Staff Picks No. 149
In the Devil’s Hands : Helen Banner, Joshua Dumas, Rory Greenwood, Umer Khan, Phoebe Lloyd, Courtney Seyl, Levvy Banner, Allison Parker, Alleese Eldridge, Andrea Alton/Alton PR, New Georges
Zoopraxic
May 21st-June 14th 2026
A venue I have not been to, a play teeming with gossip, a setting around Jersey — which my Garden State-ass calls the Old Country. Joshua is live-soundscaping the piece, which is reason enough to check it out, working with field recordings and samples of archival radio broadcasts. This show has many meals to offer.
Staffer: Billy McEntee
I am intrigued by the mysteries of this project… the windows into the past, the unreliability and excitement of gossip, the unknowability of vast expanses of water (water terrifies me). Also Joshua Dumas sound design is never to be missed.
Staffer: Theresa Buchheister
Nothing to Watch - Gotham Park : Maho Ogawa, Carolyn Hall, Annie MingHao Wang, Emily Young, Liam McLaughlin, Leah Fournier, Sugar Vendil
Gotham Park
Saturday June 6th 2026
I'm a big fan of Maho Ogawa's performance practice that intertwines movement, ritual, and community engagement to explore site-specificity, quietude, listening and looking, and how the past reverberates into our contemporary moment. In "Nothing to Watch - Gotham Park" she takes her meditative work to the streets, to Gotham Park, an oddly liminal public space under the Brooklyn Bridge in Manhattan. Carolyn Hall, Annie MingHao Wang, Emily Young, Liam McLaughlin, Leah Fournier, perform Ogawa's choreography to sound by the brilliant Sugar Vendil. June 6 at 2pm and 4pm; free with suggested donation. Come through!
Staffer: Joshua Dumas
***From the editor:
The performance will take place at Gotham Park on June 6, and this fundraiser will stay open through July 18.
After the show at Gotham Park, this project will continue to develop in DUMBO (June 20–21), the Lower East Side (July 11–12), Williamsburg (September), and at Kyushu University in Japan (October).
BITCH Fest : Jinah Parker, Tai Thompson
Triskelion
May 23rd-24th 2026
This is a new immersive choreo-play and was recommended by a friend whose art I love. I cannot attend this iteration because I will not yet be in town, but YOU should. The whole vibe of Staff Picks is to share art we care about with people who may not have otherwise known about it, which is what my buddy did with this artist and this show. The ol word of mouth. Visit the website for important information about what to expect, as it is immersive!
Staffer: Theresa Buchheister
The Glorious and Stunning Death of a Faithful Mormon : Loading Dock Theatre, Brave New World Rep, Leegrid Stevens, Ezra Barnes, Erin Treadway, Nathan Repasz, Bradley Cashman, Nadia Sepsenwol, Alcorn Minor, Caroline Ryburn, Sheila Anozier, Emma Immolz, Craig Grant, KP Sgarro, Alyson Brown, Forest Entsminger, Ashley Solimon, Christina Tang, Jordan Barnett, Jesse Itskowitz, Simon Cleveland, Natalie Cleveland, Will Watt, Sarah Jones, Rabiah Rowther
Loading Dock
May 29th-June 14th 2026
Loading Dock Theatre does what I love most, really ambitious works with high concepts in really intimate spaces. In this case, Leegrid Stevens brings us to the very ends of the Mormon universe. They’ve presented wildly different works before (a synthwave musical about the Trojan War, a one-woman space adventure, an 8-bit family drama) and I love when a theater company takes bold new swings. And some faves in this one in the cast & design squad! Don’t miss.
Staffer: Reuven Glezer
Loading Dock is 100% more likely to make glorious and stunning theater than god is to answer my prayers… It is really nice to believe in something. And I have a feeling I will be joined by other believers.
Staffer: Theresa Buchheister
The Bergman Lansbury Test 2 : Evan Spigelman, Lisa Fagan, Dante Fuoco, Maya Sharpe, bReAd, Mary Feaster, Bernice Brooks, Sasha Finley, Robin Margolis
Cloud City
May 29th-June 1st 2026
Cabaret eating itself co-directed by Evan Spigelman and Lisa Fagan? Sign me up! I will get off a plane and see the closing night performance. I have no idea what to expect, to be honest. And that is my favorite way to go into a show.
Staffer: Theresa Buchheister
The Bad Revue Inaugural Fundraising Gala : Garnet Williams, CHRISTEENE, Klondyke, Eevie Echoes, Maya Suess and Klovis, DJ Ruggz
Parkside Lounge
Monday June 1st 2026
Any single one of these artists would be worth the price of a ticket, but all of them?! Whaaaa? C’mon! I am sure this will be a singular, thrilling and wild night.
Staffer: Theresa Buchheister
Ending Explained : Cameron Barnett and Fiona Schlegel
CPR
May 30th and 31st 2026
BIAS ALERT: Cameron and Fiona are friends. The cryptic event description alludes to a dark comedy about feeling hapless. Their choreography is a buoyant and entertaining mixing formal ballet and contemporary dance. See you there!
Staffer: Travis Amiel