New York

READING BETWEEN THE LINES OF FAME Broadway’s funniest staged reading proves that truth is often stranger —and funnier—than fiction Yevgeny Yevtushenko famously wrote, “A poet’s autobiography is his poetry. Anything else is just a footnote.” Judging by the material on display at the opening night of Celebrity Autobiography, many celebrities probably should have stopped at…

A TRIAL FOR LENNY—AND SOMETIMES THE VIEWER A courtroom drama that probes language, censorship, and the cost of pushing boundaries Unique among the performing arts, standup comedy is the only craft that cannot be sharpened without an audience. And, ironically, the only performing art that we allow, even expect, to deeply offend. Who ever heard…

PUT THIS IN YOUR WHEELHOUSE A show that takes its audience on a ride, and shifts gears from drama to comedy and back The oft-heard practical advice to authors hoping that their stories, novels, songs, plays, etc. will ring true is: “Write what you know.” Generally attributed to Mark Twain—who did pretty well for himself…

LET’S DO THE TIME WARP AGAIN AND AGAIN A high-energy revival proves this cult classic still knows how to party Unless you grew up in a monastery, had a severely conservative upbringing, or are just too young, you’ve probably seen or at least heard of the drag-tastic cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Maybe…

UNDER THE BIG TOP, A SMALL GEM ENDURES A tender revival of a vintage musical finds its strength in sincerity, not spectacle Poignancy, Pep, Pizzazz, and Puppets. If the age of 65 equals becoming a senior citizen, then the musical Carnival!—which opened on Broadway in April of 1961—is certainly eligible. But the current revival, now…

POLITICS, IN FULL DRAG: A CAMPAIGN LIKE NO OTHER Wayne Brady leads a wild, urgent, and unexpectedly timely ride through queer history and unfinished business. There have been outsider candidates before, but none quite like Joan Jett Blakk—the self-declared Black drag queen who ran for President of the United States in the early 1990s, armed…

A COMMUNITY PUSHED PAST THE LAW An electrifying solo tour de force that turns a town’s nightmare into gripping theater. The largest Off-Broadway cast this season—over a dozen roles—may well be at the Lucille Lortel Theatre. Remarkably, they’re played by one actor. That’s only one reason you should see the amazing Jack Holden in KENREX, the…

A PUZZLE WORTH SOLVING A slow-burn puzzle that rewards patience with emotional clarity In the middle of nowhere, in an abandoned house, Broken Snow begins with a promise. Kris (Tony Danza) steps forward and tells us he has a story—“one of utmost significance,” he insists, “a moment where everything changes.” It’s a bold promise, not…

STOP SIGNS AND SOCIAL SIGNALS Sharp, humane, and richly acted, this new comedy lands with both wit and weight In The Balusters, playwright David Lindsay-Abaire once again proves himself a master of tonal tightrope walking—balancing biting social critique with deep wells of empathy, all wrapped in the polished veneer of a parlor room comedy. Set…

FINDING YOUR SONG Debbie Allen’s revival honors Wilson’s depth with a richly realized production The Barrymore Theatre’s revival of August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, directed by the very talented Debbie Allen, is an exquisitely crafted classic production brought to life by a thoughtfully assembled cast and creative team. Set in 1911, the story…