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It's Only a Play

Closing: January 26, 1986

It's Only a Play - 1986 Off-Broadway History , Info & More

Manhattan Theatre Club Stage I
131 West 55th Street New York, NY 10019

It’s the opening night of The Golden Egg on Broadway, and the wealthy producer Julia Budder is throwing a lavish party in her lavish Manhattan townhouse. Downstairs the celebrities are pouring in, but the real action is upstairs in the bedroom, where a group of insiders have staked themselves out to await the reviews. The group includes the excitable playwright; the possibly unstable wunderkind director; the pill-popping leading lady, treading the boards after becoming infamous in Hollywood; and the playwright’s best friend, for whom the play was written but who passed up this production for a television series. Add to this a drama critic who’s panned the playwright in the past and a new-in-town aspiring singer, and you have a prime recipe for the narcissism, ambition, childishness, and just plain irrationality that infuse the theatre—and for comedy. But don’t worry: This play is sure to be the hit they have all been hoping for.


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TWO TRAINS RUNNING, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST & More Lead San Francisco's November Top Picks
by BWW Staff - Nov 1, 2022


San Francisco is never lacking outstanding theatre, whether epic Broadway shows, engrossing dramas or bold fringe offerings. BroadwayWorld is rounding up our top recommended theatre every month. Coming up in November are Two Trains Running, Beauty and the Beast, and more!

Cape Rep Theatre Presents PRELUDE TO A KISS Next Month
by Stephi Wild - Oct 25, 2022


Cape Rep Theatre will present Prelude to a Kiss, written by Craig Lucas, directed by Maura Hanlon. Performances will be in Cape Rep’s Indoor Theater November 10 thru December 4 Thursdays thru Saturdays at 7 pm, Sundays at 2 pm, and Wednesday, November 30 at 7 pm.

Bristol Riverside Theatre to Present A FEW GOOD MEN
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 10, 2022


Bristol Riverside Theatre will close its season with a chance to see Hollywood notable Aaron Sorkin’s groundbreaking debut that tells the story of a group of military lawyers assigned to defend two Marines in Guantanamo Bay.

The Garden Theatre Goes Back To School In SCHOOL GIRLS; OR, THE AFRICAN MEAN GIRLS PLAY
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 27, 2022


Houston's newest theatre company, The Garden Theatre, has announced its plans to bring School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play by Jocelyn Bioh to the MATCH. The popular contemporary play will run April 29-May 8, 2022 at Midtown Arts and Theater Center Houston (3400 Main St.) in the heart of midtown.

Whidbey Island Center For The Arts Announces May Events
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 25, 2022


Whidbey Island Center for the Arts presents Gerry O'Connor, The Trudy Sundberg Lecture Series: Dr. Wade Davis, Mixtape to My Mother - a Mother's Day's Concert, WICA 26th Anniversary Concerts, Classical Uncorked | Versailles Dance Party, Atomic Bombshells - Naughty Spring Concert, Art Talks | Rebecca Albiani as the First Lady of the World: Isabella D'Este Art Collector, and Whim W'him.

World Premiere of THE BRIGHTEST THING IN THE WORLD & More Announced for Yale Rep 2022-23 Season
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 21, 2022


Yale Repertory Theatre has announced its 2022–23 season of four plays. The season will begin with Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, running October 6–29. James Bundy, who directed Albee’s A Delicate Balance at Yale Rep in 2010, will stage this new production of the explosively comedic and harrowingly profound masterpiece. 

SING STREET, BHANGIN' IT & More Announced for The Huntington's 2022-2023 Season
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 13, 2022


The Huntington has announced its 2022-2023 season, featuring 8 shows including 2 jubilant new musicals, 3 world premiere plays, one recent Broadway hit, and an outstanding revival of an August Wilson classic.   

Kravis Center to Present MY FAIR LADY
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 1, 2022


The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts announced that the North American tour of Lincoln Center Theater’s critically acclaimed production of Lerner & Loewe’s MY FAIR LADY is coming as a part of its 2021/2022 Kravis On Broadway season.  Directed by Bartlett Sher, the North American tour will play the Kravis Center from April 19 – 24.

FOOTLOOSE Comes to American Stage in the Park Next Month
by Stephi Wild - Mar 3, 2022


The time has come to ‘cut loose’ at American Stage in the Park. This year’s highly anticipated production of Footloose starts April 6th and grooves on through May 8th, 2022 at Demens Landing Park. American Stage in the Park is an annual tradition in Downtown St. Petersburg.

ANGEL OF ARKANSAS to Premiere at Notoriety Live
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 24, 2022


“Angel of Arkansas,” a new show by Richard Oberacker and Robert Taylor, creators of Broadway’s Tony Award-winning musical “Bandstand,” will receive a premiere concert-style presentation at Notoriety Live in the 175-seat Renkus-Heinz Theatre on Sunday, Jan. 30, at 2 p.m. 

