Playtime 17
May 4-10, 2026
This is PLAYTIME, a weekly email of theater shows in New York City, put together by me (Nora) and consisting of what I’m paying attention to and excited about.
Here are my picks for this week: It’s a big opening week — top of my list is Hamlet at BAM Harvey, opening May 4, with Hiran Abeysekera in the title role and Robert Hastie’s National Theatre production crossing over for a four-week run. At Minetta Lane, New Born opens May 8 — three Ella Hickson monologues with Marianna Gailus, Hugh Jackman, and Sepideh Moafi, directed by Ian Rickson, running in repertory with What Happened Was.
La MaMa Moves! wraps its 21st year this weekend, and the closing stretch is the Pioneers Go East Crossroads Series May 8–10 at The Club, four short pieces championing queer and feminist voices. Fun fact: my harmonium is making an appearance at one of the La Mama performances. And over at Joe's Pub, American Sing Song: Hole plays five nights — May 5, 6, 12, 13, and 14. I caught it at Fringe last year and absolutely loved it; thrilled it's getting a Joe's Pub run, and if you can grab a ticket, do.
Week of May 4, 2026
59E59 Theaters / Theater A Cable Street (through May 24)
Atlantic Theater Company / Linda Gross Theater Indian Princesses (in previews, opens May 19)
BAM Harvey Theater Hamlet (first preview April 19, opens May 4)
BAM Harvey Theater Hamlet (opens May 4, through May 17)
Classic Stage Company / Lynn F. Angelson Theater Thornton Wilder’s The Emporium (in previews, opens May 18)
Greenwich House Theater What We Did Before Our Moth Days (through May 24)
Greenwich House Theater Wallace Shawn performs “The Fever” (Sunday and Monday nights through May 24)
Joe’s Pub American Sing Song: Hole May 5th, 6th, 12th, 13th, and 14th
La MaMa / The Club Crossroads Series Pioneers Go East Collective (May 8 – 10)
Lucille Lortel Theatre KENREX (through June 27)
Minetta Lane Theatre New Born (first preview May 1, opens May 8)
Minetta Lane Theatre What Happened Was… (through June 14)
Playwrights Horizons / Peter Jay Sharp Theater Rheology (through May 16)
Second Stage / Irene Diamond Stage The Receptionist (in previews, opens May 7)
Signature Theatre / Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre Animal Wisdom (first preview May 5, opens May 18)
Studio Seaview Well, I’ll Let You Go (in previews, opens May 19)
The Tank Mikey! (through May 31)
Theatre at St. Clement’s The Adding Machine (through May 17)
West End Theatre Othello (in previews, opens May 10)
A bit about the listings:
The events are listed in alphabetical order of theatres. When a show is listed as “through” a certain date, the show has already opened.
For festivals, I’ve only highlighted certain shows and there’s usually a lot more happening. Check the full lineups on their websites. (La MaMa Moves! 2026 closes May 10 with several additional performances at La MaMa.)
I’ve done my best to get everything right, but details can change. Always double-check the official event page for the latest times, dates, and any updates.
If you’d like to submit a show to be added to Playtime email playtime@substack.com
Read my personal thoughts and god knows what else on my other Substack here.