13 Off Broadway Shows to See in May
Together, a new company founded by Hugh Jackman and the producer Sonia Friedman, kicks off with two plays presented in repertory at the Minetta Lane Theater, in collaboration with Audible. Jackman himself stars in Hannah Moscovitch's 'Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes' alongside Ella Beatty — and when was the last time we saw him in such an intimate space? Starting May 10, the show will alternate with a new adaptation of August Strindberg's 'Creditors' by Jen Silverman ('The Roommate'), starring Liev Schreiber, Maggie Siff and Justice Smith. Both productions are directed by Ian Rickson. (Through June 18, Minetta Lane Theater)
Michael Thurber and Saheem Ali's new musical, with additional book material by James Ijames, is set in a nightclub in Mombasa, Kenya. Ali directs at the Public Theater, where he staged Ijames's hit play 'Fat Ham' before it transferred to Broadway. Amber Iman ('Lempicka') plays Nadira, a singer who actually is the title deity, Marimba, the ruler of music. (Through June 8, Public Theater)
Skating? Been there, done that onstage, from 'Starlight Express' to 'Kimberly Akimbo.' Skateboarding is a much rarer beast. Now the Vineyard Theater is getting an in-the-round makeover to accommodate Nazareth Hassan's new play about hip-hop and the culture that gave us ollies and airwalks. A co-production with National Black Theater in association with the New Group. (Through June 8, Vineyard Theater)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Geek Vibes Nation
18 minutes ago
- Geek Vibes Nation
The Second Season Of HBO's 'The Last Of Us' Heads To 4K UHD Blu-Ray This September
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has announced that they will be bringing the hit HBO drama The Last Of Us: The Complete Second Season to 4K Ultra HD Steelbook, 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD on September 23, 2025. Based on the famed video game of the same name, the season two returning cast includes Pedro Pascal as Joel, Bella Ramsey as Ellie, Gabriel Luna as Tommy, and Rutina Wesley as Maria. New cast includes Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, Isabela Merced as Dina, Young Mazino as Jesse, Ariela Barer as Mel, Tati Gabrielle as Nora, Spencer Lord as Owen, Danny Ramirez as Manny, and Jeffrey Wright as Isaac. Catherine O'Hara also guest stars as therapist, Gail. Fans can own all seven episodes of the critically acclaimed second season along with nearly two hours of special features including two never-before-seen featurettes. The 4K UHD Blu-Ray releases will come with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos audio. Get the details below! Synopsis: Five years after the events of the first season, Joel and Ellie are drawn into conflict with each other and a world even more dangerous and unpredictable than the one they left behind. SPECIAL FEATURES ON DIGITAL INCLUDE: Ellie's Ultimate Revenge (New Featurette Exclusive to 4K, BD and DVD) – Join the cast and crew as we discover what is fueling Ellie's revenge and the rage within. What lead her on this path? Who is Ellie as a person and what drives her? What is her current relationship with Joel? How does she feel after she witnesses Joel die? Who is Abby? How can she find her? What will she do when she finally does? All of these questions are explored in Ellie's Ultimate Revenge. (New Featurette Exclusive to 4K, BD and DVD) – Join the cast and crew as we discover what is fueling Ellie's revenge and the rage within. What lead her on this path? Who is Ellie as a person and what drives her? What is her current relationship with Joel? How does she feel after she witnesses Joel die? Who is Abby? How can she find her? What will she do when she finally does? All of these questions are explored in Ellie's Ultimate Revenge. Beneath the Surface: The Visual FX of The Last of Us (New Featurette Exclusive to 4K, BD and DVD) – The Last of Us invites you behind the scenes with the award-winning teams who bring the show to life. Tour the prosthetic workshop and revisit the concept art that inspired the characters! See the pyro team bathe the infected stunt performers in flames. Go behind the scenes as the production prepares hundreds of background actors in hair and make up for their epic attack on Jackson. Learn how VFX and Costume teams worked together to help bring to life the spore-filled basement beneath Lakehill Hospital. Featuring interviews with cast and crew. Growing the World of The Last of Us Welcome to Jackson (Set Tour) Joel's Journey to Season 2 Ellie's Journey to Season 2 Pedro and Bella Q&A Battle of Jackson, Deconstructed Open Book: Isabela Merced & Young Mazino Mushroom Taste Test Character Featurette – Joel Character Featurette – Ellie Character Featurette – Abby Character Featurette – Dina Making of: The Last of Us Episode #1 Making of: The Last of Us Episode #2 Making of: The Last of Us Episode #3 Making of: The Last of Us Episode #4 Making of: The Last of Us Episode #5 Making of: The Last of Us Episode #6 Making of: The Last of Us Episode #7 (New Featurette Exclusive to 4K, BD and DVD) – The Last of Us invites you behind the scenes with the award-winning teams who bring the show to life. Tour the prosthetic workshop and revisit the concept art that inspired the characters! See the pyro team bathe the infected stunt performers in flames. Go behind the scenes as the production prepares hundreds of background actors in hair and make up for their epic attack on Jackson. Learn how VFX and Costume teams worked together to help bring to life the spore-filled basement beneath Lakehill Hospital. Featuring interviews with cast and crew.
