theatre), where this new play by Peter Morgan is in performances through June 23.

The playwright, who created Netflix's Emmy Award-winning show...

See photos of Michael Stuhlbarg and the cast of 'Patriots' on Broadway

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The Emmy and Tony Award-nominated actor stars as the late Russian politician Boris Berezovsky in the newest play from the creator of Netflix's *The Crown*.

Home to historic rock bands like The Velvet Underground and The Ramones, New York City is a rock and roll lover’s paradise. Even though many of the popular venues that used to host rock and punk artists in the ‘60s and ‘70s have since closed, there are still plenty of ways to enjoy the history of rock and roll while visiting New York City. 

Take your own rock-and-roll tour of NYC with these classic rock attractions, with something for every rock fan. Pick up some records; pay homage to late,...

Check out these classic rock musicals and attractions in NYC

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Make a day out of seeing a rock show on Broadway, including *The Who's Tommy*, Huey Lewis's *The Heart of Rock and Roll*, or the '70s rock-inspired *Stereophonic*.

Everybody rejoice! The latest arrival of [*The Wiz*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/27115-the-wiz-tickets) on Broadway at the [Marquis Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/marquis-theatre) carries a stirring reminder that this exuberant musical has eased on down the road for 50 years. 

An all-Black retelling of L. Frank Baum’s *The Wonderful Wizard of Oz*, the show by Charlie Smalls (music and lyrics) and William F. Brown (book) blew onto Broadway in December 1974. As...

How the Broadway musical ‘The Wiz’ evolved in 50 years

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Writer Amber Ruffin, director Schele Williams, and choreographer JaQuel Knight share how they reimagined the story, steps, and stakes of this modern classic.

Liliana Padilla's new play [*How to Defend Yourself*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/26001-how-to-defend-yourself-tickets) has set the full cast for its world-premiere run at [New York Theatre Workshop](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/new-york-theatre-workshop). The show runs from February 22 to April 2, with opening night on March 13.

The complete cast includes Amaya Braganza, Sebastian Delascasas, Jayson Lee, Ariana Mahallati, Teagan Meredith, Gabriela Ortega, Sarah Marie Rodriguez, and Talia Ryder.

The creative team has also been set. *How to Defend Yourself* features scenic design by You-Shin Chen, costume design by Izumi Inaba, lighting design by Stacey Derosier, sound design by Mikhail Fiksel, fight direction by Rocio Mendez, intimacy coordination by Ann James, and vocal coaching by Dawn-Elin Fraser.

*How to Defend Yourself* takes place at a DIY self-defense class on a college campus, where the students discover the overlap between anger and desire, violater and violated. The production is co-directed by Padilla, [*Hadestown*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/14748-hadestown-tickets) Tony Award winner Rachel Chavkin, and Steph Paul.

Check back for information on *How to Defend Yourself* tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

'How to Defend Yourself' sets full Off-Broadway cast

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Off-Broadway

New York Theatre Workshop

How to Defend Yourself - NYC

Genre: Play

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Tony Award winner Rachel Chavkin collaborates with playwright Liliana Padilla and Steph Paul on *How to Defend Yourself* at New York Theatre Workshop. Get *How to Defend Yourself* tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

The *How to Defend Yourself* play takes place at a college self-defense workshop, which seven girls create for themselves after their sorority sister is raped. As they learn not to be "victims" and use their bodies to attack their attackers, their training becomes an outlet for many conflicting feelings: anger, confusion, trauma, desire. *How to Defend Yourself* explores the line between violated and violater and the means we use to get what we want.

Playwright Liliana Padilla makes her Off-Broadway debut with *How to Defend Yourself* in New York. Before its premiere, the play was a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize and made the 2019 Kilroys List; both honors are for outstanding plays by female and non-male writers.

Padilla co-directs *How to Defend Yourself* off Broadway alongside two others: Rachel Chavkin and Steph Paul. Chavkin is best known for her Tony Award-winning direction of the Broadway musical *Hadestown*; she received an additional Tony Award nomination for *Natasha, Pierre, & The Great Comet of 1812*. She leads the TEAM, a Brooklyn-based theatre company whose works have played all over the world.

