‘Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes’ / ‘Creditors’
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)
‘Goddess’
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)
‘Bowl EP’
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)
‘Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole’
Daniel J. Watts, left, and Dulé Hill in “Lights Out: Nat ‘King’ Cole.”Credit…Marc J. Franklin
You can’t blame Colman Domingo (“Rustin,” “Sing Sing”) for focusing on acting these past few years — he’s getting the recognition and roles he’s long deserved. Still, it’s nice to see him return to playwriting, in collaboration with Patricia McGregor (who also directed). The story — enhanced with musical numbers — takes place in 1957, on the last night of the TV show hosted by the silky voiced Nat “King” Cole (Dulé Hill). He has just quit after enduring constant bigotry and pressure from the network and national advertisers, and has a lot on his mind. Daniel J. Watts also stars as Sammy Davis Jr. (Through June 29, New York Theater Workshop)
‘The Last Bimbo of the Apocalypse’
The title of this new musical by Michael Breslin and Patrick Foley (“Circle Jerk”) is a reference to a New York Post headline from 2006 about Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears. The show imagines that the unholy trinity actually was a quartet — but whatever happened to the last member? An internet sleuth is played by Milly Shapiro, herself one of the four little girls who won Tony Honors for Excellence in Theater in 2013 when they alternated in the lead role of “Matilda the Musical.” (Through June 8; The New Group)
