Now Playing: Plays
May 5 - May 11
WHAT'S HERE: This page lists plays currently being presented in New York. Click on show titles to find out more about that show, including performance dates & times, ticket prices & ordering information, and cast & other credits. Starred shows are considered to be noteworthy or of special interest by NYTE's editor. Want your show listed on nytheatre.com? Visit the Theatre Company Resource Center to learn how.
LAST CHANCE!
These shows are closing this week
A Piece of My Heart: A revival of Shirley Lauro's play about a group of young military and civilian women who go to the Vietnam War. Presented by Red Fern Theatre Company. Closes May 11, 2008.
Babylon Babylon: A new play by Jeff Lewonczyk about ritual prostitution at the Temple of Ishtar in the ancient city of Babylon. Closes May 10, 2008.
Bordertown: (re:)Directions Theatre Company presents a new play by Steve Ives about a group of disparate people brought together during a tornado. Closes May 11, 2008.
Bridge Over Land: A triptych of new short related plays by Gilbert Girion. Presented by Interart Theatre Annex. Closes May 10, 2008.
Broadway Bound: A revival of Neil Simon's play about a young man who is about to get his first job and leave home. Presented by YCP TheaterWorks. Closes May 11, 2008.
Brothers: A new theatre piece by Andrea Paciotto and Jacavaz Company from Bosnia, inspired by stories from the Old Testament and based on a poem by Ellen Stewart. Closes May 11, 2008.
Crooked: A comedy by Catherine Trieschmann about an aspiring writer with an imagination as off-kilter as her awkward adolescence. Closes May 11, 2008.
Elections & Erections: A new one-man show by South African actor/activist/satirist Pieter Dirk Uys. Presented by La MaMa and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Closes May 7, 2008.
Henry VI: An Experiment: A series of 12 significant scenes from Shakespeare’s rarely performed early history trilogy, presented by Midlantic Theatre Company. Closes May 10, 2008.
How Theater Failed America: A new monologue by Mike Daisey that explores the current state of American theatre. Closes May 11, 2008.
No Man Can Serve Two Masters: A modern parable by Michael Levesque that tells of Man’s experience as he decides which master to serve: love or fear. Presented by Third Eye Theatre Company. Closes May 10, 2008.
One of a Kind: A play by Yossi Vassa and Shai Ben Attar about the exodus of thousands of Ethiopian Jews to Israel in the late 1900s. Closes May 11, 2008.
Sunrise at the Quarry: Black Door Theatre Company presents a play by Nick Sanzo about five friends, from high school through their lat 20s. Closes May 11, 2008.
The Caucasian Chalk Circle: Hipgnosis Theatre Company presents a revival of the play by Bertolt Brecht that centers on a fable of a simple maid who makes countless sacrifices to raise a child that is not her own. Closes May 11, 2008.
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged): A revival of this comic look at all of Shakespeare's plays and sonnets; presented by The Sackett Group (Brooklyn). Closes May 11, 2008.
The Fever Chart: Three Versions of the Middle East: A new play by Naomi Wallace set in three different locations in the Middle East. This is part of the PUBLIC LAB series. Closes May 11, 2008.
The Judas Tree: A new play by Mary Fengar Gail loosely based on the crimes of Dorothea Puente. Presented by MultiStages. Closes May 11, 2008.
Time is the Mercy of Eternity: A program of four new short plays by Deb Margolin, presented by Six Figures Theatre Company and Purple Man Theater. Closes May 10, 2008.
Wanderlust: A solo show by Martin Dockery about his five-month excursion to West Africa and the Sahara. Closes May 9, 2008.
When is a Clock: A new play by Matthew Freeman about a man whose wife disappears, and the only clue to her whereabouts is a dog-eared book. Presented by Blue Coyote Theater Group. Closes May 10, 2008.
{Extinguish.}: A solo show written and performed by Ezra LeBank, described as a physically exhilarating ride in which a French clown, Irish Nationalist, slam poet, et al, grapple with the edges of life. Closes May 24, 2008.