Paul is a director with a background in movement. She has directed shows including *The Wolves*, which earned her a Helen Hayes Award, and the world premiere of *Where the Mountain Meets the Sea*, which made its New York debut in the 2022-23 theatre season. In 2021, she was a recipient of the Princess Grace Award for emerging artists.

Please note that *How to Defend Yourself* contains discussions of sex and sexual violence. These situations are not portrayed on stage.

Get *How to Defend Yourself* play tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

How to Defend Yourself - NYC - New York Theatre Guide

Get tickets to How to Defend Yourself from the official New York Theatre Guide. See this punchy drama about defense and desire co-directed by Rachel Chavkin.

How to Defend Yourself Tickets | The Official NY Theatre Guide

Brace yourself for Liliana Padilla's punchy new drama. In a self-defense class, college students channel their emotions into fighting and discover the violator and violated within them. Get tickets to this production co-directed by Padilla, Steph Paul, and Tony winner Rachel Chavkin.

__Please note that *How to Defend Yourself* discusses, but does not depict, sexual violence.__

Brace yourself for Liliana Padilla's new play *How to Defend Yourself*, making its world premiere at New York Theatre Workshop. Get *How to Defend Yourself* tickets on TodayTix.

The *How to Defend Yourself* play is set mainly at a self-defense workshop, which a group of college students create after their sorority sister is assaulted. They're determined to learn how to fight back, how to avoid being a victim, how to stand up for themselves. Self-defense becomes an outlet for all types of emotions, but it also forces them to examine the line between violator and violated in each of them.

Padilla is doing double duty, as she also co-directs *How to Defend Yourself* off Broadway. Alongside her are Rachel Chavkin, the Tony Award-winning director of *Hadestown* and *Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812*, and Steph Paul, a veteran director at regional theatres all across the U.S.

Get *How to Defend Yourself* tickets now.

## What to Watch For

- *How to Defend Yourself* in New York marks Padilla's Off-Broadway debut as both a writer and director.
- Chavkin is having a busy season. In addition to co-directing *How to Defend Yourself* off Broadway, she's directing *The Thanksgiving Play* on Broadway. Her *Hadestown* has also been on Broadway since 2019, and she'll stage the new musical *Gatsby* in Massachusetts next year.
- New York Theatre Workshop hosts free self-defense workshops before select performances.
- *How to Defend Yourself* won the Yale Drama Series Prize in 2019.

How to Defend Yourself - NYC - TT

Liliana Padilla's *How to Defend Yourself* has its moments of strength. An early sequence sees five college girls in a nondescript workout room, throwing punches to the beat of Ginuwine's "Pony." The scene is meticulously choreographed, but it doesn't feel like a performance. They're tapping into something bigger.

These girls are here, in a makeshift self-defense workshop, to learn to protect themselves from would-be assaulters — something a now-hospitalized peer couldn't do. Their rhythmic movements give way to more free-flowing jabs as they release aggression and force and pain, some of it previously unknown to them. Maybe they're not even learning to fight back in this moment. Maybe they're just learning to fight.

They each have their reasons to, beyond avoiding their classmate's fate. Outspoken Diana (Gabriela Ortega) simply loves a good confrontation. Timid Nikki (Amaya Braganza) wants to be bolder. Insecure Mojdeh (Ariana Mahallati) wants to join the sorority led by the workshop's creators, Kara (Sarah Marie Rodriguez) and Brandi (Talia Ryder).

The pair know the unseen victim and want to protect themselves, protect everyone, from further harm. (That includes two guys, played by Sebastian Delascasas and Jayson Lee, who are frat brothers with the girl's attackers.) Or maybe they're just trying to absolve their guilt.

Putting all these personalities in an intimate environment where fears and fists are high is a setup ripe for drama. But both Padilla's script and her uneven co-direction with Rachel Chavkin and Steph Paul pull their punches. 

