Off-Broadway

They're going somewhere that's green! The Off-Broadway production of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/little-shop-of-horrors" target="_blank">Little Shop of Horrors</a>&nbsp;has announced three new cast members joining the show this month. The show has played the <a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/westside-theatre" target="_blank">Westside Theatre</a> since 2019 and celebrates its third anniversary September 17.Beginning September 27, two-time Tony Award nominee Brad Oscar will take over the role of Mr. Mushnik from Stuart Zagnit, and Tony nominee Bryce Pinkham will play a six-week run as Orin Scrivello, D.D.S., temporarily replacing Andrew Call through November 8.Oscar was last seen on Broadway earlier this year in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/mrs-doubtfire" target="_blank">Mrs. Doubtfire</a>&nbsp;and is known for his Tony-nominated roles in&nbsp;Something Rotten!&nbsp;and&nbsp;The Producers.&nbsp;Pinkham is best known for his Tony-nominated leading turn in&nbsp;A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder.Additionally, on September 20,&nbsp;Tiffany Renee Thompson will join&nbsp;Little Shop of Horrors&nbsp;as Crystal, replacing&nbsp;Cristina Raé.Little Shop of Horrors&nbsp;follows a nerdy flower shop worker named Seymour, who comes across a peculiar talking plant. The plant promises him fame and the love of his beautiful coworker, Audrey, as long as Seymour agrees to provide flesh for the plant's bloodthirsty appetite.The current cast is led by Tony nominee <a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/actor-profile/rob-mcclure" target="_blank">Rob McClure</a> as Seymour and Tony winner Lena Hall as Audrey.<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/little-shop-of-horrors" target="_blank">Get&nbsp;Little Shop of Horrors&nbsp;tickets now.</a>

Tony nominees Brad Oscar, Bryce Pinkham join 'Little Shop of Horrors'

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Little Shop of Horrors - NYC [24608]

Little Shop of Horrors

They're going somewhere that's green! The Off-Broadway production of Little Shop of Horrors has announced three new cast members joining the show this month. The show has played the Westside Theatre since 2019 and celebrates its third anniversary...

Tony nominees Brad Oscar, Bryce Pinkham join 'Little Shop of Horrors' | New York Theatre Guide

Tiffany Renee Thompson also joins the Off-Broadway production.

Older audiences may know Ralph Fiennes from his Oscar-nominated turns in&nbsp;Schindler's List&nbsp;and The English Patient.&nbsp;Younger audiences know him best as Lord Voldemort in the&nbsp;Harry Potter&nbsp;franchise. Devoted film buffs of any age would also recognize him from&nbsp;Quiz Show, The Grand Budapest Hotel,&nbsp;Bernard and Doris,&nbsp;and more. Regardless of where you know him from, you know Ralph Fiennes.But did you know that Fiennes is, first and foremost, a Shakespearean stage actor? He has nearly 40 stage credits, mostly in U.K. productions of the Bard's plays, and that's how he got his start long before the Oscar, Golden Globe, and Tony nominations came along. He appears much less often on the New York stage, but now, Fiennes is making his Off-Broadway debut in&nbsp;Straight Line Crazy, David Hare's new drama about the life and legacy of New York City planner Robert Moses.On stage and screen, Fiennes is no stranger to playing famous figures, from Jesus Christ to various English kings to Charles Dickens to himself. Before you see him take on the notorious Moses, learn more about some highlights from his storied stage career, in New York and beyond, especially if you're only familiar with his screen career. Then, get your tickets to see Fiennes in person at <a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/the-shed" target="_blank">The Shed</a> this fall.<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/straight-line-crazy" target="_blank">Get&nbsp;Straight Line Crazy&nbsp;tickets now.</a><h2>Twelfth Night</h2>Fiennes's professional stage debut was in 1985, when he played the small role of Curio in the Shakespeare comedy&nbsp;Twelfth Night&nbsp;at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre in London. Fiennes only had four lines, but his performance was the start of a long and successful career as a Shakespeare actor. The next year, he returned to Regent's Park for two more Shakespeare comedies, this time in leading roles:&nbsp;A Midsummer Night's Dream&nbsp;as Lysander and&nbsp;Romeo and Juliet&nbsp;as Romeo.<h2>Much Ado About Nothing</h2>In 1988, three short years after his debut, Fiennes performed Shakespeare in the Bard's own hometown, Stratford-upon-Avon, for the first time. He played Claudio in the Royal Shakespeare Company's&nbsp;Much Ado About Nothing&nbsp;production, at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre there. He returned to that theatre another six times between then and 2003, most recently in a show by another classic playwright: Henrik Ibsen's&nbsp;Brand&nbsp;in the title role.<h2>Hamlet</h2>By 1995, Fiennes was an established London stage actor, and he had just gotten an Oscar nomination for&nbsp;Schindler's List, earning him newfound attention as a screen actor, too.&nbsp;So it was only a matter of time before Fiennes made his New York stage debut. Naturally, he did so with a Shakespeare play, starring in the title role of&nbsp;Hamlet. He first played the role at London's Hackney Empire and transferred with the production to Broadway's Belasco Theatre, winning a 1995 Tony Award for his performance.<h2>Coriolanus</h2>Fiennes has a history with&nbsp;Coriolanus&nbsp;that marries his stage and screen talents and cemented him as a true multihyphenate. He first played the war-hungry title character in Shakespeare's play at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in 2000. Later, in 2011, he produced, directed, and starred again as Coriolanus in a film adaptation of the play. The film got positive reviews, and Fiennes assembled a who's-who of film stars as his supporting cast: Vanessa Redgrave, Gerard Butler, Jessica Chastain, Brian Cox, and more.<h2>The Play What I Wrote</h2>Fiennes made a one-night-only appearance in this comedy play celebrating legendary English comedy duo Morecambe and Wise. A-play-within-the-play features a mystery celebrity guest as themselves each night, and Fiennes got the coveted opening night slot. Other celebrities who appeared in the show's London and Broadway runs include Ewan McGregor, Jeff Goldblum, and Fiennes's&nbsp;Harry Potter&nbsp;co-star <a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/actor-profile/daniel-radcliffe" target="_blank">Daniel Radcliffe</a>. Kenneth Branagh, who also appeared in&nbsp;Harry Potter&nbsp;as Gilderoy Lockhart, directed&nbsp;The Play What I Wrote.<h2>The Harry Potter films</h2>Speaking of the&nbsp;Harry Potter films, Fiennes's turn as the evil, death-obsessed Lord Voldemort in that series is one of his most well-known roles — it can be easy to forget Fiennes does, in fact, have a nose. Voldemort wasn't a theatre role, per se, but now that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child" target="_blank">Harry Potter and the Cursed Child</a>&nbsp;is on Broadway and Lord Voldemort is a character, it's impossible not to think of Fiennes's iconic performance as He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named on screen.<h2>Faith Healer</h2>Following&nbsp;Hamlet,&nbsp;Fiennes's only other Broadway credit to date was in&nbsp;Faith Healer&nbsp;in 2006. He played Francis Hardy, or Frank, who wonders whether his gift to heal people via divine intervention is real or not. Fiennes first played the role in Dublin, and the Broadway transfer of&nbsp;Faith Healer&nbsp;got four total Tony nominations, including Best Revival of a Play and a performance nod for Fiennes. A New York Times review of his performance reads, "Ralph Fiennes paints a portrait of the artist as dreamer and destroyer that feels both as old as folklore and so fresh that it might be painted in wet blood."<h2>God of Carnage</h2>Before Yasmina Reza's&nbsp;God of Carnage&nbsp;won the Best Play Tony Award, the show had its world premiere in London's West End and won the Olivier Award for Best Comedy. Fiennes was in that production, starring alongside&nbsp;Janet McTeer, Tamsin Greig, and Ken Stott in the dark comedy about two sets of parents who meet to discuss how one of their children harmed the other, and the night devolves into chaos. On opening night of the show, there was a power failure, so Fiennes and his co-stars had to perform in emergency lighting!<h2>Beat the Devil</h2>Before&nbsp;Straight Line Crazy, there was&nbsp;Beat the Devil.&nbsp;This play was Fiennes's first collaboration with playwright David Hare and director Nicholas Hynter; Fiennes played Hare himself in this one-man show about his harrowing experience contracting Covid-19 and dealing with the political response to it. Beat the Devil played the Bridge Theatre in London in August 2020 and was the first live, indoor show to play in the city since theatres shut down earlier that year.<h2>Straight Line Crazy</h2>In 2022, Fiennes, Hare, and Hynter teamed up once again with&nbsp;Straight Line Crazy. Like in&nbsp;Beat the Devil, Fiennes plays a real person, albeit a historical one: Robert Moses, the New York City planner who shaped how the city looks today. Not all his plans got approved — such as his proposed road straight through Washington Square Park — but if you've driven on an interborough bridge or attended a performance in Lincoln Center, you likely have Moses to thank. Fiennes plays Moses as he struggles to accept that even his most idealistic plans for a "perfect" city have downsides, which now give Moses a contentious legacy.The production premiered in London earlier in 2022, and the New York premiere marks Fiennes's Off-Broadway debut. But this&nbsp;Straight Line Crazy&nbsp;is also a homecoming. What better place to see a show about the creation of New York than right here in New York?<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/straight-line-crazy" target="_blank">Get&nbsp;Straight Line Crazy&nbsp;tickets now.</a>

Ralph Fiennes theatre roles we love

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Straight Line Crazy - NYC

Straight Line Crazy

Older audiences may know Ralph Fiennes from his Oscar-nominated turns in Schindler's List and The English Patient. Younger audiences know him best as Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter franchise. Devoted film buffs of any age would also recognize him...

Ralph Fiennes theatre roles we love | New York Theatre Guide

Before Fiennes became an Oscar-nominated movie star, he built his career as a Shakespearean stage actor.

