Broadway

Meg Donnelly to star in 'Moulin Rouge! The Musical' on Broadway

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The *Zombies* and *American Housewife* star will make her Broadway debut in the 10-time Tony Award-winning musical for a limited engagement starting in November.

See photos of Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter in 'Waiting for Godot' on Broadway

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The *Bill & Ted* film co-stars reunite on stage in Samuel Beckett's classic play, with Reeves making his Broadway debut and Winter returning after decades.

Spotlight on '& Juliet' with Gianna Harris

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As part of a series showcasing long-running Broadway shows, we speak to the title star of the hit pop musical that reimagines a Shakespearean heroine's story.

See new photos of 'Punch' on Broadway

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Now running simultaneously in New York and London's West End, James Graham's hard-hitting drama is inspired by a true story of violence and redemption.

Spotlight on 'Chicago' with Bianca Marroquín

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Chicago

As part of a series showcasing long-running Broadway shows, we speak to a performer who's been involved with the record-breaking musical for more than 20 years.

New casting set for 'Oh, Mary!' on Broadway

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Two returning cast members will play a limited run starting in September, and two new actors will join Jane Krakowski in the show from October.

The stars of 'Art' on Broadway share what they think of the play's infamous painting

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Bobby Cannavale, James Corden, and Neil Patrick Harris star in Yasmina Reza's play as three friends whose debate over the value of an expensive artwork gets heated.

Spotlight on 'Mamma Mia!' with Jim Newman and Carly Sakolove

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As part of a series showcasing long-running Broadway shows, we speak with two stars who have long histories with the hit ABBA musical now back in NYC.

'Wicked: For Good' releases final trailer

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Following the release of Part 1 of the movie musical adaptation in 2024, Part 2 will be released in theatres across the United States on November 21.

Plan a two-show day with these Broadway double features

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Discover our curated pairings of plays and musicals with common themes, genres, and details — particularly those that go together in ways you might not think of.

[Nicholas Braun](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/nicholas-braun) and [Kara Young](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/kara-young) will star in a revival of [*Gruesome Playground Injuries*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/45270-gruesome-playground-injuries) off Broadway this fall, running from November 7 to December 28 at the [Lucille Lortel Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/venues/lucille-lortel-theatre).

Braun is a three-time Emmy Award nominee for playing "Cousin Greg" Hirsch in *Succession*, and he now makes his NYC stage debut in *Gruesome Playground Injuries*.

Young [won her second Tony Award in 2025](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/interviews/kara-young-on-her-record-setting-tony-award-win-for-purpose) for starring in the Tony and Pulitzer-winning play *Purpose* on Broadway, which wrapped its acclaimed run in August; she previously won for *Purlie Victorious* in 2024 and was nominated in 2023 and 2022.

In Pulitzer Prize finalist Rajiv Joseph's (*Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo*) romantic drama, Braun and Young play Doug and Kayleen, who meet in the nurse's office at elementary school. Over the next 30 years, the childhood friends repeatedly cross paths on the most bizarre occasions, connecting over the physical and emotional pain that keeps drawing them together.

Tony Award nominee Neil Pepe directs *Gruesome Playground Injuries*, and the full creative team has yet to be announced.

The production will follow [Dylan Mulvaney](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/dylan-mulvaney)'s [*The Least Problematic Woman in the World*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/44861-the-least-problematic-woman-in-the-world) at the Lortel. Originally scheduled to run through November 30, *Least Problematic Woman* will now play a strictly limited engagement through October 19, as [previously announced](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/dylan-mulvaney-to-premiere-the-least-problematic-woman-in-the-world-off-broadway).

Get [*Gruesome Playground Injuries* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/45270-gruesome-playground-injuries) now.

*Photo credit: Nicholas Braun and Kara Young. (Photos courtesy of production; Young photo by Miranda Barnes)*

Nicholas Braun, Kara Young to star in 'Gruesome Playground Injuries' off Broadway

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Off-Broadway

Spanning three decades, *Gruesome Playground Injuries* charts the magnetic connection between two childhood friends drawn together through pain, accidents, and unseen wounds of the heart. From hospital beds to schoolyards, their lives collide in moments both comic and devastating, revealing an unconventional love story that is as raw as it is unexpectedly hilarious. With biting humor and piercing honesty, Pulitzer Prize finalist Rajiv Joseph’s acclaimed play explores how we search for intimacy within the fractures that shape us.


