THEATRE

Check out GO’s picks for the very best of theater in NYC this month!

If you somehow find yourself getting sick of summer’s light-hearted events and crave some drama, check out the new adaptation of Jean-Paul Sartre’s existential play No Exit, June 12–24 at the Richmond Shepard Theatre. In this ironic morality tale, three strangers end up in hell together to face their sins. The unsavory shut-ins—a manipulative lesbian, a narcissistic society woman, and a cowardly army deserter— learn that their venal sins are nothing compared to the prison of identity each of us enters when we allow others to define who we are and assign social worth to our actions.

Theatre company trip. is proud to present a live four-part situational comedy, 4PLAY…Sex in a Series to be performed at the Pure Project June 14–16. 4PLAY is the not-so-simple story of girl meets girl, boy meets girl, boy meets boy and all the little things in relationships that can ruin a perfectly good dinner party. The story unfolds in one evening and is staged in trip.’s intimate style of presenting action in and throughout the audience.

All in Black and White Productions presents the back-by-popular-demand, gender loving play, The Engagement, at the Wings Theatre June 15–July 22. The Engagement is a comedic drama that takes a realistic look at the dynamics of relationships as the leads, Faith and Déjà, prepare to march toward the longest journey of their lives—marriage. However, the wedding ceremony won’t take place without a hitch, including a “holy war” over gay marriage rights between interfering family, friends, and lovers.

A staple in NYC’s unique summer events calendar, the Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park presents two productions, Romeo and Juliet (June 5–July 8) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Aug 7–Sep 9) at Central Park’s Delacorte Theater. Performances are offered free of charge and are seen by approximately 80,000 New Yorkers and visitors each summer, and many of today’s most acclaimed actors and performers have begun their careers or returned to perform in Shakespeare in the Park.

The fabulous Patti LuPone joins Boyd Gaines and Laura Benanti in Gypsy, July 9–29 as part of the New York City Center’s Encores! Summer Stars series. LuPone will play Rose, the quintessential stage mother, in this musical suggested by the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee. One of the greatest musicals of all time, Gypsy is a musical fable with book by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The 1959 blockbuster features some of the biggest songs in Broadway history: “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” “Rose’s Turn,” and “Some People.”

For all dates, times and locations, see the events listings


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