Callum Francis has starred as the drag queen Lola in the Tony Award-winning musical <a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/kinky-boots" target="_blank">Kinky Boots</a> on three different continents: first in Europe, in London's West End; then in Australia; and then in North America, on Broadway. After playing her for four years, when the show closed on Broadway in 2019, Francis thought he had put away Lola's six-inch, red platform heels for good. "​​I felt like I'd achieved everything I could from her," Francis said.&nbsp;Fast-forward to 2022, when Kinky Boots announced an Off-Broadway revival at <a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/stage-42" target="_blank">Stage 42</a>. The musical's Tony-winning director, Jerry Mitchell, called Francis and asked him if he wanted to play Lola again. A pandemic had happened, and Francis had had a negative work experience in Australia that left him feeling demoralized. "I was in a very, very dark place," said Francis. "And I was like, 'Oh my god, I think I need it.' I just needed Lola to teach me about myself again."&nbsp;Kinky Boots —&nbsp;written by Harvey Fierstein with original, Tony- and Grammy-winning songs by Cyndi Lauper — is about a young man named Charlie, the heir to his father's shoe factory in England. The company is failing because there is no longer a demand for men's loafers, but it gets a second chance when Charlie meets Lola. With her help, Charlie pivots from making drab loafers to fabulous yet sturdy heels for men who perform as drag queens. Lola teaches him not only about feminine footwear, but also about tolerance, kindness, and the importance of being unapologetically yourself.But Lola doesn't just change the characters in the show: She also changed the actor playing her. "Lola taught me about Callum way more than any therapist or anything has ever done," Francis enthusiastically said.&nbsp;The musical itself has changed, too. For one thing, the cast is mostly new. Fierstein and Mitchell also tweaked the script and the staging, respectively, as they reenvisioned Kinky Boots for a new venue and a new moment in time. "This team, they've been doing it for 10-plus years, and it's as if they've done it for the first time," said Francis. "They're so hands-on because they care about it so much."&nbsp;Francis shared how the musical has been updated to ensure that, like a well-made pair of shoes, Kinky Boots fits perfectly in 2022.<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/kinky-boots" target="_blank">Get&nbsp;Kinky Boots&nbsp;tickets now.</a><h2>The Kinky Boots&nbsp;script got a refresh.</h2>Kinky Bootsis based on a 2005 British indie film of the same name, and the musical version first premiered in 2013. The show&nbsp;ran on Broadway until 2019, winning six Tonys including Best Musical. When the creative team decided to bring the musical back, they wanted it to feel as fresh and fun as it did when it first premiered. In the years since Kinky Boots opened, drag queens have become mainstream entertainers thanks to TV shows like&nbsp;RuPaul's Drag Race, and perceptions of gender have evolved significantly. Francis admitted that with those cultural changes, "Kinky Boots didn't age well with it."So Fierstein made some revisions to the script. For example, in the original version of Kinky Boots, Lola explains to the factory workers what a drag queen is. Fierstein cut that exchange, as well as any mentions of "transvestites," a term now considered derogatory.&nbsp;Another crucial change is when Lola first steps onto the stage and addresses the audience with: "Ladies and gentlemen, and those who have yet to make up their minds." In 2022, that line acknowledges that gender is not a binary. Lola now says: "Ladies, gentlemen, they, them, and those who have yet to make up their minds."&nbsp;Francis admits the previous version was "a little bit of a joke." But now, what was once a laugh line is much more poignant. "It's saying, take your time, this is a safe space. Just know that you're welcome," said Francis. "I like that part because now, people cheer and whoop from that line."<h2>The venue is smaller.</h2>Stage 42 is significantly smaller than Broadway's <a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/al-hirschfeld-theatre" target="_blank">Al Hirschfeld Theatre</a>; it has 499 seats, as opposed to the Hirschfeld's 1,424. That also means the stage itself is smaller, so the set pieces had to be scaled down slightly. Some showstopping pieces are still intact, though: In&nbsp;Kinky Boots's Act 1 closer, "Everybody Say Yeah," the characters still dance on a moving factory assembly line.&nbsp;But the response from the audience is, if anything, even bigger than before. Francis said he prefers performing in a more intimate theatre because he can actually hear the audience, especially in the quiet moments of the show. "We can hear all those reactions, which we never normally could do with the big house," he says.Likewise, audience members can hear and see small things they might not catch in a Broadway venue, like all the intricate details of the glitzy boots.<h2>The musical's message is even more relevant now.</h2>Kinky Boots&nbsp;returned to NYC earlier this summer, and meanwhile, drag queens and members of the LGBTQ+ community are being terrorized. Protestors have shown up at, and even stormed, drag events all around the country. While Kinky Boots has always championed inclusivity and diversity, Francis said that message is more essential than ever now.&nbsp;"Kinky Boots finds itself in cities, in countries, wherever, when it needs it most," said Francis, before exclaiming. "My goodness, America — truly, I'm saying this as a Brit and I don't mean to offend — but it needs it. It truly needs reminding that being different is wonderful."<h2>The show features a mostly new cast.</h2>Only a few actors previously played their roles in&nbsp;Kinky Boots&nbsp;on Broadway. Aside from&nbsp;Francis, there's Marcus Neville, who originated the role of factory worker George Moon. Kevin Smith Kirkwood and Ian Gallagher Fitzgerald also played their roles as Angels, Lola's drag-queen backup dancers, on Broadway before.A couple other cast members performed in non-New York iterations of&nbsp;Kinky Boots, including on tour and abroad. However, the majority of the cast is stepping into the boots for the first time in New York and altogether.<h2>As the star of Kinky Boots, Francis himself has changed.</h2>Lauper once gave Francis an important piece of advice for playing Lola. "Trust the rhythm," Francis recalled her saying. "The snare drum is your best friend. If you try to think beyond the snare drum, you're wrong. Trust that, it's the rhythm of the show." It's a way of listening to the music to make sure you're right on top of it, but to Francis, it's also a way of learning to let go and give himself over to the show.Francis admitted that when he first played Lola in his mid-20s, he was self-conscious and eager to prove himself. Now that he's in his early 30s, Francis is learning to internalize some of Lola's joy and effervescence — even if his body now aches more after every performance than it used to.&nbsp;"Performers are egotistical. We are riddled with anxiety," he said. "It's so much fun to just lose myself in the fun of Lola in the show. I don't want to say it's easier this time, because it's absolutely not. But it's easy to lose myself in it."Lauper told Francis his Lola now feels more mature. If Francis can pinpoint the most important thing Lola has taught him, it's how to be unapologetically himself. Every time he puts her shoes on, it's a reminder of that: "It's the line in the show that says, 'Just be.' It's as simple as that. I carry myself with that."&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/kinky-boots" target="_blank">Get&nbsp;Kinky Boots&nbsp;tickets now.</a>

How 'Kinky Boots' changed from Broadway to Off-Broadway

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Children under the age of 4 are not permitted in the theater.

Kinky Boots - NYC [25581] 

Kinky Boots

Callum Francis has starred as the drag queen Lola in the Tony Award-winning musical Kinky Boots on three different continents: first in Europe, in London's West End; then in Australia; and then in North America, on Broadway. After playing her for four...

How 'Kinky Boots' changed from Broadway to Off-Broadway | New York Theatre Guide

Callum Francis, who has performed in Kinky Boots around the world, shares what to expect from the show's latest New York production.

Everybody say yeah, because the boots are back! After a celebrated six-year Broadway run, the Tony-winning Best Musical&nbsp;Kinky Boots&nbsp;is strutting its heels off Broadway at <a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/stage-42" target="_blank">Stage 42</a>. With its creative dream team intact — four-time Tony-winning bookwriter Harvey Fierstein, multi-award-winning composer/lyricist Cyndi Lauper, and feel-good musical king Jerry Mitchell as director/choreographer —&nbsp;Kinky Boots&nbsp;hasn't lost any of its glittery grandeur in the move to a more intimate venue.&nbsp;And in the three-plus years since&nbsp;Kinky Boots&nbsp;closed on Broadway, the show has become timelier than ever. The musical centers on Charlie, the heir to the failing Price &amp; Son shoe factory, whose saving grace comes from a drag queen named Lola. She and her backup dancers, the Angels, need stiletto boots that can support their weight, and&nbsp;Charlie is the man for the job. Charlie and Lola's partnership teaches the factory workers — and themselves — the importance of respecting others and living as one's true self, even if it goes against others' expectations.That message is a call to action amid anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and public sentiment, but every person can relate to wanting to be themselves. The universality of&nbsp;Kinky Boots's message makes it a perfect a show not only for dedicated musical fans, but also for theatre newcomers and children."Kinky Boots is not only a great night out and a fun night out, but it's also really heartfelt and sincere," said Broadway&nbsp;star&nbsp;Robin De Jesús, of&nbsp;tick, tick... BOOM! film and&nbsp;The Boys in the Band, at the show's opening.&nbsp;"It's a show that, oftentimes, makes people think it's about a very specific community, and then you go see it when you're not from that 'specific community' and you realize there's a universality to it. We all have something to take from it."Learn more about what the&nbsp;Kinky Boots&nbsp;cast, creative team, and more celebrity fans had to say about how everyone will enjoy&nbsp;Kinky Boots. No matter your background, the warm and exuberant&nbsp;Kinky Boots&nbsp;is the perfect fit for you, like a custom-made shoe.<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/kinky-boots" target="_blank">Get&nbsp;Kinky Boots&nbsp;tickets now.</a><h2>Kinky Boots&nbsp;is about fathers and sons.</h2>Charlie and Lola become business partners thanks to their shared interest in shoes, but they become genuine friends over their relationships with their fathers. Neither is what their father wants them to be: Charlie at first, insists he doesn't want to own his family's shoe factory, and Lola, whose given name is Simon, wants to prove to her father that doing drag doesn't make her any less of a "proper" man.Charlie and Lola sing a duet, "Not My Father's Son," about accepting that they're not like their fathers, while hoping their true selves will still make their dads proud. Charlie gets a similar solo later on, "Soul of a Man," and any parents and children watching Kinky Boots&nbsp;can bond over these moments."Not only does ["Not My Father's Son"] mean something to me because I'm a father and a son, but over the years, I have gotten to watch audience members — grown men with their sons, or the guy who looks like he didn't want to come here," said producer Hal Luftig. "I watch him during that show, and it hits him. It's when I know we got him... I tear up every time I watch that happen."Stark Sands, who has become a father himself since originating the role of Charlie on Broadway, can attest to that. "When I sang the song 'Soul of a Man,' it brought me to an emotional place on stage regularly," he said. "When I hear that song on the cast album... I still feel the same tears approaching."On the flip side, those without strong bonds with their fathers will still see themselves in Charlie and Lola's journey. De&nbsp;Jesús said about a friend of his: "He's such a dude, such a bro, and this is his favorite show," he said. "I was really curious [about] why. He said: Daddy issues.'"<h2>Children can come to see&nbsp;Kinky Boots.</h2>There is a song about how "The Sex is in the Heel" of the title boots, but otherwise, there is no adult content that's inappropriate for children.&nbsp;It's never too early to teach kids about accepting others for who they are, and&nbsp;Kinky Boots&nbsp;offers that lesson in a sparkly, intro-level, family-friendly package."With all the bills and all the laws that are coming out right now about taking away rights from LGBTQ+ people, it's important to shed light on what queerness is, how queerness is so fulfilling for so many people, and it's different for so many people," said Nick Drake, who plays one of Lola's Angels.&nbsp;"It tells children, teens, adults, old people, and everyone in between how special it is to feel loved and that acceptance is the most important thing."In fact, the colorful costumes, energetic dance moves, and bright lights of&nbsp;Kinky Boots&nbsp;are practically made to delight children. Ricky Schroeder, who plays one of Lola's Angels, said he's seen people of all ages in the audience enjoying the show. "I saw a girl who could not have been older than 4 years old in the audience, wearing her little mask, loving the show," said Schroeder said. "It's just smiles plastered on their faces, some tears in their eyes."<h2>The musical speaks to young people finding themselves.</h2>Since the original&nbsp;Kinky Boots&nbsp;movie came out in 2005, and even since the show's 2013 Broadway premiere, openly identifying as LGBT+ has become much more accepted, which&nbsp;Kinky Boots&nbsp;celebrates. "I am watching young people come to the theatre who identify differently than I did when I was their age, because we're allowed to," said director/choreographer Jerry Mitchell, who identifies as gay. "And because 'accept yourself and accept others too' is the number one rule."Of course, there is still a ways to go in terms of universal acceptance, which Mitchell also acknowledges: "[LGBTQ+ people] are responding to the show, and to Lola and to Charlie and to all of these characters, because they watch them change," the director/choreographer said. "They wish other people in their world would change as quickly as they do in two hours at a Broadway musical." But&nbsp;Kinky Boots&nbsp;provides hope that such a change is possible. The show also reminds people of any age that it's okay if they don't know who they are yet, and they, too, can grow and change as they figure out their identities.<h2>Kinky Boots&nbsp;celebrates strong women (and people of all genders).</h2>Kinky Boots&nbsp;has lots of strong female and feminine leads. Lola and the Angels command the stage with confidence, charisma, and power at every moment. Lauren, an employee at Price &amp; Son, comes up with the idea for the company to find a niche market, and that idea saves the factory. Timid and unsure at the start, she goes on her own journey of growth and becomes more comfortable as a leader.There's also Nicola, Charlie's hometown sweetheart and fiancée. She wants to leave their small town in Northampton, get a high-powered job, and start a life together in London. Even when she and Charlie discover their dreams don't line up, she's not afraid to put her own ambitions first."The last scene I have with Charlie... it's such a powerful scene for me because I feel so strong as a woman," said&nbsp;Brianna Stoute, who plays Nicola.&nbsp;"I know what I want in that scene, and I'm going to do what I need to do and I don't need a man to do what I need to do."<h2>Kinky Boots&nbsp;is great for first-time theatregoers.</h2>If you want go to the theatre to escape the world,&nbsp;Kinky Boots&nbsp;provides a perfect haven. "We're at a point in our world where we need more love and acceptance and joy and fun and togetherness," said&nbsp;Kevin Smith Kirkwood, who plays an Angel. "All of those things are what Kinky Boots is all about."Kinky Boots&nbsp;is what you think of when you imagine a Broadway musical: lots of flashy color and light, energetic singing and dancing, and plenty of musical comedy fun. Just because the show is in an Off-Broadway theatre now doesn't mean&nbsp;Kinky Boots&nbsp;is any less grand. "The energy and excitement is electric," Kirkwood said. Even&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/reviews/kinky-boots-off-broadway-review-cyndi-lauper" target="_blank">our own critic wrote</a>&nbsp;that the show still has "its heart and glittery heels intact," and the more intimate space gives audiences a closer look at the fashion. Gregg Barnes's costumes are "eye-popping enough for the runway at RuPaul's Drag Race."The show is also great for first-timers because&nbsp;Kinky Boots&nbsp;has a recognizable songwriter.&nbsp;Legally Blonde&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/into-the-woods" target="_blank">Into the Woods</a>&nbsp;star Andy Karl summed it up. "It's Cyndi Lauper, c'mon, guys!" he said. "Everything in this [show] is going to be great!"If you don't know much about musicals but are familiar with Cyndi Lauper's catchy pop music, expect the same amount of heart and fun from her Tony and Grammy Award-winning&nbsp;Kinky Boots&nbsp;songs.<h2>The show is full of joy.&nbsp;</h2>If none of the above applies to you, surely this one will. Who couldn't use two-plus hours of fun, community, and glitter?&nbsp;"A show about love that oozes positivity and leaves you feeling happy and connected, especially post-pandemic, is the exact energy we need," said&nbsp;Matthew Michael Janisse, who plays the factory worker Mutt.It's clear from the opening number that the actors are all having fun, too, and it's infectious.&nbsp;Kinky Boots's Lola, Callum Francis, described it as "a tsunami of love.""Kinky Boots finds itself in places where it needs it most," Francis said. "America and New York and the world, really — we just need a bit of joy."<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/kinky-boots" target="_blank">Get&nbsp;Kinky Boots&nbsp;tickets now.</a>