Gruesome Playground Injuries - NYC [45270]

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Gruesome Playground Injuries

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# Synopsis
Spanning three decades, *Gruesome Playground Injuries* charts the magnetic connection between two childhood friends drawn together through pain, accidents, and unseen wounds of the heart. From hospital beds to schoolyards, their lives collide in moments both comic and devastating, revealing an unconventional love story that is as raw as it is unexpectedly hilarious. With biting humor and piercing honesty, Pulitzer Prize finalist Rajiv Joseph’s acclaimed play explores how we search for intimacy within the fractures that shape us.

# About the cast and creative team
__RAJIV JOSEPH__ *(Playwright)*. Rajiv Joseph’s play Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo was a 2010 Pulitzer Prize finalist for Drama. He has twice won the Obie Award for Best New American Play, first in 2016 with Guards at the Taj (also a 2016 Lortel Winner for Best Play) and in 2018 with Describe the Night.  Other plays include Mr. Wolf, King James, Letters of Suresh, Gruesome Playground Injuries and Animals Out of Paper. He has been an ensemble member of the Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago since 2018, and he served for three years in the Peace Corps in Senegal. 

__NEIL PEPE__ *(Director)* received a Tony Nomination for Best Director for his production of American Buffalo on Broadway and recently directed Hold On To Me Darling at the Lortel. Broadway: Hands on a Hardbody, Speed-the-Plow, A Life in the Theatre. Off-Broadway/Regional: A Play Is A Poem (CTG); Juno and the Paycock (Irish Rep); On the Shore of the Wide World, The Penitent, Marie and Rosetta, Dying for It, 3 Kinds  of  Exile,  Happy  Hour,  Offices,  Almost an  Evening,  Parlour  Song,  The  Night  Heron,  Mojo, Celebration,  The  Room,  Dreams  of Flying  Dreams  of  Falling,  Sea  of  Tranquility,  Blue/Orange,  Wolf Lullaby, Cornelia Street (Atlantic); Hold on to Me Darling (Atlantic); The Subject Was Roses, Keep Your Pantheon,  Romance  (Center  Theatre  Group,  Atlantic);  Red  Angel  (Williamstown);  Further  Than  the 
Furthest  Thing  (MTC);  The  Beginning  of  August  (South Coast Repertory, Atlantic); American Buffalo (Donmar Warehouse, Atlantic); Refuge (Playwrights Horizons); I’m Not Rappaport (Shadowland Stages). Neil has been the artistic director of Atlantic Theater Company since 1992. 

__NICHOLAS  BRAUN__  *(Doug)*  is an actor, writer, producer, and musician, best known for starring in HBO’s critically acclaimed and award-winning drama series “Succession.” Braun himself has earned three Emmy nominations and a Critics Choice nomination for his role as fan-favorite “Cousin Greg.” The show aired  the  fourth  and  final season in Spring 2023, subsequently winning an Emmy Award and Critics Choice Award for ‘Outstanding Drama Series’.  

Braun recently wrapped production on Ruben Ostlünd’s buzzy satire for A24, The Entertainment System is Down opposite Keanu Reeves, Kirsten Dunst and Daniel Brühl. He also stars in the upcoming Amazon MGM  Studios’  Three  Bags  Full:  A  Sheep  Detective  Movie  alongside  Hugh  Jackman  and  Emma Thompson, as well as A24’s upcoming Famous, alongside Zac Efron and Phoebe Dynevor, with Jody Hill directing.  

Earlier this month, Braun appeared in Neon’s Splitsville directed by Michael Covino (The Climb), alongside Dakota Johnson and Adria Arjona. Braun also appeared as both Jim Henson and Andy Kaufman in the Sony  Pictures' film, Saturday Night, directed by Jason Reitman and based on the true story of what happened behind the scenes leading up to the first broadcast of NBC's “Saturday Night Live.” Braun also starred  in  the  controversial  film  Cat  Person  alongside  Emilia  Jones,  which  premiered  at  the  2023 Sundance Film Festival. The psychological thriller is based on a viral short story from the New Yorker and revolves around a relationship between two unlikely individuals. Directed by Susanna Fogel, the film was released on Hulu in February 2024.  

Braun starred opposite Riley Keough and Colman Domingo in the A24 indie film Zola, which premiered to rave reviews at the Sundance Film Festival. At the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, Braun was presented with the IMDb Star Meter Award, an award given to stars who are fan favorites on IMDb's Star Meter Chart.  

