Author: Jim Glaub

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Creative

2025-2026 Broadway Season (So Far)

Upcoming Broadway shows

It’s official: Broadway’s 2025–2026 season is set to be a showstopper. Between blockbuster revivals, high-profile debuts, daring comedies, and nostalgic musicals, this year’s lineup offers something for everyone. Whether you’re a die-hard theater nerd, a celebrity spotter, or just looking for your next night out in New York, here’s your essential guide to the productions lighting up the marquees.

BACK TO THE BLOCKBUSTER

MAMMA MIA!
Winter Garden Theatre | Opening August 14, 2025
ABBA’s beloved jukebox musical returns to the Winter Garden—its original Broadway home—bringing a dose of sun-drenched escapism and glittery nostalgia. With a cast led by Christine Sherrill, Amy Weaver, and Carly Sakolove, this revival promises to be both a retro party and a fresh celebration.

BEETLEJUICE
Palace Theatre | Opening October 8, 2025
After a successful tour and its cult following intact, Beetlejuice is rising from the dead once more. Alex Timbers’ high-octane production will haunt the newly reopened Palace Theatre, delivering chaotic comedy, killer design, and a second chance for audiences who missed it the first time.

CHESS
Imperial Theatre | Opening November 16, 2025
Aaron Tveit, Lea Michele, and Nicholas Christopher take center stage in this long-awaited revival of the Cold War-set pop musical. With a brand-new book by Danny Strong (Dopesick), this CHESS is aiming for high drama and vocal fireworks.

RAGTIME
Vivian Beaumont Theatre | Opening October 16, 2025
Lear deBessonet helms a starry revival of this Tony-winning epic, featuring Joshua Henry, Caissie Levy, and Brandon Uranowitz. Expect sweeping emotion, bold visuals, and powerful commentary on the American dream.

COMEDY & CHARACTER: SOLO SPOTLIGHTS

TAKE A BANANA FOR THE RIDE
Nederlander Theatre | Opening August 18, 2025
Jeff Ross, the king of roasts, gets personal in this comedic one-man show that unpacks his life behind the mic. Part memoir, part roast, all heart.

SUGAR DADDY
Dates & Venue TBD
Following a hit Off-Broadway run and an Edinburgh Festival breakout, Sam Morrison brings his darkly funny tale of grief, queerness, and seagulls to the Main Stem. Directed by A Strange Loop’s Stephen Brackett.

DRAMA, DEBATE & DYSTOPIA

ART
Music Box Theatre | Opening September 16, 2025
What’s more expensive: the price of art or the cost of friendship? Bobby Cannavale, James Corden, and Neil Patrick Harris star in this razor-sharp revival of Yasmina Reza’s Tony-winning play, directed by Scott Ellis.

PUNCH
Samuel J. Friedman Theatre | Opening September 29, 2025
Based on a true story, James Graham (Ink, Best of Enemies) explores justice, forgiveness, and moral complexity in a play that wowed UK critics. Camila Canó-Flaviá and Will Harrison lead a powerhouse cast.

WAITING FOR GODOT
Hudson Theatre | Opening September 28, 2025
Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter reunite (no, not as Bill & Ted) in Jamie Lloyd’s stripped-down revival of Beckett’s existential classic. Can two dudes just wait in peace? Apparently not.

OEDIPUS
Studio 54 | Opening November 13, 2025
Mark Strong and Lesley Manville lead Robert Icke’s critically-acclaimed West End take on Oedipus Rex. Modern, political, and devastatingly precise.

BUZZY NEW PLAYS & MUSICALS

THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES
St. James Theatre | Opening November 10, 2025
Kristin Chenoweth returns in a glitzy new musical based on the infamous documentary about Jacqueline Siegel. With music by Stephen Schwartz and direction by Michael Arden (Maybe Happy Ending), this could be the season’s most outrageous (and opulent) new musical.

LITTLE BEAR RIDGE ROAD
Booth Theatre | Opening October 30, 2025
Playwright Samuel D. Hunter (The Whale) and director Joe Mantello team up for a quietly devastating family drama starring Laurie Metcalf. Small town. Big heartbreak.

MARJORIE PRIME
Hayes Theatre | Opening December 8, 2025
Jordan Harrison’s sci-fi-tinged meditation on memory and aging makes its Broadway debut, with Anne Kauffman at the helm. Get ready for tears, tech, and talkbacks.