Why everyone should see 'Kinky Boots' off Broadway

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Everybody say yeah, because the boots are back! After a celebrated six-year Broadway run, the Tony-winning Best Musical Kinky Boots is strutting its heels off Broadway at Stage 42.

Why everyone should see 'Kinky Boots' off Broadway | New York Theatre Guide

Everyone can find themselves in this feel-good musical.

UPDATE:&nbsp;Johnny Berchtold will star in&nbsp;Camp Siegfried,&nbsp;replacing Sawyer Barth, who is now&nbsp;unable to participate due to scheduling conflictsSecond Stage Theater has set its cast for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/camp-siegfried" target="_blank">Camp Siegfried</a>, a new play by Tony Award nominee Bess Wohl going up in the fall. Performances begin at the <a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/tony-kiser-theater" target="_blank">Tony Kiser Theater</a> October 25 ahead of a November 15 opening.The two-person cast includes Sawyer Barth and Lily McInerny, both making their Off-Broadway debuts with&nbsp;Camp Siegfried.&nbsp;Barth has appeared in&nbsp;The Kids Are Alright&nbsp;on ABC, and McInerny will appear in the upcoming Hulu series&nbsp;Tell Me Lies.Jane Ackermann and Charlie B. Foster are also in the cast as understudies.The full creative team has also been set, with&nbsp;scenic designer Brett Banakis, costume designer Brenda Abbandandolo, lighting designer Tyler Micoleau, and sound designer Christopher Darbassie.Camp Siegfried&nbsp;centers on&nbsp;two teenagers at summer camp on Long Island. But it's just before World War II, and the title camp is designed to indoctrinate them into Nazism. As the innocent teenagers fall in love, they might also be falling for extremism without realizing it. Prior to the debut of&nbsp;Camp Siegfried&nbsp;in New York, the show premiered to acclaim in London.Wohl is also known for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/grand-horizons" target="_blank">Grand Horizons</a>,&nbsp;which&nbsp;ran on Broadway with Second Stage in 2020 and earned a Tony nomination for Best Play.Check back for information on&nbsp;Camp Siegfried&nbsp;tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

'Camp Siegfried' sets Off-Broadway cast at Second Stage Theater

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Camp Siegfried - NYC

Camp Siegfried

UPDATE: Johnny Berchtold will star in Camp Siegfried, replacing Sawyer Barth, who is now unable to participate due to scheduling conflicts&#13; &#13; Second Stage Theater has set its cast for Camp Siegfried, a new play by Tony Award nominee Bess Wohl...

'Camp Siegfried' sets Off-Broadway cast at Second Stage Theater | New York Theatre Guide

Bess Wohl's play will make its New York debut this fall.

Casting has been set for <a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/public-theater" target="_blank">The Public Theater</a>'s production of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/a-raisin-in-the-sun" target="_blank">A Raisin in the Sun</a>&nbsp;this fall, directed by Tony Award nominee Robert O'Hara. The Off-Broadway show runs from September 27 to November 6, with opening night on October 19.Tony Award winner Tonya Pinkins stars as Lena Younger. The stage and screen actress is best known for her Tony-winning role in the musical&nbsp;Jelly's Last Jam.&nbsp;Her other credits include&nbsp;Caroline, or Change&nbsp;and&nbsp;Play On!&nbsp;on Broadway (earning Tony nominations for both) and&nbsp;All My Children, Madam Secretary, Fear the Walking Dead,&nbsp;and&nbsp;Women of the Movement&nbsp;on screen.Pinkins is joined in the&nbsp;A Raisin in the Sun&nbsp;cast by&nbsp;Francois Battiste as Walter Lee Younger, Paige Gilbert as Beneatha Younger, Mandi Masden as Ruth Younger, Toussaint Battiste and Camden McKinnon as the Travis Younger alternates, John Clay III as Joseph Asagai, Calvin Dutton as Bobo, Mister Fitzgerald as George Murchison, Perri Gaffney as Mrs. Johnson, and Jesse Pennington as Karl Lindner. Skyler Gallun and N'yomi Stewart are understudies.The creative team has also been set, which includes&nbsp;scenic designer Clint Ramos, costume designer Karen Perry, lighting designer Alex Jainchill, sound designer Elisheba Ittoop, sound system designer Will Pickens, hair and wig designer Nikiya Mathis, video designer Brittany Bland, fight and intimacy director Teniece Divya Johnson, and movement director Rickey Tripp.Now renowned as a classic American play and the writer's most famous work, Lorraine Hansberry's&nbsp;A Raisin in the Sun&nbsp;centers on the Younger family of Chicago's South Side. It is the mid-1900s, and the Youngers, who are Black, have received a life insurance payment following the death of their patriarch. Lena, the matriarch, wants to use the money to buy a new, bigger house in a better neighborhood — but they face discrimination from their prospective white neighbors. Plus, her son has other ideas about what to do with the money.This A Raisin in the Sun&nbsp;revival marks the first of Hansberry's plays to be performed at The Public Theater.Check back for information on&nbsp;A Raisin in the Sun&nbsp;tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

'A Raisin in the Sun' sets Off-Broadway cast, including Tonya Pinkins

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A Raisin In The Sun - NYC

A Raisin In The Sun

Casting has been set for The Public Theater's production of A Raisin in the Sun this fall, directed by Tony Award nominee Robert O'Hara. The Off-Broadway show runs from September 27 to November 6, with opening night on October 19.

A Raisin in the Sun sets Off-Broadway cast, including Tonya Pinkins | New York Theatre Guide

The Public Theater will revive Lorraine Hansberry's play.