Additional previous film credits include A24’s Dream Scenario by Kristoffer Borgli, Warner Bros romantic comedy  How  to  Be  Single  opposite  Dakota  Johnson,  Rebel  Wilson,  Alison  Brie, and  Leslie  Mann, Whitskey  Tango  Foxtrot  opposite  Tina  Fey  and  Margot  Robbie,  MGM's  remake  of  Poltergeist,  Kyle Alvarez’s The Stanford Prison, Lionsgate’s comedy Date and Switch, Fox’s The Watch opposite Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Disney’s Sky High, and a fantastic breakthrough performance in Kevin Smith’s Red State, which premiered at Sundance.  

Outside of acting, Braun landed a record deal with Atlantic Records in which he released his single "Antibodies (Do You Have The)". He also features on two tracks on PHANTOMS' debut EP, “Broken Halo”, providing vocals on the title track and "Voyeur”.

__KARA  YOUNG__  *(Kayleen)*  made  history  as the first Black performer to win two back-to-back Tony Awards and to be nominated four times in a row. Kara was most recently seen starring in Purpose on Broadway, which in addition to a Tony Award, earned her a Drama Desk Award as well as Drama League and Outer Critics Circle nominations. She previously starred on Broadway as ‘Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins’ in Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch, for which she won the 2024 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play. Additionally, her performance in Purlie Victorious earned her an Outer Critics Circle Award, Drama Desk Award and Drama League nomination. 

Young was also seen last season starring in MCC Theater’s Table 17, which earned her a 2025 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play. In 2022, she made her Broadway debut in Lynn Nottage’s Clyde’s, for which she earned a Theatre World Award and her first Tony nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play. In 2023, she was Tony nominated for her work in Cost of Living and won an Obie Award for her performance in the Classical Theatre of Harlem’s production of Twelfth Knight. 

Kara can next be seen co-starring in the feature film Is God Is She can also be seen in Boots Riley’s “I’m a Virgo” for Prime Video, which earned her an Indie Spirit Nomination for Best Breakthrough Performance. She  appeared  in HBO Max’s “The Staircase,” as well as Netflix’s “The Punisher,” and starred in the winning Sundance Short, Hair Wolf. Kara also starred in MCC Theater’s All the Natalie Portmans, for which she received a Lucille Lortel Award Nomination. Her other stage credits include Halfway Bitches Go Straight to Heaven, New Englanders, Revolving Cycles Truly and Steadily Roll’d and Pretty Hunger. 

# About the Lucille Lortel Theatre

Lucille Lortel Theatre’s mission is to foster both new and established artists, increase awareness and appreciation of Off-Broadway, and uphold fair and equitable business and artistic practices in service of creating a larger, more diverse community of theatre makers and audiences. The Company builds on the legacy of its founder, Lucille Lortel (1900–1999), who was a champion of work by artists including Samuel Beckett, Caryl Churchill, Athol Fugard, Jean Genet, Adrienne Kennedy, Larry Kramer, Terrence McNally, Marsha Norman, Sam Shepard, and Wendy Wasserstein, among others. In addition to its Off-Broadway theatre, which has been in continuous operation since 1955, the Company is renovating a three-story carriage house in Chelsea that will act as the Company’s new headquarters and a new studio theatre committed to the development of new works. The Lortel’s programs include The Alcove at the Lortel, a commissioning and development program for early and mid-career playwrights; the 121 Project, a tailored development program for new musicals; NYC Public High School Playwriting Fellowship, Fellowships in NYC Theatre at Bennington College, the New York Emmy-Winning Dangerous Acts: A Series Uplifting Black Writers from Our Past (in partnership with HBCUs), Lucille Lortel Awards and Playwrights’ Sidewalk, and Non-Profit Theatre Strategic and Management Services. [www.lortel.org](https://www.lortel.org).

Gruesome Playground Injuries - NYC - WL

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Nicholas Braun stars as Doug in [*Gruesome Playground Injuries*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/45270-gruesome-playground-injuries) off Broadway at the [Lucille Lortel Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/venues/lucille-lortel-theatre) from November 7 to December 28, 2025.

Braun is best known for his three-time Emmy Award-nominated performance as Greg Hirsch on *Succession*. Since making his screen debut in the movie *Sky High*, he has appeared in numerous films including the Disney Channel Original Movies *Minutemen* and *Princess Protection Program*; *The Perks of Being a Wallflower*; *Zola*; and the *SNL*-inspired film *Saturday Night*, in which he played Jim Henson and Andy Kaufman.