13th Street Rep Quickies!: An evening of seven short plays. Closes May 15, 2008.
A Midsummer Night's Dream: A new production of Shakespeare's famous play, presented by Lightbulb Theatre Company outdoors at 6B Community Garden. Performances are free. Performances are this week only.
A Muse in Manhattan: A new play by Terence Patrick Hughes in which the Muse asks the question, how far would you go for fame? Closes May 18, 2008.
A Year in the Life. . .: The New York premiere of a play by Matthew Fotis in which the lives of 25 strangers are woven together. Presented by Ten Grand Productions. Closes May 18, 2008.
Accomplice: New York: An interactive theatre experience combining a scavenger hunt and a walking tour of Lower Manhattan.
Accomplice: The Village: A new theatrical interactive outdoor adventure from the team behind Accomplice: New York, this time set in Greenwich Village.
All Eyes and Ears: A new play by Rogelio Martinez about a seamstress who is catapulted into a new house, new life, and new government job in 1961 Cuba. Presented by INTAR. Closes May 22, 2008.
Almost an Evening: A program of three short comic plays by Ethan Coen; this show originated earlier this season at Atlantic Theatre's Stage 2. Closes June 1, 2008.
Appearance--A Suspense in Being: An original performance work by the Actors Research Group, featuring a technique that's described as "jazz acting." At Theaterlab. Closes May 17, 2008.
Arcadia: Phare Play Productions presents a revival of Tom Stoppard's play about two generations of a British family, two centuries apart. Performances are this week only.
Armor of Wills: The Beggars Group present a new play by Randy Anderson about a man who is bleeding to death. Closes May 17, 2008.
August: Osage County: A new play by Tracy Letts about a Midwestern family whose patriarch has vanished.
Baby Love: A revival of Christen Clifford's solo show about how having a baby affects a mother's life. Closes June 8, 2008.
Bait: A two-actor, 28-character play by David Sisco about gay speed dating in contemporary NYC. Closes May 19, 2008.
Ben- A Very Personal Account of Benjamin Franklin: Ryan Repertory Company presents a monodrama written by Bernard Myers about the life and works of Benjamin Franklin. At the Harry Warren Theatre in Brooklyn. Closes May 18, 2008.
Betrayed: A new play by George Packer about three young Iraqis who go to work for the Americans during the recent invasion of their country. Closes June 28, 2008.
Birthright: A new play by Jackie Alexander about two New Orleans families one year after Hurricane Katrina. At the Billie Holiday Thaetre in Brooklyn. In previews; opens on May 16, 2008.
Boeing-Boeing: A comedy about a bachelor and his three fiancees, who are all flight attendants.
Bouffon Glass Menajoree: A return engagement of the clown-style parody of Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie. Closes May 27, 2008.
Boxed In: Two New Plays: A program of two plays: Cornered by Kellie Arens and Transit by Jonathan Albert. Presented by Project Oriented Productions Closes May 18, 2008.
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof: A revival of Tennessee Williams's famous play, with an all African American cast. Directed by Debbie Allen. Closes June 22, 2008.
Cherry Docs: The New York premiere of a play by David Gow about a neo-Nazi skinhead on trial and his Jewish court-appointed lawyer. Presented by Theatre of the Expendable. Closes May 18, 2008.
Colorful World: A new play by James Comtois that envisions a world radically changed by the arrival of an invincible man, and not necessarily for the better. Presented by Nosedive Productions. Closes May 31, 2008.
Come Again: A free staged reading of Rich Orloff's comedy, which he describes as "Plaza Suite with a libido." Performances are this week only.
Cooperative Village: A new play written and performed by Frances Madeson about the events that happen after a woman finds a dead body in her laundry room. Closes May 31, 2008.
Damascus: A new comedy by David Greig about an English language textbook salesman on assignment to the oldest continuously inhabited city on earth. This is part of the Brits Off Broadway festival. In previews; opens on May 11, 2008.
