BAM
Sunken Red
Directed by Guy Cassiers
In the American premiere of this Dutch drama, adapted from Jeroen Brouwers’ novel of the same name, a visibly shaken man (Dirk Roothooft) remembers his childhood in a Japanese prison camp. October 7-11
bam.org
ETHEL’s Truck Stop: The Begininng
Created and directed by Annie Dorsen
Guided by Passing Strange’s director, a band of traveling minstrels has sought out some of the best local musicians in celebration of American music. This musical theater performance shows off what they’ve found. October 14,16,18 bam.org
Woyzeck
Georg Büchner
Directed by Gisliorn Gardarsson
Icelandic actor-director Gardarsson presents a rock-scored reinterpretation of the existentialist chestnut, originally based on the life of an L Magazine editor, in which one man’s sexual jealousy and inner torment lead him ever deeper into Man’s heart of darkness. October 15,17,18
Playwright’s Horizons
Kindness
Written and directed by Adam Rapp
Playwright’s Horizons presents the world premiere of this bleak realist work from up- and-comer-perhaps-already-arrived Rapp, in which an ailing mom and her son flee Illinois for the solace of a midtown hotel. Also, of course, based on the life of an L Magazine editor. September 25-November 2 playwrightshorizons.org
The Public
Road Show
Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman
Directed by John Doyle
The new Sondheim-Weidman musical explores a family history spanning three decades, one continent and, presumably, real estate, capitalism and crooks. October 28-December 28
publictheater.org
If You See Something Say Something
Created and Performed by Mike Daisey
Directed by Jean-Michele Gregory
Monologist Daisey talks about the Department of Homeland Security, the neutron bomb, and, we hope, the 1,944 people who saw something and said something last year, thus preventing 1,944 terrorist attacks. October 15-November 30
The Pearl Theatre Company
The Oedipus Cycle
Sophocles
Spoiler Alert: He ends up killing his father and marrying his mother. The world premiere of Peter Constantine’s new translations of Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus and Antigone. October 14
pearltheatre.org
Broadhurst Theater
Equus
Peter Shaffer, directed by Thea Sharrock
It’s Harry Potter! Naked! Ok. Sorry. Let’s be adults here. Schaffer’s drama details the story of a young man (Daniel Radcliffe, naked!) with an intense passion for horses, and his psychiatrist (Richard Griffiths). And then he takes his clothes off. September 25-February 9
broadhurst-theatre.com
Abingdon Theater Company
The English Channel
Robert Brustein, directed by Daniela Varon
This comedy looks at “borrowing ideas,” creative license and the works of noted ripoff artists like Shakespeare. September 13- October 5
abingdontheatre.org
The Barrymore Theater
Speed-the-Plow
David Mamet, directed by Neil Pepe
Mamet’s 1988 Hollywood satire returns to Broadway, with Jeremy Piven playing a middling producer balancing artistic integrity and monetary success. Which is ironic, because Jeremy Piven is a fame-whoring, skirt-chasing douche. October 3- February 22
speedtheplowonbroadway.com
Walter Kerr Theater
The Seagull
Anton Chekov, directed by Ian Rickson
The NYC arrival of the highly anticipated Royal Court production (not to be confused with recent RSC and Classic Stage interpretations, or that short off-Broadway run a few years ago starring Joe Namath as Dr. Dorn), with a cast including Kristen Scott Thomas and Peter Sarsgaard. September 16-December 21
seagulltheplay.com
Schoenfeld Theater
All My Sons
Arthur Miller
Directed by Simon McBurney
John Lithgow plays a post-WWII businessman and patriarch in one of Miller’s finest domestic dramas, while Dianne Wiest plays his wife. Oh, and Katie Holmes is in this, because she is a serious actress as well as a marathon runner and mother and also totally not a prop in the 21st century’s great public psychodrama. September 18-January 11
59E59
End of Lines
In conjunction with the 2008 Irish Festival, 59E59 stages the works of five of Eire’s most innovative playwrights — Garry Duggan, Abbie Spellen, Ursula Rani Sarma, Pat Kinevane and Morna Regan — each work is derived from experiences in the city’s subway. September 6-28 59e59.org
Manhattan Theater Club
Romantic Poetry
John Shanley and Henry Krieger
Directed by John Shanley
This romantic musical comedy centers on middle-aged, middle-class folk falling in and out of love in the suburbs. It’s the perfect show for when your middle-aged, middle-class parents come to visit from the suburbs. October 30
mtc-nyc.org
Second Stage
Boys’ Life
Howard Korder, directed by Michael Grief
It’s all fun and games for three college bras marauding around the city, until adult life and relationships begins to overwhelm them and they are inevitably forced to grow up. Wait, inevitably? Starring Jason Biggs. (Who is 30.) October 2-November 9
2st.com
Saint Ann’s Warehouse
Black Watch
Gregory Burke, directed by John Tiffany
Last year, the National Theater of Scotland Royal Theater brought a political and poetic play about the searing experiences of a Scottish regiment in Iraq. It returns this fall, back by popular demand, like that fish sandwich at noted Scots restaurant, McDonald’s. October 9-November 31
stannswarehouse.org
Atlantic Theater Company
Farragut North
Beau Willimon, directed by Doug Hughes
Under the direction of Tony-winning Doug Hughes, a young pol runs for office only to find his ascent to power challenged by his seasoned associates. In this dark comedy, our young hero must outwit his wily operatives who have some potentially damaging dirt on him — like, maybe he isn’t really the mother of his baby. October 22-November 29
atlantictheater.org
New York Theater Workshop
The Grand Inquisitor
Adapted by Marie-Helene Estienne
Directed by Peter Brook
Peter Brooks, director of Marat/Sade and master of adaptation and intertexuality, spins Dostoyevsky’s classic tale about the corruption of religious faith into a theatrical performance. October 22-November 23
nytw.org