Additional TV credits include the ABC Family (now Freeform) shows *The Secret Life of the American Teenager* and *10 Things I Hate About You*.

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Kara Young stars as Kayleen in [*Gruesome Playground Injuries*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/45270-gruesome-playground-injuries) off Broadway at the [Lucille Lortel Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/venues/lucille-lortel-theatre) from November 7 to December 28, 2025.

Young's Broadway credits include *Clyde's* in 2021, *Cost of Living* in 2022, *Purlie Victorious* in 2023, and *Purpose* in 2025. She earned Tony Award nominations for her performances in all four shows, winning for *Purlie Victorious* and *Purpose*.

Her Off-Broadway credits include Classical Theatre of Harlem's production of Shakespeare's *Twelfth Night*, *Table 17* at [MCC Theater](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/venues/mcc-theater), and *Syncing Ink* at the [Apollo Theater](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/venues/apollo-theater).

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Kara Young (2)

The Lucille Lortel Theatre, located in the heart of New York City's West Village, serves as an outstanding venue for off-Broadway productions. Originally built in 1926 as a film studio, it was transformed into an 18th-century style theatre in 1955 by Lucille Lortel. It seats comfortably 299 people. The theatre has hosted a wide variety of dramatic and musical productions, contributing significantly to New York's rich theatrical history. The mission of the venue today is to innovate, provoke, and reimagine what theatre can be, music to the ears of many theatre aficionados. The Lortel presents new, original productions along with classics of the stage. The excellent acoustics, unique intimacy, and the charm of the neighborhood truly make for a unique experience. The theatre is also home to the annual Lucille Lortel Awards, which recognize excellence in off-Broadway theatre. 

**How to Get There:** The Lucille Lortel Theatre is conveniently located at 121 Christopher Street. It's easily accessible by subway, the nearest stop is Christopher Street on the 1 Line. Also, the A, C, E, B, D, F, and M trains stop at West 4th Street, a short walk away. There are also numerous bus lines. For those driving, there are public parking lots nearby. Please remember to check the MTA for any route changes due to maintenance or construction.

Lucille Lortel Theatre - NY

Lucille Lortel Theatre

Located in the West Village in Manhattan, the Lucille Lortel Theatre was first built 1926 as a 590-seat movie theatre. Converted into an Off-Broadway theatre in the early 1950s, the venue opened with *Maya* in June 1953.

In 1955, Louis Schweitzer acquired the building as an anniversary present for his wife, actress/producer Lucille Lortel. To celebrate her 81st birthday, the theatre was rechristened the Lucille Lortel Theatre in 1981. Since Lortel’s death, the Lucille Lortel Foundation has owned the theatre.

The Off-Broadway theatre company MCC Theater used the Lortel as its home base until it acquired its own venue in Hell's Kitchen.

## How to get to the Lucille Lortel Theatre off Broadway

The Lucille Lortel Theatre is closest to the Christopher Street station on the 1 line. The closest bus stop is Christopher St./Bleecker St. on the M8 line.

Lucille Lortel Theatre - New York Theatre Guide

The Lucille Lortel Theatre, originally a 1926 movie theatre in Manhattan's West Village, was converted to an Off-Broadway theatre in the 1950s.

Lucille Lortel Theatre - TodayTix

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The Lucille Lortel Theatre in New York is a historic off-Broadway venue in the West Village known for unique productions. It can be reached by various subway and bus lines.

The romantic drama play by Pulitzer Prize finalist Rajiv Joseph will play a limited engagement at the Lucille Lortel Theatre beginning in November.

Syncing Ink - NYC [40868]

Syncing Ink

The Apollo Theater, located in the heart of Harlem, New York, is an iconic venue that has highlighted the talent of many legendary artists since its opening in 1914. Originally known as Hurtig & Seamon's New Burlesque Theater, it was later renamed the Apollo in 1934 when the venue decided to eliminate its whites-only policy and embrace African-American performers and patrons. Over the decades, the Apollo Theater has seen performances from artists like Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, and The Jackson 5. Its unique 'Amateur Night' was a launchpad for careers of many world-renowned artists. In 1983, the building was declared as a city landmark; years later, in 2016, it was declared as a state and national landmark.

**How To Get To the Venue**

The Apollo Theater is located at 253 W 125th St, New York, NY 10027. It's easily accessible via public transportation. The 2 and 3 trains stop at 125th street, only a stone's throw from the venue. Additionally, several buses such as M7, M60, M100, M101 and BX15 stop nearby. If you prefer to drive, there are parking garages available within walking distance.

