More Theater Monday - Benevolent

We received complimentary tickets to Benevolent for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own. 

What: Benevolent

Where: IATI Theater

             64 E. 4th St.

             New York, NY

Who: Recommended for Ages 17 and Up

When: Through September 5, 2026

Benevolent is a sharply written show by Sophie McIntosh about a group of girls confined to the Benevolent Society who form bonds while on forced laundry duty. Mia Fowler is the cautious Emma, who, as a lone black woman, is forced to look out for her own interests. Rachel Ravel is the slightly needy Sarah. Chani Reese plays the knowing, confident Margaret. While all these performances are excellent, the show's standout is Livvy Marcus as the seemingly sweet and naive Abby. 

While much of what we learn about these girls and their stories is completely heartbreaking, it still won't prepare you for what's to come. The show's ending is an absolute gut punch.

And that's our view. For more about Benevolent or to purchase tickets, visit

www.goodapplescollective.com/benevolent

Tune in tomorrow for Tips for Tuesday.

Photo credits:

All Benevolent production photos by Nina Goodheart

Images used in this post were sent by publicists, artists, and/or  PR firms and are used with permission. Address concerns regarding image usage here.

Sunday Scoop Week of 8/30/26 What's Happening This Week and More

A) Beginning Performances

In New York

1) Becoming Hamlet

Five Angels Theatre 9/5 - 10/3

2) The Edge Motel

Theater for the New City 9/4 - 9/13

3) Garry Starr: Classic Penguins

Studio Seaview 9/3 - 10/4

4) Pre-existing Conditions

Greenwich House Theater 9/1 - 12/19

5) Queen for a Day

The Tank 9/4 - 9/14

6) Safe House

Theatre Row 9/2 - 9/13

B) Cast Changes

In New York

7) Hadestown

C) Concert

In New York

8) Pucci Amanda Jhones

Dante Park 9/2

D) Recordings

9) Evita

E) Festivals

In New York

10) Citizens Arts International Festival

Astoria Park 9/7

11) Kaatsbaan Cultural Park Annual Festival Labor Day Weekend Programming

F) What Else is Happening

In Pennsylvania

12) Hocus Pocus Speakeasy Opens in Montco

9/12 - 11/8

13) Labor Day Weekend Market

Dilworth Park 9/4 - 9/6

A) Beginning Performances

In New York

Courtesy of JT PR

1) Becoming Hamlet

This production adapts Shakespeare's masterpiece for the modern era by placing the audience inside the play: the play is experienced from a first-person perspective, the audience feels what Hamlet feels and speaks Hamlet's iconic lines, while directly interacting with the other characters. Preserving Shakespeare's language while reinventing the relationship between actor and audience, Becoming Hamlet transforms theatre into an act of collective discovery, where the audience's participation becomes the performance itself.

Five Angels Theatre (789 10th Ave.)

9/5 - 10/3

Opening Night 9/10

For more information or to purchse tickets, visit www.BecomingHamlet.com.

Courtesy of Spincycle NYC

2) The Edge Motel

On a road trip through Colorado, a closeted frat bro and his ex-girlfriend pick up a charming, mysterious hitchhiker. When a blizzard forces them to stop at THE EDGE MOTEL, a troubling secret about the hitchhiker comes to light and sets the stage for a tense night of political debate, private intimacies, and surprising revelations.

Theatre for the New City (155 1st Ave.)

9/4 - 9/13

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.DreamUpFestival.org.

Courtesy of Vivacity Media Group

3) Garry Starr: Classic Penguins

The classics, stripped bare. Winner of Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s top award and ‘Best Comedy’ at Adelaide Fringe and World Fridge, Garry Starr now heads to New York hell-bent on saving books from extinction by performing every Penguin Classic novel ever written in under an hour, (mostly) naked.  Starr takes the audience on a literary adventure through the world’s most iconic works of fiction. From “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” to “Moby Dick” and everything in between, nothing is safe from being lampooned in this “bonkers, ingenious and hilarious” show,

Studio Seaview (305 W. 43rd St.)

9/3 - 10/4

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.garrystarrnyc.com

4) Pre-existing Conditions

The play centers on an unnamed woman, brought to life in sequential engagements by the formidable Lupita Nyong’o, Phillipa Soo, Susannah Flood, Hari Nef, and Edie Falco alongside a powerhouse returning cast featuring Dael Orlandersmith, Sarah Steele, and Greg Keller. Staged at the historic Greenwich House Theater, Pre-Existing Condition explores the quiet challenges and everyday indignities of moving forward after a life-altering relationship.

