T/theater

In ‘Mrs. Stern’ and ‘Racecar,’ Humans Keep Repeating Their Worst Mistakes

Pernicious patterns figure heavily in two thought-provoking plays on small Manhattan stages.

The Black Blackface Performer Who History Tries to Forget

Bert Williams, the first modern Black entertainment star, was born 150 years ago. The contradictions at the heart of his career are still relevant today.

Your Ticket to the Theater (at Home)

Make it through the holidays with these movies, books and music from the past year that are adapted from stage productions or evoke a theatrical spirit.

‘The Tempest’ Review: A Weak Wind Blows for Sigourney Weaver

The veteran actress, playing Prospero in her West End debut, is strangely absent from Shakespeare’s narrative.

What Broadway Gets Right and Wrong About Journalism

A Culture writer takes stock of recent stage productions that depict newsrooms and reporters.

In a Stripped-Down ‘Gypsy,’ Audra’s Gonna Show It to Ya

Hold your hats and hallelujah, our leading musical tragedienne offers an ultra-dramatic Rose in George C. Wolfe’s Broadway revival.

This Corpse Has Had a Wild Journey. Its Next Stop? Broadway.

“Dead Outlaw,” a musical about the mummified body of a bandit, will open at the Longacre next spring, following a successful Off Broadway run.

‘Annie’ Review: Whoopi Goldberg Is a Holiday Gift as Miss Hannigan

In a just sweet enough production with a strong cast, the “View” host delivers a performance that reaffirms her savvy as a comic actor.

A New Richard Foreman Play Puts a Twist on His Metaphysical Puzzles

New York theater’s elder statesman of the avant-garde brings “Suppose Beautiful Madeline Harvey” to the stage, his first new work in over a decade.

What’s Funny About John Mulaney and Simon Rich’s Friendship? Everything.

The former “S.N.L.” writing partners have reunited for Rich’s “superficially wacky” Broadway show, “All In: Comedy About Love.”

The ‘Unexpectedly Sly’ and ‘Brilliantly Scuzzy’ Shows, Music and Movies Readers Loved

Critical favorites like “Anora,” “Cowboy Carter” and “The Bear” still left room for more recent arrivals like “Wicked” and Broadway’s “Maybe Happy Ending.”

In ‘Eureka Day,’ Holding Space for Those You Hate

A hilarious new Broadway production asks: Can the superwoke vaxxers and anti-vaxxers at an elite private school learn to get along?

Is Mikhail Baryshnikov the Last of the Highbrow Superstars?

Fifty years since he left the Soviet Union, he insists on using his huge fame to bring attention to difficult, esoteric art.

The Breakout Stars of 2024

Across the arts world, these 10 performers broke away from the pack this year by channeling guts and grit into their work.

It’s Hard to Be the Brother of a Genius Who Died Young

In “Ira Gershwin: A Life in Words,” Michael Owen offers a sympathetic portrait of the lyricist, overshadowed in a life that had him tending the legacy of his younger sibling George.

36 Things That Stuck With Us in 2024

The movie scenes, TV episodes, song lyrics and other moments that reporters, critics, editors and visual journalists in Culture couldn’t stop thinking about this year.

‘Cult of Love’ Review: We Wish You a Wretched Christmas

A hilarious, harrowing holiday gift from Leslye Headland, who brings another unhappy family to Broadway. Zachary Quinto and Shailene Woodley star.

A Visual Tour of ‘Oh, Mary!,’ Broadway’s Hit Comedy

Cole Escola stars as a self-involved Mary Todd Lincoln who dreams of becoming a cabaret star. Here’s how the creative team came up with the show’s aesthetic.

S.E. Hinton Leans on Dave Barry for Post-Election Comfort

“You can’t read a page without laughing,” says the author of “The Outsiders,” who’s watched the stage musical of the novel become a Tony Award-winning hit this year.

The Highs and Lows on London Stages in 2024

Our critics discuss which A-lister performances on the West End were worth the ticket price, and why so many new musicals struggled this year.

Martin Benson, Regional Theater Impresario With Impact, Dies at 87

South Coast Repertory, a California company he founded with a partner, grew to stage world premieres of major works that made their way to Broadway.

The ‘Ballad of Keiko’ Music Video

This is the story of the real-life whale from “Free Willy” and his odyssey back to the ocean. In Episode 5 of the “Good Whale” podcast, Keiko disappears in Icelandic waters. For four weeks, nobody knew what had happened to him. So we reimagined th...

