T/theater

‘My Joy Is Heavy’ Review: Hope and Horror Live in the Same House

A full-scale production of the Bengsons’ deeply personal memoir musical is delivered via anthemic songs and remnants of home.

‘Ulster American’ Review: Matthew Broderick as a Star Blinded by Privilege

David Ireland’s satire follows a Hollywood actor whose cluelessness leads to a combustible confrontation.

New York Theater Settles Case That Argued Discounts Were Discriminatory

The lawsuit objected to a “BIPOC night” program at Playwrights Horizons, an Off Broadway nonprofit.

Jonathan Groff in ‘Merrily We Roll Along,’ and More Theater to Stream

Joined by Daniel Radcliffe, Groff stars in the hit Broadway production of the Sondheim musical. And there are (count ’em) three productions of “The Importance of Being Earnest” this month.

African Mean Girls? Fresh Take on Teen Cliques Is Broadway Bound.

“School Girls; or, The African Mean Girls Play,” written by Jocelyn Bioh and directed by Whitney White, will start performances in September.

The Man Who Would Go Anywhere

Is there anyone John Lithgow can’t — or won’t — play?

Trump Defends Need for Kennedy Center Renovation Project

Ahead of a vote on whether to close the center for two years of construction, the president criticized its previous financial management and physical condition.

‘Trash’ Review: Bickering About Chores, in Sign Language

James Caverly and Andrew Morrill star as Deaf roommates in their new comedy at the Perelman Performing Arts Center.

Daniel Radcliffe Makes ‘Every Brilliant Thing’ Shine

The actor’s fondness for the audience radiates outward in this delightful interactive play about naming and noticing the good in the world.

‘Antigone (This Play I Read in High School)’ Review: Tragically Uneven

Anna Ziegler’s feminist take on Sophocles tries to tie in reproductive politics, but the play keeps trampling over its own ideas.

‘Bughouse’ Review: Inside a Solitary Artist’s Unwieldy Mind

Henry Darger, a recluse who left behind thousands of wild illustrations upon his death, is the subject of fascination in this one-man show.

A New First Lady for Broadway’s ‘Oh, Mary!’: Maya Rudolph

The actress will make her Broadway debut in a role that, she said, “feels like a badge of honor.”

On the Hunt for 24 Hours of Drag in N.Y.C.

An enthusiast went on a madcap adventure to find some fun events for all types across the city, from bingo fans to “Star Trek” aficionados.

Quentin Tarantino Plans ‘Swashbuckling’ Play for London’s West End

“The Popinjay Cavalier,” written and directed by Tarantino, will open next year. It is described as a “rambunctious comedy of deception” set in 1830s Europe.

Lily Allen Is on Tour. She Brought Along Some Receipts.

The designer of Ms. Allen’s “West End Girl” tour talks about the scene with the artist pulling cloth printed with receipts that has become the subject of online speculation.

At This Festival, the Dead of Winter Is the Life of the Party

In the Hudson Valley town of Chatham, N.Y., a weeklong event called “The Dark” took over theaters, bars, a church, a bookshop, a library and even a sauna.

Liza Minnelli’s Memoir Has the Sequins, but Not the Sparkle

“Kids, Wait Till You Hear This!” is a familiar reminder that growing up in showbiz can lead to awards and adulation, but also to heartache.

Fed Up With High Costs, American Theater Takes a Trip to London

Skyrocketing budgets and falling profitability have driven a new form of offshoring, with U.S. producers staging shows across the Atlantic.

For Longtime Kennedy Center Patrons, a ‘Lifeline’ Has Been Cut

As President Trump prepares to close Washington’s premier performing arts venue for two years, loyal patrons wonder where they’ll get their cultural fix.

In a Screen-Dazzled World, a Theater Critic Has the Antidote

The Times’s new chief theater critic is taking up the mantle as the industry moves over rocky ground.