Greenwich House Theater (27 Barrow St.)

9/1 - 12.19

Opening night 9/14

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit  www.preexistingconditionplay.com

Courtesy of Spincycle NYC

5) Queen for a Day

In QUEEN FOR A DAY, American fashion designer Halston is down on his luck. He's packing up his chic-as-hell Olympic Tower office for reasons he doesn't want to discuss. To make matters worse, Elizabeth I is knocking on his door. Yes, Elizabeth I, whose reign as Queen of England ended in 1603. But it's 1984 in New York City. All that time spent at Studio 54 might be starting to catch up to him. Elizabeth I demands that he make her a new gown to die in. Oh, and she needs it by the end of the day. Halston agrees, and the unlikely pair moves forward with the design of a lifetime. That is, until Halston’s best friend, Liza Minnelli, shows up seeking help with her new act.

The Tank (312 W. 36th St.)

9/4 - 9/14

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit thetanknyc.org/calendar-1/2026/9/4/qfad).

Courtesy of Emily Owens PR

6) Safe House

Safe House is a family drama set in the days leading up to a U.S. presidential election. Convinced the second American civil war is imminent, Rock, a father secretly dying of a hereditary neurodegenerative disease, becomes consumed by the need to protect his family. In the basement of his Pennsylvania suburban home, transformed, beam by beam, into a doomsday bunker, he has built what he believes is the last safe place on earth.

But when his estranged teenage daughter returns home pregnant, the tensions that have long simmered beneath the surface of the household break open, and the father’s obsession with safety turns into something else entirely.

What follows is a reckoning with fear, and the consequences of confusing love with control.

Theatre Row (410 W. 42nd St.)

9/2 - 9/13

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit  theatrerow.ludus.com/200539542

B) Cast Changes

In New York

7) Hadestown

Ben Davis Jones the cast in the role of Hades on 9/1.

Following two intertwining love stories — that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone — Hadestown invites audiences on a hell-raising journey to the underworld and back. Mitchell’s beguiling melodies and Chavkin’s poetic imagination pit industry against nature, doubt against faith, and fear against love. Performed by a vibrant ensemble of actors, dancers, singers, and musicians Hadestown delivers a deeply resonant and defiantly hopeful theatrical experience.

Walter Kerr Theater (219 W. 48th St.)

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit  www.hadestown.com

C) Concert

In New York

8) Pucci Amanda Jhones

Jhones captures your attention in the style of which she tells a story through song. Standing 6'1, she’s a former model that once strutted her stuff internationally on the catwalks. She is a graduate from the New School University of New York and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in classical and contemporary music. As a well-respected vocalist, Jhones has performed internationally for years in major venues throughout the world.

Dante Park (Broadway between 63rd & 64th)

Wednesday, September 2, 1:30 PM

This event is free.

For more information, visit  lincolnsquarebid.org/2026/05/21/starting-summer-off-on-the-right-note-with-summer-jazz-sensations.

Courtesy of DKC/O&M

D) Recordings

9) Evita

Jamie Lloyd's electrifying West End production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Evita released EVITA: The Full Album as a triple vinyl and digital album. The production made international headlines last summer when it played a sold-out run at The London Palladium and it will transfer to Broadway in Spring 2027.  

BUY THE EVITA FULL ALBUM HERE

E) Festivals

Courtesy of Michelle Tabnick PR

In New York

10) Citizens Arts International Festival

Citizen Arts International Festival kicks off the upcoming 2026 season with a festival launch event set for 12:30PM at Astoria Park on September 7. The event kicks off an inaugural season running through September, featuring contemporary circus, music, dance, and multi-disciplinary performances from around the world, including Direct Action Theatre, James Brandon Lewis and Antoine Le Menestrel, La Compagnie Tilawcis, María José Contreras Lorenzini, MasterVoices, among others! For more information and to RSVP, please visit here.

Join them in Astoria Park to kick off Citizen Arts International with an easygoing afternoon of gathering, connecting, and celebrating performance in public space. Meet the CAI team, get to know some of the artists behind this year’s festival, and connect with others who are part of the vibrant world of performance and public space. Come hang out, share a little time together, and experience the park as a place for art, community, and unexpected encounters. No big agenda—just good company, good conversation, and a chance to get the festival started together.

Citizen Arts International transforms New York City's public spaces into vibrant stages for free international performance, participatory art, and cultural exchange. Bringing art into everyday life across the boroughs, the woman-led festival fosters joy, civic engagement, and social connection.