THE LOST BOYS
Palace Theatre | Spring 2026
Yes, that Lost Boys. Michael Arden’s adaptation of the 1987 vampire flick is set to take a bite out of Broadway, fangs and all.

MORE NOTABLE ARRIVALS:

  • DOLLY: AN ORIGINAL MUSICAL – Dolly Parton is writing her own Broadway bio-musical. Enough said.
  • DOG DAY AFTERNOON – Stephen Adly Guirgis brings the gritty bank heist story to the stage, starring Jon Bernthal and Ebon Moss-Bachrach.
  • THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW – Let’s do the Time Warp again… at Studio 54, no less.
  • JOE TURNER’S COME AND GONE – August Wilson’s classic returns with Taraji P. Henson and Cedric the Entertainer, directed by Debbie Allen.
  • THE BALUSTERS – David Lindsay-Abaire and Kenny Leon bring suburban HOA drama to a boiling point.
  • WANTED – Formerly Gun & Powder, this explosive new musical centers on twin sisters in the post-Reconstruction South.
  • PRIVATE LIVES and FALLEN ANGELS – Noël Coward’s comedies of manners and mischief are both slated for spring, starring Rose Byrne and Kelli O’Hara.
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Cover Story Creative

July Astrology: Broadway Edition

Broadway astrology

It’s time for some astrology, Broadway style. Starting now and carrying through the next few weeks, July is charged with emotional revelations, second chances, and bold rewrites. The stars are pushing us to confront the past, embrace vulnerability, and choose our own endings—whether it’s a plot twist, a love story, or a full-on revival.

Aries (Mar 21–Apr 19)

Maybe Happy Ending
You’re soft, electric, and feeling things you didn’t know you could. The next two weeks will have you glitching in the best way. Vulnerable, romantic, and cautiously optimistic. You’re not just rebooting. You’re learning how to love like it’s the first time.

Taurus (Apr 20–May 20)

The Outsiders
You’ve been chill for too long. July says it’s rumble time. It’s loyalty versus survival, and you’re about to prove that you’re more than just steady. You’re scrappy. Embrace your inner Ponyboy, defend your people, and don’t be afraid to burn a little brighter.

Gemini (May 21–Jun 20)

Six
You’re every version of yourself, and this month, you’re ready to headline. July wants you loud, proud, and remixing your own history. Step into your spotlight, split your screen, and serve Tudor realness with a pop beat and a mic drop.

Cancer (Jun 21–Jul 22)

Hadestown
You’re feeling epic. Star-crossed. On the edge of fate. July’s energy has you loving hard and longing harder. But remember, tragedy isn’t your only option. Sometimes the road to the underworld leads back to yourself. Sing anyway.

Leo (Jul 23–Aug 22)

& Juliet
This is your rewrite. You’re not waiting for anyone to give you a happy ending. You’re grabbing the quill and cueing the Backstreet Boys. July is your birth-month bop, and you’re writing it with rhinestones, revenge, and self-love choreography.

Virgo (Aug 23–Sep 22)

John Proctor is the Villain
July is your disillusionment arc and your awakening. You’re seeing things and people more clearly. This month might crack some foundations, but don’t flinch. You’re not here to be the teacher’s pet. You’re here to rewrite the rules and pass the test you believe in.

Libra (Sep 23–Oct 22)

Chicago
You’re giving courtroom couture and calculating charisma. July is about appearances and the truth behind them. You know how to charm, but don’t let that mask your real needs. The razzle dazzle works, but only when it’s anchored in something true.

Scorpio (Oct 23–Nov 21)

The Lion King
You’re being called to rise. Emotionally, spiritually, ancestrally. July brings echoes from the past, and it’s time to face your personal Scar. Step into the sun, reclaim your legacy, and roar like the royalty you are.

Sagittarius (Nov 22–Dec 21)

The Book of Mormon
July is sending you on an absurd journey with meaning hidden in the madness. You’re craving freedom, questioning belief systems, and laughing at it all. Follow the chaos. It just might lead you to the truth. Or at least to Uganda.

Capricorn (Dec 22–Jan 19)

Hamilton
You’re running out of time. Or at least, it feels that way. This month is a sprint toward legacy, with work, ambition, and strategy at the center. But remember, even Hamilton paused for a moment alone in the eye of the hurricane. Rest is not failure.

Aquarius (Jan 20–Feb 18)

Wicked
You’re not like the others, and July makes that crystal clear. This is your moment to rise, defy gravity, and challenge the system. Not everyone will get you, but your uniqueness is your power. Stay green. Stay bold. Stay you.