From 1977: Maria Callas, 53, Is Dead of Heart Attack in Paris

Considered the most exciting opera singer of her time, she thrilled audiences with her penchant for spectacle onstage and in her personal life.

From 1975: Josephine Baker Is Dead in Paris at 68

She performed with a string of bananas tied around her waist, an electrifying act that led her to become first a local sensation in Paris, and then an international star.

A Fast-Rising American Director Is Wowing the West End

After a prizewinning “Fiddler on the Roof” and a lauded take on Sondheim, Jordan Fein is tackling Arthur Miller’s enigmatic “Broken Glass.”

Wallace Shawn’s ‘What We Did Before Our Moth Days’ Is Purgatory Done Right

The playwright and his collaborator André Gregory are together again, delivering a sumptuous set of interlinked monologues about life, death and betrayal.

Olivier Awards: ‘Paddington’ and ‘Into the Woods’ Lead Nominations

The two musicals secured 11 nominations each for Britain’s equivalent of the Tony Awards. Cate Blanchett, Bryan Cranston and Rachel Zegler are also among the nominees.

Black Panther’s Hip-Hop Play, in Shakespeare’s House

The actor Chadwick Boseman was a playwright, too. At Shakespeare’s Globe in London, his “Deep Azure” is drawing attention to a lost talent inspired by the Bard.

How Jonathan Groff Became Broadway’s Leading Man

By transmitting his love of live performance, the “Just in Time” actor has completed his ascendance to full musical stardom.

24 Off Broadway Shows to Catch in March

Hugh Jackman returns in “Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes,” Jesse Tyler Ferguson plays Truman Capote, and Celia Keenan-Bolger and Tony Shalhoub star in an “Antigone” riff.

‘Night Side Songs’ Review: Feel Free to Sing Along

The Lazours’ intimate new musical about illness and mortality is also about finding solace in other people, and in art.

Hamnet, Hamlet and Oscar Wao: Three Lost Boys Across Time

In the stage versions of two beloved books, the most impressive moments emerge when the productions stray from the source material.

‘Bigfoot!’ Review: An Ogre Who Just Wants to Be Friends

The new musical from the comedian Amber Ruffin has a wholesome moral and silliness in spades.

For a Lesbian Twist on ‘Cyrano,’ They Enlisted an Indigo Girl

Opening a decade after “Fun Home” debuted on Broadway, the new musical “Starstruck” has a lesbian protagonist and a female creative team. That still seems radical.

34 Things to Do in New York City in March

This month offers St. Patrick’s Day and the Oscars, vampires and Mapplethorpe, as well as free ice skating and a final bow from Jonathan Groff.

Sondra Lee Dies at 97; Originated Roles in ‘Peter Pan’ and ‘Hello, Dolly!’

With her frenetic energy and 4-foot-10 frame, Ms. Lee seemed destined to play a certain kind of stage character: excitable, endearing and charmingly scheming.

‘Chinese Republicans’ Review: These Women Are Playing to Win

Alex Lin’s new play focuses on four ambitious climbers of the corporate ladder. But their success comes at what cost?

‘Fake Plastic Trees,’ Real All-Woman Radiohead Cover Band

For Lena Hall, a musical actress, and Charlene Kaye, a “musician comedian,” Labiahead is more than a side hustle. It offers a space for female rockers to connect.

‘Meat Suit’ Review: Sitting With the Mess of Motherhood

In Aya Ogawa’s compassionate, sharply comical play, the pastel-pink public image of mommyhood doesn’t stand a chance.

A Surprise Move by Megan Thee Stallion: Starring on Broadway

For eight weeks this spring, the popular rapper will be featured as a nightclub impresario in “Moulin Rouge! The Musical.”

Her Post-Soviet Buddy Comedy Was Decades in the Making

Lauren Yee’s boisterous play “Mother Russia,” about the origins of the contemporary oligarchy, has its roots in her San Francisco childhood.