Courtesy of Michelle Tabnick PR

11) Kaatsbaan Cultural Park Annual Festival 

       Labor Day Weekend Programming

Labor Day weekend programming centers on individual playwrights reading and performing their own works: Rachel Jendrzejewski (through collaborators Terry Hempfling and Lauren Lewis), Jeanette Harrison, Ty Defoe, Vickie Ramirez, Rose Jarboe, Sylvan Oswald, Jim Fletcher, Lucy Sexton, and Adrienne Truscott. A musical double-bill closes out the day with The Bearded Ladies Cabaret sing-along and concert/dance party by CRICKETS (JD Samson, Roddy Bottum, and Michael O’Neill). Books for sale provided by the artists and Oblong Books. Food vendors include Pamana Kitchen’s plant-based Filipino cuisine.

The 2026 Annual Festival also marks the return of Kaatsbaan’s outdoor Meadow and Mountain stages with expansive views of the Catskill Mountains and immersion in the natural beauty of the Hudson Valley. Performances are around an hour, are all ages, and the festival schedule permits an easeful and day-long schedule of art and nature alongside Tivoli’s walkable downtown amenities. Tickets are offered on an incentive-based, affordable structure. Individual tickets and all-day passes and more information are available at https://kaatsbaan.org/performances-festivals.

F) What Else is Happening

In Pennsylvania

Courtesy of Aversa PR 12)HOCUS POCUS SPEAKEASY TO CAST ITS SPELL ON MONTGOMERY COUNTY IN TIME FOR SPOOKY SEASON WITH POP-UP AT MONTGOMERY MALL

Double, double toil and trouble. Fire burn and caldron bubble. Without a Cue Productions and Pops McCann Whiskey will put a spell on you with the debut of the first Hocus Pocus Speakeasy in Montgomery County, outside Philadelphia. This first-ever suburban seasonal pop-up will feature eight bewitchingly boozy weeks of mayhem, mixology and mischief. This new spooky playground will start on September 12 through November 8, 2026 at Montgomery Mall in North Wales, in the former location of Hot Topic (rumored to be haunted by the ghost of teen spirits). Every Saturday at 7:00pm and Sunday at 3:00pm, look for a special Hocus Pocus Experience with the Sanderson Sisters. These wickedly interactive weekly events will feature spellbinding performances, games and access to decorations, photo opportunities and theme “potions." On Freaky Fridays during the run, look for broom making, cabarets and theme nights, such as Hocus Pocus Bingo, Hocus Pocus Broom Academy, Dirty Potter, Mrs. Roper Romp Bingo, Burlesque Bingo and other special events. Costumes for all experiences are encouraged, inhibitions discouraged. For tickets and more information, follow @withoutacue on social media and visit: hocuspocusspeakeasy dot com/philadelphia  

XXX

Courtesy of Aversa PR

13) NEW MADE IN PHILADELPHIA MARKET DEBUTS OVER LABOR DAY WEEKEND WITH 60+ LOCAL MAKERS, DELICIOUS FOOD AND DRINK AND END-OF-SUMMER VIBES

Soak up the final days of summer at the Made in Philadelphia Summer Market 2026, a new Labor Day Weekend celebration coming to Dilworth Park in the heart of Center City Philadelphia. From Friday, September 4 through Sunday, September 6, 2026, visitors are invited to shop small, support local, and enjoy a vibrant open-air market featuring 60+ makers, crafters, artists and small businesses from Philadelphia, the tri-state area, and beyond. Guests can browse handmade artwork, jewelry, home goods, accessories, skincare, specialty foods, unique gifts, and more while enjoying the festive atmosphere of Dilworth Park on the west side of Philadelphia’s City Hall.  The market is no charge, family friendly and rain or shine. For more info, visit www dot madeinphila dot com

XXX

And that's the scoop. Tune in tomorrow for More Theater Monday.

Images used in this post were sent by publicists, artists, and/or  PR firms and are used with permission. Address concerns regarding image usage here.

Stiill More Theatre Saturday - Once in a Lifetime, Again

We received complimentary tickets to Once in a Lifetime Again for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

What: Once in a Lifetime, Again

Where: AMT Theater 

             354 W. 45th St.

             New York, NY

When: This event took place from August 5 through August 9, 2026

            as part of the Broadway Bound Theatre Festival.