Raygun Shuts Down Musical Inspired by Her Jeered Olympic Breaking

The comedian behind the parody about the Australian breaker who became a summer celebrity said she was willing to make some changes to avoid legal drama.

Like a Family Reunion, but With More Tears (and Tonys)

The cast of the 2008 Broadway revival of “South Pacific,” including Kelli O’Hara and Matthew Morrison, reunited for a benefit performance. The emotions were the guest of honor.

Adam Lambert Is Finding the Fun, and the Fear, in ‘Cabaret’

Making his Broadway debut as the show’s Emcee, the singer is reveling in what he calls “a thinking piece of musical theater.”

In ‘Our Town,’ the Characters Are Fictional. The Bacon Is Real.

Backstage at the Broadway play, they’re frying up the aroma of breakfast — part of a long tradition of adding scents to plays and movies.

At the Kennedy Center, a Send-Off to Biden and Questions About the Future

A bipartisan crowd honored Francis Ford Coppola, the Grateful Dead, Bonnie Raitt, Arturo Sandoval and the Apollo Theater. Some wondered if Donald J. Trump would attend next year.

9 Best Theater Moments of 2024

“The Outsiders,” “Sunset Boulevard” and “Ragtime” were among the productions with stage moments that stood out this year.

Best Theater of 2024

Broadway roared back, but the kitties were downtown and the prayer service was in Brooklyn.

Marvin Laird, Musical Presence on and Off Broadway, Dies at 85

He conducted Broadway shows and worked with Bernadette Peters. But he was probably best known for writing the music for the darkly comic “Ruthless!”

What I Learned at Shiz University: How ‘Wicked’ Changed the Lives of Its Stars

Only the women who’ve played Elphaba and Glinda in the show’s two decades onstage understand why the roles are so taxing — and so rewarding, too.

How Catherine Russell, of ‘Perfect Crime,’ Spends Her Sundays

Ms. Russell, who hasn’t missed a performance of her Off Broadway show in nearly 30 years, fills her day with pets, church, teaching and two shows.

Is the Real ‘Wicked’ Movie the Press Tour?

A conversation about the musical’s transfer from stage to screen, and the lead actresses who are bringing new narratives to their roles.

Avett Brothers Musical ‘Swept Away’ to Close on Broadway After Short Run

The new musical, about a shipwreck and its aftermath, opened Nov. 19 at the Longacre Theater.

‘Let’s Make a Dance.’ At Nature Theater, the Body Rules.

In “No President,” Nature Theater of Oklahoma creates its version of a story ballet, one burpee at a time.

‘How Did I Get Here?’: 7 Days in the Life of a Busy Arts Programmer

Jay Wegman runs from rehearsals to lunches to shows for his job at N.Y.U. Skirball, then home for a “What We Do in the Shadows” episode or two.

Broadway, Seeking Growth and Facing Challenges, Has a New Representative

The Broadway League, an industry trade organization, named Jason Laks as its new president. “I think our mission has to be more than to make it 2019 again,” Laks said.

Elton John, After Eye Infection, Says He Couldn’t See His Own Musical

After a performance of “The Devil Wears Prada” in London, John told the crowd that the effects of an eye infection were continuing to limit his eyesight.

With ‘Sunset Boulevard,’ One Look Wasn’t Enough

A bare-bones revival of the Broadway musical grew on me with subsequent viewings, and the additional details I noticed bolstered my reporting.

Momma Rose’s Many Faces, From Ethel Merman to Audra McDonald

In her various incarnations, the “Gypsy” character is always loud, always scary, but so different. Ben Brantley reflects on all the onstage Roses he has known.

Auli’i Cravalho es mucho más que Moana

La película de Disney la convirtió en una estrella. Ahora Cravalho, a sus 24 años, vuelve a la secuela, mientras debuta en Broadway y acepta papeles más atrevidos.

Marshall Brickman, Woody Allen’s Co-Writer on Hit Films, Dies at 85

The duo won an Oscar for “Annie Hall.” Mr. Brickman went on to write Broadway shows, including “Jersey Boys,” and make movies of his own.

Auli’i Cravalho Is More Than a Disney Princess

“Moana” made her a breakout star. Now Cravalho, at 24, is back in the sequel, while also making her Broadway debut and embracing edgier parts.

When Stephen Sondheim Transformed Theater, and Theatergoers, Forever

An incisive new book, “How Sondheim Can Change Your Life,” examines the extraordinary career of the master of the musical.

This ‘Importance of Being Earnest’ Is a Fabulous Romp

A new production in London, starring Ncuti Gatwa, releases Oscar Wilde’s 1895 comedy from period convention and brings it stunningly into the 21st century.