Pisces (Feb 19–Mar 20)

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
July has you time-traveling emotionally. Revisiting the past, dreaming alternate futures, feeling things no one else understands. You’re a little magic, a little mess, and a lot more powerful than you think. Cast the spell. Rewrite the ending.

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Broadway's Best

Broadway’s Best Shows for Kids

Whether you’re a New York local or planning your family’s very first trip to the city, it can be challenging to figure out which of Broadway’s bevy of options are right for the children in your life. The Broadway’s Best Shows editorial team has assembled our recommendations based on age group (5-10, 11-14, and 14-18), and we’ve also included information about what might be scary or confusing (i.e., humor for grown-ups) so that you can make an informed decision. While the very young might not have the attention span for a three-hour movie, luckily, Broadway blockbusters have intermissions! 

Note that most theaters only permit children ages 4 and up, so be sure to check the website.

For elementary school-aged children 

Water For Elephants

This heart-pounding adventure story about running away to the circus features mind-blowing stagecraft, puppetry, and an emotional, universal story, ideal for someone’s first Broadway show. While it was not explicitly created with kids in mind like Lion King was, and does not talk down to audiences, nothing in the story is too scary for young children – note that a very sick circus horse dies early in Act 1, but (spoilers!) the circus animals actually get to save the day in Act 2. Theatergoers of all ages will be awed by the real circus performers onstage. 2 hrs 45 mins with intermission. 

The Lion King

This long-running stalwart has been the first Broadway show many children ever see, for a reason – Julie Taymor’s awe-inspiring puppetry, a straightforward story and easy humor, Elton John’s songs that are still bops, 30 years in. Don’t let the Disney of it all fool you – the grownups will not be bored either. (Good luck steering your kid away from the mind-blowing amount of merchandise for sale in the lobby.) 2 hrs 30 mins with an intermission. All children require a ticket, even if sitting in a caregiver’s lap. 

For middle schoolers and tweens

SIX

Henry the 8th’s six wives (divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived) are now LIVE on Broadway! A pair of young musical theater writers from England cleverly turned this 17th-century history into a pop concert a la the Spice Girls or Little Mix, and it’s become a Broadway smash. It’s got a cheeky, British sense of humor, and every song is an earworm. It’s bubbly, feisty fun for fans of the Barbie movie, and for children who’ve recently grown out of their “princess phase.” 80 minutes, no intermission. 

Suffs

Inspired by the real-life suffragists who fought to get women the right to vote, Suffs is a thrilling story of female friendship and resilience that fans of Little Women, Annie, and Matilda will love. It’s an opportunity to learn about real-life history even though the show doesn’t feel like homework, and theatergoers will leave feeling inspired. Note that there’s some light swearing, and some incredibly relatable real-life misogyny. 2 hours 45 minutes with intermission. 

The Outsiders

Your sixth-grader is probably required to read S.E. Hinton’s novel for school, so why not take them to the new musical adaptation, which is a vast improvement on the 1980 movie version? The classic tale of teen gang warfare between the rich and the poor in 1960s Telsa is infused with electrifying choreography and soulful, bluegrass-inspired music. The production confronts difficult ideas like how the poor Greasers are trapped in a cycle of poverty, and as a content warning, two of its adolescent characters die (one by suicide.) 2 hours 45 minutes with intermission. 

For high schoolers 

Cabaret

Cabaret’s portrayal of wild Weimar Berlin during the rise of the Nazi party is probably too dark for children under age 13, but its sexuality, thematic maturity, and sheer brilliance is ideal for teenagers hungry for something raw and angry. The 2024 production directed by Rebecca Frecknell wants to spark conversations about the connections between 1930s Germany and today, and dresses the characters in contemporary clothes. Themes of choosing to stand up for what you believe in will resonate with high schoolers. The production runs 2 hours and 45 minutes, with an optional hour long pre-show before curtain time. 

Stereophonic

For the high schooler who’s obsessed with today’s rock stars like Harry Styles and Billie Eilish, who’s done extensive research to figure out who a Taylor Swift song is really about, or who loves Daisy Jones & The Six, this behind-the-scenes look at the recording of a fictional album in 1976 will be a huge crowd pleaser. Its sharply crafted characters, strong humor, and amazing original songs by Will Butler are sure to impress. Older generations in your group will love the allusions to Fleetwood Mac recording Rumours, and the Beatles’ Get Back documentary. Note that the show is period-accurate and includes extensive drug abuse, as well as adult language and intense emotional abuse among the band’s artists. We pinky-promise that the show’s 3 hour runtime flies by, leaving you wanting even more. 

