Skip to Main Content
New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

Performing Arts

(Courtesy of Emilio Madrid)

Review: Cursing, cutthroat comedians duke it out in ‘Glengarry Glen Ross’

Despite its cast of award-winning actors led by Kieran Culkin and Bob Odenkirk, this revival of David Mamet’s tragicomedy about real-estate agents lands unevenly on Broadway.
Ethan Li, Deputy Copy Chief April 11, 2025

Before “Glengarry Glen Ross” begins, director Patrick Marber chose to project a set of glistening steak knives on the scrim at the Palace Theatre. In theory, this addition...

(Courtesy of Marc J. Franklin)

Review: ‘Purpose’ stages a contemplative family reunion

Two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist and playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ new dramedy explores the tensions within a politically powerful Black family.
Ethan Li, Deputy Copy Chief April 10, 2025

A portrait of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. hangs on the wall of the Jasper family home. It’s the first thing you see when you walk into the Hayes Theater to watch Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’...

(Courtesy of Julieta Cervantes)

Review: ‘Operation Mincemeat’ fails its mission

The WWII historical comedy is crossing the pond after its Olivier win for best new musical.
Ethan Li, Deputy Copy Chief April 4, 2025

The theater world is facing a British invasion. Of the 42 2024-25 Broadway shows, almost one in five have previously played in London, with countless more off-Broadway. As Paul...

Eli Lane performs his monologue as the character Zak in the play “The Ball.” (Ivy Chan for WSN)

At the Fresh Fruit Festival, NYU students bring gay to the stage

Presented by All Out Arts, the festival’s 2025 10-Minute Play Contest featured student directors and actors.
Dylan Henschen, Staff Writer April 2, 2025

Broadway has its fair share of LGBTQ+ representation — think musicals like “& Juliet” and plays like “Oh, Mary!” — but at the Fresh Fruit Festival, there is an...

(Courtesy of James Leynse)

Review: ‘Amerikin’ offers a wild subversion of the American Dream

Chisa Hutchinson’s play balances a biting critique of white supremacy and an empathetic view of what parents will do for their children.
Sawyer Gouw Ranzetta, Staff Writer March 21, 2025

The personal is political. In a world full of existential political dread, theater offers a place to break down these systems and consider the multitude of perspectives behind...

(Courtesy of Andy Henderson)

Review: Passionate music takes center stage at ‘Buena Vista Social Club’

The new musical, inspired by the Grammy-winning album of the same name, spotlights the fiery music of Cuba.
Ethan Li, Deputy Copy Chief March 20, 2025

In 1996, a group of established musicians gathered at the EGREM studio — the national record label of Cuba — in Havana. Led by musician Juan de Marcos González, Buena Vista...

(Gabriel Vasconcellos for WSN)

Review: Heart and hilarity take center stage in The Classical Studio’s ‘Twelfth Night’

Tisch’s modern interpretation of the centuries-old play highlights the importance of community.
Annie Emans, Staff Writer March 14, 2025

Every year, a select group of NYU students who approach modern and classical theater text delivers a performance of a Shakespearean play, one of two major performance projects....

(Courtesy of the Brooklyn Academy of Music)

Review: ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ brings new life to the drama genre

Rebecca Frecknall’s revival of Tennessee Williams’ drama brings a fresh and fiery air to the timeless play.
Dylan Henschen, Contributing Writer March 11, 2025

Paul Mescal taking his shirt off four times may be enough to justify the steep ticket prices. Though his abs alone are enticing, the show also takes the audience through a series...

(Courtesy of Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman)

Review: ‘Redwood’ spotlights the roots of resilience

Broadway legend Idina Menzel returns to 41st Street for the new musical “Redwood.”
Luke Vrba, Contributing Writer March 5, 2025

After nearly a decade, Idina Menzel is back on Broadway. The Tony Award-winning NYU alum you’ve seen in “Wicked” and “Rent” and heard in “Frozen” now stars in “Redwood,”...

(Courtesy of Roundabout Theatre Company)

Review: In ‘English,’ the fight to learn a new language perseveres

Sanaz Toossi’s Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy explores the hardships four Iranians go through to learn English.
Ethan Li, Deputy Copy Chief January 30, 2025

In this classroom, only English is spoken. The teacher, Marjan (Marjan Neshat), enforces this rule harshly — if you speak any other language, you get a tally mark. At five tallies,...

An illustration of a hand holding a nutcracker on a blue background scattered with snowflakes.

Let out of the doll box: My retirement from ‘The Nutcracker’

After 10 years of shows, this is my first year not performing, and I have countless memories and emotions to reflect on.
Siobhán Minerva, Deputy Arts Editor December 9, 2024

I found myself in the dark enclosure of a life-sized present box. The light bulb inside had gone out. Wheeled onstage, the party-scene music entered my ears. Tapping my toes in...

Dancers dressed in soldier costumes lined up onstage.

The Rockettes don’t know when to tap out

The Christmas Spectacular starring the Radio City Rockettes has complicated its timelessness and tradition with too much technology, instead of fixing existing issues.
Bella Simonte, Contributing Writer December 6, 2024

After 91 years of cancans and kicklines in the annual Christmas Spectacular, seeing the Radio City Rockettes remains a staple in many families' holiday traditions. Sitting on the...