\ud83c\udfad NEW! Off-Off-Broadway Theatre Newsletter<\/p>\n
Mister Snickers of New York City, the new play by Michael Raimondi, will extend its run to Urban Stages (May 6\u201317, 2026) following its premiere as a Mainstage selection of the Fresh Fruit Festival at The Wild Project.<\/p>\n
\ud83c\udfad NEW! Off-Off-Broadway Theatre Newsletter<\/p>\n
Leading the production are two artists whose presence elevates the work into must-see territory for the New York theatre community:<\/p>\n
Sharon Wheatley<\/a>, the celebrated Broadway performer who originated Diane in Come From Away, brings profound emotional depth and authority to the production. With a distinguished career spanning Les Mis\u00e9rables, Cats, The Phantom of the Opera, and Avenue Q, Wheatley anchors the piece with a performance of rare intimacy and resonance.<\/p>\n Alongside her, Aaron Haskell<\/a>\u2014renowned for his work on the National Tours of Life of Pi and War Horse\u2014serves as Puppet Designer, Director, and Fabricator. His visually arresting work transforms the production into a richly theatrical, hybrid experience, where puppetry becomes a central storytelling language and the character of Mister Snickers emerges as both emotional anchor and imaginative force.<\/p>\n Produced by Play Your Part, Mister Snickers of New York City is a deeply felt and visually inventive exploration of addiction, queer identity, and chosen family.<\/p>\n Set within a theatrical world evocative of a New York City pop-up book, the play follows a gay man’s alcohol-fueled attempt to construct a life of meaning. Through his evolving relationships\u2014with his Best Friend<\/a> and his devoted dog, Mister Snickers\u2014the work traces a moving transformation from self-destruction toward generosity, presence, and spiritual renewal.<\/p>\n Blending live music, heightened theatricality, and innovative design, the piece offers audiences a rare opportunity to step away from the noise of the season and engage with a work of genuine emotional and artistic ambition.<\/p>\n Wheatley leads a dynamic ensemble that bridges established and emerging voices, including Rori Nogee<\/a> (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Love Quirks), Nicholas James Reilly<\/a> (Spring Awakening, Gossip Girl), Kenon Veno (Paddington Gets in a Jam National Tour), Julie Tran<\/a> (Brooklyn comedy scene; But What’d You Say?), Ryan Sheehan<\/a> (The Tank; Sad Boy Songs), Sawyer Whitted (25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Pirates of Penzance), and Mecca Akbar (Pinocchio, Sesame Street: The Musical).<\/p>\n Directed by Abigail Zealey Bess (Ensemble Studio Theatre<\/a>) and co-directed by Josh Tyson<\/a>, the production features scenic and property design by Aurelie Hug and Chloe Cobb, crafting a visually expressive world that seamlessly integrates with Haskell’s transformative puppetry work.<\/p>\n