…and for the kid who says they ‘hate theater’ 


The Book of Mormon

The key to this show’s success, now running on Broadway for 13 years, is its sense of humor, refreshingly brutal and snarky. Written by the South Park team, it’s foul-mouthed, juvenile, and crass, perfect for kids too embarrassed or annoyed by the razzle dazzle of Broadway. (It’s okay – jazz hands aren’t for everyone.) Its irreverent humor will entertain the Dimension 20, Rick and Morty, or even PewDiePie fran in your life. It runs 2 hours and 30 minutes with a

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Capsule Reviews

Mother Play

Mother Play

by Ben Togut

Across several decades, a relentless matriarch struggles to navigate her relationship with her two children in Mother Play, now playing at The Hayes Theater. 

As Phyllis, Jessica Lange is mesmerizing. Lange commands the stage in each of her character’s iterations—as an emotionally abusive mother living in poverty, a woman grappling with her children’s queer identities, and a patient at a nursing home trying to cope with her surroundings. As Martha and Carl, Celia Keenan-Bolger and Jim Parsons deliver performances that are moving in their own right, Keenan Bolger as a tomboy struggling with her mother’s expectations and Parsons as a free thinker who remains steadfast in his principles and identity.

Under the direction of Tina Landau, the actors deftly navigate the production’s emotional terrain, finding genuine comedy amid the play’s bleak subject matter. Mother Play gets its biggest laughs through physical comedy, such as when Carl teaches Martha how to “walk like man,” parodying a masculine gait and having her imitate him. Projection design by Shawn Duan, which features a dancing chorus of roaches, provides a welcome moment of campiness while illuminating the family’s experience of poverty.

With layered performances that amplify Paula Vogel’s tragicomedy, Mother Play is an exacting portrait of family dynamics gone awry.

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Capsule Reviews

Uncle Vanya

Uncle Vanya

by Ben Togut

A professor’s return to a country estate reignites old resentments in Uncle Vanya, now playing at the Vivian Beaumont Theater. Back on Broadway with a star-studded cast and a new adaptation by Heidi Schreck, Uncle Vanya finds the humor and pathos in dysfunctional family relationships and breathes new life into Chekhkov’s classic.

Steve Carrell is at the top of his game as the titular Vanya, skillfully tackling Chekhov’s humor and turning a character usually played pathetic and self-pitying into someone lovable. Anika Noni Rose delivers a regal yet grounded performance as Elena, a woman who is keenly aware of how her beauty makes her appear untouchable. Rose is a joy to watch as she reveals Elena’s true character, advocating for a smitten Sonia (Alison Pill) and exposing her own vulnerabilities when she struggles to ward off a romance with Astrov (William Jackson Harper).

The set, by Mimi Lien, features familiar furniture and a giant mural of trees in the background, making the space feel intimate and expansive, while musical interludes by Andrew Bird add a warm, homespun quality to the production. Lighting design by Lap Chi Chu and Elizabeth Harper complements the mood of the play, shifting from candlelit family gatherings to stark, white lighting in the production’s final moments.

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Capsule Reviews

Suffs

Suffs

by Ben Togut

A spirited cast breathes new life into the battle for women’s voting rights in Suffs, now playing at the Music Box. The show transforms a critical period of American history into an exciting night at the theater, dramatizing the campaign for gender equality in voting rights and championing the fearless women behind it.

One of the production’s greatest assets is its ensemble, which embodies the feistiness of the suffragists and exhibits a moving sense of comradery on stage. Jenn Colella turns in a willful performance as Carrie Chapman Catt, an activist who refuses to stray from her non-confrontational strategy. She is a joy to watch as she campaigns for female suffrage in the opener “Let Mother Vote” and criticizes the aggressive  tactics of younger suffragists in “This Girl.” Broadway veteran Emily Skinner is delightfully snarky as socialite Alva Belmont. She showcases her range  by doubling as rural housewife Phoebe Burn in Act II, delivering a poignant rendition of “A Letter From Harry’s Mother.”

Another one of Suffs’s delights is its score by Shaina Taub, which balances a story of protest struggle with moments of genuine humor, such as in the song “G.A.B.”  Director Leigh Silverman’s staging elegantly complements the world Taub has created. At the end of the second act, Taub’s Alice Paul takes center stage while her castmates are silhouetted behind her, visually highlighting that it took a legion of women joining together for their voices to be heard.

