NYC's Best Off-Broadway Shows, Performances
You don't have to spend half of your paycheck to see a good show in NYC. Here are five of our favorite off-Broadway plays and performances that will definitely turn you into a theater nut. By Carly Petrone.
Drunk Shakespeare
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If you're a fan of Shakespeare and booze then you'll love Drunk Shakespeare, the hilarious interactive play that takes place within a hidden library. Grab a seat in the front row and you could be a part of the fun. Five actors take the stage while one of them drinks five shots of whiskey and then attempts to perform a major role in a Shakespearean play. Every show is different, thanks to the drinking rotation – there's even a selected King and Queen from the audience (who get to sip on Moet) and take control over the entire evening. Find out more about this 90-minute show here.
Fringe Festival
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It's Fringe Festival time! Starting August 12, you can watch more than 200 of the world's best emerging theatre troupes and dance companies. This popular festival has helped launch numerous off-Broadway and Broadway transfers, long-running downtown hits, and regional theater productions. Past performers include Mindy Kaling, Bradley Cooper W. Kamau Bell, and more. Whether you're into comedy and improv to puppetry, there's something for everyone to enjoy. Tickets are $18 and can be found here, and festival runs through August 20.
Fuerza Bruta
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Hurry up and get your tickets to see Fuerza Bruta! This theatrical thrill ride combines euphoria-inducing live music with breathtaking aerial displays. Diqui James premiered this fun and engaging show in Buenos Aires back in 2003. Since then, millions of people have witnessed this truly interactive experience. This completely non-verbal performance uses music, dance, acrobatics, aerial imagery, and awe-inspiring visual displays and set designs to tell a not-so-traditional story.
White Rabbit Red Rabbit
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You've never quite seen an Off-Broadway show like White Rabbit Red Rabbit. Accomplished actors from both the stage and screen star in this original show that has no director, set, or rehearsals. Yep, you read that correctly. In fact, the play's sole performer is simply handed a script for the first time as they step up on stage. This allows the actor and audience to discover the play at the same time – it also gives the writer's voice a different tone with every single performance. Intrigued? Get your tickets here. Performances begin at 8 p.m. every Monday evening. Upcoming performances include Michael Urie (8/22), Darren Criss (8/29), Billy Porter (9/12), Justin Bartha (9/19), and Stana Katic (9/26). All proceeds will be donated to the LGBT Center in Orlando for the victims of the Pulse Nightclub shooting.
Then She Fell
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Make your way over to Brooklyn and be a part of the immersive theater experience that is Then She Fell. This production combines a hospital ward, the writings of Lewis Carroll, and only 15 audience members per show. Guests get to explore a dreamscape where every alcove, corner and corridor has been transformed into a lushly-designed world. Discover rooms and hidden scenes, encounter performers one-on-one, and unearth clues during this multi-sensory experience. Don't forget to grab an elixir from the mixologist at the bar. Tickets start at $95, but check calendar for details.
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Carly Petrone is the founder of Petrone on the Rocks, a lifestyle site about food, drinks, beauty, travel, and more. She lives in New York City.