The new musical Once in a Lifetime, Again is the story of a man trying to deal with his grief and move on and perhaps find love again after the death of his beloved wife. The show, while quite touching at times, is also filled with plenty of humor and a score loaded with decent but not especially memorable songs.   Much of the humor in this production came courtesy of the delightful Jenny Lee Stern who played a variety of roles each with a distinctly different accent, including the main character's various dates. Ms. Stern absolutely stole the show, and her performance was the most memotable thing about it. 

And that's our view. For more about this show, visit www.onceinalifetimeagain.com. For more about the Broadway Bound Theatre Festival, go to www.broadwayboundfest.com.

Tune in tomorrow for this week's Sunday Scoop.

Photo credits: 

All Once in a Lifetime, Again production photos provided by the production.

Images used in this post were sent by publicists, artists, and/or  PR firms and are used with permission. Address concerns regarding image usage here.

Theater Thursday - Hungry Women

We received complimentary tickets to Hungry Women for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own. 

What: Hungry Women

Where: SoHo Playhouse

             15 Vandam St.

             New York, NY

Who: Recommended for Ages 14 and Up

When: Through August 30, 2026

The play Hungry Women starts with a lot of promise. It has an extremely interesting premise. It imagines a world in which men allegedly no longer exist. Although, spoiler alert, that doesn't turn out to exactly be true. They are still there in some form, and ultimately the women are weak and cannot resist them. They seem ultimately headed to a world not all that different from our own, and in between there is cannibalism and ghostly rapes among other possibly triggering things.

It is billed as dark comedy and can be funny at times. However, it seems more dark than funny. Although it may be recommended for ages 14 and up, it seems more appropriate for older audiences. 

The cast does a good job with the material they are given. The always reliable Julia Lester is the standout of the four. However, ultimately the show is a disappointment. 

And that's our view. For more about Hungry Women or to purchase tickets, visit www.sohoplayhouse.com/see-a-show/hungry-women

Tune in Saturday for Still More Theater Saturday.

Photo credits:

All Hungry Women photos by Rebecca J. Michelson

Images used in this post were sent by publicists, artists, and/or  PR firms and are used with permission. Address concerns regarding image usage here.

Where-To-Go Wednesday: Art in the Stairwells

We received complimentary tickets to the Museum of Arts and Design for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

What: Art in the Stairwells

Where: Museum of Arts and Design

             2 Columbus Circle 

             New York, NY

Who: All ages 

In New York City's Museum of Arts & Design, you can even find exhibits in several of the museum's stairwells. These exhibits can be either permanent or temporary. They include an exhibit of goblets in various shapes, colors, and designs and "Seeing is Believing," a stained-glass design made up of a variety of different geometric images by artist Judith Schaechter. Both of these are permanent. 

Despite their location in the stairwells, these exhibits are still accessible to all. You don't actually have to walk up or down the stairs to see them. You just have to go out the door on each floor that leads to the stairs, and the exhibits are located at the top of the stairs. 

And that's our view. For more about the Museum of Arts and Design or to purchase tickets for a visit, go to madmuseum.org.

Tune in tomorrow for Theater Thursday.

All pictures used in this post are our own.  Any concerns regarding image usage can be addressed here.

Tips for Tuesday: Books: The Best I Never Had & What They Did; Movie: A Negelected Wife

We may have received complimentary copies and/or access to books, products, and/or other visual or audio media mentioned below for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

Books: The Best I Never Had  &  What They Did 

Today, we recommend The Best I Never Had by Amy Buchanan.  When Thea arrives for her sister's wedding to a man Thea's never met, she learns the groom's brother, Owen is the man who paid her to pretend to be his girlfriend at a previous family wedding. 

This book is all about family. It truly captures both the drama and the joy of being part of a close, loving family (on Owen's side) and growing up without that (on Thea's side). Both Thea and Owen are the people-pleasers, the ones who sacrifice their own wants and needs for what their family wants, needs, or expects of them. Throughout the story, they admirably learn to stand up for themselves and not always bow to others' wishes.

The book is full of interesting characters, not just Thea and Owen. The characters feel real because they are not perfect. Some of them can be really annoying at times, but for the most part they are extremely well-written, and it makes sense why they react like they do based on their backgrounds. Thea's sister, Addy, for example, can be very spoiled and bratty at times, but she didn't grow up in a world where there was enough love for everyone, so she is afraid of being shut out. Of course, that doesn't completely excuse her behavior, so she can still be kind of annoying at times. However, Owen's mother, who wants her son to live completely according to her expectations and pretty much takes to her bed and pouts if she doesn't get her own way, is the worst character in the novel. Even in the end, the latter character's redemption arc doesn't feel completely believable. 

