★★★★☆ A vital and harrowing new play by Chris Urch looks at a young Ugandan man’s struggle to conceal his homosexuality
Off-Broadway
The Rolling Stone: Fear and Loathing in Uganda
★★★★☆ A worthy drama imported from England tersely relates hateful happenings in Uganda
The Bacchae: Women Go Powerfully Wild in a Refreshed Classic
★★★★☆ Classical Theatre of Harlem offers an exuberant staging of an ancient Greek drama
Promenade: Al Carmines, Maria Irene Fornés Commit the Perfect Tuner
★★★★★ An over-the-top universe, directed by Laurie Woolery and choreographed by Hope Boykin
Promenade: Musical Whatnot Charms After 50 Years, Intermittently
★★★☆☆ Encores! Off-Center spotlights composer Al Carmines in this fascinatingly absurdist musical
Twohander: Sherie Rene Scott & Leo Norbert Butz Are Friends(?) in Song
★★★★☆ Dick Scanlan directs, Todd Almond music directs a longed-for, honest show-biz reunion
Rock of Ages: I Hate Myself for Loving You
★★★☆☆ A decade after its first air guitar riff, the hair-metal jukebox musical is back—and it’s still nothin’ but a good time
Dragon Spring Phoenix Rise: Kung Phooey Doings at The Shed
★☆☆☆☆ The latest commissioned endeavor in the Hudson Yards arts space is an incredible mishmash of martial arts, pop songs, and a silly story
We’re Only Alive for a Short Amount of Time: Flying Away, Through Art
★★★★☆ David Cale’s one-man show is a moving memoir of horrors and escape, with songs
We’re Only Alive for a Short Amount of Time: David Cale Digs Deep
★★★★☆ The writer-performer flies solo in this musical memoir about his coming of age in Luton, England