Broadway’s back, baby!

Broadway (Musicals):

Girl from North Country: This Broadway musical at the Belasco Theater tells the story of people from different backgrounds who come together to share a guesthouse during the Great Depression. The show is written and directed by Conor McPherson with music from Bob Dylan. But this is not your usual jukebox musical: Bob Dylan’s songs express a levity absent from the gloom of the characters’ lives. As this review from the New York Times puts it: Girl from North Country “shakes up its cultural clichés — which may make you think of passed-down, hard-times stories in your own family — to cut through to the genuine pain of a traumatic chapter in American history.”

SIX The Musical: SIX is a modern retelling of the lives of the six wives of Henry VIII (remember the old rhyme “divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived?”). Just hours before its originally scheduled opening in March 2020, the show was shut down due to COVID-19 restrictions, but this fall it makes its exciting return to Broadway at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. The six queens perform a pop concert for the audience where they each give a solo arguing that they suffered the most mistreatment from King Henry. Eventually, they come to realize that what matters most is the accomplishments they made outside their relationship. The show gives representation to women whose stories have long been absent from history. It has developed a following among young girls who flock to the theatre dressed in tiaras to sing along as the six queens each try to prove they had it worst. Before you see SIX, I would recommend reading this article from Vox which offers an interesting critique of the show’s attempt at a feminist message.

Broadway (Plays):

The Lehman Trilogy: The Lehman Trilogy opened this October to outstanding praise from audiences and critics. Simon Russell Beale, Adam Godley, and Adrian Lester portray the men of the Lehman family over three generations as they establish and grow the Lehman Brothers investment bank, then grapple with its collapse and the start of the 2008 financial crisis. The play comments on what it means to succeed at the “American Dream” through imaginative design and incredible ensemble work by the three actors. If you can score a ticket to the Nederlander Theatre to spend three hours in the Lehman family’s world, you will not want to pass up the opportunity.

Thoughts of a Colored Man: Thoughts of a Colored Man lives up to its tagline “A new American play for a new Broadway” in more ways than one. Written by Keenan Scott II, the story follows seven Black men throughout their daily living in a modern neighborhood in Brooklyn grappling with gentrification. The new Broadway that Thoughts of a Colored Man premiered for is one open to sharing the narrative of a Black playwright and willing to experiment with forms outside what is traditionally brought to Broadway stages. The characters in Scott’s play are introduced by names like Wisdom, Anger, and Happiness, and Scott incorporates slam poetry and song into their dialogue. Thoughts of a Colored Man just opened on October 13th at the John Golden Theatre, so you will have plenty of time to make it to a performance.

Off-Broadway

Fairycakes: This campy new comedy at the Greenwich House Theater in West Village is an exciting cross between Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the classic fairytales of your childhood. Written and directed by Douglas Carter Beane, the play promises to keep you entertained with farcical comedy, original music by Lewis Flinn, and magic-driven shenanigans. Fairycakes stars an elite cast with Jackie Hoffman, Kristolyn Lloyd, and Mo Rocca (yes, the Mo Rocca from CBS Sunday Morning and Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!). Tickets start at $35 and the show runs until January 2nd.

Nollywood Dreams: This romantic comedy by Jocelyn Bioh takes place in Lagos, Nigeria in the 1990s as an aspiring actress tries to make it in Nollywood while managing budding feelings for her costar. Bioh is a critically acclaimed playwright who has also written for Netflix’s Russian Doll and is currently working on the Disney+ adaptation of Once On This Island. Nollywood Dreams is performing at the MCC Theater in Hell’s Kitchen and tickets start at $39.

Something Different

Beyond Babel: Beyond Babel is a dance theatre production in collaboration with the Hideaway Circus. It is based on Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet and features an ensemble of twelve dancers and contemporary music. Beyond Babel has received positive reviews for its talented dancers and beautiful artistic design. You can catch the show at The Gym at Judson Theater near Washington Square Park. Tickets start at $45.

Drunk Shakespeare: Inspired by Drunk History on Comedy Central, at a Drunk Shakespeare performance, an actor downs five shots at the start of the show and then must work with the four other actors to perform a Shakespeare play. Drunk Shakespeare promises a hilarious experience and exciting opportunities for audience participation. Every performance features a different ensemble of cast members (and a different person is chosen to drink) so the show is unique every time they perform. Drunk Shakespeare is at the Green Fig off of 42nd Street and tickets start at $55. You must be 21 years or older to attend and cocktails are served during the show.

Don’t forget to bring proof of vaccination and a valid government ID to any theatrical performances you attend this season. Happy theatre-going!

yay! theatre! via Pxfuel