This book can be somewhat predictable at times and very formulaic, but in a comforting way. However, the ending is slightly different than usual. Instead of the same old happily ever after epilogue that could practically be repeated verbatim from book to book, this one has a bit of a twist in a way that sweetly reminds us that, despite societal expectations or what most romance books would have you believe, not everyone has to want or have the same things in life to be happy. 

Today we are talking about What They Did by Rio Youers. Carly and Dana are best friends until a tragedy and a terrible secret split them apart, with Carly becoming a cop and Dana getting caught up in the world of illegal drugs.  Years later, when Carly's son becomes caught up in a dangerous situation, Dana is the only one who can help.

This book is more of a crime thriller than a story about two best friends. The pair spend most of the book apart, and Carly doesn't feel as fully developed as Dana.  Also, some aspects of the story don't completely make sense. It seems like the initial incident that sets the main part of the plot in motion would be considered self-defense and wouldn't require a cover-up, except maybe that they went a little overboard in their reactions. Although, it still seems like they would have the right to protect themselves if a dangerous person threatened them with bodily harm.

 Also, it makes no sense that a boy who is the son of a cop and who never got in trouble before would suddenly spiral into crime because his father died. I suppose grief can make you do strange things, but it still doesn't feel plausible. The book is an exciting, fast-paced read though and would probably make a decent movie.  

Today, we recommend A Neglected Wife. This saga of a lonely wife who has a fling with another man is not as predictable as you would expect. It has some surprising twists and turns that keep the story both interesting and original.

And that's our view. The Best I Never Had and  What They Did were published last Tuesday, August  18. A Negelected Wife Mia is now available on DVD or digitally for purchase or rental.

Tune in tomorrow for Where-To-Go  Wednesday.

All images used in this post, except film images, are our own.  Film images were sent to us from publicists, artists, and/or  PR firms. Address any concerns regarding image usage here. 

More Theater Monday - An American Not in Paris

We received a complimentary ticket to An American Not in Paris for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

What: An American Not in Paris

Where: 59E59 Theaters

             59 E. 59 St.

             New York, NY

When: This event took place on July 9, July 18 & July 26

Liv Rocklin always wanted to go to Paris, and when she finally got there for a study abroad program, the pandemic hit. Engagingly told partly through storytelling, partly through amusing songs, this is the story not only of a dream gone wrong but of coping with OCD, ADHD, gluten allergies, and just life in general. Even though the show is very specific to its writer/performer, having to literally and emotionally pivot when life goes in an unexpected direction is something we can all relate to. This show is a little bit sad, a little bit funny, and surprisingly cathartic for us all. 

And that's our view. An American Not in Paris was the last of 59E59's East to Edinburgh Festival shows we will cover this year,  and it can now be seen there. For more information or to purchase tickets to see it at the festival, go to www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/an-american-not-in-paris

Tune in tomorrow for Tips for Tuesday.

Sunday Scoop Week of 8/23/26 What's Happening This Week and More

A) Cast Changes

In NewYork

1) Buena Festival Social Club

Schoenfeld Theatre 

2) Heated Rivalry

The Culture  Club

B) Concert

In NewYork

3) Leonieke Scheuble

Dante Park 8/26

C) Festival

In New Jersey

4) Summer Opera Festival

Kelsey Theatre 8/28 - 8/30

In New York

5) AMT Theater Film Festival

8/23 & 8/29

6) East Village Queer Film Festival

wild project 8/26 - 8/30

7) Kaatsbaan Cultural Park Annual Festival 

Saturday 8/29 -9/12

D) What Else is Happening

In New York

8) Broadway Workshop Fall Classes Enrolling

9) Ellen's Stardust Dinner Spotlights Next-Gen Broadway Talent

8/25

10) Frog & Peach Theatre Company presents Tinkerbelle Live

East Harlem's Los Amigos Garden 8/29

11) Jason Blum to Host Special Performance of Paranormal Activity on Broadway

August Wilson Theatre 8/26

12) Lehman Center for the Performing Arts presents Dance Theatre of Harlem

8/29

A) Cast Changes

In NewYork

Courtesy of Polk and Co. PR

1) Buena Festival Social Club

Major League Baseball veteran and recording artist José Iglesias, known to music fans as Candelita, will make history as the first Latino MLB player to debut on Broadway when he joins the cast of Buena Vista Social Club in the role of the narrator on 8/27/26.

nspired by true events, the new Broadway musical BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB brings the 1997 GRAMMY® Award-winning album to thrilling life—and tells the story of the legends who lived it. A world-class Afro-Cuban band is joined by a sensational cast in this unforgettable tale of survival, second chances, and the extraordinary power of music.