Apollo Theater - NYC

Apollo Theater

The Apollo Theater, a city, state, and national landmark in Harlem, New York, has been a platform for legendary artists since 1914. It's accessible via public transportation and parking garages.

12+ is recommended. Children under 4 years old will not be admitted.

Purlie Victorious on Broadway - NYC [27642]

Purlie Victorious on Broadway

Purlie Victorious on Broadway - NYC Product Media

Flat-out hilarious and stacked with topflight performances led by [Leslie Odom, Jr.](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/leslie-odom-jr-theatre-roles-we-love) and Kara Young, [*Purlie Victorious*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/27642-purlie-victorious-tickets) is also a triumph when it comes to timing. Suffice it to say the play speaks directly to today’s racial tumult.

Considering Ossie Davis’s satirical melodrama premiered on Broadway in 1961, that says something about the stubbornly enduring bigotry and prejudice this broad satire has squarely in its crosshairs. Without saying the actual contemporary phrase, Davis, a writer, actor, director, and civil rights activist, declared to audiences 62 years ago in this work that Black lives matter.

Subtitled *A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch*, the play unfolds in the late 1950s. Self-made traveling minister Purlie Victorious Judson (Odom) returns to segregated small-town Georgia with a plan to buy and rehab the broken-down local church, Big Bethel, and “preach freedom in the cotton patch.” But first, he must trick Ol Cap’n Cotchipee (Jay O. Sanders) – a whip-lashing Jim Crow tyrant who believes in “all that is white and holy” – into handing over $500 that was bequeathed to Purlie’s family. 

Key to Purlie’s plan is his besotted follower from Alabama, Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins (Young). She pretends to be his Cousin Bee, who’s in line for the inheritance. Reluctantly drawn into the ruse is Purlie’s brother, Gitlow (Billy Eugene Jones), whose adherence to the old plantation ways leads Cotchipee to cheer him as a “solid, hard-earned Uncle Tom.” Purlie’s sister-in-law Missy (an ace Heather Alicia Simms), who shares the dream of breathing life back into Big Bethel, lends her own source of support. 

Lutiebelle is game for anything to help, but she’s unprepared to pull off the high-stakes impersonation, so the Bee sting eventually – and riotously – goes pear-shaped at the plantation.

But Purlie persists. He finds an ally in Cotchipee’s liberal-minded son Charlie (Noah Robbins), who supports court decisions to void segregation. After his mother died in childbirth, Charlie was raised by Idella (Vanessa Bell Calloway), and he believes in the rights of African Americans. That comes in handy.

Zipping along in a fleet-footed 100 streaming minutes, the staging by Kenny Leon (*Topdog/Underdog, Ohio State Murders*) boasts terrific work across the board. Before the show begins, a rack of clothes on the otherwise bare stage is visible. In a rush, the actors slip into costumes by Emilio Sosa, as if to announce they’ll be playing parts. 

Derek McLane’s deceptively rustic-looking set nimbly moves the action from the Judson home to Cap’n Cotchipee’s place and back and, finally, undergoes a holy-mackerel, amen-worthy transformation. 

Odom, a Tony winner for [*Hamilton*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/384-hamilton-tickets), is a blast to watch – and hear – as he dives deep to deliver what Davis is preaching. Following back-to-back Tony-nominated performances in the dramas *Cost of Living* and *Clyde’s*, Young shows off delightful comic chops and proves again that she makes every project burn brighter.

In a play filled with barbed grenades, one standout seems so simple, but it’s so complex. “Life is so good to us – sometimes,” says Lutiebelle. “Oh, child,” says Missy, “being colored can be a lotta fun when ain’t nobody looking.” Sixty-two years later, the line still zings and, sadly, stings. 

[*Purlie Victorious* is at the Music Box Theatre through January 7. Get *Purlie Victorious* tickets on New York Theatre Guide.](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/27642-purlie-victorious-tickets)

*Photo credit: Leslie Odom, Jr. and Kara Young in Purlie Victorious. (Photo by Marc J. Franklin)*

'Purlie Victorious' review — hilarious satire still zings after 60 years

Read our five-star review of *Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch*, starring Leslie Odom, Jr., playing at the Music Box Theatre.