All the predictable twists happen: Nikki finds her strength, two girls get into a fistfight, and the guys are complicit. But almost never does *How to Defend Yourself* dare to plunge into murkier moral territory. The play also never lets any character truly teeter on the edge, for better or worse, of connecting with their inner aggressor. 

The closest it gets to probing any thorny questions is a gripping scene in which Kara and Brandi spar (verbally) over the "correct" way to sexually desire. Brandi teaches the girls to use their voices and dictate what they want; Kara argues her preference for being silently objectified is also valid, because it's what she likes.

But in this moment and others, when we think a character will break or a true shift will occur as revelations come to light, the moment abruptly ends. Like a weak punch, there's plenty of momentum but no follow-through.

This theme extends to the play's end. In her desperation to show the girls — and convince herself — they can protect themselves from anything, Brandi forgets to teach them the most important rule: Run away if you can. Only engage when you have to. Nikki's newfound bravado sends her looking for a fight, and when that goes south, Brandi's mythology of invincibility comes crashing down.

Ultimately, at this moment, so does *How to Defend Yourself*. The girls re-confront the reality that safety isn't guaranteed, but this time they're not emboldened to take control. Instead, they walk away.

So what's the takeaway? That self-defense isn't worthwhile? That we should pity these girls for giving up just as they're finding their strength? That we should feel sorry they sought strength at all because whether they use it or don't, it's never enough?

To be honest, none of these feel quite right. The one certain message is that an unsafe world awaits them all — us all — and always has. Padilla settles on that rather boilerplate point with a montage, in reverse, of the girls growing up and facing handsy boys at every school dance, frat party, and basement couch.

All this is something we women already know. So show us some new moves. Interrogate some new possibilities for how we as women can move, fight, and f--- our way through the world. Even if they're not righteous possibilities, at least they might pack a punch.

[*How to Defend Yourself* is at New York Theatre Workshop through April 2. Get *How to Defend Yourself* tickets on New York Theatre Guide.](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/26001-how-to-defend-yourself-tickets)

*Photo credit: Ariana Mahallati, Sarah Marie Rodriguez, Talia Ryder, Gabriela Ortega, and Amaya Braganza in How to Defend Yourself. (Photo by Joan Marcus)*

'How to Defend Yourself' review — play about self-defense pulls its punches

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Read our review of Liliana Padilla's *How to Defend Yourself* — directed by Padilla, Rachel Chavkin, and Steph Paul — at New York Theatre Workshop until April 2.

Founded in 1979 by Stephen Graham, New York Theatre Workshop is one of the leading producing theatres of new work in the United States. The company’s first production was *A Day in the Life of the Czar*, written by Frank O’Hara and V.R. Lang and directed by Peter Sellars. In 1992, NYTW moved into its current home, a 199-seat capacity theatre in the East Village area of Manhattan.

NYTW's inaugural production at 79 East 4th St. was Leo Bassi’s *C. Colombo Inc.*, which opened in October 1992. The company has produced a number of landmark shows over the years including new works from Caryl Churchill, Athol Fugard, Tony Kushner, Doug Wright, and more.

One of NYTW's most well-known productions is Jonathan Larson’s musical *Rent*, which the compaany developed over two years before a premiere in January 1996. *Rent* transferred to Broadway’s [Nederlander Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/nederlander-theatre) and won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Musical.

In 2005, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development granted NYTW a vacant building at 72 East 4th Street. After extensive renovations, the building officially opened in September 2011 as NYTW’s scenery, costume, and production shop.

## How to get to New York Theatre Workshop off Broadway

New York Theatre Workshop is closest to the 2nd Ave. subway stop on the F line. The closest bus stop is 2 Av./East 3 St. on the M15 line and Bowery/E 3 St. on the M103 line.

[Read a complete guide to New York Theatre Workshop's history, famous and upcoming productions, and nearby attractions and restaurants.](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/new-york-theatre-workshop-guide-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-east-village)

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Succession's Jeremy Strong returns to Broadway for the first time since 2008 in Ibsen's drama about small-town scandal. A doctor publicizes poison in the water and is punished for daring to threaten the town's prosperity. Find out more about tickets to this thrilling revival.

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