Schoenfeld Theatre (236 W. 45th St.)

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.buenavistamusical.com

Courtesy of DKC/O&M

2) Heated Rivalry

Troy Iwata joins the cast in the role of Troy Hollander 8/31.

Inspired by the hit show about hockey, Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody follows starry-eyed golden boy Shane Hollander on his journey from power center to power bottom.

The Culture Club (530 W. 27th St.)

Through Sunday, November 1.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.heatedrivalryparody.com.

B) Concert

In NewYork

3) Leonieke Scheuble

Scheuble got her start thanks to Dr. Lonnie Smith at age 10. By age 11, she would win an award from the International Women in Jazz, and win a second International Women in Jazz award, the New Jersey Governor's award and her most prestigious award to date, the Hot House Fan Decision Award for "Best Up and Coming Young Artist. She leads “The 3 Generations of Jazz Trio” with world-renowned bassist, Bill Crow.

Dante Park (Broadway between 63rd & 64th St.)

Wednesday August 26, 1:30 PM

This is a free concert.

For more information, visit lincolnsquarebid.org/2026/05/21/starting-summer-off-on-the-right-note-with-summer-jazz-sensations.

C) Festival

In New Jersey

4) Summer Opera Festival

Kelsey Theatre 8/28 - 8/30

Il Trovatore (The Troubadour) 

Friday August 28th 7:30pm

This thrilling opera takes stage with a passionate love triangle, a mysterious curse and shocking ending-  with the famous "Anvil Chorus," will leave you on the edge of your seat! 

The Pearl Fishers 

Saturday August 29th 2pm

Travel to another world and time in this immersive summer ocean story where,  two men's vow of eternal friendship is threatened by their love for the soon to be priestess, Leila, featuring the famous Pearl Fisher duet and glimmering soprano arias. 

Romeo and Juliet 

Saturday August 29th 7:30pm

Gounod’s telling of Shakespeare’s masterpiece of star-crossed love comes to life on stage at Kelsey Theatre featuring a stellar cast.

The Barber of Seville 

Sunday, August 30th at 2pm

Figaro! 🎶 Figaro!   Will love prevail in this new - fun -laugh-out loud comedy of Rossini's The  Barber of Seville? Featuring the famous Figaro aria and ensembles in a hilarious staging in this Rossini classic.

Kelsey Theatre (1200 Old Trenton Rd., West Windsor, NJ

8/28 /8/30

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit kelsey.mccc.edu.

In New York

5) AMT Theater Film Festival

On Sunday, August 23rd, at 6:00 p.m., AMT will screen BROADWAY: THE GOLDEN AGE (2003). Take a front-row seat to Broadway’s most legendary era in Rick McKay’s beloved documentary, which features rare interviews with theater icons including Julie Andrews, Carol Channing, Angela Lansbury, Elaine Stritch, Stephen Sondheim, Hal Prince, Gwen Verdon, Jerry Orbach, and dozens more. Their personal stories, humor, and behind-the-scenes memories capture the magic of Broadway’s greatest generation like never before.

Then, on Saturday, August 29th, at 6:00pm AMT will screen BROADWAY MUSICALS: A JEWISH LEGACY (2013). Discover the remarkable story of how generations of Jewish composers, lyricists, playwrights, and producers helped create the American musical. This acclaimed documentary features insights from Broadway legends including Stephen Sondheim, Sheldon Harnick, John Kander, Jerry Herman, Arthur Laurents, Charles Strouse, and Harold Prince, celebrating the artists whose work forever changed American theater.

Following both screenings, stay for a live conversation and audience Q&A with producer Al Tapper and a special celebrity guest. The events will be moderated by Broadway historian Robert W. Schneider.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit Amttheater.org

Courtesy of Emily Owens PR

6) East Village Queer Film Festival

The East Village Queer Film Festival (EVQ) embraces an inclusive Queer identity, featuring films that entertain, explore and promote queer-themed issues, work by and featuring LGBTQIA+ artists, as well as work inspired by the expanded innovative and audacious downtown Queer avant-garde.

This year marks the 10-year anniversary of the festival, which will honor Lola Rock’N’Rolla, an artist who helped to launch the festival in 2017 and who epitomizes what the East Village Queer Film Festival is all about, with a retrospective and celebration of her storied career with special guest host Murray Hill. This year’s festival will also feature a short film starring John Cameron Mitchell and a full-length film featuring Liza Weil from Gilmore Girls. Each screening will be followed by a brief Q&A with the filmmakers.

wild project (195 E. 3rd St.)