The **Music Box Theatre** is a beautifully arranged Broadway venue, poised for epic performances at the heart of New York City. Built in 1921 by playwright, producer, and composer Irving Berlin, the theatre possesses a fascinating history with a capacity of 1,022 seats. Decorated intrically with an azure blue ceiling painted with stars, the theatre's ambiance is known for its grace and elegance. The theatre is home to multiple Tony Award-winning shows. Current and past productions impress with their artistic directions, stunning sets, and outstanding performances. Whether it's an enchanting musical or a dramatic play, each exquisite performance magnetizes audiences from all over the world.

 _**How To Get to The Venue**_

The Music Box Theatre is conveniently located at 239 West 45th Street. By Subway, you can take N, Q, R, or W to 49th Street and walk down, A, C, or E to 42nd Street and walk up, or 1, 2, or 3 to Times Square 42nd Street. Multiple bus routes also stop nearby. If driving, there numerous parking garages in and around Times Square. It's a bustling area, so allow extra time for traffic.

Music Box Theatre - NY

Music Box Theatre

The Music Box Theatre, a historic Broadway venue in NYC, is known for its artistic productions and elegant ambiance.

MTC Friedman

Cost of Living on Broadway - NYC 

Cost of Living on Broadway

Cost of Living on Broadway - NYC  Product Media

Martyna Majok’s [*Cost of Living*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/25892-cost-of-living-tickets) follows shifting relationships between two disabled adults and their caregivers. The play arrives on Broadway four years after being awarded a Pulitzer Prize, an honor that is both a badge (bragging rights to an exclusive club) and baggage (escalated expectations). That’s the cost of winning.

Over 110 unbroken minutes this lean, perceptive, and beautifully acted drama explores several provocative themes including connection and isolation as well as privilege and class. The main focus is people in need — and not just the two individuals who use wheelchairs, but the able-bodied attendants as well. All four face challenges and hurdles of every stripe. That’s the point — that’s the cost of living.

The action unspools over nine scenes, and Wilson Chin’s spare, revolving set provides a smooth and seamless showcase in this Manhattan Theatre Club production. The play starts in a bar a week before Christmas. “That’s gonna be hard,” Eddie (David Zayas), an out-of-work long-haul truck driver, tells an unseen character in a lengthy — a bit too windy, actually — monologue. Holiday cheer isn’t in Eddie’s wheelhouse. He’s alone, suffering, untethered. 

The plot rewinds to September and the sleek New Jersey apartment where John (Gregg Mozgala), a Princeton grad student, lives. He’s got a Harvard degree and wealth. He wraps himself up in the comfort they afford just like he does in his plush cashmere sweaters. John has cerebral palsy and requires help for daily hygiene tasks. 

Jess (Kara Young), meets with John to apply to be his caretaker. She’s working-class with a sick immigrant mother and a Princeton degree that’s led nowhere careerwise for her. She slings drinks in bars. John says her job would be “to wash me. My hair. Teeth… You’d keep me handsome.” She gets the gig. She’s desperate for money for reasons that emerge.

The story transitions to the rundown home of Ani (Katy Sullivan), Eddie’s estranged wife. A catastrophic accident shattered her spinal cord and left her a quadriplegic above-the-knee amputee. She’s bitter, and rightly so, with a salty tongue and no time for self-pity. Despite having a girlfriend, Eddie insists on caring for Ani. He’s motivated by financial and emotional reasons. 

As the months move forward, each pair grows closer. In back-to-back scenes, Jess washes John as he strips, and she helps him into his shower. It’s an intimate arrangement, but it plays out with a sense of equal mutual respect — or so it seems. At Ani’s place, Eddie bathes his ex. He talks about playing the piano as a kid. “Twenty-almost-one years,” she says. “You never told me that.” In a moment of acute tenderness that reveals Majok’s sensitive and creative mind, Eddie plays Ani’s arm like a keyboard. Moments later, things take a harrowing turn that jolts them — and the audience — back to reality.

It’s easy to root for these couples — not necessarily in a romantic sense but simply in terms of human connection. Guided by director Jo Bonney, the actors don’t strike a false note — even when the script gets spotty. Although the fate of Eddie and Ani’s relationship is all too believable, that’s less the case for John and Jess. While John’s lack of generosity is obvious, Jess getting sucker-punched by misreading her boss undercuts her character’s keen intelligence. 

How the couples’ story strands finally twine together requires a leap of faith. In the end, convenient plot turns can’t undo the play’s bracing originality. Majok wisely doesn’t sugarcoat realities in sentimentality, but she also leaves the door ajar for an optimistic glimmer. That feels right. After all, what’s the cost of hope?

