Episode Details

Patrick Pacheco reunites with our expert panel—Ruthie Fierberg (“Broadway News”), Adam Feldman (“Time Out New York”), and Jan Simpson (Broadway Radio's “All the Drama”)—for Part Two of our Fall Preview, turning the spotlight to this season's most anticipated plays.

One of the most animated discussions centers around "Oedipus," which stars Mark Strong and Lesley Manville—or, as Jan Simpson calls her, "Can-Do-No-Wrong Lesley Manville." Ruthie Fierberg cites the magnetic appeal of Strong, who won the Tony Award for his starring role in "A View from the Bridge," while Adam Feldman proclaims in his Time Out New York preview that "Jocasta is history's most tragic MILF."

From Greek tragedy to contemporary dramas, this fall's theatrical landscape features urgent new voices alongside bold revivals. The conversation spans existential classics reimagined for modern audiences, intimate character studies exploring conspiracy-induced paranoia and powerful new works tackling feminism in crisis, immigration, and climate change.

Featured Broadway productions include:

"Bug" — Tracy Letts' psychological thriller starring Carrie Coon and Namir Smallwood, directed by David Cromer. About paranoia, conspiracy theories, and how dangerous ideas take root. Ruthie Fierberg calls Smallwood "a quiet titan," noting: "We cannot overstate his brilliance."

"Waiting for Godot" — Samuel Beckett's existential masterpiece gets a fresh interpretation with Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter (the "Bill and Ted" duo) making their Broadway debuts under Jamie Lloyd's direction. The Beckett estate has granted unprecedented creative freedom for this production, signaling a new era of accessibility for the playwright's work.

"Marjorie Prime" — Jordan Harrison's Pulitzer Prize finalist about memory, technology, and identity, starring 94-year-old Oscar nominee June Squibb alongside Cynthia Nixon and Danny Burstein. Jan Simpson calls Harrison "the smartest person writing today, for my money."

"Oedipus" — Robert Icke's modern-day reimagining of Sophocles' tragedy, starring Mark Strong and Lesley Manville (making her long-awaited Broadway debut) in this tale of fate, power, and the limits of knowledge.

"Little Bear Ridge Road" — Samuel D. Hunter's ("The Whale") Broadway premiere directed by Joe Mantello, starring Laurie Metcalf and Micah Stock. Set during COVID, this intimate drama explores two generations locked in conflict in rural Idaho, examining questions of family, faith, and queerness.

"Liberation" — Bess Wohl's multi-generational exploration of feminism transfers from its acclaimed Off-Broadway run with the full cast intact. A meditation on consciousness-raising in the 1970s and what it means for women today.

"Art" — Yasmina Reza's Tony-winning comedy starring Neil Patrick Harris, Bobby Cannavale, and James Corden. Three friends debate the value of a controversial painting—and what it reveals about their relationships.

"Punch" — James Graham's gripping drama based on real events, following a young man through the UK's restorative justice system after a single punch kills a man. Will Harrison makes his Broadway debut alongside Tony winners Victoria Clark and Sam Robards.

"Rob Lake Magic with Special Guests The Muppets" — Broadway magic meets Jim Henson's beloved characters in this grand illusion spectacular at the Broadhurst Theatre.

Off-Broadway highlights:

"Anna Christie" — Eugene O'Neill's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama starring Michelle Williams, directed by her husband Thomas Kail, alongside Tom Sturridge and Brian D'Arcy James. A fragile story of redemption, family, and the possibility of new beginnings.

"Nothing Can Take You From the Hand of God" — Jen Tullock ("Severance") writes and performs this solo show about growing up in the South. Adam Feldman says: "From the moment I saw her on 'Severance,' I said, I want to see more of this person."

"Oh Happy Day!" — Jordan E. Cooper's modern Noah's Ark story at the Public Theater, featuring original gospel music by Donald Lawrence and three of Broadway's best voices.

"Meet the Cartozians" — Talene Monahon's new play directed by David Cromer, exploring two generations of Armenian Americans across 1920s and present day, starring Will Brill, Andrea Martin, and Nael Nacer.

"Kyoto" — From the writers of "The Jungle," this Lincoln Center production dramatizes the pivotal 1997 climate conference, directed by Justin Martin and Stephen Daldry.

"Archduke" — Rajiv Joseph reimagines the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, casting the revolutionaries as hapless teens trying to figure out who they are—with unfortunate overtures to today.

"Queens" — Pulitzer Prize winner Martyna Majok's play about undocumented immigrant women living together, supporting one another as they try to build better lives for their children across the world.

Join us for this essential guide to the fall's most compelling theatrical offerings. Whether you're drawn to psychological thrillers, Greek tragedy, or urgent contemporary voices, this season promises unforgettable experiences on stages across New York.

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