Geek Vibes Nation
18 minutes ago
- Geek Vibes Nation
'Ballerina' Review - Ana de Armas Is A Bona Fide Badass
It doesn't matter how good you are or how qualified you are on paper; if you don't fit their mold, they will undoubtedly underestimate you. But you know what? Let them. Let their presumptions be their downfall. Obliterate the box they want to fit you in, redefine the archetype, and no need to prove them wrong, prove yourself right. Make them question the status quo, which in turn makes them question themselves. Win on your terms. Furthermore, define yourself before your narrative becomes dictated by others. If all else fails, call Eve. 'Does she know who her parents really were?' If you thought the chaos that ensued after John Wick's dog was killed was a wild ride, wait until you experience the wrath of over a decade of hate, animosity, and pain being unleashed. Directed by Len Wiseman, From the World of John Wick: Ballerina is a vengeance-driven body count bonanza. As the film nestles cozily between John Wick 3 and 4 , Eve firmly plants her flag within this universe, solidifying two things: the franchise just got better, and Ana de Armas is a bona fide badass. From utilizing the same neon and cold color aesthetic, interacting with familiar faces, along with a somewhat similar story format, I can't remember a spinoff being this good. Not to mention, our ballerina, Eve, lets more bodies hit the floor than playing the Drowning Pool song on repeat for hours. With arguably more grit than the films that bore it and featuring the same level of hypnotic magnetism, Ballerina is sure to dazzle audiences. With endless guns, a myriad of blades, and enough vengeance for multiple films, fans are treated to a buffet of violence and the cold smolder of Eve's eyes. While the plot may be simple and the story uncomplicated, there's a visceral understanding and relatability to what is unfolding. Motivated by tragedy, Eve has pushed past her limits in training and is prepared to hunt down those who have taken from her. The only problem is that doing so goes against the rules held by the Ruska Roma. And as we know, if you break the rules, you've just initiated your own demise. 'If you deal in blood, there must be rules.' The film thrives in its authentic feel as it details Eve's size disadvantages and how, to succeed as an assassin or Kikimora (protector), she'll have to be unorthodox, being told to 'Fight like a girl'. This aspect is where the film separates and stands out from JW . Not only does it highlight the beginning of her grueling training, but you can see her progression with each deadly encounter. She has no contacts or support system and no bulletproof suit, only a heart full of fire and the ability to end a life with almost anything. The story features about the same amount of dialogue as Keanu Reeves' first assassin outing, however, de Armas' Eve Macarro has a lot more to say as their circumstances differ. High-octane action may be what's on the surface and what audiences fawn over, but what is at its core is highlighting and thwarting cultism and dangerous indoctrination. And Eve unknowingly takes on a task that even John Wick would have trouble with. Speaking of John, yes, he is in the film, and fortunately, not as much as you'd think. His presence is only needed in the moments presented, as Ana de Armas does a fantastic job leading the story. Instead of believing lore, we're seeing the birth of it. The fight choreography is top-tier, as expected, and the camerawork works in perfect tandem with each action sequence. Moreover, the craft team did an amazing job with the aesthetics. I think I can confidently say that there will be a sequel. Its rewatchability is high. Ana de Armas as Eve in Ballerina. Photo Credit Murray Close/Lionsgate © 2025 Lionsgate Not unlike the rest of the John Wick franchise, the pacing of this film is relentless yet steady as the action comes early and often. What popped for me was the unspoken progression of Eve's confidence, fighting style, and ability. The visual storytelling is horrific for those who stand in her way, but exhilarating for the viewer. Keanu Reeves as John Wick in Ballerina. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate © 2025 Lionsgate Starring: Ana de Armas, Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, Lance Reddick, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Norman Reedus, with Ian McShane, and Keanu Reeves Ana de Armas crushes this performance. Who would've thought that after 2015's Knock Knock, that de Armas and Keanu Reeves would be standing across from each other as the most prolific professional killers. As Eve, she matches John Wick's brooding demeanor, exceeds his intensity, and ultimately is a perfect fit for the Wick Universe. She harbors the ideal balance of killer and care, and the combination makes for an exciting experience. Ballerina releases in theaters on June 6, 2025. Stay safe and RIP Lance Reddick. Rated: R Runtime: 2h 5m Director: Len Wiseman Writer: Shay Hatten Producer: Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee, Chad Stahelski Executive Producers: Keanu Reeves, Louise Rosner, Kevan Van Thompson, Kaley Smalley Romo, Shay Hatten Director of Photography: Romain Lacourbas, AFC, ASC Production Designer: Phil Ivey Editers: Nicholas Lundgren, Jason Ballantine ASE, ACE Costume Designer: Tina Kalivas Music by: Tyler Bates and Joel J. Richard Stunt Coordinator: Jackson Spidell Supervising Stunt Coordinator: Stephen Dunlevy
