Playtime 20
May 25-31, 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:
This Is Not About Me opens May 28 at 59E59 as part of Brits Off Broadway. Hannah Caplan’s award-winning meta-theatrical play about a spiraling playwright dramatizing the secrets of her broken relationship as passion blurs into obsession, brought over after Edinburgh and Soho Theatre runs. I love anything about obsession :)
Can I Be Frank? is in previews at SoHo Playhouse. The inimitable Morgan Bassichis channels the late queer comedian Frank Maya, directed by Sam Pinkleton (the 2025 Best Director Tony winner). It’s one of the more singular things on right now and if you missed its first run last year, now’s your time.
And at Playwrights Horizons, Jerome is in previews ahead of its June 2 opening — John J. Caswell Jr.’s play set at the height of the AIDS epidemic in an Arizona ghost town, with Stephen Spinella, Tyrone Mitchell Henderson, and Ken Barnett, directed by Dustin Wills. And if you’re a member of TDF, you can get $39 tickets for this week’s performances.
Week of May 25, 2026
59E59 Theaters This Is Not About Me (in previews, opens May 28, through June 7)
59E59 Theaters / Theater A David Copperfield (first preview May 29, through June 28)
6th Floor Theater Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody (opens May 26)
Atlantic Theater Company / Linda Gross Theater Indian Princesses (through June 7)
Classic Stage Company / Lynn F. Angelson Theater Thornton Wilder’s The Emporium (through June 7)
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 (in previews, opens June 2)
Second Stage / Irene Diamond Stage The Receptionist (through May 31)
Signature Theatre / Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre SMALL (in previews, opens May 28, through July 25)
Signature Theatre / Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre Animal Wisdom (through June 14)
SoHo Playhouse Can I Be Frank? (in previews, through June 27)
St. Ann’s Warehouse The Maids (through June 14)
Studio Seaview Well, I’ll Let You Go (through June 20)
The Public Theater / Delacorte Theater Romeo and Juliet (in previews, through June 28)
The Public Theater / Martinson Hall Girl, Interrupted (in previews, opens June 4)
The Tank I WANTTT A UNICORN FRAPPE! (May 28 – June 21)
The Tank KTCO (May 27 – June 18)
The Tank Mikey! (through May 31)
Vineyard Theatre Girls Chance Music (opens May 28, through June 21)
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