A chapter is closing for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/between-the-lines" target="_blank">Between the Lines</a>.&nbsp;The Off-Broadway musical based on Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer's novel will now close on September 11. The show was previously set to run at the <a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/tony-kiser-theater" target="_blank">Tony Kiser Theater</a> through October 2.Between the Lines&nbsp;follows Delilah, a lonely teenager whose closest companion is her favorite book — until the prince from that book comes alive and befriends her. Though all seems suddenly perfect as she steps into the book's world, the line between what's real and what's fantasy blurs. The same-named young adult novel came out in 2012 and was a #1 New York Times Bestseller, winning the Young Adult Library Services Association's Top Ten Teen Award a year later.The musical adaptation has been playing in New York since June. The <a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/reviews/between-the-lines-review-off-broadway-jodi-picoult" target="_blank">New York Theatre Guide review</a> calls the show "delicious eye candy" and reads "Between the Lines&nbsp;ultimately is a celebration of the surprising and even game-changing payoffs of reading. That's a message that hits the right note."The cast of&nbsp;Between the Lines&nbsp;off Broadway includes&nbsp;Arielle Jacobs as Delilah alongside Jake David Smith, Julia Murney, Vicki Lewis, Hillary Fisher, Will Burton, Jerusha Cavazos, John Rapson, Wren Rivera, and Sean Stack. <a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/news-features/interviews/between-the-lines-star-arielle-jacobs-on-bullying-mother-daughter-stories" target="_blank">Read an interview with Arielle Jacobs on&nbsp;Between the Lines.</a>The show also features a book by&nbsp;Timothy Allen McDonald, music and lyrics by&nbsp;Elyssa Samsel and Kate Anderson, direction by Jeff Calhoun, and choreography by Paul McGill.<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/between-the-lines" target="_blank">Get&nbsp;Between the Lines&nbsp;tickets now.</a>

'Between the Lines' to close off Broadway in September

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Between the Lines - NYC 

Between the Lines

A chapter is closing for Between the Lines. The Off-Broadway musical based on Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer's novel will now close on September 11. The show was previously set to run at the Tony Kiser Theater through October 2.

'Between the Lines' to close off Broadway in September | New York Theatre Guide

The musical plays the Tony Kiser Theater.

They've got a good thing going! Tony and Emmy Award nominee Jonathan Groff and Tony winner Lindsay Mendez have joined the cast of the latest revival of <a href="https://cms.nytg.prod.aws.encoretix.co.uk/show/merrily-we-roll-along" target="_blank">Merrily We Roll Along</a>. Off-Broadway performances are set to begin at <a href="https://cms.nytg.prod.aws.encoretix.co.uk/theatres/new-york-theatre-workshop" target="_blank">New York Theatre Workshop</a> November 21 ahead of a December 12 opening. The limited engagement will close January 8.Groff and Mendez will play Franklin Shepard and Mary Flynn opposite the previously announced <a href="https://cms.nytg.prod.aws.encoretix.co.uk/actor-profile/daniel-radcliffe" target="_blank">Daniel Radcliffe</a> as Charley Kringas. Groff was previously seen on Broadway as King George in the original cast of <a href="https://cms.nytg.prod.aws.encoretix.co.uk/show/hamilton" target="_blank">Hamilton</a>&nbsp;and Melchior in&nbsp;Spring Awakening; both roles earned him Tony nominations. Mendez has performed in Broadway shows including <a href="https://cms.nytg.prod.aws.encoretix.co.uk/show/wicked-musical" target="_blank">Wicked</a>, Grease, and Godspell, and she won Tony and Drama Desk Awards in 2018 for playing Carrie Pipperidge in the 2018 revival of <a href="https://cms.nytg.prod.aws.encoretix.co.uk/show/carousel" target="_blank">Carousel</a>.George Furth and Stephen Sondheim's musical traces the disintegration of the trio's friendship over 20 years as Franklin abandons his career as a composer, and his friends who also work in showbiz, to become a Hollywood producer. It is based on the the same-named 1934 play.Maria Friedman directs the New York Theatre Workshop production, and Tim Jackson choreographs. The creative team also includes Catherine Jayes as music supervisor and Alvin Hough, Jr. as music director, with scenic and costume design by Soutra Gilmour, lighting design by Amith Chandrashaker, sound design by Kai Harada, and fight and intimacy direction by Dave Anzuelo.Check back for information on Merrily We Roll Along tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

Jonathan Groff, Lindsay Mendez join Daniel Radcliffe in ‘Merrily We Roll Along’ cast

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Merrily We Roll Along - NYC

Merrily We Roll Along

They've got a good thing going! Tony and Emmy Award nominee Jonathan Groff and Tony winner Lindsay Mendez have joined the cast of the latest revival of Merrily We Roll Along. Off-Broadway performances are set to begin at New York Theatre Workshop...

Jonathan Groff, Lindsay Mendez join Daniel Radcliffe in ‘Merrily We Roll Along’ cast | New York Theatre Guide

The musical will be revived at New York Theatre Workshop this winter.

Grammy and Academy Award-winning actress and singer Melissa Etheridge will bring her new solo show,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/melissa-etheridge-off-broadway-my-window-a-journey-through-life" target="_blank">Melissa Etheridge Off Broadway: My Window - A Journey Through Life</a>, to New York this fall. She will play 12 performances only at <a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/new-world-stages" target="_blank">New World Stages</a>, from October 13-29.Etheridge will be returning to New York theatre for the first time since 2010, when she played St. Jimmy in Green Day's American Idiot on Broadway. Her world-premiere show combines storytelling and song as she plays her most famous songs while sharing stories from her childhood to today, including all the highs and lows of her life and career."I am incredibly excited and humbled to debut this deeply personal show in New York this fall," Etheridge said. "While I've been telling my life stories through my lyrics and concert tours for many years, this is going to be something new for me. I cannot wait to feel the exchange of energy and deep connection that's provided by an intimate theatre experience. That's going to rock."Etheridge's greatest hits from her two-decade-plus career include&nbsp;"I'm the Only One" and "I Want to Come Over." Her songs&nbsp;"Come to My Window" and "Ain't It Heavy" won her Grammy Awards (she's been nominated an additional 13 times), and she won a 2007 Oscar for writing&nbsp;"I Need to Wake Up" for the movie&nbsp;An Inconvenient Truth. She has become renowned worldwide for her distinctive folk-rock sound. She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.Amy Tinkham directs Melissa Etheridge Off Broadway, which features additional material by Linda Wallem-Etheridge. The creative team also includes scenic designer Bruce Rodgers, lighting designer Abigail Rosen Holmes, projection designer Olivia Sebesky, and sound designer Colle Bustin.Photo credit: Elizabeth Miranda

Melissa Etheridge to play Off-Broadway solo show in October

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Melissa Etheridge: My Window on Broadway - NYC

Melissa Etheridge: My Window on Broadway

Grammy and Academy Award-winning actress and singer Melissa Etheridge will bring her new solo show, Melissa Etheridge Off Broadway: My Window - A Journey Through Life, to New York this fall. She will play 12 performances only at New World Stages, from...

Melissa Etheridge to play Off-Broadway solo show in October | New York Theatre Guide

The show is titled Melissa Etheridge Off Broadway: My Window - A Journey Through Life.

Manhattan Theatre Club has set the final two productions in its 2022-23 Off-Broadway season. The performances of these plays will be staged at MTC's Stage I at New York City Center.In winter 2023 is the world premiere of Emily Feldman's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/the-best-we-could-a-family-tragedy" target="_blank">the best we could (a family tragedy)</a>, a production postponed from the 2019-2020 season amid the pandemic. Daniel Aukin directs this show about a father-daughter cross-country road trip. Performances begin February 7 ahead of a March 1 opening night.Casting and additional creative team for this production have yet to be announced.Finally, in spring 2023 will be the New York premiere of&nbsp;King James,&nbsp;starring Glenn Davis and&nbsp;Abbott Elementary&nbsp;star Chris Perfetti. The show follows two men whose lives become intertwined through a shared admiration of basketball "King" LeBron James. Pulitzer Prize finalist Rajiv Joseph wrote the show, which previously debuted in Chicago with Steppenwolf Theatre Company, where Davis is artistic director.The show also features&nbsp;Khloe Janel as the DJ.&nbsp;King James&nbsp;performances begin May 2 ahead of a May 16 opening night.the best we could (a family tragedy)&nbsp;and&nbsp;King James&nbsp;join the previously announced&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/where-the-mountain-meets-the-sea" target="_blank">Where the Mountain Meets the Sea</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/summer-1976" target="_blank">Summer, 1976</a>&nbsp;in the 2022-23 season. Additionally, the previously announced&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/poor-yella-rednecks" target="_blank">Poor Yella Rednecks</a>, which was initially set for spring 2023, will now go up with MTC in spring 2024.

Manhattan Theatre Club sets remainder of 2022-23 Off-Broadway season

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Manhattan Theatre Club has set the final two productions in its 2022-23 Off-Broadway season. The performances of these plays will be staged at MTC's Stage I at New York City Center.

Manhattan Theatre Club sets remainder of 2022-23 Off-Broadway season | New York Theatre Guide

The shows include a world-premiere and a New York-premiere play.

Broadway

Their name is Lancelot! Taran Killam and Alex Brightman join the cast of the upcoming [*Spamalot*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/33129-spamalot-tickets) Broadway revival, playing at the [St. James Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/st-james-theatre) from October 31. Opening night is November 16.

Killam returns to Broadway after playing King George III in [*Hamilton*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/384-hamilton-tickets) in 2017. He is better known, however, for his onscreen comedy performances on *madTV* and *Saturday Night Live*, in addition to multiple sitcoms. He will play Lancelot through January 7 only.

Brightman will step into the role from January 9. He is currently starring as Richard Dreyfuss in [*The Shark Is Broken*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/28737-the-shark-is-broken-tickets) on Broadway, and he is also known for leading the Broadway musical adaptations of *Beetlejuice* and *School of Rock*. Brightman also played Lancelot at the Kennedy Center, where this *Spamalot* revival production premiered earlier this year under director/choreographer Josh Rhodes.

As [previously announced](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/spamalot-sets-broadway-cast-and-creative-team), multiple other cast members from that production will also return for the Broadway transfer: Christopher Fitzgerald as Patsy, James Monroe Iglehart as King Arthur, Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer as The Lady of the Lake, Jimmy Smagula as Sir Bedevere, Michael Urie as Sir Robin, and Nik Walker as Sir Galahad. Ethan Slater also stars as The Historian/Prince Herbert.

*Spamalot* is the seven-time Tony Award-winning musical adaptation of *Monty Python and the Holy Grail*, written by John Du Prez and founding Monty Python member Eric Idle. The show is an irreverent sendup of Arthurian legends.

Get [*Spamalot* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/33129-spamalot-tickets) now.

[![Book Tickets CTA - LT/NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/3qAtGOdQq9x3k1WcHlaJnw/90ece91bbe47ed07e142c2e43c7a7a3f/BookTickets-250.png)](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/33129-spamalot-tickets)

*Photo credit: Taran Killam and Alex Brightman. (Photos courtesy of production)*

Taran Killam, Alex Brightman join 'Spamalot' Broadway cast

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Spamalot on Broadway - NYC

Spamalot on Broadway

The actors join a cast that also includes Broadway favorites James Monroe Iglehart, Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer, Ethan Slater, and more at the St. James Theatre.

Ease on down to Broadway! A revival of [*The Wiz*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/27115-the-wiz-tickets) will begin performances this spring at the [Marquis Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/marquis-theatre). The first performance is March 29, and opening night is April 17.

The announcement of the New York production comes as *The Wiz* opened its pre-Broadway national tour in Baltimore, Maryland — where the Tony Award-winning original 1975 production premiered — last night.