[*Cost of Living* is at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre until October 30. Get *Cost of Living* tickets at New York Theatre Guide.](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/25892-cost-of-living-tickets)

*Photo credit: David Zayas and Katy Sullivan in Cost of Living. (Photo by Jeremy Daniel)*

'Cost of Living' review — a beautifully acted drama about connection and class

The Samuel J. Friedman Theatre is a historic Broadway theatre located in New York City. Established in 1925, the theatre is managed by Manhattan Theatre Club (MTC), a leading professional theatre producer. Originally named the Biltmore Theatre, it was renamed Samuel J. Friedman in 2008 to honor the late American publicist. The theatre seats over 650 people and is renowned for its excellent acoustics and state-of-the-art light and sound systems. It has also been the host to several notable productions and has welcomed some of the finest actors and actresses in the industry.

**How to Get There**

In the heart of the city, the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre is easily accessible through multiple modes of transportation. If commuting by subway, take the 1, 2, 3, 7, S, A, C, E, N, R, Q, W, Fourth Street lines to 42nd Street. From the station, it's just a short walk to the theatre. For those driving, numerous parking garages are available nearby. The theatre is also well-served by numerous bus lines. However, due to the busy nature of the city, public transport is a recommended choice.

Samuel J. Friedman Theatre - Manhattan Theatre Club - NY

Samuel J. Friedman Theatre

The Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, a historic Broadway theatre managed by Manhattan Theatre Club, accommodates over 650, with excellent acoustics and light systems.

Broadway COVID Protocol

Clyde's on Broadway - NYC

Clyde's on Broadway

Clyde's on Broadway - NYC Product Media

Food for thought is on the menu, along with lots of laughs and a few tears in Lynn Nottage's <a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/clydes" target="_blank">Clyde's</a>, a richly entertaining and timely play set in a truck stop sandwich shop along a nowhere stretch of Berks County, Pennsylvania. It's roughly the same GPS of the author's Sweat, which focused on grim aftershocks of a factory lockout and won a Pulitzer Prize in 2017. Eight years earlier, she won the same award for Ruined, about women in the Congo scarred by war.Clyde's, commissioned by the Guthrie Theater where it premiered in 2019, is a lighter slice of life than those weightier works, but it still has the power to stay with you. The program&nbsp;for the <a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/hayes-theater" target="_blank">Second Stage Theater</a> production describes the roadside restaurant as a liminal space — in other words, an in-between locale. It's a fitting place for folks to seek second chances. It also provides wiggle room, perhaps, to merge reality with metaphor.&nbsp;It's where four ex-cons struggle to put their criminal pasts behind them as they work together as line cooks in the sandwich dive. One wrong move can land them back in the joint. World-battered single mom Letitia (Kara Young) did time because she robbed a pharmacy to help her special-needs daughter. Sweet-natured Rafael (Reza Salazar) held up a bank armed with a BB gun. Jason (Edmund Donovan, deeply affecting), a loner with a face covered in racist tattoos inked in prison, unleashed his violence and fury&nbsp;on a man with a baseball bat. His story summons a pivotal moment from Sweat.&nbsp;Montrellous (a quietly magnetic <a href="/actor-profile/ron-cephas-jones">Ron Cephas Jones</a>), who&nbsp;reveals he went to prison as an act of brotherly love, is the foursome's senior member. He's a kitchen philosopher who urges co-workers to step outside limitations and to devise the perfect sandwich. You can't turn back time. You can't undo a crime. You can aspire and escape drudgery through creativity. As characters share visions of dream eats —&nbsp;a tuna melt with chopped lemongrass on toasted black rye; a Cubano sandwich with jalapeno aioli and sweet onions; a grilled halloumi masterpiece —&nbsp;your mouth may water.&nbsp;Clyde (<a href="/actor-profile/uzo-aduba">Uzo Aduba</a>), the abusive and exploitative boss at the namesake joint, typically turns up her nose. "You're all losers, felons," she says. "Don't disappoint me by having aspirations... I'll make sure you go back to whatever hell you came from." One could argue that the script lays things on too thick at times — and this is one of them. On the other hand, Clyde may be intentionally drawn to be larger and more satanic than life and be a stand-in for society as a whole.&nbsp;Directed by Kate Whoriskey, the author's go-to collaborator, the production cooks on all burners. Orange Is the New Black Emmy winner Aduba slyly brings out Clyde's devilish streak. Young is thrilling as the take-no-b.s. Tish. The physical production is also deft thanks to Jennifer Moeller's character-defining costumes, Takeshi Kata's realistic working kitchen, and Christopher Akerlind's moody, shifting lighting.&nbsp;A final rebellious communal act of creativity turns out to be liberating for the kitchen crew. You can take the ending literally or poetically —&nbsp;either way it works, and it satisfies. Chalk that up to Nottage's theatrical 'wichcraft.&nbsp;<div><a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/clydes" target="_blank">Clyde's is at the Hayes Theater to January 16. Get Clyde's tickets on New York Theatre Guide.</a></div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Photo credit: Clyde's (Photo by Joan Marcus)</div>

