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2026
MAY
cont. through 10 LA MAMA MOVES Dance Festival
through Sept. 6. ACT BLACK: Posters from Black American Stage & Screen. And LOVE & FURY: New York's Fight Against AIDS. Poster House
1-3 LONG PLAY: BANG ON A CAN 60+ concerts throughout Brooklyn schedule
5-June 14 ANIMAL WISDOM new work by Heather Christian, Directed by Keenan Tyler Oliphant. Signature Theatre. Two actors rotate playing "H" (Heather). I saw Kenita R. Miller and she was very powerful. Even in the moments where there is too much explaining and setting-up, we followed her. The music, and the performances, are wonderful and hit a lot of styles without seeming juke-boxy. I'm not big on "ritual" but so what? she got me. The structure is kinda puzzling but the content carries.
15-16 ORDINARY DAYS a new solo work by Leonora Champagne 7:30 Dixon Place
15-June 21. JEROME new play by my former student, the very accomplished John J Caswell, Jr. at Playwrights' Horizons. Everything John did at ASU when was bracing, unsettling and utterly unique. Earlier, Playwrights also presented his WET BRAIN. "Jerome, a ghost town in the secluded Arizona backcountry, is home to Con and Doane, an aging gay couple who’ve built a quiet life far from the chaos of cities and other people—until a stranger arrives, fleeing his damaged past, and falls into their arms. Set at the height of the AIDS epidemic, John J. Caswell, Jr.’s new play is an unexpectedly funny, delicately wrought story of survival, even in the harshest of deserts."
16-December 6 IRIS VAN HERPEN the brilliant costume/fashion designer/sculptor exhibition at Brooklyn Museum.
21-June 27 CAN I BE FRANK? Morgan Bassichis' brilliant, hysterical, complex evocation/extension/homage to the much loved performer, Frank Maya. Soho Playhouse. Back again after winning several awards.
22 MOST WANTED Jessica Hagedorn collaborates with composer Mark Bennett for free presentation of this new musical work. Part of American Songbook Festival at Lincoln Center Rubenstein Atrium 7:30. Free but reserve
27-July 7
3LD @ La Mama Immersive works by Kevin Cunningham, Chick Mee, James Scruggs.
-through May 31 VANESSA Samuel Barber/Gian Carlo Menotti. In English in new adaptation. Directed by RB Schlather. I am told it was quite brilliant at Williamstown Theatre Festival last year. Heartbeat Opera Company at Baruch Performing Arts Center.
JUNE
cont through 14 ANIMAL WISDOM new work by Heather Christian, Directed by Keenan Tyler Oliphant. Signature Theatre. Two actors rotate playing "H" (Heather). I saw Kenita R. Miller and she was very powerful. Even in the moments where there is too much explaining and setting-up, we followed her. The music, and the performances, are wonderful and hit a lot of styles without seeming juke-boxy. I'm not big on "ritual" but so what? she got me. The structure is kinda puzzling but the content carries.
- June 20 WELL, I'LL LET YOU GO. Written by Bubba Weiler, directed by Jack Serio. I've heard very good things about this new play at Seaview
cont. through June 21. JEROME new play by my former student, the very accomplished John J Caswell, Jr. at Playwrights' Horizons. Everything John did at ASU when was bracing, unsettling and utterly unique. Earlier, Playwrights also presented his WET BRAIN. "Jerome, a ghost town in the secluded Arizona backcountry, is home to Con and Doane, an aging gay couple who’ve built a quiet life far from the chaos of cities and other people—until a stranger arrives, fleeing his damaged past, and falls into their arms. Set at the height of the AIDS epidemic, John J. Caswell, Jr.’s new play is an unexpectedly funny, delicately wrought story of survival, even in the harshest of deserts."
cont through Aug 17 GREATER NEW YORK MOMA/PS1 survey or NYC based artists.
5-7 INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS FESTIVAL/HANNAH ARENDT a series of performances and discussions focused on work made in response to Arendt's writing. 30th St. Theatre, 259 W. 30th St. co-sponsored by Bard College/Hannah Arendt Center
cont through 27 CAN I BE FRANK? Morgan Bassichis' brilliant, hysterical, complex evocation/extension/homage to the much loved performer, Frank Maya. Soho Playhouse. Back again after winning several awards.
cont. through December 6 IRIS VAN HERPEN the brilliant costume/fashion designer/sculptor exhibition at Brooklyn Museum.