*The Wiz* is an all-Black retelling of *The Wizard of Oz*, infusing it with jazz, pop, ballet, and Black cultural influences. The show features a book by William F. Brown and a Tony Award-winning score by Charlie Smalls and others, including Luther Vandross. The 2023 revival features additional material by Amber Ruffin, also represented on Broadway with *Some Like It Hot*.

Schele Williams directs the 2023 production, which features choreography by JaQuel Knight, scenic design by Hannah Beachler; costume design by Sharen Davis; lighting design by Ryan J. O’Gara; sound design by Jon Weston; projection design by Daniel Brodie; wig design by Charles LaPointe; makeup design by Kirk Cambridge-Del Pesche; music supervision, orchestrations, and music arrangements by Joseph Joubert; vocal and music arrangements by Allen René Louis; and dance music arrangements by Adam Blackstone.

## Who is in *The Wiz* Broadway cast?

As [previously announced](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/complete-cast-set-for-broadway-bound-the-wiz-revival), the Broadway cast of *The Wiz* stars [Wayne Brady](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/wayne-brady) as The Wiz alongside Nichelle Lewis as Dorothy, Deborah Cox as Glinda, Melody A. Betts as Aunt Em and Evillene, Kyle Ramar Freeman as the Lion, Phillip Johnson Richardson as the Tinman, and Avery Wilson as the Scarecrow.

The ensemble includes Maya Bowles, Shayla Alayre Caldwell, Jay Copeland, Allyson Kaye Daniel, Judith Franklin, Michael Samarie George, Collin Heyward, Amber Jackson, Olivia Jackson, Christina Jones, Polanco Jones, Kolby Kindle, Mariah Lyttle, Kareem Marsh, Anthony Murphy, Cristina Rae, Matthew Sims Jr, Avilon Trust Tate, Keenan D. Washington, and Timothy Wilson.

*The Wiz* Broadway cast carries over from the national tour.

Check back for information on *The Wiz* tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

*Photo credit: The Wiz in Baltimore. (Photo by Jeremy Daniel)*

'The Wiz' to open on Broadway in March

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The Wiz on Broadway - NYC

The Wiz on Broadway

Wayne Brady will star in the latest revival of the seven-time Tony Award-winning musical, which just launched a national tour prior to its New York opening.

The career paths of Josh Gad and [Andrew Rannells](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/andrew-rannells) happily keep on colliding – and paralleling. Right now, they’re at the [James Earl Jones Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/james-earl-jones-theatre) in [*Gutenberg! The Musical!*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/31399-gutenberg-the-musical-tickets), a show with two actors and just as many exclamation points. The comic duo play musical theatre composers writing a show about the inventor of the printing press.

Out there? Sure. Then again, the story of misbegotten Mormon missionaries in Uganda is also wacky. That’s what the long-running, Tony Award-winning musical [*The Book of Mormon*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/127-the-book-of-mormon-tickets), in which Gad and Rannells first performed together, is about.

Even when they haven’t shared a stage, their theatre careers have overlapped in various ways. Find out more about the duo’s careers in our timeline below.

Get [*Gutenberg! The Musical!* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/31399-gutenberg-the-musical-tickets) now.

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## 2005 and 2006: Broadway debuts

In January 2005, Rannells took over as high school student Fender in *Hairspray*. Like a ’60s beehive hairdo, the actor ascended high to the lead role of teenage heartthrob Link Larkin. Rannells has stepped into key roles in other Broadway shows including Bob Gaudio in *Jersey Boys*, the title role in *Hedwig and the Angry Inch*, and King George in [*Hamilton*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/384-hamilton-tickets). 

A year later, in January 2006, the musical *The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee* introduced Gad to Broadway audiences. He took over the role of allergy-prone William Barfee, a kid who uses his “magic foot” to write out words before spelling them.

![gad rannells mormon-1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/2wabPKWHjEvZjHR3cwfnyN/fe6243997f341e93bba3320f9ea06708/gad_rannells_mormon-1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

## 2011: *The Book of Mormon*

In 2011, Rannells and Gad landed the lead roles in the irreverent, sometimes profane musical by Robert Lopez (*Frozen, Avenue Q*) and *South Park* creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. Rannells and Gad starred as Elders Price and Cunningham: Mormon missionaries in Uganda who are young, eager, in over their head, and making things up as they go along. Both got Best Actor Tony nominations for the still-running hit at the [Eugene O’Neill Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/eugene-o-neill-theatre). 

Get [*The Book of Mormon* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/127-the-book-of-mormon-tickets) now.

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## 2006 and 2016: The William Finn connection

Gad belted the kicky tune “Magic Foot” by William Finn in his Broadway debut in *The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee*. Rannells earned his second Tony nomination – Best Actor in a Supporting Role, as the ailing Whizzer – in the 2016 revival of *Falsettos*, a show with music, lyrics, and a book by Finn.

## 2013 and 2016: The Disney connection

Beyond the stage, Disney is common ground for the pair. For episodes of the animated TV series *Sofia the First*, Rannells voiced Morris, a goblin. Meanwhile, Gad voiced Olaf, the fan-fave snowman in the *Frozen* film franchise.

## 2023: *Gutenberg! The Musical!*

As Bud and Doug in this musical by Scott Brown and Anthony King, the actors wear a lot of hats – and that’s not a metaphor. They play the authors of a show about Johannes Gutenberg, which they pitch to potential investors with the means to finance the project. They act out the show playing characters whose names are on baseball caps.

See how it all goes down through January 28 only. Who knows when Rannells and Gad will share the stage next?

Get [*Gutenberg! The Musical!* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/31399-gutenberg-the-musical-tickets) now.

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Learn about the careers of 'Gutenberg! The Musical!' stars Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells

gutenberg-1200x600-NYTG

Recommended for 12+. Children under 4 not admitted.

Gutenberg! The Musical on Broadway - NYC

Gutenberg! The Musical on Broadway

The acclaimed comic theatre actors made their names with *The Book of Mormon* more than a decade ago, and they now share the stage for the first time since.

Fall is upon us in New York. The cool fall breezes have blown in not just color-changing leaves, but a cornucopia of seasonal events all across the city. And there's a show or event out there for you no matter how you like to ring in the fall season.

Is the pumpkin patch at the top of your itinerary? Stop at a show set in the countryside on the way to the actual farm. Prefer to stay cozied up inside with a warm sweater? You can do that in a Broadway theatre. Can't wait for Halloween? Celebrate the holiday all autumn long at spooky shows and attractions. You don't have to escape the city to get the most out of autumn — there are plenty of options right here.

We've planned out a few roundups of New York fall events and shows to get you started, based on various fall vibes. Pick the one that best suits you, and get tickets to these experiences to make the most of your fall in the city.

Get [tickets to Broadway shows](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/whats-on/broadway-shows) on New York Theatre Guide.

[![Book Tickets CTA - LT/NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/3qAtGOdQq9x3k1WcHlaJnw/90ece91bbe47ed07e142c2e43c7a7a3f/BookTickets-250.png)](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/whats-on/broadway-shows)

## Spooky fall

If "fall" and "Halloween" are one and the same to you, you're in the right place. Get your tricks and treats, chills and thrills at these shows and events. And this is only a small selection — read our full [guide to theatre to see in New York for Halloween](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/top-theatre-to-see-in-new-york-for-halloween) for even more scary good options.

![7 sweeney-1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/7gzSXonAWlHmzrQwwduBA/552327f1ea1cae3882fcea9649ba1ee8/7_sweeney-1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

### *Sweeney Todd*

*Sweeney Todd* serves up both tricks and treats, though perhaps not the kind you'll want to eat. This bloody entertaining Stephen Sondheim thriller follows the title "demon barber," whose vengeful plot to murder a corrupt judge grows into a desire to kill just about everyone in London. And with the help of pie shop owner Mrs. Lovett, the evidence mysteriously disappears into the tastiest baked goods she's ever made. [Josh Groban](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/josh-groban) and [Annaleigh Ashford](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/annaleigh-ashford)'s sinister performances might give you nightmares, but their vocals are the stuff of dreams.

Get [*Sweeney Todd* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/26216-sweeney-todd-on-broadway-tickets) now.

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![wicked record-1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/33IsBjCX6G9Pt8wbpynzhg/f4408e276ad198a3f6bfe93f03845770/wicked_record-1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

### *Wicked*

The iconic witch hat and broom are the centerpieces of many a Halloween costume. Ever wonder why? This musical provides one origin story and more, offering an alternate take on who Glinda and Elphaba were before they became the Good Witch and the Wicked Witch of the West in *The Wizard of Oz*. This show isn't scary, but it's filled with bewitching stage magic and supernatural characters.

Get [*Wicked* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/1-wicked-musical-tickets) now.

[![Book Tickets CTA - LT/NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/3qAtGOdQq9x3k1WcHlaJnw/90ece91bbe47ed07e142c2e43c7a7a3f/BookTickets-250.png)](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/1-wicked-musical-tickets)

![met-1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/5Kl3OwNexDdwp9z80mxVMP/ec7576b9feb977ae02aabf0d4f3751f5/met-1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

### Ghost Stories: A Mysterious, Macabre Interactive Tour at the Met

This tour focuses on works of art that depict all sorts of scary creatures from various cultures and time periods. In addition to just looking at spooky creations, attendees will participate in activities and discussions about what makes people afraid and why. The tour takes place all year round, but during the fall, it incorporates extra art and other surprises only included during the Halloween season.

Get [Ghost Stories tour tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/29084-ghost-stories-a-mysterious-macabre-interactive-tour-at-the-metropolitan) now.

[![Book Tickets CTA - LT/NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/3qAtGOdQq9x3k1WcHlaJnw/90ece91bbe47ed07e142c2e43c7a7a3f/BookTickets-250.png)](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/29084-ghost-stories-a-mysterious-macabre-interactive-tour-at-the-metropolitan)

## Harvest fall

This itinerary is for those who like to spend their fall days leaf-peeping, apple-picking, and pumpkin patch-hopping. Even if you can't make it to New England or upstate for the foliage and the farms, these shows and events provide all the harvest vibes you're looking for.

![2 shucked-1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/5C8ZI7ghBbkqnTIBgwsnlr/f658093e1d4c60713a8527ad2216cd07/2_shucked-1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

### *Shucked*

Fans of corn mazes will feel right at home in Cob County, the central location of this corny (literally) musical. When the town's prized corn crop starts dying, farmgirl Maizy finds an outsider to help, but all isn't at it seems. This show, by Tony-winning bookwriter Robert Horn and Grammy-winning songwriters Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, delivers a cornucopia of country-infused tunes and nonstop corn puns.

Get [*Shucked* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/26987-shucked-tickets) now.

