The Balusters is a comedy play written by David Lindsay-Abaire and originally produced at Manhattan Theatre Club.[1]
| The Balusters | |
|---|---|
 Original Broadway cast, writer, and director | |
| Written by | David Lindsay-Abaire |
| Date premiered | 2026 |
| Place premiered | New York City |
| Original language | English |
| Genre | Comedy |
Plot synopsis
editWhen a newcomer to the Vernon Point Neighborhood Association suggests installing a stop sign on a picturesque block, chaos ensues.[2]
Production history
editThe Balusters was commissioned by Manhattan Theatre Club (MTC) through the Bank of America New Play Program and is a recipient of an Edgerton Foundation New Play Award.[3] It was written by American playwright David Lindsay-Abaire.[4][5] Lindsay-Abaire has a long history of collaboration with MTC going back to 1999, writing and producing plays such as Rabbit Hole, Ripcord, Fuddy Meers, Kimberly Akimbo, and Wonder of the World.[3][1]
Preview performances of The Balusters began at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on March 31, 2026, with an official opening night on April 21.[6] It will be directed by Kenny Leon.[3] As of December 2025, no closing date has been set.[7]
Cast and characters
edit| Character | Broadway[6][8] |
|---|---|
| 2026 | |
| Penny Bewell | Marylouise Burke |
| Brooks Duncan | Carl Clemons-Hopkins |
| Ruth Ackerman | Margaret Colin |
| Kyra Marshall | Anika Noni Rose |
| Eliott Emerson | Richard Thomas |
| Willow Gibbons | Kayli Carter |
| Isaac Rosario | Ricardo Chavira |
| Alan Kirby | Michael Esper |
| Luz Baccay | Maria-Christina Oliveras |
| Melissa Han | Jeena Yi |
Awards and nominations
edit2026 Broadway production
edit| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Production of a Play | Nominated | [9][10] | |
| Distinguished Performance | Marylouise Burke | Nominated | |||
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding New Broadway Play | Won | [11] | ||
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Play | Won | [12] | ||
| Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play | Anika Noni Rose | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play | Maria-Christina Oliveras | Nominated | |||
| Richard Thomas | Nominated | ||||
| Outstanding Direction of a Play | Kenny Leon | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Scenic Design of a Play | Derek McLane | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Costume Design of a Play | Emilio Sosa | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Fight Choreography | Thomas Schall | Nominated | |||
| Tony Award | Best Play | Pending | [13] | ||
| Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play | Marylouise Burke | Pending | |||
| Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play | Richard Thomas | Pending | |||
| Best Direction of a Play | Kenny Leon | Pending | |||
| Best Costume Design of a Play | Emilio Sosa | Pending | |||
References
edit- 1 2 "The Balusters - Edgerton Foundation New Play Awards". TCG Circle. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
- ↑ Kravitz, Jamie (2025-12-12). "'The Balusters,' starring Renée Elise Goldsberry and Marylouise Burke, announces complete casting & dates". Broadway News. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
- 1 2 3 "The Balusters". Manhattan Theatre Club. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
- ↑ Huston, Caitlin (2025-05-14). "David Lindsay-Abaire Brings New Play 'The Balusters' to Broadway in 2026". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
- ↑ "David Lindsay-Abaire". Music Theatre International. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
- 1 2 Culwell-Block, Logan (12 December 2025). "David Lindsay-Abaire's The Balusters Completes Broadway Cast". Playbill. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
- ↑ "The Balusters". Playbill. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
- ↑ "David Lindsay-Abaire's The Balusters Finds Its Broadway Cast". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2025-10-07. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
- ↑ Gans, Andrew (April 20, 2026). "2026 Drama League Awards Nominations Are Out; Read the Full List". Playbill. Retrieved 2026-04-20.
- ↑ Hipes, Patrick (April 20, 2026). "Daniel Radcliffe, Luke Evans Among Drama League Award Nominees". Deadline. Retrieved 2026-04-20.
- ↑ "Announcing the 2026 Outer Critics Circle winners: Full list". Broadway News. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
- ↑ "2026 Drama Desk Award Nominations Announced: Full List". Broadway.com. April 29, 2026. Retrieved May 2, 2026.
- ↑ Lam, Katherine (2026-05-05). "2026 Tony Awards nominations are announced. See the full list". CBS News. Retrieved 2026-05-05.