Playtime 18
May 11-17, 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 the last week for Hamlet at BAM. It closes May 17, and Robert Hastie’s National Theatre production with Hiran Abeysekera is worth making time for. Tickets may be scarce but as of Friday there were tickets available on TDF! As my friend Emily told me recently, “Sold out is never really sold out.”
The Maids begins May 17 at St. Ann’s Warehouse — Kip Williams’ Donmar production is a “wild reimagining of Jean Genet’s masterpiece set for the digital era”. I’ve been waiting for this since they announced it was coming to New York.
Over at the Public, Girl, Interrupted starts previews May 13 in Martinson Hall. Martyna Majok has adapted it with original music by Aimee Mann, choreography by Sonya Tayeh, and Jo Bonney directing; the first preview is a Joseph Papp Free Performance, so worth trying the lottery. Aimee Mann made the (Magnolia) soundtrack to my life between the ages of 13 and 18, and I will always love her for that. Initially I thought a Girl, Interrupted musical was a strange choice but I’m intrigued.
Week of May 11, 2026
59E59 Theaters / Theater A Cable Street (through May 24)
6th Floor Theater Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody (first preview May 12, opens May 26)
Atlantic Theater Company / Linda Gross Theater Indian Princesses (in previews, opens May 19)
BAM Harvey Theater Hamlet (through May 17)
Classic Stage Company / Lynn F. Angelson Theater Thornton Wilder’s The Emporium (in previews, opens May 18)
Joe’s Pub American Sing Song: Hole (May 12, 13, and 14)
Lucille Lortel Theatre KENREX (through June 27)
Minetta Lane Theatre New Born (through June 8)
Minetta Lane Theatre What Happened Was… (through June 14)
Playwrights Horizons / Judith O. Rubin Theater Jerome (first preview May 14, opens June 2)
Playwrights Horizons / Peter Jay Sharp Theater Rheology (through May 16)
Second Stage / Irene Diamond Stage The Receptionist (through May 31)
Signature Theatre / Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre Animal Wisdom (in previews, opens May 18)
St. Ann’s Warehouse The Maids (begins May 17, through June 14)
Studio Seaview Well, I’ll Let You Go (in previews, opens May 19)
The Public Theater / Martinson Hall Girl, Interrupted (first preview May 13, opens June 4)
The Tank A Cat in A Box (through May 21)
The Tank Mikey! (through May 31)
The Tank Sex, Camp, Rock ‘N Roll (through May 16)
Theatre at St. Clement’s The Adding Machine (through May 17)
Vineyard Theatre Girls Chance Music (first preview May 12, opens May 28)
West End Theatre Othello (through May 31)
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 venues with rotating programming, I’ve only highlighted certain shows and there’s usually a lot more happening. Check the full lineups on their websites.
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