It also marks a renewed effort to deepen Queens Theatre\u2019s connection with the communities it serves, while keeping live performing arts accessible and affordable.<\/p>\n
\u201cQueens Theatre exists to serve this community, and this season is a true reflection of our mission,\u201d said Julia del Palacio, executive director of Queens Theatre. \u201cQueens is one of the most diverse places in the world, and we want the people who live here to see themselves, their cultures, and their experiences represented on our stages.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tickets, which begin below $30, are available now at QueensTheatre.org\/Events<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n Highlights of this season\u2019s lineup include Colombian twin sisters Las \u00c1\u00f1ez; Calpulli Mexican Dance Company\u2019s D\u00eda de Muertos; Xiomara Laugart: Tribute to Celia Cruz; international entertainer Charo; illusionist Vitaly: An Evening of Wonders; and \u201cThe Monkey King: A Kung Fu Musical,\u201d presented in celebration of Lunar New Year.<\/p>\n Jazz takes an expanded presence at Queens Theatre this season, as well, with performances by Allan Harris, Tammy McCann and Jumaane Smith, among others.\u00a0<\/p>\n Harris will bring \u201cThe Poetry of Jazz\u201d as part of the \u201cJazz is at Queens Theatre\u201d series. McCann will celebrate some of the genre\u2019s most influential women with \u201cThe Legendary Ladies of Jazz,\u201d featuring special guest David O\u2019Rourke, long-time guitarist of the late Cassandra Wilson. Smith, on the other hand, will bring the sounds of New Orleans to the stage with \u201cSweet Baby!\u201d<\/p>\n Dance programming includes Calpulli Mexican Dance Company\u2019s D\u00eda de Muertos celebration and Darrah Carr Dance\u2019s Irish-inspired St. Patrick\u2019s Day performances. It will also bring the rhythms of San Jose Taiko, which blends the powerful, traditional art of kumidaiko \u2014 ensemble drumming \u2014 with contemporary rhythms like jazz, Afro-Cuban and rock.<\/p>\n This year, Queens Theatre\u2019s New Play Development program will feature stories about Queens.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n Now in its 25th year, New Play Development presents free public readings by emerging playwrights. The program invites audiences into the creative process through talkbacks, building on a history of more than 200 readings, workshops and productions.\u00a0<\/p>\n Titan Theatre Company returns to Queens Theatre with Thornton Wilder\u2019s \u201cOur Town,\u201d opening this fall. Other readings and productions by local companies will be added to the calendar.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Monkey King: A Kung Fu Musical,\u201d will come to the Claire Shulman Theater in January, bringing the family-friendly adventures of the first-ever female Monkey King as she battles against Heaven and Earth\u2019s most treacherous foes to save her tribe and achieve immortality. The original play, written by husband-and-wife team Kimbirdlee and Jonathan Fadner, will feature a mix of classical and rock music and kung-fu style choreography.<\/p>\n Family programming also remains a major part of the season, with several Rock and Roll Playhouse performances created especially for young audiences, along with Lightwire Dino-Light, which brings dinosaurs to life through electroluminescent artistry and imaginative storytelling.<\/p>\n Cultural celebrations are woven throughout the calendar, including programming recognizing D\u00eda de los Muertos, Lunar New Year, Mardi Gras, Dominican Independence Day, St. Patrick\u2019s Day, Mother\u2019s Day and the Cherry Blossom Festival. It will also present a Valentine\u2019s Day Special featuring Uptown Royalty, Liza and Willie.<\/p>\n Queens Theatre\u2019s B-Side Series will further expand opportunities for audiences and artists to connect through free, multidisciplinary open-stage programming. Designed to make the community part of the artistic experience, rather than simply an audience for it, the series creates an inclusive space for people of all abilities and experience levels to participate, share their creativity and engage in artistic expression.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want someone who has never walked through our doors before to look at this season and feel like there is something here for them,\u201d Palacio said. \u201cWhether it\u2019s the music they grew up with, a tradition their family celebrates or an artist they\u2019re discovering for the first time, we want audiences to see themselves reflected on our stages.\u201d<\/p>\n Designated performances also offer services such as American Sign Language interpretation, audio description, open captioning and touch tours. Relaxed and sensory-friendly performances provide additional accommodations, including modified sound and lighting, quiet areas, and greater flexibility for audience movement and noise.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a Disabled artist myself, this work is personal,\u201d said Megan Simcox, manager of Audience Development and Accessibility at Queens Theatre, and an alumna of TFA Professional Actor Training Program. \u201cThat means thinking beyond what happens on stage and removing barriers wherever we can, so audiences of all abilities can experience live performance, feel welcome in our space, and be part of the community we\u2019re building here.\u201d<\/p>\n Queens Theatre officials said accessibility and affordability go hand in hand at the venue, where creating a welcoming space means removing barriers to the performing arts while presenting programming that speaks to the borough\u2019s multicultural and multigenerational communities.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cExperiencing great live performances shouldn\u2019t feel out of reach,\u201d said Dr. Cameron Hernandez, Acting President of the Queens Theatre Board of Directors and President and COO of Mount Sinai Queens. \u201cWe have made a conscious effort to remain affordable throughout the years because accessibility is fundamental to our mission.\u201d<\/p>\n To get updates about Queens Theatre, follow them on Instagram<\/a>, Facebook<\/a> or X<\/a>, or sign up for their newsletter on their website, queenstheatre.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Calpulli-1_1.jpg\")
Calpulli Mexican Dance Company\u2019s D\u00eda de Muertos.Photos courtesy Queens Theatre<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Monkey-King-1_1.jpg\")
The Monkey King: A Kung Fu Musical, an original play produced by husband-and-wife team Kimbirdlee and Jonathan Fadner.Photos courtesy Queens Theatre<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Las-Anez-1_1.jpg\")
Las \u00c1\u00f1ez, an acclaimed avant-garde vocal duo from Bogot formed by Columbian twin sisters Juanita and Valentina \u00c1\u00f1ez Rothmann.Photos courtesy Queens Theatre<\/p>\n