Endgame: A revival of Samuel Beckett's play starring John Turturro and directed by Andrei Belgrader. Closes May 18, 2008.
Ernst C. Stiefel “7@7” Reading Series: A weekly reading series of new plays. Closes June 2, 2008.
Everyman: A new production of the famous medieval morality play. Closes June 1, 2008.
F*ck Me, B*at Me, L*ve Me: A new play by Kevin Podgorski about a gay couple who confuse their own personal problems with the problems in their relationship. Closes May 24, 2008.
Fifth of July: Michael Chekhov Theatre Company presents a revival of Lanford Wilson's play about a Vietnam veteran, his lover, and his dysfunctional extended family. Closes May 13, 2008.
From Up Here: The world premiere of a play by Liz Flahive about a teenage boy who has to publicly apologize to his entire high school. Closes June 8, 2008.
Giant Place Detail: A performance piece by the Shua Group that will reveal daily life in the Winter Garden from the perspective of cleaners, clerks, bankers, brokers, reporters, etc who actually inhabit the Winter Garden. This is part of the World Financial Center's 20th anniversary celebration. Performances are this week only.
God's Ear: A play by Jenny Schwartz about a married couple trying to deal with the loss of a child. Closes May 18, 2008.
Good Boys and True: A new play by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa about a scandal at a boys' prep school in the 1980s. In previews; opens on May 19, 2008.
Jackie Mason--The Ultimate Jew: The eighth (and, he says, final) one-man show starring the legendary comic.
John Lithgow: Stories By Heart: A one-man show performed by John Lithgow, described as a meditation on the art and essence of storytelling. In previews; opens on May 12, 2008.
Keen Teens: A program of short plays performed by 28 New York City teens; presented by Keen Company and Playscripts, Inc. Performances are this week only.
Last Jew in Europe: A tragicomedy by Tuvia Tenenbom about the resurgence of anti-Semitism in today’s Europe. Presented by The Jewish Theatre of New York.
Legends, Myths, and Hieroglyphs: A new play by Demetrius Wren about a young boy in Mississippi who is trying to make sense of the world around him without the guidance of a father. Presented by Mainspring Collective. Performances are this week only.
Les Liaisons Dangereuses: Roundabout Theatre Company presents a revival of Christopher Hampton's play about two scheming friends and occasional lovers. Closes July 6, 2008.
Line: Israel Horovitz's one-act dark comedy about a group of people who are waiting on line, though they don't know for what. Now in its 32nd year.
Lysistrata: The Queens Players present a new production of the comedy by Aristophanes. Closes May 17, 2008.
Macbeth: The Chichester Festival Theatre production of Shakespeare's famous play comes to Broadway; starring Patrick Stewart. Closes May 24, 2008.
Marathon 2008: The 30th annual festival of one-act plays, featuring work by Frank D. Gilroy, Neil LaBute, Taylor Mac, Jose Rivera, and many others. Closes June 21, 2008.
Me: A new play by Kirk Wood Bromley that explores what plays and playwrights are for; with music by John Gideon. Presented by Inverse Theater Company. Closes May 24, 2008.
Mill Fire: A revival of the play by Sally Nemeth about a woman who goes up against the company that dominates her town. Closes May 24, 2008.
My First Time: A new play written and directed by Ken Davenport featuring true accounts of first sexual experiences.
My Mother's Italian, My Father's Jewish & I'm in Therapy: A one-man comedy by Steve Solomon, performed by Paul Kreppel.
Naked: A bare-all look at Wreckio Ensemble's creative process, featuring three original plays in various stages of development. Closes May 17, 2008.
November: A new play by David Mamet that takes place days before a major presidential election, and involves civil marriages, gambling casinos, lesbians, American Indians, presidential libraries, questionable pardons, and campaign contributions.
Occupant: A portrait of acclaimed sculptor Louise Nevelson and a quest to capture a charismatic and complex artist and persona. This is a new work by Edward Albee, starring Mercedes Ruehl. In previews; opens on June 5, 2008.