'Clyde's' review — Uzo Aduba is devilishly good in Lynn Nottage's dark comedy

The Hayes Theater, established in 1912 and located in the heart of New York City, is a notable venue for Broadway productions. Known formerly as the Little Theatre, the Helen Hayes Theatre was renamed in 1983 in honor of the acclaimed actress. Since its renovation in 2017, the Hayes has become one of the most technologically advanced, intimate Broadway houses. Its seating capacity of 597 hasn't affected the quality and charm of performances held there. Known for presenting some of the most innovative works of contemporary playwrights, it continues to attract theatre buffs from around the world. 

 ## How to Get There 

The Hayes Theater is situated at 240 West 44th Street, between 7th and 8th avenue. For those taking the subway, the Times Square-42nd Street station served by N, Q, R, S, W, 1, 2, 3, and 7 trains is the closest stop. If you prefer a taxi or a ride-sharing service, simply set your destination to the theater's address. There are also numerous parking facilities within a few blocks where you can leave your car if you're driving.

Hayes Theater - Second Stage Theater - NY

Hayes Theater

Hayes Theater, an intimate Broadway venue in NYC, presents innovative contemporary plays. It's accessible via subway, taxi, and has nearby parking facilities.

Table 17 - NYC [41015]

Table 17

Table 17 - NYC [41015] 

The Robert W. Wilson MCC Theater Space is an iconic fine arts venue located at 511 W 52nd St, New York. Famed for its commitment to thought-provoking, innovative, and deeply collaborative new work, it is the perfect venue for theater-goers who are consistently keen on exposure to an array of genres and styles. The space features two stages: the 100-seat Newman Mills Theater and the 243-seat Susan & Ronald Frankel Theater, providing opportunities for intimate performances as well as larger-scale productions.

**How to Get to The Venue**

To reach the Robert W. Wilson MCC Theater Space, it's just a short walk west from the 50th Street Subway Station, which is served by the C and E lines. Alternatively, it's a few minutes north from the 49th Street Station, served by the N, R, and W lines. Those preferring to drive will find a handful of paid parking garages in the area, such as the MPG Parking and Imperial Parking Systems. Do check parking rates ahead of your visit.

The Newman Mills Theatre at the Robert W. Wilson MCC Theatre Space - NYC

The Newman Mills Theatre at the Robert W. Wilson MCC Theatre Space

The Robert W. Wilson MCC Theater Space is a premier New York venue famed for innovative performances, accessible by subway or car.

Purpose on Broadway - NYC [38461]

Purpose on Broadway

Purpose on Broadway - NYC [38461] - Product Media

The Whoopi Monologues  - NYC [44499]

The Whoopi Monologues 

The **Lincoln Center Theater - Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater** in New York is a renowned and prestigious venue nestled in the heart of the city. With a reputation for offering a diverse and dynamic range of productions, this theater captures the vibrant spirit of the performing arts community in the Big Apple. The intimate space features a thrust stage and seating that wraps around three sides, creating an immersive experience for viewers. The theater is dedicated to the memory of Mitzi E. Newhouse, a prominent figure in the theater world, and is run by the Lincoln Center Theater, a leading not-for-profit theater producer. Providing high-quality productions since its opening in 1967, the theater continues to attract audiences from across the globe.

**How to get to the venue:** The Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater is located at 150 West 65th Street on the Lincoln Center Campus. Subway is the most convenient form of transportation, the venue being a short walk from the 66th Street – Lincoln Center subway station, serviced by the 1 train. Alternatively, Buses M5, M7, M11, M66, and M104 also stop near the venue. Nearby parking GARAGES offer options for those who prefer to drive.

Lincoln Center Theater - Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater - NYC

Lincoln Center Theater - Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater

The Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater is an intimate, globally-renowned theater venue in New York's Lincoln Center, offering quality productions.

Nicholas Braun, Kara Young to star in 'Gruesome Playground Injuries' off Broadway

Summary

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