8/26 - 8/30

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit thewildproject.org/performances/evq-2026.

Courtesy of Michelle Tabnick PR

7) Kaatsbaan Cultural Park Annual Festival 

For three Saturdays in a row, Kaatsbaan Cultural Park presents the 2026 Annual Festival.

Each Saturday will feature a distinct lineup and focus:

- August 29: The festival opener is an all-day celebration filled with live music and geared towards all ages. Dance performances by Calpulli Danza Mexicana, Ballez, and Anna Sperber, and an evening concert by Valerie June;

- September 5: Labor Day weekend programming centers on storytelling by individual playwrights Rachel Jendrzejewski (through collaborators Terry Hempfling and Lauren Lewis), Jeanette Harrison, Ty Defoe, Vickie Ramirez, Rose Jarboe, Sylvan Oswald, Jim Fletcher, Lucy Sexton, and Adrienne Truscott. A musical double-bill closes out the day with The Bearded Ladies Cabaret sing-along and concert/dance party by CRICKETS (JD Samson, Roddy Bottum, and Michael O’Neill); and

- September 12: The festival closes with a high-energy summer send-off. Large- ensemble dance performances by EVIDENCE and MasterZ at Work open the day and Sadonna and the Slutinos give a farewell evening concert.

Kaatsbaan Cultural Park (120 Broadway, Tivoli, NY)

For more information, visit kaatsbaan.org/performances-festivals.  

D) What Else is Happening

In New York

8) Broadway Workshop Fall Classes Enrolling

TRIPLE THREAT 6-WEEK CLASS (AGES 8-12)

Dates: Sundays, September 27 - November 8

Times: 10:00am-11:30am

Ages: 8-12

Location: Ripley Grier Studios - 520 Eighth Ave (16 Fl) - NYC

Final Showcase: November 8 at 11:30am (In-Studio)

Our Triple Threat class focuses on how to better approach material, sharpen audition & performance skills, understand direction and adjustments, make strong choices, relax, and most of all, have confidence on stage and off. This class is designed to help unlock imagination and overcome inhibitions. This is an amazing class for students who are ready for the next stage of their training. In each class session, students will work on a musical production number that will feature each student as well as short solo vocal selections. Students will be paired up to work on scenes from Broadway’s biggest hit musicals and TV/Film scripts from Disney and Nickelodeon projects.

For more information or to register, visit broadwayworkshop.com/program/triple-threat-6-week-workshop.

AUDITION TECHNIQUE 4-WEEK CLASS (AGES 13-19)

Dates: Sundays, September 27 - October 25

Times: 11:00am-1:00pm

Ages: 13-19

Location: Ripley Grier Studios - 520 Eighth Ave (16 Fl) - NYC

In this four-week program, students will strengthen their audition technique for television and film, musical theatre, and acting auditions. Each session builds on the previous one, giving performers practical tools, personalized coaching, and professional insight to help them grow as confident, versatile auditioners. Each session will be led by professional actors from Broadway and TV/Film who will share feedback and tips to master the art of the audition. This program will culminate in a mock-audition for a top New York casting director who will provide additional guidance and take part in a Q&A for students!

For more information or to register, visit broadwayworkshop.com/program/musical-theater-performance.

BROADWAY MASTERCLASS WEEKEND (AGES 9-19)

Dates: October 10 & 11

Times: 10:00am-4:00pm

Ages: 9-19

Location: Ripley Grier Studios - 520 Eighth Ave (16 Fl) - NYC

Train with Broadway’s brightest stars in an unforgettable two-day intensive designed for youth and teen performers who are serious about taking their skills to the next level. Students will study with Broadway performers, casting directors, choreographers, musical directors, and teaching artists while participating in professional-level training across musical theatre, film and television, dance, and audition technique. Students will be placed into small groups based on age to ensure individualized coaching and a supportive learning environment. 

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit broadwayworkshop.com/program/broadway-masterclass-weekend.

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9) Ellen’s Stardust Diner Spotlights Next-Gen Broadway Talent, Welcoming Winners from the Second Annual “Junior Stardusters” Competition for Live Performances

The 1950’s retro themed restaurant will welcome back the five winners from its Second Annual Junior Starduster competition to perform at the popular diner.  Each winner will perform two songs, including one solo and one group number alongside The Stardusters. These young performers were selected from a group of thirty finalists, chosen out of 300 submissions from various cities around the U.S. and internationally. The finalists auditioned live at the Stardust Theater earlier this summer on July 21, judged by Broadway stars Nick Barrington, Gilbert L. Bailey II, Lisa Howard, Bailey McCall and vocal and theater artist Katy Wolfe.