12-July 13 STRIP Jimmy DeSana, Carolee Schneemann, Martha Wilson (with Jacki Apple) exhibit at P.P.O.W Gallery, 392 Broadway, featuring the documentation of Wilson/Apple's 1973 TRANSFORMANCE, in which Jacki and Martha disguised themselves as wealthy women and spent the day visiting art galleries and luxurious restaurants. A kind of invisible theatre and beautifully documented piece of public performance of identity shift and tricksterism.
19 OH SANKOFAH! written/directed by Carl Hancock-Rux at Lincoln Center Junteenth Celebration Festival 6pm. Through music, choral performance, dance, and storytelling, pays tribute to the use of African-American folklore as a vital means of survival during the trauma of the Transatlantic Slave Trade. The work features actor/comedian Phyllis Yvonne Stickney; performers Vinson Fraley and Chanon Judson; blues jazz guitarist Marvin Sewell; the Etienne Lashley Choir; Jamel Gaines Creative Outlet Dance Theater; and contemporary art garments and installation by Dianne Smith. Free but better access of you reserve.
30-July 26 THE POTLUCK by César Alvarez, directed by Sarah Benson. Soho Rep at Playwrights Horizons. Based on Alvarez' childhood as a member of survivor community of 1979 Greensboro Massacre in North Carolina. A musical about ghosts and capitalism. I've never seen a disappointing show at Soho Rep.
JULY
5 CATCH! on Governors' Island! Catchball at 1:30 and shows at 5:30 as part of LMCC River to River Festival
2-26 OTHELLO Classical Theatre of Harlem at Marcus Garvey Park
cont. through July 13 STRIP Jimmy DeSana, Carolee Schneemann, Martha Wilson (with Jacki Apple) exhibit at P.P.O.W Gallery, 392 Broadway, featuring the documentation of Wilson/Apple's 1973 TRANSFORMANCE, in which Jacki and Martha disguised themselves as wealthy women and spent the day visiting art galleries and luxurious restaurants. A kind of invisible theatre and beautifully documented piece of public performance of identity shift and tricksterism.
cont. through July 26 THE POTLUCK by César Alvarez, directed by Sarah Benson. Soho Rep at Playwrights Horizons. Based on Alvarez' childhood as a member of survivor community of 1979 Greensboro Massacre in North Carolina. A musical about ghosts and capitalism. I've never seen a disappointing show at Soho Rep.
15-26 AND...Mabou Mines teams up with The Tank to present a series of one-night only performances by such folks as Carl Hancock Rux, Jeannie Hutchins, Will Bond, Tei Blow, Gardiner Comfort and many more.
23-26 John Jesurun's fascinating, intimate LETTER OF INTENT returns for very limited run in a small apartment in the West Village. With: Asta Hansen,Benjamin Forster,Claire Buckingham,Dan Kuan Peeples. Reservations/Info~ apartment1.org@gmail.com
AUGUST
21 WHEN VOICES RISE: A NEW GENERATION OF PROTEST SONGS. Organized by Jaime Lozano and Nancy Cheser and curated from 200 submissions. Joe's Pub 7pm and featuring winning songwriters Crys Matthews, Karina Daza, and Rissi Palmer, alongside finalists Mare Berger, Rosabella and Dina Gregory, Victor V. Gurbo, Aly Halpert, Eric C. Jones, Lauren Marcus, Rebecca Murillo, and Rona Siddiqui.
SEPTEMBER
11-27 AMERICA, WHO HURT YOU? Sarah Jones new solo work directed by Eric Ting. National Black Theatre/Theatre for a New Audience at Polonsky Center
12-27 CITIZEN ARTS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL. Elena Siyanko (former PS21 and current Ukrainian Museum director) and co-directors, collaborating with CUNY Graduate Center present a series of multidisciplinary works
OCTOBER
13-15 PRELUDE, presented by En Garde Arts and BAM Written by Charles L. Mee. Original Songs by the Lazours. Adapted and Directed by Anne Bogart. Free outdoor performance at 7:30pm, 300 Ashland Plaza, L10 Windows
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER