Theater News

Manhattan Theatre Club Announces First Broadway Productions of 2018-19 Season

The season will open with Richard Bean and Tarell Alvin McCraney plays at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre.

Tarell Alvin McCraney is the author of Choir Boy, which will make its Broadway premiere as part of Manhattan Theatre Club's 2018-19 season.
Tarell Alvin McCraney is the author of Choir Boy, which will make its Broadway premiere as part of Manhattan Theatre Club's 2018-19 season.
(© Joseph Marzullo)

Manhattan Theatre Club announced the first two Broadway productions of its 2018-19 season at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, plus an off-Broadway world premiere at New York City Center – Stage I.

First is the American premiere of Richard Bean's The Nap, directed by Daniel Sullivan. It begins performances Tuesday, September 4, with opening night set for Thursday, September 27. The latest from the One Man, Two Guvnors playwright is described as follows: "Dylan Spokes, a fast-rising young star arrives for a championship tournament only to be confronted by the authorities warning him of the repercussions of match fixing. Before he knows it, Dylan’s forced into underhanded dealings with a cast of wildly colorful characters that include his ex-convict dad, saucy mum, quick-tongued manager and a renowned gangster, to boot."

Following that is the Broadway premiere of a Manhattan Theatre Club commission, Tarell Alvin McCraney's Choir Boy, directed by Trip Cullman. It begins performances Thursday, December 27, with opening night set for Tuesday, January 22, 2019. The play, which made its American debut in 2013, is described as follows: "For half a century, the Charles R. Drew Prep School for Boys has been dedicated to the education of strong, ethical black men. One talented student has been waiting for years to take his rightful place as the leader of the legendary gospel choir. But can he make his way through the hallowed halls of this institution if he sings in his own key?"

Finally, MTC announced that it will present the world premiere of India Pale Ale, a new play by Jaclyn Backhaus, directed by Will Davis. It begins performances Tuesday, October 2, with opening night set for Tuesday, October 23. The play is described as follows: "In a small Wisconsin town, a tight-knit Punjabi community gathers to celebrate the wedding of a traditional family’s only son, just as their strong-willed daughter announces her plans to move away and open a bar. As they come together for feasts filled with singing and dancing, one generation’s cherished customs clash with another’s modern-day aspirations, and ghosts and pirates from the family's past linger in everyone's thoughts — until one sudden event changes everything."

The casting and creative teams for all those shows will be announced soon. Five additional productions for the MTC's 2018-19 season will be announced in the coming weeks.

For tickets to The Nap and Choir Boy, click here.

For tickets to India Pale Ale, click here.