Numerous off-Broadway theater companies have been struggling financially since reopening after the pandemic shutdown, resulting in fewer productions, smaller productions, and co-productions in which multiple companies come together to share resources and split costs.
Nevertheless, with a new fall theater season about to begin, there will still be plenty of interesting, worthwhile, and diverse Off-Broadway productions to check out.
Below are 10 off-Broadway shows that are about to begin previews (plus one that is already in previews), including productions by both nonprofit companies and commercial producers.
Table 17: Kara Young, who just won a Tony Award for her performance in “Purlie Victorious,” returns in a new romantic comedy by Douglas Lyons (“Chicken & Biscuits”) about former romantic partners who reunite for a relationship postmortem over dinner. Currently in previews at MCC Theater, mcctheater.org.
Forbidden Broadway: Merrily We Stole a Song: Rather than play Broadway for the first time as originally planned, the newest edition of Gerard Alessandrini’s long-running, frequently-updated Broadway spoof will return Off-Broadway, with targets that include last season’s musicals and stars. Begins previews Aug. 30 at Theater555.
Age Is a Feeling: First performed at the Edinburgh Fringe, Haley McGee’s (“The Ex-Boyfriend Yard Sale”) one-woman show is intended to fight back against regret and hopelessness and celebrate the ability to change course during one’s lifetime. Begins previews Sept. 11 at the Vineyard Theatre, vineyardtheatre.org.
The Beacon: Nancy Harris’s new play, which debuted last year as part of the Irish Rep’s New Works Festival, stars Kate Mulgrew (“Orange is the New Black”) as a woman who retreats to a remote island cottage following the death of her husband. Previews begin Sept. 11 at the Irish Repertory Theatre, irishrep.org.
Our Class: Following its premiere at BAM, Polish playwright Tadeusz Slobodzianek’s drama about a group of ten Polish students, including both Jews and Catholics, will transfer to the East Village. Begins previews Sept. 12 at Classic Stage Company, ourclassplay.com.
Medea: Re-Versed: The ancient Greek tragedy by Euripides, in which a scorned wife, mother, and sorceress seeks revenge on her unfaithful husband, is reimagined as a hip-hop drama with battle rap verse. Begins previews Sept. 12 at the Sheen Center, redbulltheater.com.
The Counter: David Cromer (“The Band’s Visit”) directs Meghan Kennedy’s world premiere drama about the unlikely friendship between a waitress and a regular at a local diner, with a cast that includes Anthony Edwards (“ER”) and Susannah Flood (“Life & Beth”). Begins previews Sept. 19 at the Laura Pels Theatre, roundabouttheatre.org.
Good Bones: James Ijames returns to the Public Theater (where his Pulitzer Prize-winning drama “Fat Ham” premiered before transferring to Broadway) with a new work about gentrification and the financial and moral complications of attempting to rebuild a blighted neighborhood. Begins previews Sept. 19 at the Public Theater, publictheater.org.
Hold On To Me Darling: Adam Driver, who was an Off-Broadway regular before becoming an A-list screen star, will lead Kenneth Lonergan’s 2016 comic drama about a country music star who decides to give up fame and return to his Tennessee hometown. Begins previews Sept. 24 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, holdontomedarling.com.
Vladimir: Following last season’s Broadway drama “Patriots” (about the relationship between Russian President Vladimir Putin and financier Boris Berezovsky), Erika Sheffer’s new play follows a Moscow journalist who attempts to cover Putin’s first term in office despite increasingly dangerous circumstances. Among the cast is two-time Tony winner Norbert Leo Butz. Begins previews Sept. 20 at City Center Stage I, manhattantheatreclub.com.