In addition to having the opportunity to perform at Ellen’s Stardust Diner, the five winners received scholarships to the Broadway Education Alliance’s Camp Broadway 2027. In addition to the five winners, one finalist, Charlotte Van Ledtje, age 13 from Durham, NH, was recognized with the Esprit de Corps Award, presented by Camp Broadway in partnership with the Broadway Education Alliance. The award includes participation in the Camp Broadway Ensemble, which will serve as the featured pre-show act for the Rockettes at the Radio City Christmas Spectacular.

Ellen’s Stardust Diner (1650 Broadway at 51st)

Tuesday August 25, 10:15 AM - 2:30 PM

Photo by Eric Doss

10) FROG & PEACH THEATRE COMPANY BRINGS TINKERBELL LIVE TO EAST HARLEM’S LOS AMIGOS COMMUNITY GARDEN AUGUST 29

Free Outdoor Family Performance Brings the Magic of Fairyland to a New York City Community Garden

Frog & Peach Theatre Company returns to Fairyland with a special outdoor performance of Tinkerbell Live on Saturday, August 29 at 3:00 PM at Los Amigos Community Garden, 326 Pleasant Avenue in Manhattan.

Presented in conjunction with New York Restoration Project, Tinkerbell Live brings Frog & Peach’s imaginative world of Fairyland outdoors for an afternoon of live theater and music for families.

Families are invited to join Princess Snow White, Woodsman Will, Prince Dreamboat, The Evil Queen, Ringmaster Ron, and Little Rosa Riding Hood for a hilarious and interactive bilingual adventure through Fairlyland. Packed with games, music, songs, audience participation, and plenty of surprises, Tinkerbell Live offers an unforgettable theatrical experience for children and adults alike.

Appropriate for children ages 4 and up—as well as grown-ups who are still young at heart—Tinkerbell Live continues Frog & Peach Theatre Company's tradition of creating imaginative, accessible performances that engage audiences through humor, creativity, and community.

TINKERBELL LIVE
Saturday, August 29, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Los Amigos Community Garden
326 Pleasant Avenue, New York, NY

Event Information & Registration:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1997393878860?aff=oddtdtcreator

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11) JASON BLUM

TO HOST SPECIAL PERFORMANCE OF

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26 at 7PM

At Broadway’s August Wilson Theatre

Jason Blum, CEO and Founder of Blumhouse, and producer of the original Paranormal Activity films, will host a special performance of the smash-hit, Olivier Award nominated new Broadway play PARANORMAL ACTIVITY on Wednesday, August 26 at 7pm.

Tickets for this special performance of PARANORMAL ACTIVTY are available for purchase at paranormalbroadway.com and at the August Wilson Theatre box office.

Written by Levi Holloway (Grey House) and directed by Felix Barrett (Sleep No More), PARANORMAL ACTIVITY began performances on Friday, August 14, 2026 at the August Wilson Theatre (245 West 52^nd Street) and will officially open on Tuesday, August 25, 2026.

James and Lou move from Chicago to London to escape their past, but they soon discover that places aren’t haunted, people are… With an original story inspired by the film franchise, PARANORMAL ACTIVITY reimagines the modern ghost story with an intimacy that only live theatre can provide.

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Courtesy of Michelle Tabnick PR

12) Lehman Center for the Performing Arts

presents

Dance Theatre of Harlem

Saturday, August 29, 2026 at 7PM

Lehman Center for the Performing Arts presents Dance Theatre of Harlem in The Bronx on Saturday, August 29, 2026 at 7PM at the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, 250 Bedford Park Blvd West, Bronx, New York 10468. Tickets are $31.15-$76.65 and can be purchased here. Tickets for kids 10 and under are $5! Call the Box Office (718.960.8833) to arrange for children's tickets.

Experience the elegance, power, and artistry of the world-renowned Dance Theatre of Harlem in an exclusive one-night-only performance in the Bronx. Celebrated for its groundbreaking legacy and breathtaking repertoire, this extraordinary company brings together classical ballet, contemporary works, and unmatched athleticism in an evening that promises to inspire audiences of all ages. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to witness one of America’s most acclaimed dance institutions live on their stage for a truly unforgettable cultural event.

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And that's the scoop. Tune in tomorrow for More Theater Minday.

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