BREAKING THE CODE Will Be Presented As Part Of The Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras
by Stephi Wild - Jan 24, 2022


During the Second World War, tucked away in the country at Bletchley Park, the most brilliant mathematical minds in Britain were working to crack the complex German military code known as Enigma. One of them was the eccentric genius Alan Turing, who invented a machine that broke the code.

Pierce Turner Releases New Single 'Set A Few Things Up' From New Album 'Terrible Good'
by Michael Major - Jan 11, 2022


The internationally acclaimed Irish performer, Pierce Turner, releases a new single titled “Set A Few Things Up” alongside a creative, handmade music video. The single is the third track off his forthcoming album, Terrible Good, which was created with legendary guitarist Gerry Leonard (David Bowie, Suzanne Vega, Rufus Wainwright).

Mabou Mines Announces Winter/Spring 2022 Season Culminating In A Four-Day 50th Anniversary Celebration
by A.A. Cristi - Nov 29, 2021


Mabou Mines today announces its Winter/Spring 2022 season, with the iconic company re-engaging its past to celebrate its 50th anniversary—and presenting new work that continues to vitally push the boundaries of theatrical experience.

Irvine Barclay Theatre Announces Updated 2021-22 Season
by A.A. Cristi - Nov 15, 2021


As live performances return to venues throughout Southern California, Irvine Barclay Theatre welcomes a new season featuring an array of renowned performers, from iconic dancers to Grammy-winning artists, the beloved holiday classic The Nutcracker, and Emmy nominee and social commentator Fran Lebowitz, among others.

Conrad Ricamora to Star as Seymour in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS Beginning Jan 11, 2022
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Nov 15, 2021


Two-time Grammy nominee and Theater World Award winner Conrad Ricamora (“How to Get Away With Murder,” The King & I, Here Lies Love, Soft Power) will star as Seymour in the three-time Best Musical Revival Award-winning production of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS beginning January 11, 2022.

Dallas Theater Center Announces THE SUPREME LEADER Beginning October 28th
by Lorens Portalatin - Oct 27, 2021


Dallas Theater Center (DTC) proudly presents the world premiere of The Supreme Leader. The new comedy by Don X. Nguyen begins performances on October 28 at the Kalita Humphreys Theater.

Kendra Augustin's DEATH IN THE FAMILY Begins Performances at Dixon Place October 28
by A.A. Cristi - Oct 19, 2021


Up-and-coming playwright Kendra Augustin's new play “Death in the Family” is coming to lower Manhattan in a collaboration between theater pioneer Dixon Place and arts organization In Full Color from Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 28 to 30, 2021.

25th Istanbul Theatre Festival to Take Place This October and November
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 14, 2021


With the slogan “Theatre In These Trying Times”, the 25th edition of the festival has set out to breathe fresh air into both the world of theatre and to theatre lovers with a programme of mostly new productions that look at the world, which is in search of a new normal, through the lens of theatre.

Arkansas Repertory Theatre Announces 2021/22 Season
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 20, 2021


Following this summer and fall’s “Rep Outdoors” Series, the Arkansas Repertory Theatre has announced a return to producing live theatrical, indoor performances in 2021/22.

Diversionary Announces 2021/2022 Season
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jul 13, 2021


Diversionary Theatre has announced their Season 36 lineup of new LGBTQ work. With 4 new works on The Robert L. Granat and Albert J. Mazur Mainstage exploring how our LGBTQ family defines home, Diversionary welcomes the community back to their newly renovated theatre home, and their new social and performance venue The Austin & Joann Clark Cabaret. 

Queer|Art|Film Summer 2021 Season Announced
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 15, 2021


Queer|Art, New York City's home for the creative and professional development of LGBTQ+ artists, has announced the upcoming summer season of Queer|Art|Film, returning for another digital season now through August 16th.

Deertrees Theatre Launches 85th In-Person Season
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 2, 2021


The lakes region's historic Deertrees Theatre, “Maine's Most Enchanting Playhouse”, celebrates the launch of its 85th anniversary season with a full summer of in-person performances and events starting June 19. 

No Joy's New EP 'Can My Daughter See Me From Heaven' Out Today
by Sarah Jae Leiber - May 19, 2021


A close listen to the 5 songs that comprise Can My Daughter See Me From Heaven will reveal the absurdist influences behind the EP: Disney’s 1986 DTV Valentine special, which set tracks like Eurythmics’ “There Must Be An Angel” to classic animation.

BWW Interview: Jim David of GAY JOKES FOR STRAIGHT CRUISERS
by Stephen Mosher - May 10, 2021


In the name of cutting his suit to fit his cloth, Jim David put himself to good use in the quarantine and came out with a smash-hit comedy CD that is selling like hotcakes.

Virtual Theatre Today: Friday, April 30- with Betty Buckley, Donna Murphy, and More!
by Nicole Rosky - Apr 30, 2021


Today (April 30) in live streaming: Broadway Rocks the Who!, Stars in the House reunites The Mystery of Edwin Drood, and more!

It's Only a Play History

Other Productions of It's Only a Play

1986   Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway
2014   Broadway Broadway Revival
Broadway

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