‘You Got Older,’ With Alia Shawkat, Gets a Sharp Revival

Clare Barron’s gorgeous play, about an unmoored young woman returning home to care for her father, finds a new home at Cherry Lane Theater.

‘Mother Russia’ Review: A New Play That’s as Funny as It’s Smart

A strong cast stars in Lauren Yee’s new play, part of a cycle of works about the collisions between 20th-century communism and pop culture.

‘Marcel on the Train’ Review: A Famous Mime’s Little-Known Back Story

This bio play about Marcel Marceau, which delves into his part in the French Resistance, stars Ethan Slater (yes, that’s Boq from the “Wicked” movies).

‘The Waterfall’ Review: A Mother’s Blessing and a Daughter’s Burden

Phanésia Pharel’s wistful two-hander starring Patrice Johnson Chevannes and Natalie Paul looks at a Haitian American family and questions of legacy.

Rose Byrne Can, and Does, Do It All

An Oscar nominee for a movie in which everything crashes down on her (literally), Byrne is shifting gears with the Broadway comedy “Fallen Angels.”

Vampires Won’t Die. What’s Behind Their Bite?

With “The Lost Boys” on Broadway and Cynthia Erivo in “Dracula” in London, our horror expert looks at how bloodsuckers sunk their teeth into pop culture.

Sword Strikes Playgoer During ‘Richard III’ in Berlin

The German actor Lars Eidinger lost control of the weapon in the final scene of Shakespeare’s play.

The Problem With Hot, White Heathcliff

It’s time to end the era of colorblind casting.

12 Steps and Cups of Coffee: Sobriety Has Its Moment Onstage

Plays about addiction are filling Manhattan stages this month, depicting very different places on the recovery spectrum, from harrowing to serene.

Pop Songs, Pink Confetti and Avengers: Shakespeare Returns to Broadway

The Marvel alumni Tom Hiddleston and Hayley Atwell will star in Jamie Lloyd’s mischievous take on “Much Ado About Nothing.”

David Hays, 95, Dies; Top Broadway Designer and Theater of Deaf Founder

He created sets and lighting for dozens of productions, including “Long Day’s Journey Into Night,” and established a new art form with his theater of the deaf, combining sign and spoken language.

In Cynthia Erivo’s ‘Dracula,’ There’s Mirth Amid the Horror

The “Wicked” actress plays 23 roles in a one-woman show on London’s West End.

A Downtown Vibe Comes to Broadway This Spring

Without the usual flood of new musicals, the playwrights of works like “Becky Shaw,” “Dog Day Afternoon” and “Giant” are getting a chance to shine.

What to See in New York This Spring

Onstage, “Cats: The Jellicle Ball” and Adrien Brody in “The Fear of 13.” Plus: Cardi B goes on tour, Lise Davidsen takes on Isolde at the Met, 100 years of Martha Graham and more.

‘Brokeback Mountain,’ ‘Hamnet’ and 14 More Shows to See This Spring

Across the country, a flurry of theater productions, including “Black Swan” and “The Lunchbox,” are mining the movies for material.

‘The Dinosaurs’ Review: Sobriety Seekers, Sisters in Obscurity

Kathleen Chalfant, Elizabeth Marvel, April Matthis and other actors deliver top-notch performances in a play that leaves questions unanswered.

Daniel Radcliffe Wanted a Break From Broadway. Then He Read This Play.

The Tony winner returns to the stage in “Every Brilliant Thing,” an interactive monologue with a message of hope “that might be vital for somebody to hear.”

As Regional Theaters Struggle, Some Defy the Odds

Naples, Fla., and Milwaukee are quite different, but have one thing in common: They are home to regional theaters that are thriving.

5 Years After Covid Closed the Theaters, Audiences Are Returning

Broadway is almost back, and pop music tours and sports events are booming. But Hollywood, museums and other cultural sectors have yet to bounce back.

Off Broadway, Labor Tension Heats Up

Stagehands and other backstage workers have gone on strike against a prominent theater, and two productions have been canceled.

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.

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.