LUNGS SUMMER THEATER FESTIVAL to Return for Fifth Annual Edition at 6B Community Garden

LUNGS, FRIGID New York and GOH Productions will present the fifth annual LUNGS Summer Theater Festival, a festival featuring five original one act plays by International and LES artists, on Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7 from 1pm-5pm at the 6B Community Garden (located at Avenue and East 6th Street in New York City). Admission to the festival is completely FREE.

In 2022, LUNGS (Loisaida United Neighborhood Gardens) launched the first FREE annual LUNGS Summer Theater Festival and continues the yearly festival with the fifth annual edition this June. The 2026 festival will be hosted by Bonnie Sue Stein aka Basha Detroit.

The 5th Annual LUNGS Summer Theater Festival is supported in part by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. The festival was curated by Erez Ziv, Riki Colon, Roman Primativo Albear, Bonnie Sue Stein and Charles Krezell. Special thanks go to 6B Garden, Sally Young, and Rina Root. Festival banner by Theresa Linnihan

2026 Festival Schedule

1pm: CZECH, SLOVAK, AND BENGALI STORIES WITH STRINGS DETACHED

Presented by Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre

Vít Hořejš performs Czech and Slovak folk tales, replete with (East) Village Characters, babies, children, teenagers, oldagers and street dangers who speak and sing in dozens of voices, dance, play violin, swim and fly. In 1984, he found a trove of large antique marionettes in the attic of Jan Hus Church on East 74th Street, in the heart of yet another once-upon-a-time Czech and Slovak neighborhood and soon he founded Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre. Vít and his century-old wooden advisors will tell century-old Old Country folk tales, and "tattle tale" on his victorious presidential campaign, stolen temporarily by you-know-who.

With antique marionettes, an undocumented far-east muppet and lost and found objects performed by Master Puppeteer, Vit Horejs and Bengali Muppetress, Sayma Karim.

"THE TIGER" and "BENGALI FRUIT".

Story and puppets created and performed by Sayma Karim

Recommended for ages 4 to 104

2pm: The People's Drop-in Center

Written & Directed by Patrick Nash

Music Director David Fletcher, Choreographer James Martinelli

An urban "drop-in center" that serves the homeless is threatened by the loss of an important grant. The couple that runs it seeks the help of a "turn-around consultant" specialized in non-profits. In order to save the center and secure the necessary grant money, some changes, and sacrifices must be made.

Featuring Laurie Sheppard as Martha, Brian Farrell as David, Lisa Whitten as Candy, David Mackler as JD, Andrew Gilchrist as Jackson, Perryn Pomatto as Dwight, Malia Mooney as Jane, Catalina Balladares as Actor 1, Sana Bokhari as Actor 2, Clark Herring as Actor 3, Elise Catera as Actor 4,Corinne Seaver as Actor 5, and Maria de Elia as Actor 6

3pm: EAST VILLAGE TIME

Written by James Love Cornwell IV, Directed by Roman Primitivo

Artists, dreamers and misfits carving out a life on the Lower East Side of the 1980s. Jack, an idealistic young artist, opens a storefront gallery on Rivington Street and finds himself caught between love, betrayal and survival. A raw and funny musical about the people who refused to give up on art - and the neighborhood that both inspired and swallowed them whole.

Featuring Leia Martin, Just Daniel Lugo, Asher Cohen, Lei Chao, and Cristina San Juana.

4pm: What Am I Missing?

Written by Joan Reinmuth & Charles Krezell, Directed by Charles Krezell

A time-warp chance meeting in the slammer between comedian Lenny Bruce and Planned Parenthood's Margaret Sanger. Each has been arrested on the Lower East Side for obscenity and distributing lewd material.

2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards - Live Stats

Best Off-Broadway Musical - Top 3

1. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee - New World Stages

23.7% of votes

2. Mexodus - Minetta Lane Theatre

11.4% of votes

3. Bat Boy - City Center

7.9% of votes

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