Sharon Wheatley and Aaron Haskell Will Lead World Premiere of MISTER SNICKERS OF NEW YORK CITY
Performances run through May 17.
Mister Snickers of New York City, the new play by Michael Raimondi, will extend its run to Urban Stages (May 6–17, 2026) following its premiere as a Mainstage selection of the Fresh Fruit Festival at The Wild Project.
Leading the production are two artists whose presence elevates the work into must-see territory for the New York theatre community:
Sharon Wheatley, the celebrated Broadway performer who originated Diane in Come From Away, brings profound emotional depth and authority to the production. With a distinguished career spanning Les Misérables, Cats, The Phantom of the Opera, and Avenue Q, Wheatley anchors the piece with a performance of rare intimacy and resonance.
Alongside her, Aaron Haskell—renowned for his work on the National Tours of Life of Pi and War Horse—serves as Puppet Designer, Director, and Fabricator. His visually arresting work transforms the production into a richly theatrical, hybrid experience, where puppetry becomes a central storytelling language and the character of Mister Snickers emerges as both emotional anchor and imaginative force.
Produced by Play Your Part, Mister Snickers of New York City is a deeply felt and visually inventive exploration of addiction, queer identity, and chosen family.
Set within a theatrical world evocative of a New York City pop-up book, the play follows a gay man's alcohol-fueled attempt to construct a life of meaning. Through his evolving relationships—with his Best Friend and his devoted dog, Mister Snickers—the work traces a moving transformation from self-destruction toward generosity, presence, and spiritual renewal.
Blending live music, heightened theatricality, and innovative design, the piece offers audiences a rare opportunity to step away from the noise of the season and engage with a work of genuine emotional and artistic ambition.
Wheatley leads a dynamic ensemble that bridges established and emerging voices, including Rori Nogee (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Love Quirks), Nicholas James Reilly (Spring Awakening, Gossip Girl), Kenon Veno (Paddington Gets in a Jam National Tour), Julie Tran (Brooklyn comedy scene; But What'd You Say?), Ryan Sheehan (The Tank; Sad Boy Songs), Sawyer Whitted (25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Pirates of Penzance), and Mecca Akbar (Pinocchio, Sesame Street: The Musical).
Directed by Abigail Zealey Bess (Ensemble Studio Theatre) and co-directed by Josh Tyson, the production features scenic and property design by Aurelie Hug and Chloe Cobb, crafting a visually expressive world that seamlessly integrates with Haskell's transformative puppetry work.
The play arrives following a two-year development journey, originating at Primary Stages through the Einhorn School of Performing Arts (ESPA). Under the mentorship of acclaimed playwright Matthew Paul Olmos, Raimondi has crafted a work that balances structural sophistication with emotional immediacy. Raimondi, founder of Play Your Part and adjunct professor at Pace University's Lubin School of Business, continues to establish himself as a distinctive voice in contemporary queer theatre. “Mister Snickers of New York City is a play steeped in American culture. Queer people are America. And we demand that there is space for queer voices in the American theater.”
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