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![Little Shop of Horrors Skylar Astin - 750 - NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/6H4AR98BqLvUGbu3IcM5qt/79e8283b1a46f0dabbcc454ae86774ce/skylar_1-750.jpg)

### *Little Shop of Horrors*

The monstrous, Venus flytrap-esque plant in this musical is one you might not want to harvest. Flower shop worker Seymour finds this out the hard way, as the plant promises him fame and fortune in exchange for human flesh and blood. Straddling the line between horror, comedy, and botany, this cult-classic favorite is the perfect autumn watch.

Get [*Little Shop of Horrors* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/24608-little-shop-of-horrors-tickets) now.

[![Book Tickets CTA - LT/NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/3qAtGOdQq9x3k1WcHlaJnw/90ece91bbe47ed07e142c2e43c7a7a3f/BookTickets-250.png)](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/24608-little-shop-of-horrors-tickets)

![falloween-1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/12w2kC6bHYOabTRDUoPlp5/cff33a7da1d13a561467a10f4bb1c39c/falloween-1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

### Fall-O-Ween at the New York Botanical Garden

What better place to spend a harvest-themed fall day than at the New York Botanical Garden, where you're surrounded by flora and fauna? A natural oasis in the middle of the Bronx, it'll make you feel like you've escaped the city. Participate in pumpkin carving and costume contests, sample treats featuring classic fall flavors, and take part in activities both festive and frightful, all while exploring the grounds' 50 gardens featuring over a million wildlife species.

Get [Fall-O_Ween tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/34402-fall-o-ween) now.

[![Book Tickets CTA - LT/NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/3qAtGOdQq9x3k1WcHlaJnw/90ece91bbe47ed07e142c2e43c7a7a3f/BookTickets-250.png)](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/34402-fall-o-ween)

## Cozy, romantic fall

If you spend your fall pretending you're the protagonist of a Nora Ephron rom-com — cozying up with a good book and a soft sweater, perhaps by the fireplace with your boo — then these idyllic, romantic experiences are perfect for you.

![cottage review-1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/7IpSiOpEcmTSOTm8NqA54F/809e3f7439b96c9377519ec2db23a880/cottage_review-1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

### *The Cottage*

*The Cottage* delivers cozy romance with a twist. The play opens with a couple having a romantic morning in a beautiful country cottage — but we soon learn they're both cheating on their spouses, who are in turn cheating on them. Confusion, hilarity, and a tangled web of relationships arise. This farce may not be your average romance, but it's an endlessly entertaining one.

Get [*The Cottage* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/27834-the-cottage-tickets) now.

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![2 & juliet-1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/4uRxS4JCAwq28qRsfLQYse/a3e7a49d37437ce5ce8b0c37b59d75ed/2___juliet-1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

### *& Juliet*

Juliet, of *Romeo & Juliet*, finds love in the big city in this new musical — except the big city is Paris, and she spends just as much time finding herself after Romeo dies. This twist on the classic play is as empowering as it is romantic, and it also features another love story: that of William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway, who rekindle their own flame by co-writing Juliet's new story together.

Get [*& Juliet* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/25598-and-juliet-tickets) now.

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![central park-1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/6JRicOt0Rsj6szai9tyQ4e/7ee32e86f002fea209a5499f8b51b72e/central_park-1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

### Secret Places of Central Park

Is it really a New York rom-com if the lovers don't stroll through Central Park? Recreate that vibe with this walking tour. You might have seen landmarks like the Bow Bridge on screen, but this tour provides a look into the park's lesser-known hidden gems, including secluded gardens, historic sites, and more. You might find your new favorite spot to go on an autumn date.

Get [Secret Places of Central Park tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/29268-secret-places-of-central-park-walking-tour) now.

[![Book Tickets CTA - LT/NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/3qAtGOdQq9x3k1WcHlaJnw/90ece91bbe47ed07e142c2e43c7a7a3f/BookTickets-250.png)](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/29268-secret-places-of-central-park-walking-tour)

Plan a fall day in New York with these shows and events

nyc autumn-1200x600-NYTG

Whether your fall vibe is spooky, cozy, or outdoorsy, New York has plenty of attractions and shows to suit your interests — check out our itineraries here.

Don't lose your head! [*Six*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/20737-six-musical-tickets) on Broadway will host a new event called the SIXth of the Month Series during performances at the [Lena Horne Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/lena-horne-theatre).

The series includes special events, exclusive content opportunities, and giveaways at the performance on the sixth of every month. The first performance in the series is the 8 p.m. show on October 6, when all audience members will receive a commemorative gift.

Further SIXth of the Month Series events will be announced via the show's social media channels and email list.

The 2022 Tony Award winner for [Best Original Score](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/all-the-songs-in-six-on-broadway), *Six* musical reimagines the six wives of Henry VIII as a modern pop girl group who take the mic to tell their stories in their own words.

*Six* currently features Hailee Kaleem Wright as Catherine of Aragon, Leandra Ellis-Gaston as Anne Boleyn, Bella Coppola as Jane Seymour, Nasia Thomas as Anna of Cleves, Zoe Jensen as Katherine Howard, and Taylor Iman Jones as Catherine Parr.

[Learn more about *Six* on Broadway.](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/everything-you-need-to-know-about-six-on-broadway)

Get [*Six* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/20737-six-musical-tickets) now.

[![Book Tickets CTA - LT/NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/3qAtGOdQq9x3k1WcHlaJnw/90ece91bbe47ed07e142c2e43c7a7a3f/BookTickets-250.png)](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/20737-six-musical-tickets)

'Six' on Broadway to host SIXth of the Month Series

six nytg-1200x600

SIX on Broadway [20737]

SIX on Broadway

Beginning in October, audiences at performances of the Tony Award-winning musical on the sixth of each month will be treated to special events and giveaways.

Your chance to get tickets has rolled along! [*Merrily We Roll Along*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/27417-merrily-we-roll-along-tickets) will offer a digital lottery for tickets to all Broadway performances, which begin September 19 at the [Hudson Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/hudson-theatre).

*Merrily We Roll Along* will offer [lottery tickets via TodayTix](https://www.todaytix.com/nyc/shows/27417-merrily-we-roll-along-on-broadway). Entrants must download the TodayTix app on iOS or Android, where the lottery will open for entries every Sunday for the following week's performances. The lottery will remain open until noon the day before each performance. Users can set an alert to be notified when the lottery opens each week, and sharing the lottery on social media earns extra entries.

Winners are drawn between 1 and 4 p.m. the day before the performance, and they will have 30 minutes after being notified by email or text to purchase their tickets on the app. 

Jonathan Groff, [Daniel Radcliffe](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/daniel-radcliffe), and Lindsay Mendez star in *Merrily We Roll Along*, the first Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's 1984 musical. Maria Friedman directs the production, which premiered off Broadway in 2022.

The show follows, in reverse, the disintegration of a 20-year friendship between three people in the showbiz industry. New York Theatre Guide's [four-star review of the Off-Broadway production](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/reviews/merrily-we-roll-along-off-broadway-review-jonathan-groff-daniel-radcliffe-lindsay-mendez) calls it an "emotional gut punch."

Get [*Merrily We Roll Along* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/27417-merrily-we-roll-along-tickets) now.

[![Book Tickets CTA - LT/NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/3qAtGOdQq9x3k1WcHlaJnw/90ece91bbe47ed07e142c2e43c7a7a3f/BookTickets-250.png)](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/27417-merrily-we-roll-along-tickets)

*Photo credit: Lindsay Mendez, Jonathan Groff, and Daniel Radcliffe in Merrily We Roll Along off Broadway. (Photo by Joan Marcus)*

'Merrily We Roll Along' to offer Broadway lottery tickets on TodayTix

merrily-1200x600-NYTG

3 merrily-1200x600-NYTG

Merrily We Roll Along on Broadway - NYC

Merrily We Roll Along on Broadway

The first Broadway revival of the Stephen Sondheim musical, playing at the Hudson Theatre, stars Jonathan Groff, Daniel Radcliffe, and Lindsay Mendez.

"There are so many wonderful plays and musicals opening this fall," said Sierra Boggess of the new musical [*Harmony*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/24995-harmony-tickets). "Theatregoers are in for such a fabulous season!"

We couldn't have said it better ourselves. *Harmony*, the Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman-composed musical about a famous 1920s choral group, is just one of the many exciting new productions on Broadway this fall. But rather than us just telling you about them, we asked the stars of this season's Broadway shows which fall Broadway shows they're looking forward to and why.

From starry revivals to groundbreaking new plays to musicals led by a group of fresh talents, this fall season has it all. Read the stars' picks for fall theatre in New York below, and discover [all the shows coming to Broadway this fall](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/what-to-see-on-broadway-this-fall).

Get [tickets to Broadway shows](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/whats-on/broadway-shows) on New York Theatre Guide.

[![Book Tickets CTA - LT/NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/3qAtGOdQq9x3k1WcHlaJnw/90ece91bbe47ed07e142c2e43c7a7a3f/BookTickets-250.png)](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/whats-on/broadway-shows)

![gutenberg-1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/5C6s2CpQPRtj1pPu8EI9r3/5c875c5b41c3dcf0c5ac3992708b2f4f/gutenberg-1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

## For the reunion we've all been waiting for: *Gutenberg! The Musical*

Alli Mauzey, of 2023 Best Musical Tony Award winner *Kimberly Akimbo*, "couldn’t tell you what [*Gutenberg! The Musical*] is about," but that [Andrew Rannells](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/andrew-rannells) and Josh Gad on stage together again thrills her enough to go.

That's high praise for the comedy skills of the pair, last seen together in the original 2011 cast of [*The Book of Mormon*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/127-the-book-of-mormon-tickets). And for those wondering, they now play hapless composers trying to pitch an inaccurate Broadway musical about Johannes Gutenberg, inventor of the printing press.

Mauzey's not alone in her excitement. "Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells are hilarious together," echoed *How to Dance in Ohio*'s Desmond Edwards. Added Jasmine Forsberg of *Here Lies Love*, "I had the pleasure of watching a studio run of the show, and my abs were sore from the constant laughter. Josh and Andrew are a comedic goldmine."

Get [*Gutenberg! The Musical!* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/31399-gutenberg-the-musical-tickets) now.

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![i need that danny-1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/7ii3hCYJvcjIEK5ejw12ao/49fc0dbcc5b32efac32a8fed22eb5a8c/i_need_that_danny-1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

## For the reunions you didn't know you needed: *I Need That*

This new comedy about a reclusive hoarder cleaning up his life sees the reunion of a celebrated creative duo. Pulitzer-nominated writer Theresa Rebeck and Tony-nominated director Moritz Von Stuelpnagel join forces once more following 2018's *Bernhardt/Hamlet*. 

“I love Theresa Rebeck’s writing, and her and Moritz Von Stuelpnagel seem to have a great time working together, said Reg Rogers of *Merrily We Roll Along*.

But that's not the only exciting duo you need to see. On stage, [Danny DeVito](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/danny-devito) stars as the hoarder Sam alongside his real-life daughter, Lucy DeVito.

Get [*I Need That* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/28198-i-need-that-on-broadway) now.