Old Comedy from Aristophanes' Frogs: A new adaptation of Aristophanes's famous satire, written by David Greenspan. Presented by Target Margin Theater. In previews; opens on May 11, 2008.
Past Half Remembered: New Victory Theatre presents this show by New International Encounter Visual Theatre, about a woman who survived a hundred years of turmoil in Russia. Closes May 25, 2008.
Perfect Crime: Convoluted murder mystery involving a dangerous psychiatrist, her patient, a detective, and a man who may or may not be her husband. Implausible, but entertaining; this is the longest-running straight play in New York history.
Phallic Fables: A Rabelaisian Epic: Short plays by Walter Corwin about sex and the future. Closes May 18, 2008.
Port Authority: The New York premiere of a play by Conor McPherson about three generations of Irishmen and their experiences with loss, failure, and elusive love. In previews; opens on May 21, 2008.
Rafta, Rafta: The New Group presents a comedy by Ayub Khan-Din about a close-knit Indian family living in England, and how their lives are disrupted when the elder son moves in with his new bride. Closes June 21, 2008.
Retrograde: All Balls Out Ensemble presents a theatre work that interprets the astronomical phenomenon of "retrograde motion" via human interaction on the stage. Closes May 16, 2008.
Running: Milk Can Theatre Company presents the world premiere of a play by Sharon E. Cooper about three gay men and a widow at a funeral. Closes May 17, 2008.
Steve and Idi: A new play by David Grimm about a gay man who is visited by the ghost of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. Closes May 24, 2008.
Street Limbo Blues: An interactive environmental play by the Hawaiian troupe Cruel Theatre. The performance takes place all around Tompkins Square Park. Closes May 18, 2008.
Stretch (a fantasia): This new play by Susan Bernfield imagines the final days of Rose Mary Woods, Richard M. Nixon's longtime loyal secretary. Closes May 26, 2008.
Substitution: A new play by Anton Dudley about a woman coping with the death of her son. Closes May 17, 2008.
The 39 Steps: A comic parody of the famous Hitchcock thriller, with four actors playing all the roles.
The 5 Borough Plays: Milk Can Theatre Company presents a program of five original short plays inspired by the five boroughs of New York City. Closes May 18, 2008.
The Accidental Patriot: Stolen Chair Theatre Company presents a new play by Kiran Rikhye, described as an original 1930s-style swashbuckler (as Sophocles might have written it if he’d been under contract to Warner Brothers) set against the tumultuous backdrop of the American Revolution. Closes May 17, 2008.
The Actor's Nightmare & The Real Inspector Hound: T. Schreiber Studio presents a double bill of these meta-theatrical comedies by Christopher Durang and Tom Stoppard. Closes June 15, 2008.
The Aspern Papers: A new play by Martin Zuckerman based on Henry James's famous novella, presented by Turtle Shell Productions. Closes May 24, 2008.
The Best Party Ever: A comedy about a keg party, written by Annie Ward. At the Richmond Shepard Theatre. Closes July 5, 2008.
The Buddha: In His Own Words: A one-man play written and performed by Evan Brenner that depicts the life of the Buddha, assembled entirely from the oldest texts. At the Lumber Theater. Closes June 28, 2008.
The Bully Pulpit: A play written and performed by Michael O. Smith about Theodore Roosevelt. In previews; opens on May 14, 2008.
The Castle: A new theatre piece that offers a first-hand look at the lives of four formerly incarcerated New Yorkers and their re-entry into society.
The Country Girl: A revival of Clifford Odets's play about an alcoholic former star trying to make a comeback. Mike Nichols directs.
The Eccentricities of a Nightingale: A revival of Tennessee Williams's play, which is a revision of his own Summer and Smoke; presented by The Actors Company Theatre. Closes May 24, 2008.
The Fifth Column: The world premiere of a play by Ernest Hemingway about a counter-espionage agent during the Spanish Civil War. Closes May 18, 2008.
