Playtime 23
June 15-21, 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.
It’s the final week for Jerome at Playwrights Horizons (John J. Caswell Jr., Dustin Wills directing) and ||: Girls :||: Chance :||: Music :|| at Vineyard (Eisa Davis, Pam MacKinnon directing). Both close Sunday June 21, so this is your last window.
And June 17–20 at HERE Arts Center as part of the Criminal Queerness Festival: faggy faafi Cairo boy, Mariam Bazeed’s dark comedy about a closeted queer son returning to Cairo and his dying father, directed by Shadi Ghaheri. The CQF this year centers Arab queer voices, one of the most vital festival lineups of the summer.
Week of June 15, 2026
59E59 Theaters David Copperfield (through June 28)
59E59 Theaters Youth in Flames (through June 28)
BAM / Fishman Space I’m Almost There (through June 28)
BRIC / Lena Horne Bandshell Celebrate Brooklyn!: Infinity Song, Victory Boyd + Annie and the Caldwells (June 19, free)
BRIC / Lena Horne Bandshell Celebrate Brooklyn!: Wayne Wonder + Lila Iké (June 20, free)
Domino Square Amphitheater Sugar Sugar! presents: HOLE PICS (June 17–18, free)
HERE Arts Center faggy faafi Cairo boy (June 17–20)
La MaMa / Ellen Stewart Theatre 3LD@LA MAMA (through June 28)
Lincoln Center Theater / Vivian Beaumont Ragtime (through June 28)
Lucille Lortel Theatre KENREX (through June 27)
MCC Theater Birthright (in previews, opens June 24)
New York Classical Theatre Julius Caesar (through June 21, Central Park)
Park Avenue Armory clinamen (through Aug 2)
Playwrights Horizons / Judith O. Rubin Theater Jerome (through June 21)
Roulette PJ Vogt, Kristen Roupenian, Emilia Clarke + others reading stories (June 16)
Roundabout Theatre Company / Laura Pels Theatre A Walk on the Moon (in previews, opens June 29)
The Brick The Gay Divorce (through June 20)
The Public Theater / Newman Theater Henry VI: A Trilogy in Two Parts (in previews, opens June 21)
The Public Theater / Delacorte Theater Romeo and Juliet (through June 28)
The Tank PrideFest 2026 (June 19–29)
Vineyard Theatre ||: Girls :||: Chance :||: Music :|| (through June 21)
Wild Project The Family Dog (Clubbed Thumb Summerworks, opens June 18, through June 30)
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
Love the thoroughness of this service—who can keep up with all that off broadway has to offer I’d love to see David Copperfield but I think it’s too late. Tell me what you’d like to go see with me and I’ll buy the tickets.