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![purlie leslie-1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/22qYF2FHxPg19uY9bIKBeH/39d9abda6097adbd76fba92fe5b7b990/purlie_leslie-1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

## For something old that feels new: *Purlie Victorious*

*Purlie Victorious* premiered on Broadway in 1961, starring playwright Ossie Davis and his wife, Ruby Dee, as a preacher and his aide in a scheme to reclaim his inheritance from an oppressive white landowner. But it hasn't been on Broadway since, so this revival — led by Tony winner Leslie Odom, Jr. and Tony nominee Kara Young — is all but new for many audiences today. “With so many heavy hitters, it is a must-see for me,” said [*Hadestown*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/14748-hadestown-tickets)'s Brit West.

"They are making history with this first ever revival of this play, and I cannot wait to see it!" said Sierra Boggess of *Harmony*. Echoed her co-star Chip Zien, "A great cast lead by the thrilling Leslie Odom, Jr. marking his return to Broadway. With the great [director] Kenny Leon at the helm, this is a 'comedy' that couldn't be timelier and a theatrical event not to be missed."

Lakisha May of *Jaja's African Hair Braiding* has plenty of love for this show already. “I saw a production at Spelman College when I was a student there," she said. "Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee are definitely inspirations — their love, their work, their talent, and their activism. And I can’t wait to see this Broadway cast play!”

Get [*Purlie Victorious* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/27642-purlie-victorious-tickets) now.

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![merrily-1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/2yx1aOJvSZ9vUyqiJlWT9o/e83a938e1cb175d24463211470423e21/merrily-1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

## For a blast from the past: *Back to the Future* and *Merrily We Roll Along*

Two shows on Broadway are taking audiences back in time this fall. The stage adaptation of *Back to the Future*, which opened in August, zips to 1985 and 1955 at 88 miles per hour. According to *Wicked*'s William Youmans, the man who makes it all happen — scientist Doc Brown, played by Roger Bart — is reason enough to go: "Roger Bart is one of the funniest actors alive."

A few blocks away, the first Broadway revival of *Merrily We Roll Along* tells the story of a crumbling 20-year friendship in reverse. Jonathan Groff, Daniel Radcliffe, and Lindsay Mendez play the doomed trio of pals Frank, Charley, and Mary.

"I have a special affection for *Merrily We Roll Along*," said Amelia Cormack of *Hadestown*. "It was our last show at drama school, and I got to play Mary, so it’s a definite nostalgia moment. Plus, this cast is incredible.”

Get [*Back to the Future* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/26018-back-to-the-future-tickets) now.

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Get [*Merrily We Roll Along* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/27417-merrily-we-roll-along-tickets) now.

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![shark is broken review-1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/2T3esPUwR5kappcsJj8rAA/e4736ebb991b69f902f4bcbae40ed448/shark_is_broken_review-1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

## For an unexpected wave of emotion: *The Shark Is Broken*

This *Jaws*-inspired play, on through November 16, delivers great-white-sized laughs as it dramatizes the famous feud between Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, and Roy Scheider on set. What struck *Back to the Future* star Hugh Coles, though, was how moving it is: [Ian Shaw](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/interviews/ian-shaw-sinks-his-teeth-into-his-fathers-legacy-in-the-shark-is-broken) co-wrote and stars in *The Shark Is Broken* in his father's memory.

"I had the privilege of watching *The Shark is Broken* in London," Coles said. "You’d think the best speech in the show would be about the U.S.S. Indianapolis — but there’s a beautifully written, moving and powerfully delivered monologue about Shaw’s father that blows it out of the water (pun intended)."

Get [*The Shark Is Broken* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/28737-the-shark-is-broken-tickets) now.

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![jajas cast-1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/22ymuFhPoY3EGfgOe0jgqm/0a46638074f895c13fd3e80ef73d0687/jajas_cast-1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

## For a niche story with universal appeal: *Jaja’s African Hair Braiding*

Jocelyn Bioh is known for her lighthearted, widely appealing comedies that shed light on the experiences of Black women in Africa and America. Her latest work, *Jaja’s African Hair Braiding*, tells a story of love, community, and gentrification by way of a group of women in the title Harlem salon.

"Jocelyn has an incredible gift of comedy (which we saw in *School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play*) that truly is necessary in this moment in time," said Leandra Ellis-Gaston of [*Six*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/20737-six-musical-tickets). "On top of that, this show speaks about a very niche and special experience that Black women, particularly in New York, have of getting our hair braided. We talk about representation in regards to seeing our Black bodies on stage, but it’s taking it a step forward to see and share our routine experiences on a Broadway stage."

Get [*Jaja's African Hair Braiding*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/26232-jajas-african-hair-braiding-tickets) tickets now.

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![the cottage review-1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/6ZvNSiEAW2H7vZtASxrOqp/795914073983ab7797a7c63af2cbd72c/the_cottage_review-1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

## For a full house of comedic talent: *The Cottage*

*Will & Grace*'s Eric McCormack, *Legally Blonde: The Musical*'s Laura Bell Bundy, *Saturday Night Live*'s Alex Moffat, *Tootsie*'s Lilli Cooper, and more all under one roof? You'll have to see this old-fashioned farce, about a web of infidelities unraveling, to believe it.

“I’m a fan of every actor in this cast — it’s a full roster of amazing comedians, all of whom I have admired for a long time," said Katie Rose Clarke of *Merrily We Roll Along*. "I also love that it’s an ensemble play. It’s right up my alley. It seems like they’ve created something really fun and special.”

Get [*The Cottage* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/27834-the-cottage-tickets) now.

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![here lies love immersive-1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/6NPiy4dEc0rbGbnWUmS9YV/73f5e91fb72297099e08f16176d27c98/here_lies_love_immersive-1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

## For an immersive theatre experience: *Here Lies Love*

Immersive theatre — in which the audience participates in the show, which unfolds all around them — is rare on Broadway. But *Here Lies Love* turned the [Broadway Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/broadway-theatre) into a disco nightclub to tell the story of infamous dictator (and disco enthusiast) Imelda Marcos of the Philippines. An [all-Filipino cast](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/meet-the-all-filipino-here-lies-love-broadway-cast) stars. 

"I love the idea of fully immersing the audience into the show," said Jake Pedersen of [*Wicked*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/1-wicked-musical-tickets). "The whole company is stacked with incredible storytellers fueled by a powerful plot. A must-see for sure!"

Get [*Here Lies Love* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/27415-here-lies-love-on-broadway) now.

[![Book Tickets CTA - LT/NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/3qAtGOdQq9x3k1WcHlaJnw/90ece91bbe47ed07e142c2e43c7a7a3f/BookTickets-250.png)](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/27415-here-lies-love-on-broadway)

![spamalot dc-1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/2On3Ryt0yNcWT3H7wEPDx0/8c0717bee8f5e5851c1b66bd77178f4f/spamalot_dc-1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

## For a royally good laugh: *Spamalot*

This musical based on *Monty Python and the Holy Grail* hasn't held court on Broadway since winning the Best Musical Tony Award in 2005. Broadway stars with fond memories of the movie, the Broadway premiere, or their former co-stars now headlining the revival are now planning to take their seats at the round table.

“I am most excited to see my dear, dear friends (and former co-workers at *Hamilton*), James Monroe Iglehart and Nik Walker, in *Spamalot*," said *Merrily We Roll Along*'s Krystal Joy Brown. "I cannot wait to get to enjoy them in all of their hilarious glory! Also, I grew up on *Monty Python*, so it’s a bit nostalgic, and who doesn’t want a good laugh and a good time at the theatre?”

Julie Benko, of *Harmony* added: "I remember bringing my sister to the original production back when I was in high school, and now, I can't wait to bring my husband. I suspect he's going to laugh so hard he pees himself and will then spend the following six months demanding shrubberies around the house."

Get [*Spamalot* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/33129-spamalot-tickets) now.

[![Book Tickets CTA - LT/NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/3qAtGOdQq9x3k1WcHlaJnw/90ece91bbe47ed07e142c2e43c7a7a3f/BookTickets-250.png)](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/33129-spamalot-tickets)

![how to dance in ohio-1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/7MGi7VxYwvtgLqSTluxWs1/9754197af4699726fe1bc688ab108e22/how_to_dance_in_ohio-1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

## For the next generation of Broadway: *How to Dance in Ohio*

This new musical, based on the Peabody Award-winning documentary about autistic young adults coming of age, is bringing many new faces to the world of Broadway. Director Sammi Cannold, writers Rebekah Greer Melocik and Jacob Yandura, choreographer Mayte Natalio, and all seven autistic lead actors make their debuts with this show.

“I'm excited to see a brand-new musical on Broadway, and I look forward to seeing how the team has adapted this beautiful story about human connection from the documentary to a musical," said Liana Hunt of *Back to the Future*. "I've heard bits of the music, and it sounds really beautiful. I also love that so many members of this show are making their Broadway debuts! There's something really special about that.”

[Check back for information on *How to Dance in Ohio* tickets on New York Theatre Guide.](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/32763-how-to-dance-in-ohio-tickets)

![Prayer for the French Republic](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/1Ewq2sdmis1vLh0dSA9MHW/daf04959f007e8dfa4648edd067f11d0/prayer_for_french-1200.jpg)

## For a timely, touching drama: *Prayer for the French Republic*

Joshua Harmon's epic drama, about multiple generations of a French Jewish family facing similar doubts about assimilation and safety, received near-universal acclaim for its 2021 Off-Broadway premiere. It's perhaps more poignant and relevant now, as the show prepares to begin Broadway performances in December.

"I saw it in its Off-Broadway run and was blown away by the writing, direction, the performances - everything," Benko said. "It's a complex look at contemporary Jewish life and we need those plays on Broadway now more than ever."

[Check back for information on *Prayer for the French Republic* tickets on New York Theatre Guide.](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/24257-prayer-for-the-french-republic-tickets)

![draculaComedyOfTerrors 1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/6MABfHtNSWKZ0sDp02r21Z/210df3e1329012f7cc1ca303b906035c/draculaComedyOfTerrors_1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

## For Off-Broadway fun with bite: *Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors*

Off-Broadway theatres have a wealth of new fall shows, too, if you're looking for even more theatre to see beyond the Great White Way. One of them is *Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors*, a queer, comedic revamp of Bram Stoker's Gothic horror classic. 

"Arnie Burton is a stage comedy genius," *Purlie Victorious*'s Bill Timoney said of why he wants to see it. Burton is joined by four other actors who shapeshift between costumes and characters faster than a vampire turns into a bat.

Get [*Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/34162-dracula-a-comedy-of-terrors) now.