Artists, Then (as in the 17th Century) and Now

“The Light and the Dark” dramatizes the life of Artemisia Gentileschi, while “300 Paintings” was born during the fever dreams of Covid.

Helen Gallagher, Winner of Two Tonys and Three Emmys, Dies at 98

She was honored on Broadway for roles in “Pal Joey” and “No, No, Nanette” and then turned to TV, where she won three Daytime Emmys for her work on “Ryan’s Hope.”

Theater to See in N.Y.C. This Holiday Season

“Elf the Musical,” inventive spins on “A Christmas Carol” and classic family fare: Here are some of our favorite shows of the season.

In ‘Yuletide Factory,’ Cirque Mechanics Manufactures a Family Holiday Show

It’s Christmas at the sweatshop, but the mood fluctuates between ho ho ho and ho hum.

‘We Are Your Robots,’ Still Tuning Up

In Ethan Lipton’s musings on A.I., Mozart has a place alongside humpback whales.

Emma Corrin and Maggie Nelson on the Strength in Vulnerability

The “Nosferatu” actor and the writer discuss solitude, self-editing and the playfulness of their work.

‘Wicked’ and the Merchandising Juggernaut That Eclipses ‘Barbie’

The new movie’s tie-ins are the logical endpoint for a Broadway show that always intended to be huge.

I Starred in ‘Cabaret.’ We Need to Heed Its Warning.

Much has changed since the show debuted on Broadway in 1966, but it’s what hasn’t changed that should worry us.

Blue Man Group to End New York Run After Three Decades Off Broadway

The troupe is also closing its Chicago company, but continues to perform in Berlin, Boston, Las Vegas and, soon, Orlando.

Stratford-Upon-Lake-Michigan: Royal Shakespeare Company Plays Chicago

With less touring, it’s been a while since all the world has been its stage, but the troupe is working with the Chicago Shakespeare Theater — where it has family ties.

6 Minutes. 62 People. 1 Epic ‘Sunset Boulevard’ Sequence.

Down the stairs, out the doors and onto the sidewalk, a Broadway show hits the street. Here’s how they pull it off.

‘The Blood Quilt’ Review: An Elaborate Tapestry

Katori Hall’s new play about sisters gathering after their mother’s death features standout performances but an overabundance of themes.

In ‘Death Becomes Her,’ Spiking the Fountain of Youth

Hilarious star turns from Megan Hilty and Jennifer Simard make the mostly unfunny 1992 film into an intermittently memorable Broadway musical.

In ‘Music City’ and ‘Babe,’ Existential Battles of the Heart and Soul

Bedlam’s country music show is a rollicking good time. But the New Group’s production of “Babe,” starring Marisa Tomei, is a frustrating one-act lacking cohesion.

On Broadway, a Covid Switcheroo: Marsha Mason in for Mia Farrow

Mason, an associate director of “The Roommate,” which opened on Broadway last week, stepped in as Patti LuPone’s counterpart.

Does a Smash Hit Like ‘Lion King’ Deserve a $3 Million Tax Break?

Broadway is still recovering from the pandemic. A state tax-credit program has helped, but watchdogs say it aids some shows that don’t need a boost.

Audience Snapshot: Four Years After Shutdown, a Mixed Recovery

Covid brought live performance to a halt. Now the audience for pop concerts and sporting events has roared back, while attendance on Broadway and at some major museums is still down.

Is Earlier Better for Theater Start Times?

In an effort to entice audiences back after the pandemic, Britain’s National Theater is testing a 6:30 p.m. curtain.

Off Broadway, a Vital Part of New York Theater, Feels the Squeeze

The small theaters that help make the city a theater capital are cutting back as they struggle to recover from the pandemic.

Luring Theater Audiences Back After Covid

Readers discuss the decline in theater subscribers after the pandemic. Also: Northern Ireland; food allergies; a Covid playmate; anti-China bias.

72 Regional Theaters, One Shared Crisis

Michael Paulson spoke with producers and artistic directors at nonprofit theaters across the country about the crisis their industry is facing.

A Crisis in America’s Theaters Leaves Prestigious Stages Dark

As they struggle to recover after the pandemic, regional theaters are staging fewer shows, giving fewer performances, laying off staff and, in some cases, closing.

In ‘Plays for the Plague Year,’ the Soundtrack of Our Lives

Suzan-Lori Parks wrote one play a day for 13 months during the pandemic. Those stories come to life onstage in the form of monologues, dialogues and songs at Joe’s Pub.

