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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
DEGENERATES written by Elise Went, Directed by Emma Rosa Went. Playwrights Horizons
3,4,10 SERVING CULT La Rizo. Joe's Pub
"Part music. Part comedy. Part glittering social examination. Add a little seduction, a little ritual, and a suspicious amount of enthusiastic group behavior. Relax into the thrill of being told exactly what to do by your loving, gracious leader. There will be songs. Stories. Experiments. Revelations." Haven't seen her perform in a long time but it was memorable in the best way!
9-March 27 TELENOVELA an exhibition featuring multiple artists looking at the influential Latin TV form of the telenovela. Americas Society 680 Park Ave.
10-13 CURRICULUM IV SPIN AND SPIN! TURN, TURN TURN! collaboration btw Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company and composer Samora Pinderhughes. Free! 7:30pm Robert Wagner Park, 20 Battery Pl. presented by LMCC
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. If you saw her BRIDGE & TUNNEL from several years back, you'll know why she can take on a subject of this size.
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
17-Oct. 3 THE INVENTION OF LOVE by Tom Stoppard and featuring the always fascinating David Greenspan. Directed by Zachary Elkind, along with Sam Bolen, Annabel Capper, José Espinosa, Leland Fowler, Abrar Haque, Daniel Liu, Yaron Lotan, and Spencer Lutvak. Theatrelab
18-20 SONGS FROM BARK OF MILLIONS Taylor Mac/Matt Ray and a huge cast singing and carousing. Presented by Joe's Pub at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park 7:30. Expensive tickets but you can get free ones via online lottery and in-person lines at the Public and at Delacorte
19-20 THE ESSENCE OF US: A CUBAN STORY film about Cuban dance company Malpaso. 19th is 7pm screening at 92NY and 20 is streaming at noon.
19. CATCH 82 Chocolate Factory. 7pm With: LIZN’BOW ! Vape Kid Jr. ! Rudi Goblen ! Rawya El Chab ! Malcolm-x Betts ! Poncili Creación ! Karinne Keithley Syers ! Peter Jacobs & luciana achugar ! Big Dance Theater/Annie-B Parson !
24-Oct 18 FALLS FOR JODIE written by Eric Micha Holmes and directed by Terrence I Mosley. The Tank, 312 W. 36th. "Set in 1980 New Haven, Connecticut, imagines the months before John Hinckley Jr.‘s attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan. Newly arrived at the Colony Inn with a simple plan to make Jodie Foster his girlfriend, John meets Eddie, the hotel’s night concierge. The two discover they share the same dilemma: both are hopelessly in love with Yalies who don’t know they exist. When Eddie offers to connect John to Jodie in exchange for an investment, their business partnership blossoms into an unexpected friendship, revealing a growing crisis neither recognizes in the other before it’s too late."
24 ARTHUR JAFA: I AM TONY visionary cinematographer premieres new work. The New Museum
26-ongoing THE IMAGINARY INVALID Molière's always delightful farce, with Bill Irwin in the lead, opens on Broadway at Todd Haimes
26-27 UTOPIAS a project of Art in Odd Places (AiOP) curated by Arantxa Araujo & Pancho López. 14th Street in Manhattan 12-5pm. 26th will be 1st to 3rd Avenues, and 27th will be 6th to 10th Avenues.
28 EL BOHIO CULTURAL CENTER FUNDRAISER (former Charas) 6-10pm Theater for the New City, 155 First Ave.
OCTOBER
through Oct. 3 THE INVENTION OF LOVE by Tom Stoppard and featuring the always fascinating David Greenspan. Directed by Zachary Elkind, along with Sam Bolen, Annabel Capper, José Espinosa, Leland Fowler, Abrar Haque, Daniel Liu, Yaron Lotan, and Spencer Lutvak. Theatrelab
3 MEMORIAL FOR CHARLES DENNIS Performance Space New York/PSNY. 4-6pm. Honoring Charles, one of the founders of Performance Space 122/P.S. 122 (now PSNY) and a performer/videomaker/producer who had an enormous affect on the downtown dance and performance scene since the late 1970's
5 FIRST MONDAYS fabulous and free reading series curated by Sarah Schulman at PSNY. And Sarah herself will be reading at this one. 7pm
8-10 TOM AT THE FARM Michel Marc Bouchard's play about families, homophobia and male violence (made into a very effective film several years ago by Xavier Dolan) as staged by Brazil's Rodrigo Portella. NYU Skirball
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
15 MS. BLAKK FOR PRESIDENT Tina Landau, Tarell Alvin McCraney collaborate on a play about drag queen Joan Jett Blakk, who ran for President in 1992. Vineyard.
cont. through ? THE IMAGINARY INVALID Molière's always delightful farce, with Bill Irwin in the lead, on Broadway at Todd Haimes
cont. through March 27 TELENOVELA an exhibition featuring multiple artists looking at the influential Latin TV form of the telenovela. Americas Society 680 Park Ave.
cont- ARTHUR JAFA: I AM TONY visionary cinematographer premieres new work. The New Museum
cont. through Oct 18 FALLS FOR JODIE written by Eric Micha Holmes and directed by Terrence I Mosley. The Tank, 312 W. 36th. "Set in 1980 New Haven, Connecticut, imagines the months before John Hinckley Jr.‘s attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan. Newly arrived at the Colony Inn with a simple plan to make Jodie Foster his girlfriend, John meets Eddie, the hotel’s night concierge. The two discover they share the same dilemma: both are hopelessly in love with Yalies who don’t know they exist. When Eddie offers to connect John to Jodie in exchange for an investment, their business partnership blossoms into an unexpected friendship, revealing a growing crisis neither recognizes in the other before it’s too late."
22-25 AMERICAN DANCE GUILD 70TH ANNIVERSARY HONORING CHOREOGRAPHER PAT CATTERSON AND DANCE HISTORIAN/CRITIC SALLY SOMMER. Ailey Citigroup Theater, 405 W. 55th St. Featuring a great bunch of choreographers and companies, including Jody Oberfelder, Ballet Tech, Douglas Dunn, Graham 2, LaGuardia High Dance Dept.
29 ANTHRACITE FIELDS MacArthur Fellow Julia Wolfe's opera on labor and PA coal mines. Bang on a Can All-Stars at Skirball
NOVEMBER
6-7, 11-14 THIS IS THE BEGINNING, premiere by JOANNA KOTZE created in collaboration with her dancers and musicians. New York Live Arts/NYLA
10-Dec 6 ELEKTRA Sophokles translated by Anne Carson with music by Ted Hearne and directed by Daniel Fish. Expect a strange and inventive interpretation and a glorious translation. Theatre for a New Audience
12-14 DEAF REPUBLIC Dublin's Dead Centre in North American premiere. Deaf and hearing performers, puppets and live cinema. NYU Skirball
20-21 NEXUS DE L'ADORATION France's Joris Lacoste brings a "liturgy for no religion" to NYU Skirball in a concert/ceremony.
DECEMBER
7-13 INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS ARTS FESTIVAL. The Wild Project, 195 E. 3rd St.
cont. through 6 ELEKTRA Sophokles translated by Anne Carson with music by Ted Hearne and directed by Daniel Fish. Expect a strange and inventive interpretation and a glorious translation. Theatre for a New Audience
10-12 CONDOLENCE OR A RUG & AN ELF premiere of new work by Ain Gordon with Josh Quillen. New York Live Arts/NYLA Ain's work is always inventive, intricate and memorable. This is his third collaboration with Quillen.