[![Book Tickets CTA - LT/NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/3qAtGOdQq9x3k1WcHlaJnw/90ece91bbe47ed07e142c2e43c7a7a3f/BookTickets-250.png)](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/34162-dracula-a-comedy-of-terrors)

## Other fall Broadway shows to see

These shows don't even cover all the exciting work on stage this fall. Other notable productions include [*My Window*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/25987-melissa-etheridge-my-window-tickets), an intimate solo show from Melissa Etheridge; [*Appropriate*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/31352-appropriate-tickets), the Broadway-debut play of Pulitzer Prize finalist Branden Jacobs-Jenkins starring Sarah Paulson; and [*Danny and the Deep Blue Sea*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/32606-danny-and-the-deep-blue-sea), an Off-Broadway play with Broadway-caliber talent: [Christopher Abbott](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/christopher-abbott) and [Aubrey Plaza](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/aubrey-plaza) in her stage debut.

So follow the stars — the stars' recommendations, that is — and see all the Broadway fall season has to offer.

Get [tickets to Broadway shows](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/whats-on/broadway-shows) on New York Theatre Guide.

[![Book Tickets CTA - LT/NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/3qAtGOdQq9x3k1WcHlaJnw/90ece91bbe47ed07e142c2e43c7a7a3f/BookTickets-250.png)](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/whats-on/broadway-shows)

*Quotes have been condensed and edited for length and clarity.*

Broadway fall preview: Stars share the shows they can't wait to see

fall preview-1200x600-NYTG

Cast members from this fall's hottest new shows and long-running hits share which new Broadway musicals and plays they're looking forward to this season.

Rush to her window! [*Melissa Etheridge: My Window*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/25987-melissa-etheridge-my-window-tickets), a Broadway solo show from the award-winning musician, will offer rush tickets to all performances, which begin tonight, September 14, at the [Circle in the Square Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/circle-in-the-square-theatre).

Rush tickets are available for $47.50 the morning of each performance [on the TodayTix app](https://www.todaytix.com/nyc/shows/25987-melissa-etheridge--my-window-on-broadway), beginning at 9 a.m. Users can download the TodayTix app on an iOS or Android device and purchase up to two tickets  for that afternoon or evening's show.

A limited number of rush tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Users can set an alert on the TodayTix app to be notified when rush tickets are available each day.

In *My Window*, Etheridge performs her Grammy Award-winning hits, previously unreleased songs from her early career, and everything in between as she shares stories from her life. This intimate show premiered off Broadway last year to critical acclaim, and now runs on Broadway through November 19.

Get [*Melissa Etheridge: My Window* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/25987-melissa-etheridge-my-window-tickets) now.

[![Book Tickets CTA - LT/NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/3qAtGOdQq9x3k1WcHlaJnw/90ece91bbe47ed07e142c2e43c7a7a3f/BookTickets-250.png)](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/25987-melissa-etheridge-my-window-tickets)

*Photo credit: Melissa Etheridge performing off Broadway. (Photo courtesy of production)*

'Melissa Etheridge: My Window' to offer Broadway rush tickets on TodayTix

melissa etheridge-1200x600-NYTG

The Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter's theatrical solo concert is playing on Broadway for two months only at the Circle in the Square Theatre.

Wait for it. Ever since Leslie Odom, Jr. wrapped his award-winning and career-boosting star turn in [*Hamilton*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/384-hamilton-tickets) in 2016, we’ve been cooling our heels in anticipation of his Broadway return. 

Seven years later, he’s back – and not in a musical. Odom shoulders the title role in the first Broadway revival of Ossie Davis’s 1961 play, [*Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/27642-purlie-victorious-tickets). Odom plays a traveling preacher on a mission in smalltown Georgia.

Odom has been busy while he’s been off stage. He stars opposite Ellen Burstein in horror sequel *The Exorcist: Believer*, opening October 3. Last year, he was part of the starry ensemble of the thriller *Glass Onion*. But his roots as a theatre star remain strong.

Now that Odom's back on Broadway, take a romp through his notable theatre and stage-adjacent roles.

Get [*Purlie Victorious* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/27642-purlie-victorious-tickets) now.

[![Book Tickets CTA - LT/NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/3qAtGOdQq9x3k1WcHlaJnw/90ece91bbe47ed07e142c2e43c7a7a3f/BookTickets-250.png)](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/27642-purlie-victorious-tickets)

## *Rent*

Seasons of love can bring Broadway firsts. In 1998, at 17 years old, Odom made his debut as a replacement in Jonathan Larson’s Pulitzer-winning rock musical. He covered multiple roles, including a cop and Paul, who shines in “Life Support,” a reminder that there’s “no day but today.”

![smash leslie-1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/cAmDh5XJpxHxpMSbF5JCx/c27b164f5b907d2c21fa87038f95daf6/smash_leslie-1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

## *Smash*

As if a theatre fan needs a recap: The 2012 NBC series covered the ups, downs, and sideways of creating a Marilyn Monroe musical. Odom played Sam, an ensemble member who is friends with Ivy ([Megan Hilty](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/megan-hilty-jennifer-simard-to-lead-death-becomes-her-musical-in-chicago), a contender for the star part), and dates the composer, Tom ([Christian Borle](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/christian-borle), now in [*Some Like It Hot*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/24262-some-like-it-hot-tickets)).

![leap of faith leslie-1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/2HWZxEFr8RNHWKukFvaM3Y/8bc99db83888019cab67b4c1493ba0d0/leap_of_faith_leslie-1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

## *Leap of Faith*

Based on the 1992 Steve Martin movie, the 2012 Broadway musical adaptation starred Raúl Esparza as a con man faking it as a holy roller. Odom, reprising his role from a 2010 Los Angeles run, played the upright Isaiah Sturdevant. The show’s reviews were mixed, but one critic called out Odom as “fantastic.”

![venice leslie-1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/26LLKbUX32mukU1KQOuYm7/254b8f44b16f5d044680b376b8989eb5/venice_leslie-1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

## *Venice*

Based loosely on the Shakespeare classic *Othello*, the hip-hop-flavored musical by Matt Sax and Eric Rosen is set in a war-torn, not-so-distant future, where broken ties between two brothers parallel the relationship between Othello and Iago. Odom played Markos, a warmongering commander. The Public Theater presentation ran in 2013.

![tick tick boom leslie-1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/RdVqRWMv60Lo1O13ImihJ/75db4beba495a4c66cf55a59f8a79844/tick_tick_boom_leslie-1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

## *Tick, Tick… Boom!*

In 2014, Odom starred alongside Lin-Minuel Miranda and [Karen Olivo](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/karen-olivo) in *Rent* creator Jonathan Larson’s autobiographical musical about a struggling songwriter, Jon, who’s questioning his future. In the weeklong run with the Encores! Off-Center series of rarely revived musicals, Odom played the artist’s best friend.

![hamilton leslie-1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/48lv8PPFBMbyYXlL4XYopo/d5492fcc6972f7f807ac5b49d34b3a32/hamilton_leslie-1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

## *Hamilton*

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s 2015 landmark musical about Alexander Hamilton cast a brilliant spotlight on Odom, who confidently stepped into it and slayed as Aaron Burr, “the damn fool that shot” and killed the “$10 Founding Father.” He won a Tony and a Grammy and left indelible musical marks with “Wait for It,” “The Room Where It Happens,” and “Dear Theodosia.” 

Get [*Hamilton* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/384-hamilton-tickets) now.

[![Book Tickets CTA - LT/NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/3qAtGOdQq9x3k1WcHlaJnw/90ece91bbe47ed07e142c2e43c7a7a3f/BookTickets-250.png)](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/384-hamilton-tickets)

![miami leslie-1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/4OHHeG0nkS1YwZ6tygzym3/7022835d7d17afdd76c222041f16dc9c/miami_leslie-1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

## *One Night in Miami...*

Odom earned an Oscar nomination for his portrait of Sam Cooke in this 2020 film directed by Regina King. Author Kemp Powers based the movie script on his 2013 play of the same name that imagines what went down at an actual February 1964 meeting of four African American icons: Cooke, Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, and Jim Brown. Odom’s role included performing “A Change Is Gonna Come,” a song that would emerge as a civil rights anthem.

![purlie leslie-1200x600-NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/22qYF2FHxPg19uY9bIKBeH/39d9abda6097adbd76fba92fe5b7b990/purlie_leslie-1200x600-NYTG.jpg)

## *Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch*

It’s been more than six decades since the play’s Broadway debut, and the repressive attitudes it targets makes it seem evergreen. Odom plays Purlie, who returns to his hometown in the south with hopes of integrating a church. It won’t be easy. Expect the fanged comedy to sink its teeth into enduring stereotypes — and Odom to take us all to church as only he can.

Get [*Purlie Victorious* tickets](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/27642-purlie-victorious-tickets) now.

[![Book Tickets CTA - LT/NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/3qAtGOdQq9x3k1WcHlaJnw/90ece91bbe47ed07e142c2e43c7a7a3f/BookTickets-250.png)](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/27642-purlie-victorious-tickets)

Leslie Odom, Jr. theatre roles we love

hamilton leslie-1200x600-NYTG

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

Purlie Victorious on Broadway - NYC

Purlie Victorious on Broadway

The Tony and Grammy Award-winning *Hamilton* star has a long career on and off Broadway, and he now returns to the stage to lead *Purlie Victorious*.

A new revival of *Uncle Vanya* will premiere on Broadway this spring, in a new translation by Heidi Schreck. Lila Neugebauer will direct the Lincoln Center Theater production, which begins performances at the [Vivian Beaumont Theater](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/vivian-beaumont-theater) on April 2 ahead of an April 24 opening.

The classic play by Anton Chekhov follows the title character and his niece, whose lives are upended when Sonya's father and his wife move in. Past resentments, troubled romances, and family tensions erupt on a once-calm family farm.

*Uncle Vanya*, which premiered in 1899 and has received 10 prior Broadway productions, remains one of Chekhov's best-known and most beloved works. This new version is by Heidi Schreck, best known for her Pulitzer- and Tony-nominated work *What the Constitution Means to Me*.

Director Lila Neugebauer has two productions on Broadway this season: before *Uncle Vanya*, she directs Brandon Jacobs-Jenkins's [*Appropriate*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/31352-appropriate-tickets), starring [Sarah Paulson](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/sarah-paulson), in the fall season. She is also known for directing *The Waverly Gallery* on Broadway, *The Wolves* off Broadway, and the film *Causeway* starring Jennifer Lawrence.

The *Uncle Vanya* creative team also includes set designer Mimi Lien, costume designer Kaye Voyce, lighting designer Lap Chi Chu, and sound designers Mikhail Fiksel and Beth Lake.

Casting has yet to be announced.

*Photo credit: Heidi Schreck in What the Constitution Means to Me. (Photo by Joan Marcus)*

New 'Uncle Vanya,' adapted by Heidi Schreck, to premiere on Broadway

heidi schreck-1200x600-NYTG

The Tony Award nominee and Pulitzer Prize finalist will write a new translation of the classic play by Anton Chekhov for a production in Lincoln Center.

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