As Presenters Cut Back on Streams, Some Disabled Arts Lovers Feel Left Out

When shuttered venues embraced streaming during the pandemic, the arts became more accessible. With live performance back, and streams dwindling, many feel forgotten.

‘Covid Vortex Anxiety Opera’ Review: Gloom, Zoom and a New Bloom

The veteran performance artist Karen Finley leads the audience through the troubles that plagued New York City at the peak of the pandemic.

Obie Awards Honor ‘English’ as Best New Play

A ceremony for the awards, celebrating work Off and Off Off Broadway, will be held Monday, but organizers decided to announce the winners in advance.

Broadway Bounces Back With ‘Best Week Since the Before Times’

Broadway shows grossed $51.9 million during the holiday week, the most since 2019, and “The Lion King” set a record for the most earned by any show in a single week.

‘Broadway Rising’ Review: Surviving the Pandemic

Stakeholders including Patti LuPone and Lynn Nottage share their real-time reactions to New York theater’s shutdown and reopening in Amy Rice’s documentary.

Onstage, It’s Finally Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas Again

After one holiday season lost to the pandemic and another curtailed by Omicron, seasonal staples including “The Nutcracker,” “A Christmas Carol” and “Messiah” are back in force.

Lynn Nottage’s ‘Clyde’s’ Is the Most-Staged Play in America

An annual survey, suspended during the pandemic, resumes and finds theaters nationally doing fewer shows and torn between escapism and ambition.

Did Fauci Lead America Astray on Covid?

Responses to an essay that criticized Anthony Fauci’s handling of the pandemic. Also: Migrants as props; abortion rights; David Milch; theater’s lessons.

To Mask, or Not to Mask: Theaters and Concert Halls Face a Dilemma

Some audience members are turned off by mask mandates. Others won’t attend indoor performances without them. Arts presenters are taking different approaches this season.

‘It’s My Tradition Too’: A Town’s Centuries-Old Passion Play Evolves

After a two-year pandemic delay, villagers in the German town of Oberammergau are once again re-enacting the story of Jesus’s life and death, with some changes.

On Broadway, One Show Decides to Keep Masks. No, It’s Not ‘Phantom.’

“American Buffalo,” at Circle in the Square, is sticking with masking till it closes, July 10, citing the “proximity of the audience to the actors” and “the staging in the round.”

You Don’t Want to Wear a Mask? Do It for Hugh Jackman

Beginning in July, Broadway will no longer require audiences to mask up. Actors and theater workers aren’t loving the idea.

You Don’t Want to Wear a Mask? Do It for Hugh Jackman.

Beginning in July, Broadway will no longer require audiences to mask up. Actors and theater workers aren’t loving the idea.

Broadway Will Drop Mask Mandate Beginning July 1

Most theaters stopped requiring proof of vaccination this spring. Now they are going “mask optional.”

‘A Strange Loop’ Wins Best Musical as Tonys Celebrate Broadway’s Return

“The Lehman Trilogy” won best play, “Company” won best musical revival and “Take Me Out” won best revival of a play at the 75th Tony Awards.

‘Come From Away’ to Close, the Latest Broadway Show to End Run

The musical, which opened in 2017, is the third to announce a closing in two days, as many shows struggle in a pandemic-softened marketplace.

Broadway theaters will continue requiring patrons to wear masks at least through June 30.

The decision comes at a time when New York City has declared a “high Covid alert.”

The Twisting Trail to the Tonys: ‘Can You Believe That We’re Here?’

At times it felt like a game of survival. But during a Broadway season unlike any other, productions showed their resourcefulness while learning how to live with Covid.

‘Mrs. Doubtfire’ to Close on Broadway, After Reopening

The musical, which shuttered temporarily in January as the Omicron variant spread, has struggled with the slow return of tourists to the theater.

Your Monday Evening Briefing

Here’s what you need to know at the end of the day.

Most Broadway theaters have ended vaccination checks as coronavirus cases are rising.

Most of Broadway Ends Vaccine Checks as Cases Rise in New York

While for-profit theater owners and operators agreed to stop checking proof of vaccination this week, several nonprofit Broadway theaters continue to require it.

Manhattan Springs Back to Life

Broadway enthusiasts, art aficionados and food lovers will find new offerings in and around Times Square and in neighborhoods below 42nd Street, heralding the promise of a vibrant recovery.

‘For Colored Girls’ to Close on Broadway, Reflecting Tough Season

The revival, directed by Camille A. Brown, received strong reviews but struggled to attract audiences and overcome challenges posed by Covid.