An unmissable lineup of theater pieces closes out 2023

"When I first saw James Ijames’s electrifying, Pulitzer Prize-winning Hamlet reimagining staged in New York City, I was struck by the playwright's ability to carve and serve up the classic Shakespeare tragedy as a comedic critique of being queer, Black, and “soft” in the American South. After Juicy (Marcel Spears) is visited by his father’s ghost, Pap (Billy Eugene Jones), at a backyard barbecue, he's tasked with avenging his father’s death and killing his uncle. But hearing the play's lyrical language again, I'm even more impressed by this meta-meditation on love, violence, and what it means to be a 'real man.'" —Jerry P.

"When Robert Schenkkan was growing up, his parents’ love story was the stuff of legend. And it wasn’t just a story told and retooled over family dinners, mythology beloved by their children; Robert had tangible evidence of the genesis of their great love affair, one that unfolded over nearly two years’ worth of letters during World War II. And now we’re fortunate enough to be brought into the family fold with a glorious radio-play-style retelling, rich with nostalgia. Bob and Jean’s letters kick off only shortly after the two realize they don’t in fact dislike each other (enemies-to-lovers trope fans will be delighted) and transport the listener back to a very different time when the writers couldn’t fathom how the war was going to progress, an uncertainty felt through their muted dreams and tentative plans. Audible and Broadway favorite Santino Fontana gives voice to the irresistible, shoots-from-the-hip Bob, and sparkling alongside him is Tony Award-nominated Betsy Wolfe, with Succession’s Peter Friedman providing the voice of the narrator. Romance listeners (especially Cara Bastone fans) will gobble this one up, but I also recommend this to anyone who enjoys immersive history and hopeful stories." —Emily C.

"Laura Linney and Jessica Hecht give an acting master class in David Auburn's gentle, two-person play about female friendship. Diana (Linney) and Alice (Hecht) are both white, college-educated, Midwestern women whose ambitions have been derailed by having children and changing their goals. It's those kids that bring them together as friends, although they couldn't be more different in personalities, their approach to parenting, or living their frustrated lives. Having Linney and Hecht close to my ears is pure pleasure, and the story is so real and relatable (never giving in to easy sentimentality) that the bittersweet ending leaves an indelible mark." —J.P.

"I've enjoyed Jane Krakowski and Tituss Burgess on TV together (30 Rock, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Schmigadoon!), so couldn't miss them clash and collaborate in this wacky variety show (recorded live at the Minetta Lane Theatre) that showcases their dueling vocals. Playing double-booked hosts of a faux charity fundraiser, the narcissistic celebs trade scathing barbs in between singing pop and theatrical hits. Whether it's Tituss belting out "Something's Coming" from West Side Story or Jane's interpretation of "Let Me Be Your Star" from Smash or Lana Del Rey's "Young and Beautiful," the charismatic performers keep the hits coming—and me cracking up." —J.P.

"The Other Woman is perhaps the most unexpected and unsettling listen I’ve encountered this year. Commissioned by the Audible Emerging Playwrights Fund, Afsaneh Gray understood the assignment and has produced a masterclass in innovative storytelling. This erotic thriller is ratcheted up to the next level by disorienting and haunting sound design, and a perfectly cast ensemble of voices that overlap and heighten each other’s intensity. What starts off as a story about assimilation and desire quickly evolves into an exploration of the seemingly tiny levers of power we wield against one another to exert control, while wrestling with the truth about the roles we play to survive." —E.C.