Staff Picks No. 159

benevolent : Sophie McIntosh, Nina Goodheart, Good Apples Collective, Sarah Jones, Damayanti Wallace, B.T. Hayes, Willow Funkhouser, Jenna Rowell, Junran “Charlotte” Shi, Paige Seber, Sean Frank, Saawan Tiwari, Max Van, Mia Fowler, Livvy Marcus, Rachel Ravel, Chani Reese, Healy Knight, Morgan S. Perry
IATI Theater
August 14th - September 5th, 2026

I love when artists become a yearly ritual of attendance, pushing out high-quality work on a consistent basis that we can all look forward to. This August, Good Apples Collective returns with a new work about a fallen girls reformatory, based off of actual institutions that functioned in the New York of old. The work will be intense and full-bodied. It’s giving Magdalene laundry, so please read the trigger warnings!

Staffer: Reuven Glezer

ISLA : Hit The Lights! Company, Daniela Delahuerta, Samantha Blain, and Tiffany Iris
WP Theater
August 8th - 29th 2026

Hit the Lights!, one of our best puppet troupes in NYC, comes to WP with a new work about immigration, family, and shared history. From the makers of one of my favorite weird little shows, HORSETALE, a new creation! Go forth!

Staffer: Reuven Glezer

The Whole Sky All Diamonds : Bixby Elliot, Jack Dentinger, Olivia Vaughn Hern, Adam Griffith, Zoë Laiz, Jake Ryan Lozano, Aigner, Mizelle, Eric Wiegand, Lucy York
Loft Story (745 Manhattan ave, Brooklyn)
August 12-22 2026

This immersive tech satire in a massive loft in Greenpoint pitches itself as Chekhov meets Severance, so I'm immediately sold. It seems like you get to cosplay as a tech employee for a dying company (if you already are, yikes for you) while the play goes on around you. Definitely seems like a unique, exciting, and horrifying experience. Go!

Staffer: Alex Aguirre

Sound Restorer : Color Theory, ROHANA, Laenz, Axine M, Sydney Spann, STEMLINES, mhm,mhm, Palabra Cecilia, Bob The Fisherman, MAYSUN, Mekko Harjo & NY Graffiti, Johnny D & richmcd, Kfeelz, Eden Aurelius, Arushi Jain, Mariposa, Albert
Pageant
August 7th-22nd 2026

Pageant hosts two weeks of sound and performance curated by Color Theory, the installation and performance series co-engineered by Richard McDonough and Johnny Draper. Opening night karaoke and a closing performance marathon sandwich an array of live music sets from various genres and disciplines. Sounds like heaven to me.

Staffer: Leah Plante-Wiener

SalOn!: Double Jeopardy : Jillian Jetton, Matthew Antoci, Jess Barbagallo & Jennifer Ikeda, Colleen Werthmann & Guest, Blake Bolan & Atom Smashing, Sabina Sethi Unni & Jill Cornell, Agustus Mahoney & Mitchell Ashe, Mizuho Kappa & Guest, Robert Vinluan & Adnan Agha, Bella Pori & Morgan Prince, Mark Toneff
LifeWorld
Thursday August 6th 2026

I will be in Ohio but this is absolutely not to be missed. SalOn! is always a special and entirely unique time, bringing together humans into a room that may never otherwise connect, doing things they may never do elsewhere. We have some real superstars on this line-up, as well. And, as ever, Mark Toneff makes the best show posters.

Staffer: Theresa Buchheister

BOYFRIEND BOYFRIEND BOYFRIEND GIRLFRIEND : William Sydney, Spencer Cramer, Matt Evans, Dan Hasse, Tristan Kasten-Krause, Brendon Randall-Myers, June Schreiner, Connor Sale, Robin Margolis
LifeWorld
August 19th-21st and 26th, 2026

I find William's work to be a delicious blend of erudite and raucous, carefully controlled but with a constant sense of danger. I have no idea what to expect from BOYFRIEND BOYFRIEND BOYFRIEND GIRLFRIEND - but I'd venture to guess that I'll be surprised, delighted, and will love the sound (Robin Margolis is star).

Staffer: Blake Bolan

William Sydney returns to Life World with what seems like another, well, William Sydney joint, which is a genre in and of itself (I have, jokingly, called his work “theatre of the troll” which isn’t a dig! It’s a legitimate dramaturgical choice!). Dan Hasse told me a little about it and that’s all I’m gonna say. Blind!

Staffer: Reuven Glezer

REAL ESTATE : Isa Spector, Ari Dalbert, Sheldon Donenberg
The Brick Theater
August 6th - 15th, 2026

Real Estate is at the top of my "I'm so mad that I missed that show" list. If you didn't see it in January, you should feel very lucky that Real Estate is being remounted for your viewing pleasure. The recent GayGuy turn in Isa's oeuvre is ripe for sardonic laughs and touching weirdness. Get ready for a dance/play that mines the humiliations and delights of love and performance.

Staffer: Noa Rui-Piin Weiss

Abasement 89 : Jon Catler, DIETRICHS, Michael R. Bernstein, NEPENTHAUS
Artists Space
Monday August 10th 2026

The city’s favourite experimental music series— and my single favourite event to dissociate at—returns this Monday. Last time, we were privy to guitar massacre via what I think may have been a circle saw. If you haven’t been to an Abasement yet, now’s your chance.

Staffer: Leah Plante-Wiener

Shiloh Blue, Be Not Afraid, Noor Sabreen, Beton Tåge
Brothers Wash and Dry
Thursday August 6th 2026

I am SOOOOOOOO so so excited for this gig :) And you should be too :) And you should BE THERE like I will :)

Staffer: Leah Plante-Wiener

Garden Variety : Quartet NCO, Edgar Oliver
6th Street and Avenue B Community Garden
Thursday August 6th 2026

Yet again, I will be in Ohio. But at least I do not have to choose between SalOn! and Garden Variety lol. Any time I have the opportunity to see Edgar Oliver perform, I am there. Going on 22 years for this guy (pointing at self). And I wish I had seen everything before 2004. He is a magical creature, filled with mystery and delight. Edgar in a garden on the LES? Swoon.

Staffer: Theresa Buchheister