The Four of Us: When Benjamin's first novel vaults him into literary stardom, his friend David, a struggling playwright, is thrilled for his newfound success...or is he? This is a new play by Itamar Moses. Closes May 18, 2008.
The Ghost Dancers: Stone Soup Theatre presents a new play by Adam Hunault about the Lakota Sioux and a "standoff for the earth at Wounded Knee." Closes May 24, 2008.
The Hey You Monster: Bring Us the Head of Your Daughter: A new play by Derek Ahonen described as a monumental exploration on man's accusatory nature. Presented by The Amoralists. This is the second part, about the mothers of a 21-year-old cannibal. Closes June 1, 2008.
The Hey You Monster: Pokin the Bears in a Zoo: A new play by Derek Ahonen described as a monumental exploration on man's accusatory nature. Presented by The Amoralists. This is the first part, about the aftermath of a murder. Closes June 1, 2008.
The Imagination Compact: A weekly play reading series of works that riff on A Midsummer Night's Dream; presented by Flux Theatre Ensemble Closes May 19, 2008.
The Importance of Being Earnest: A revival of the classic comedy of manners by Oscar Wilde. Closes June 8, 2008.
The Manhattan Monologue Slam: A monthly "slam" competition featuring actors doing monologues, with judges; hosted by the Galinsky Brothers.
The New Century: Lincoln Center Theater presents a program of four short new plays by Paul Rudnick that looks at where the new century might be heading. Closes June 8, 2008.
The Quantum Eye: A one-man show featuring Sam Eaton performing a variety of feats of mentalism and illusion.
The Rapid Response Team: An evening of original theatre, presented in live radio format, based on the past week's news. Closes May 16, 2008.
The Set-Up: A new comedy written and directed by James Lindenberg about a very bad blind date. Closes May 22, 2008.
The Small of Her Back: A new play by Russell Leigh Sharman about a shut-in who spends lots of time in chat rooms, who is visited by someone who may not be who he claims. Presented by Jaradoa Theater at the 411 Theater. Closes May 19, 2008.
The Sound and the Fury (April Seventh, 1928): A new work by Elevator Repair Service, based on the novel by William Faulkner. Closes May 18, 2008.
The Unconquered: A new play by Torben Betts about a young girl and a mercenary soldier who is an intruder in her home. This is part of the Brits Off Broadway festival. Closes May 18, 2008.
The Wild, Wild Women of Wakky-Nunu!: A new comedy by Frank Cwiklik set in an island paradise inhabited by a tribe of beautiful Amazons. Closes June 3, 2008.
Thurgood: A new play about Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Closes August 3, 2008.
Tony n' Tina's Wedding: The long-running interactive comedy, featuring a wedding and dinner/reception. At Sofia's Restaurant on 46th Street.
Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind: A program of 30 plays in 60 minutes, presented by the Neo-Futurists.
Top Girls: A revival of Caryl Churchill's play from the early '80s about an ambitious woman who has just been appointed the head of an employment agency. Presented by Manhattan Theatre Club. Closes June 22, 2008.
Turning Point: A program of original short plays, presented by OneHeart Productions. Performances are this week only.
Two Rooms: A revival of Lee Blessing's play about hostage-taking in the Middle East, presented by Roust Theatre Company. Closes May 31, 2008.
Van Driver: A 1960s style happening exploring life-altering experiences and the bohemian counter-culture. Closes June 7, 2008.
With the Current: A new adaptation of a Yiddish play by Sholem Asch. Presented by New Worlds Theatre Project. Closes May 18, 2008.
Women Who Steal: A comedy by Carter W. Lewis about love, marriage, adultery, and the strange friendships you pick up along the highway of life. In previews; opens on May 10, 2008.
Yellow Moon: A new play by David Greig about two teenagers on the run in the Highlands of Scotland. This is part of the Brits Off Broadway festival. Closes May 18, 2008.