At once a history lesson and a call to action, Suffs is an inspiring and timely piece of theatre.

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Capsule Reviews

The Heart of Rock and Roll

Heart of Rock and Roll

By Dabney Peterson

It begins with the rousing “Hip To Be Square” and it’s a non-stop cavalcade of the songs of Huey Lewis and the News, some of which you may remember and some of which you may not.  They are all fueled by a megawatt energy, credit to choreographer  Lorin Latarro, that will have you inspired to do the bubble wrap at your next high school reunion. This is “The Heart of Rock and Roll”, currently at the James Earl Jones Theatre. In a year populated by some very serious  (and good) musicals, here’s one that stands out for the audacity to have nothing on its mind but sheer entertainment.  And a terrific twosome at the center, Corey Cott and McKenzie Kurtz, who bears a striking resemblance to a young Hilary Clinton.

If you had a good time at Grease and Mamma Mia, you’ll have a blast at “The Heart of Rock and Roll.”  It’s hot fun in the Summertime!

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Creative

Thornton Wilder’s Our Town on Broadway

Our Town on Broadway

Witness the first major Broadway revival in 25 years of Thornton Wilder’s timeless classic, OUR TOWN, hitting Broadway’s Barrymore Theatre in a strictly limited engagement. Directed by Tony Award-winner Kenny Leon, this production has a stellar cast of 28 actors, led by acclaimed performers such as Jim Parsons, Zoey Deutch, Katie Holmes, and more.

Don’t miss Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Award-winner Jim Parsons as the captivating “Stage Manager,” alongside a stellar ensemble including Obie & Audelco Award-winner Billy Eugene Jones, Tony & Grammy Award-nominee Ephraim Sykes, Tony & Drama Desk-nominee Michelle Wilson, and many others.

Previews kick off on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, with the grand opening set for Thursday, October 10, 2024. Secure your tickets now for this unforgettable Broadway experience! Tickets available at Telecharge.com or by calling 212-239-6200.

GET TICKETS

Be part of the magic as OUR TOWN comes to life once again, exploring the timeless drama of life in the village of Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire. Directed by the acclaimed Kenny Leon, this revival promises to captivate audiences with its universal themes and powerful performances.

Thornton Wilder’s Our Town plays at the Barrymore Theatre for an unforgettable evening of theatre. Visit OurTownBroadway.com for more information.

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Capsule Reviews

Purlie Victorious

Drake Dixon


Most of us know Ossie Davis as an actor and an activist.    That is about to change with the opening tonight of his play “Purlie Victorious:  A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch”. 

Perhaps best known for the work that inspired the popular musical “Purlie”, “Purlie Victorious” stands on its own as a major achievement.   It is also a rediscovery, since it hasn’t been seen in a commercial production since 1961 when it opened on Broadway at the Cort Theatre.   

The plot may seem simplistic. Purlie has come home to Cotchipee County (locale: somewhere in the Deep, Deep South) to reclaim an inheritance owed to his family and purchase the church called Big Bethel.   However,  the machinations that involve this reclamation are anything but.   And Davis’s sharp-witted script, embellished with delicious one-liners, is a comic feast of Machivellian twists and turns that result in one of the freshest and funniest play that that we’ve seen in years.  The side-splitting shenanigans that transpire in the fast-paced 95 minutes are complemented by unexpected surprises.  When Purlie welcomes his soon-to-be disciple Lutiebelle into his home, you think he will be effusively greeted by Aunt Missy, his sister-in-law.  And that’s just when the fun begins, courtesy of the expert staging of Kenny Leon.  Leon’s stagings of such powerhouse plays as “Fences,” “A Raisin in the Sun”, last season’s “TopDog UnderDog” and “Ohio State Murders” have cemented his reputation as one of our most accomplished directors.  Hitherto, he’s not been able to establish his mark in comedy.   That mark is made indelibly with this production.  And what an ensemble has been assembled:  Leslie Odom radiates charm, charisma and conviction as our protagonist who specializes in “white folk psychology”;  Kara Young, nominated for back-to-back Tonys the past two seasons in “Clydes” and “The Cost of Living”, surprises as the most engaging comedienne Broadway has seen since Annaleigh Ashford captivated in “You Can’t Take It With You”;  Bill Eugene Jones, seen earlier this season in “Fat Ham”, is uproarious as Gitlow, the “deputy for the colored”; Jay O. Sanders is bombastically hilarious as the Ol Cap’n, the symbol of the Old South; Noah Robbins, in the role that Alan Alda originated, is a wonderfully amusing antagonist to his father, the ol Cap’n; Vanessa Bell Colby’s “That’s the Biggest Lie Since the Devil Learned to Talk”  line brings down the house with her exquisite comic timing and the sheriff and deputy of Bill Timoney and Noah Pyzik are goofily expert.   It’s a terrific ensemble. 

