Power Plays - 1998 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 1

In her first season as the new artistic director at Opera Theatre of St. Louis (OTSL), Patricia Racette has programmed a festival season that holds something for everyone. Three of the four Operas being presented are written in English. Two, Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance and The Light in the Piazza, are from the canon of the American Musical Theatre. The other two, A Streetcar Named Desire and Romeo and Juliet, are well known dramas. If you’ve never seen an Opera, this is the season to take in a show at OTSL.

On Saturday, April 11, 2026, I had the pleasure of seeing yet another excellent production at Center Stage Theatre in Shelton, CT, JERRY’S GIRLS, a show that celebrates the music of Jerry Herman whose music was featured in Hello Dolly!, Mame,  and other musicals. Starring the phenomenal first-rate vocals of stars Sandra Fernandes, Makenzie Massey, and Emerson Raymond, accompanied by talented pianist Jane Best, this show is highly entertaining! The star power of these performers succeeds in pulling off this challenging production, under the brilliant combination of the direction of Liz Muller, associate direction of Jacob Marcus, and choreography of Brandy and Michael Bailey. I am not exaggerating when I say that if Sandra, Makenzie, and Emerson were to audition for American Idol next year, they would likely be the top three contestants. Yes, they are that good!

 Act II Playhouse has announced its slate of 2026-2027 productions.  The season will kick off with “Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground” by Richard Hellesen. Learn more here!

The new Broadway season is in full swing, full of exciting new shows and revivals of beloved classics. While many of them are original concepts or based on plays, 12 have related films or series that you can watch from home. If you are seeing any of the below productions in 2026, check out how you can study up beforehand or unpack afterwards!

Ensemble Studio Theatre has announced two new board members today: Danielle Covington and Megan Eiss. Covington and Eiss join a diverse group of dedicated individuals, including several notable artists in the EST community.

Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara and HFP Live will present pianist/actor/playwright/producer present the Southern California premiere of Hershey Felder starring in a new play, The Piano & Me.

The full cast has been announced for SEAGULL: TRUE STORY, which will begin performances off-Broadway next month. Learn more about the cast, led by Gus Birney!

It's nights like this that keep 54 Below an essential part of New York nightlife.

San Francisco Playhouse will present the West Coast Premiere of Candrice Jones' Flex, directed by Bay Area theatre titan and Lorraine Hansberry Theatre artistic director Margo Hall.

FRIGID New York will present the 19th annual New York City Fringe Festival across multiple venues in New York City. The festival will feature a diverse array of performances with all box office proceeds directly benefiting the artists.

Following 25 years of producing multidisciplinary arts programming, uplifting historically excluded stories, and fostering connections through the art of story, Mirror Stage has announced it will be sunsetting operations and active programming.

While a lot has been written about two handers, a term for two-person shows, less has been penned about three-handers. Yet, three-person plays are just as common a genre on Broadway as pieces with only two players. Currently, Art, by Yasmina Reza, is receiving an all-star revival at the Music Box.

The first-ever Broadway revival of ART by Yasmina Reza is now running on Broadway at the Music Box Theatre. The production stars Bobby Cannavale, James Corden, and Neil Patrick Harris. Read the reviews!

McCarter Theatre Center has commissioned a new musical based on the film A Beautiful Mind. The musical is from the award-winning team of composer/lyricist Zoe Sarnak and playwright Sarah Treem.  

The emotional terrain is fertile, but in Black Theatre Troupe’s 56th-season opener, GRACE AND GLORIE, the production comes close but not quite far enough to capture the fullness and weight that popularized the work.

Did you know that the Richard Rodgers Theatre, current home of Hamilton, has housed more Best Musical Tony Award winners than any other Broadway house? Since the Tony Awards began in 1947 and began issuing a Best Musical Award in 1949, nine Best Musicals have played the Richard Rodgers Theatre, which used to be named the 46th Street Theatre.

Dramatists Guild Foundation has revealed Playwright and Educator Chisa Hutchinson and more will be honored at the organization’s annual Gala on October 20, 2025, at Ziegfeld Ballroom. Learn more!

What's happening off-Broadway? BroadwayWorld is here to guide you through the top picks for theatre for August 2025! See the list of BroadwayWorld's top shows here!

In September, SFJAZZ will kick off its 2025/26 season with a mix of talent, setting the tone for a month of performances across its venues. Learn more about the September lineup and see how to purchase tickets.

What's happening off-Broadway? BroadwayWorld is here to guide you through the top picks for theatre for the month of July! Learn more about upcoming Off-Broadway shows.

There's nothing like summer in the city! Summer 2025 in New York City will bring with it plenty of new Broadway, off-Broadway, and outdoor productions to take in this June, July, and August. Let BroadwayWorld be your guide!

National Queer Theater (NQT) and HERE Arts Center have announced the cast and creative team for What You Are to Me, a new play by Dena Igusti, premiering as part of the 2025 Criminal Queerness Festival.

Immerse yourself in Island City Stage's production of The Dying Gaul by Craig Lucas, a psychological thriller set in the shadowy world of Hollywood and online deception.

This, the 24th season and third full season in the renovated and renamed Ray Charles Stage at the Dea Hurston New Village Arts Center, celebrates stories of resilience and friendship: tales of grit, growth, and the powerful joy that comes from facing life’s challenges together.

Boston Center for the Arts has announced the co-produced world premiere of Learning How to Read by Moonlight by BCA Launchpad Resident CHUANG Stage and Company One Theatre.