New York is the city that never sleeps, and with so many events and activities each week across all five boroughs, it can be hard to know what’s actually worthwhile. Here are the events New York City actors should have on their radars this week.
Broadway gender bends for a good cause.
Broadway Backwards, the annual fundraiser that sees many of Broadway’s brightest perform songs from roles of the opposite gender, returns to the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on April 2. The event, produced by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids, will feature a lineup this year that includes Lea Salonga, Ethan Slater, Betsy Wolfe, Andrea Martin, Titus Burgess, Martha Plimpton, Taylor Trensch, and others. Funds raised benefit both Broadway Cares as well as NYC’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center. (Tickets start at $85)
Celebrate the Easter in your undies.
What better way to kick off your Easter Sunday than watching a bunch of people perform in their underwear? The Skivvies, the notoriously under-clad musical duo, will head to The Green Room 42 on April 1 for “Sunday Undie Easter Brunch,” which is exactly what it sounds like. Lauren Molina and Nick Cearley will perform their usual array of rock, pop, show tunes, and beyond, as well as welcome a bevy of special guests from stage and screen including Lesli Margherita, Claybourne Elder, and Isabel Santiago. (Tickets start at $20)
Talk shop with set designers.
How does the design of performance space impact the creation of new work and how can that space transform the experience of the viewers? Those are the questions that will be asked (and answered) at Working in the Theatre — Live: A Conversation About Designing for a New Generation of Theatre. Presented by the American Theatre Wing and held at the just-reopened Hayes Theatre, the April 2 conversation will include David Rockwell, Carole Rothman, and Alex Poots. Tickets are free but registration beforehand is required. (Free)
Enjoy comedy for a cause.
Funny ladies Leslie Kritzer and Lisa Davey return to The Duplex on March 31 with their series Comedy Soirée, and it’s all in the name of a very good cause. Proceeds from the evening will benefit She Should Run, a nonprofit organization that encourages women to run for United States office. The show will also feature Aparna Nancherla, Chloe Hilliard, and Christi Chiello. (Tickets: $10 in advance; $15 at the door)
The New Group joins the broader conversation.
New Group Now, a series of public forums facilitated by the New Group, will present its next discussion on April 2, this time focusing on its current production “Good for Otto” and the larger conversation around mental health and illnesses. The panel, formally called Building Community Around Mental Health, will be held at the Pershing Square Signature Center, and will be moderated by Nancy Giles. (Free)
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