August is not generally known as a month for theatergoing, especially compared with the busy fall season that lies ahead. However, this month does contain three new Broadway shows (including a big-budget musical adaptation of “Back to the Future, a comedy about the making of “Jaws,” and a magic show starring European illusionist Antonio Díaz) and a variety of new Off-Broadway shows, many of which are being produced by major not-for-profit theater companies.
Flex: Candice Jones’ drama explores a girls’ high school basketball team in 1997 rural Arkansas whose players aspire to join the WNBA and struggle through personal conflicts. Through Aug. 20 at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater, lct.org.
Cat Kid Comic Club: The Musical: TheaterWorks USA, which is known for producing theater for young audiences, presents a new musical adapted from the popular “Cat Kid Comic Club” series, in which Cat Kid and Molly Pollywog set out to teach baby frogs how to make their own comics. Through Aug. 27 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, catkidmusical.com.
The Half-God of Rainfall: Described as a mix of Greek and Nigerian mythology, ritualistic movement, and the NBA, Inua Ellams’ poetic and epic drama follows a half Nigerian-mortal, half Greek-god who makes for an extraordinary athlete and his mother, who was a victim of sexual violence. Through Aug. 20 at New York Theatre Workshop, nytw.org.
Let’s Call Her Patty: Rhea Perlman (who turns up in a cameo role in the new “Barbie” movie) stars in Zarina Shea’s comedy about a well-off woman living on the Upper West Side whose comfortable existence is shaken when her daughter starts using cocaine. It is being produced by Lincoln Center Theater as part of its LCT3 series. Through Aug. 27 at the Claire Tow Theater, lct.org.
Toros: In Danny Tejera’s play, a trio in their late 20s (plus a golden retriever) chill in a garage in Madrid, where they smoke, drink, argue over music, and get philosophical. It is being produced by Second Stage as part of its Uptown series, which showcases emerging writers. Through Aug. 13 at the McGinn/Cazale Theater, 2st.com.
Small: Chita Rivera is a producer on Robert Montano’s one-man play about a Puerto Rican/Italian boy from Long Island who is obsessed with professional horse racing and determined to become a jockey. Begins previews on Aug. 12 at 59E59, 59e59.org.
The Tempest: The Public Theater’s Public Works program, in which community members from all five boroughs join professional actors in pageant-like productions based on classic works, returns to Central Park with a new musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s fantasy of shipwreck and magic “The Tempest.” It will mark the final production at the Delacorte Theatre until 2025 due to upcoming renovations. Aug. 27-Sept. 3 at the Delacorte Theatre, publictheater.org.
Pay the Writer: Marcia Cross (“Desperate Housewives”) and Bryan Batt (“Mad Men”) lead Tawni O’Dell’s comedy about a gay publisher (Batt) and a Black writer (Ron Canada) who achieve literary success and later experience regrets. The first performance will serve as a fundraiser for the Writers Guild of America. Begins previews on Aug. 13, paythewriterplay.com.
How to Steal an Election: A Dirty Politics Musical: The York Theatre Company’s Musicals in Mufti series, in which rarely-seen musicals are presented in a no-frills concert format, returns for the first time since the pandemic with the first New York revival of a long-lost Off-Broadway musical from 1968 by Oscar Brand and William F. Brown (“The Wiz”) in which Calvin Coolidge somehow turns up and meets with young political protestors. Aug. 26-Sept. 3 at the Theater at Saint Jean’s, yorktheatre.org.
Infinite Life: In Annie Baker’s (“The Flick,” “Circle Mirror Transformation”) new play, five women in Northern California relax outside on lounge chairs and begin to contemplate pain, craving, and aging. The cast includes Marylouise Burke (“Sideways”) and Kristine Nielsen (“Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike”). Begins previews on Aug. 18 at the Linda Gross Theater, atlantictheater.org.
