Gregory Fletcher

DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE OF RAGE As the inaugural production at the new Studio Seaview (formerly Second Stage on 43rd and 8th), Penelope Skinner’s Angry Alan opened June 11 for a limited run. Starring John Krasinski in a surprisingly intense and layered performance, the 85-minute play initially unfolds as a one-man show—until it isn’t. Krasinski…

EVENTUALLY, EVERYTHING COMES OUT IN THE WASH Woodie King Jr.’s New Federal Theatre has found a new home, relocating from the Lower East Side to the Upper West Side’s WP Theater. Their second offering, The Wash by Kelundra Smith, opened tonight—an earnest, history-minded drama recounting the overlooked 1881 labor strike by Black laundresses in Atlanta,…

THIS LUNAR ECLIPSE SHINES WITH QUIET GRACE The seven stages of a lunar eclipse unfold on the Irene Diamond Stage at The Pershing Square Signature Center, produced by Second Stage. This New York premiere of Donald Margulies’s newest play, which opened tonight, mirrors the structure of a lunar eclipse. Told in seven scenes with titles…

A FORGOTTEN CHAMPION RECLAIMED Rehearsal for Truth International Theater Festival, an annual showcase of contemporary European theater, is unfolding under the banner of Perseverance at Bohemian National Hall—a charming all-purpose venue on the Upper East Side with a pull-out proscenium stage at one end. While the space lends itself well to intimate storytelling, be advised:…

A WELL-INTENTIONED LOOK AT MENTAL ILLNESS Dream Big World Theatre, Inc. opened Gail Kriegel’s Cracked Open tonight at Off-Broadway’s Theatre Row, tackling the complex and often stigmatized subject of mental illness—especially in young adults. The play approaches this sensitive topic with sincerity and directness, portraying the heartbreak and helplessness that can ripple through a family…

A SURREAL, SKATER-RAP FEVER DREAM I’m not going to lie—I am not the intended audience for Bowl EP. But make no mistake: this is a well-mounted, undeniably audacious performance that resonated strongly with the younger, hipper crowd around me on opening night. Here’s what I know—and here’s what I saw. Oghenero Gbaje and Essence Lotus…

GOES FROM A Y2K POP TO GEN ZZZZZZZZ There was a buzz of anticipation in the air as the house lights blacked out at the Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theater—an audible fandom of excitement. Had clips already surfaced on TikTok? Had a cast recording dropped early? Or was it a lure of past performances: America’s…

JOHN PROCTOR GETS CANCELLED In an honors English classroom at a county high school in northeast Georgia, seven juniors are cracking open Arthur Miller’s The Crucible. Mr. Smith (Gabriel Ebert), a charismatic and respected teacher, leads the discussion. He poses a deceptively simple question: “Why are the girls dancing in the woods in the first…

MATH APPEAL The Monday Night Musicals series at the intimate Magnet Theater offers a vibrant platform for new work that blends comedic storytelling with musical innovation. Stripped down to the essentials — music, lyrics, and performance — the series feels like both a showcase and a springboard, providing a glimpse of shows that could thrive…

FLESHING IT OUT OF THE PARK The Monday Night Musicals series at the intimate Magnet Theater is serving up a theatrical amusement for those who like their bluegrass pickin’ with a side of post-apocalyptic patriarchy. Produced by Theater of Apes, this one-act musical runs through June on Mondays. The series spotlights new works that blend…