Derek McLane’s set transformation for the  epilogue wins applause and it deserves to.  And the epilogue itself is so memorable…combining ,as much as “Purlie Victorious” does, humor with power resulting in uplifting joyousness.  

Verdict:  You’ll have a great time.  Purlie not only emerges Victorious but this is a triumphant return to Broadway of a wonderful play.

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Creative

Broadway’s Best Shows About the Labor Movement

By Katie Devin Orenstein

As Labor Day approaches, when we acknowledge and honor organized labor’s contributions to this country, Broadway’s Best Shows is looking back at stories of the labor movement onstage, of which there are many. Perhaps it’s only natural that Broadway feature union stories, since so much of the industry is unionized – actors and stage managers, directors, designers, and stagehands each have their own unions. And what could be more dramatic than a union showdown? It’s ample fodder for storytelling, given its high stakes and everyman heroes. 

Newsies

“Now is the time to seize the day…” In 2012, Alan Menken turned his Disney movie about the newsboy’s strike of 1899 into a stage musical. Its young, energetic cast performed high-flying choreography from Christopher Gatelli, and it turned Jeremy Jordan into a star. It developed a passionate fanbase, which meant thousands of teenage girls now know about the union-busting tactics of William Randolph Hearst. The rousing songs, particularly “Seize the Day,” have even been sung on the picket lines for the 2023 Writer’s Guild strike. 

Waiting for Lefty

A parable about workers on the verge of strike that captured the anger and anxiety of workers during the Depression, Waiting for Lefty by Clifford Odets is one of the most important plays of the 20th century. It had a ripped-from-the-headlines immediacy, as New Yorkers were still processing the 1934 taxicab drivers’ strike, the ensuing rioting, and Mayor LaGuardia’s staunchly pro-labor position. It premiered at Broadway’s Longacre Theatre in 1935. Odets directed the production, and performed in the role of Dr. Benjamin. While Odets’ other plays Awake and Sing, Golden Boy, and Country Girl have each been revived multiple times on Broadway, Waiting for Lefty was performed at hundreds of theaters across America during the Depression, but has not yet been revived for Broadway. 

Source: New York Public Library

I Can Get It for You Wholesale

I Can Get It For You Wholesale is a fascinating text about intracommunity conflict and labor actions by garment workers in Depression era New York. The plot kicks off when protagonist Harry Bogen tries to scab around striking workers. Streisand stole the show as Harry’s overworked receptionist Miss Marmelstein. I Can Get It For You Wholesale will be produced in New York in fall 2023, directed by Trip Cullman downtown at Classic Stage Company and starring a stacked cast, including Santino Fontana, Judy Kuhn, Joy Woods, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Sarah Steele, and Adam Chanler Berat, with Julia Lester as Miss Marmelstein. 

The Pajama Game

This classic Golden Age musical takes a lighthearted look at unionized garment workers in Iowa. Its central romance is two star-crossed lovers on opposite sides of a strike–the head of the Union Grievance Committee, Babe Williams, and Sid Sorokin, the new management. The show is notable for being Bob Fosse’s choreography debut. His legendary choreography for “Steam Heat” takes place at the Union rally! 

Ragtime

Ahrens’ and Flaherty’s 1997 historical-fiction musical, with a book by Terrence McNally adapting E.L. Doctorow’s novel, touches on nearly every hot button issue in America–racism, sexism, xenophobia and anti-immigrant hatred, and religious tension–and through its sweeping scale, demonstrates how these different issues are connected, and how the political debates and social problems of 1900 connect to today. Audience members are often surprised by the world of 1900s New York the show portrays, especially the militant, mobilized, and very large labor union movement. Two of the show’s protagonists, wealthy Mother’s Younger Brother and impoverished Jewish immigrant Tateh, have their lives turned upside down by strikes and radical ideas, personified in the show by radical anarchist Emma Goldman.