Geek Vibes Nation
18 minutes ago
- Geek Vibes Nation
'Dogma': 25th Anniversary Celebration Review - Kevin Smith's Controversial Classic Gets Resurrected
Kevin Smith's fourth feature film is just as prescient now, on its 25th anniversary, as it was during its original release at the Cannes Film Festival before the turn of the century. Similar in approach to satires such as Verhoeven's Starship Troopers (1997) and Judge's Idiocracy (2005), Dogma criticizes all religious sects of Western society, from Catholics to Protestants to Agnostics. Whether you're a believer, denier, or contrarian, Smith has more than a few words for you. Dogma follows two angels, Loki (Matt Damon) and Bartleby (Ben Affleck), on a quest to earn their place back in heaven by walking through the doors of a Catholic church in the midst of a rededication, when all sins will be forgiven. If they can accomplish this, transfer into human form, and then die, they can return to heaven. A young woman named Bethany (Linda Fiorentino) works at an abortion clinic and struggles with her own religious beliefs, but is pulled into the fray and encouraged to stop the fallen angels. Fortunately, she's aided by two slacker prophets, the soon-to-be-infamous Jay and Silent Bob. Along the way, they continue to receive guidance from a seraph (Alan Rickman), a 13th apostle (Chris Rock), and a muse (Salma Hayek) as everyone is in a race to stop the plan unfortunately initiated by Cardinal Glick's (George Carlin) church, though Azrael (Jason Lee) is the original trickster that sets everything in motion. Since its debut, the cast of Dogma has all gone on to successful film and television careers, mostly in front of the camera, not to mention Ben Affleck's six directorial efforts and Chris Rock's balance of acting roles, comedy shows, and award show hosting duties. Many of Smith's frequent collaborators stem from films fleshed out thanks to casting director Don Phillips (Mallrats) or Shana Lory (Chasing Amy), but Smith certainly has an eye for talent and comedic potential himself. The director continues to play with genre in Dogma, as well as tropes and stereotypes, and the line between indie features and traditional studio films couldn't be any clearer. The film constantly oscillates between poking fun at Western religion and culture, the movie industry, the film itself, and everyday life in America in the 90s. Though controversial at the time and momentarily banned and delayed in a few countries, Dogma remains a classic. Though much of the dialogue in Dogma comes across as didactic and expository, the approach and overall tone are consistent and necessary. Especially considering the current resurgence of self-help books, conspiracy theories, and rampant misinformation on the internet. Dogma's willingness to speak directly to and through its protagonist, Bethany, and subsequently the audience, makes for a movie worth listening to, whether its ideology and dogma conflict with the listener or not. Smith's film is also worth revisiting considering the pace at which AI technology is pushing into the filmmaking space, especially since the industry is only a few years removed from the writer's strikes, which took place right on the heels of the COVID-19 Pandemic recovery. Smith's work always reminds us what we're capable of as a collective: a collective of nerds, a collective of young creatives, or a collective of cast-offs and forgotten spiritual beings. If anything, Dogma reminds us to remain curious enough to create and discuss our ideas with others. In honor of the 25th anniversary, the film has been beautifully restored through remastering and color-correction in 4K by Triple Media Film with legendary cinematographer Robert Yeoman (The Grand Budapest Hotel, Bridesmaids). The remastered version, currently on a US tour of 20 cities dubbed DOGMA: The Resurrection tour, began on Easter Sunday, April 20th, at the Grove in Los Angeles, with appearances from Smith and Jason Mewes. Dogma: A 25th Anniversary Celebration is now playing newly remastered in over 1,500 theaters across North America courtesy of Iconic Events.
