Staff Picks No. 141
FANTASIA : Neva Guido, Angel Acuña, Chloë Engel, Jack Meriwether, Nailah Murray, Tamás Marquardt, Em Adamo and Dyan Marx
LifeWorld
March 28th-29th (three shows in two days) 2026
I found out about this one from Tamás, of whom I am a longtime big fan and then learned more about the other artists. Sometimes descriptions don’t quite entice me, so it has to be something else, you know? This time, I am like - wow what will these folx do in a room together? This seems like a one time only (but three times in one weekend) kinda thing. A special coming together. A combination of lives and skills and vibes that will maybe be a spell.
Staffer: Theresa Buchheister
A choreographic melange of naughty and tender moments. You'll find yourself in a delightful surreal landscape, staged at your favorite DIY venue's favorite DIY venue.
Staffer: Travis Amiel
The Closties Variety Hour: Easter Extravaganza : Kashia Kancey, Cristina Moya-Palacios, Khandis Merritt
Ars Nova
Tuesday March 31 2026
Having seen the original incarnation and this year's remount of the Closties Variety Hour, I just really want you to know that this show is a sublime mix of hilarious sketches and impressive, exhilarating choreography. Every moment is imbued with queer divine spectacle. Don't miss it.
Staffer: Travis Amiel
Uncle Vanya, scenes from country life : Krymov Lab NYC, Dmitry Krymov, Tatyana Khaikin, Emona Stoykova, Luna Gomberg, Leah Ogawa, Yana Biryukova, Denis Zabikaya, Shari Perkins, Calan Britz, Patrick Dunning, Kate Willard, Shelby Flannery, Zach Fike Hodges, Javier Molina, MaryKate Glenn, Colin Buckingham, Natalie Battistone, Anya Zicer, Amen Igbinosun, Jackson Scott, Tim Eliot
La MaMa
March 28th-April 12th 2026
Dmitry Krymov returns to La MaMa with his powerhouse company of actors and brings his curious and puckish spirit to UNCLE VANYA. Krymov's never done VANYA, but I did catch his rendition of THE CHERRY ORCHARD at the Wilma, and it was a deeply imaginative, life-filled reimagination of one of the 20th century's masterpieces. Judging from the pictures of the set, I think this too will be full of that old Krymov magic. Very limited tickets!
Staffer: Reuven Glezer
God Is Raping Me : Crackhead Barney, Nile Harris, Danny Tantrum. Rell Bones, Rabbistravinsky, Kyle, (—and whoever the fuck else I decide is on the menu that day)
Pageant
April 2nd-3rd 2026
A show I can't even credit key artists properly because I can assume the chaos is intentional (or just a typo). Crackhead Barney returns with their new show at Pageant, in classic confrontational mode. "Be brave. Come to my show." When an artist tells you not to worry, you should worry. Anywho, have fun kids.
Staffer: Reuven Glezer
The Pelicot Trial : Milo Rau, Servane Dècle, Nastasia Griese, Frank Hentschker, Nicole Ansari-Cox
Judson Memorial Church
Sunday March 29th 2026
Milo Rau continues his mini-residency across New York this spring with his and Servane Dècle's 4-hour retelling of the infamous trial that shocked France. Rau's "Theater of the Real" thrums to life in this work, which was created with the help of the many people involved in the case. I'm not going to describe what this trial entailed if you don't know, I recommend doing your own research (or not!), but I will say this is probably one of the great social-theatrical experiments, and a rare chance to see it.
Staffer: Reuven Glezer
Wow. Seconding Reuven. This is a rare opportunity.
Staffer: Theresa Buchheister
High & Scared : MTHR TRSA
Ars Nova
Friday March 27th 2026
Last week I (Father Theresa) got to meet MTHR TRSA and the moment was actually pretty perfect. I wish wish wish I could be there for this show, but I know I will get more MTHR TRSA in my life sooner than later. If you are in NY, go check out this iconic performer and persona (and support the brilliant curation Matthew Antoci has been bringing to Ars Nova).
Staffer: Theresa Buchheister
This Is Real : Queerly Femmetastic, James Tigger! Ferguson, Daddy Ho, Susannah MacLeod, J Moliere, Timiki Salinas, TANSY, Mari Vial-Golden, Merlin Whitehawk, David Herskovits, Karen Boyer, Jesse Freedman,Marika Kent, Normandy Sherwood, Emily Duncan, Sarah Orttung, Michelle L’amour, Orla Patterson, Ari Richardson,
Daniel Wilde
Target Margin
March 1st-April 4th 2026
Queer mid-20th century French writers and thinkers are sorta my vibe right now… The Target Margin team has once again assembled a very cool group of artists to explore an aspect of past culture that reverberates in present culture, this time centered around Genet. Fuck ya. The website also says “Nudity. Flag Burning. Drones.” Sweet.
Staffer: Theresa Buchheister
Eyes Gliding Over Me : Byzantine Choral Project, Helen Banner, Grace Oberhofer, Andrea Goodman
Zoopraxic
March 26th-29th 2026
In the Byzantine Choral Project’s "Eyes Gliding Over Me," Helen Banner, Grace Oberhofer, and Andrea Goodman circle the idea of seeing and being seen, through a dreamlike composite of healing ritual, storytelling, song, historical study, soundbath, and Reiki. The show, experienced laying down with eyes-closed, is mainly auditory and a little asmr-ish, with the performers voicing text, looping choral compositions, and employing extended vocal techniques to consider history, hurt, and healing. I was catching vibes of Pauline Oliveros, Joan Jonas, bell hooks, Martha Rosler, Jia Tolentino, and Meredith Monk, all entangled with an explication of religious iconography in 800s and the first Empress of the Byzantine Empire, who blinded her son. Educational! Cozy! Lovely! Unusual! Just extended through March 29th. Come through!
Staffer: Joshua Dumas
Origami Night : Elenaluisa Alvarez, Pamela Annas, Christopher Annas-Lee, Graham Cole, Luz Nicolàs, Virginia Belt, Kathleen Darby, Blaine Covert, Nick Magaurn, Felipe Escalante, Tabula Rasa Dance Theatre
Target Margin
April 9th-12th 2026
Chorepoems about aging! About radical political awakening! About queerness and the endless arrow of history and time! Could be fun!
Staffer: Reuven Glezer
Spider Rabbit : Tony Torn, Michael McClure, Dan Safer, Christian Frederickson, Jared Michael Nickerson, V. Jeffrey Smith, Jay Ryan, Santiago Molina
La MaMa
March 26th-April 12th
Tony Torn & Dan Safer are a match made in the infernal realms of theatrical excitement, and they are bringing back Michael McClure’s SPIDER RABBIT, a work rarely (if ever!) produced. Tony Torn is one of our finest downtown performers, Dan Safer is one of our greatest downtown choreographer-directors. This will be an evening for the history books, I declare.
Staffer: Reuven Glezer
The Juniper Tree : Joan Jonas
Danspace Project
March 26th-28th 2026
Brilliant, pioneering, multidisciplinary performance, video, and installation artist Joan Jonas revisits her folkloric theatrical performance work The Juniper Tree in a new iteration at Danspace Project. The piece, first performed in Philadelphia in 1976, then debuting in New York at the Kitchen in 1977, collages and deconstructs fairytale through sculpture, movement, text, and music. 50 years later, I’m so curious to see what Jonas, now 89 years old, is rediscovering in this piece, and feel so lucky and honored that we get the chance to experience this work live. Come through!
Staffer: Joshua Dumas