Off-Broadway and Beyond: New Yorks Summer Stage Highlights Clowning Duo, HUAC Drama, and Surreal Musicals
The summer season in New York City is in full swing, with four distinct productions drawing audiences to venues across the boroughs. The Off‑Broadway debut of Xhloe Rice and Natasha Roland’s clown‑theatre piece And Then the Rodeo Burned Down is running at Ars Nova through July 2. A revival of Eric Bentley’s Are You Now or Have You Ever Been is playing at New York City Center until September 11. Todd Almond’s surreal musical I’m Almost There is staged at BAM Fisher through June 28. And the Wild Project’s Summerworks festival, featuring the new play Derangements, closes on June 30.
And Then the Rodeo Burned Down premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2022 and has been described as a blend of physical comedy and allegory. Rice and Roland, who met in high school and have performed together for more than a decade, write and perform the show. The narrative follows Dale, a rodeo clown who dreams of becoming a cowboy, and his shadow, Dilly Dally, who challenges Dale’s aspirations. The play shifts between slapstick routines and moments of darker reflection, ultimately questioning the cost of artistic ambition in New York. Director Tom Costello, known for his work with Pipeline Theatre Company, has staged the piece at Ars Nova, where the set includes a raised ring, hay bales, and circus‑tent‑inspired décor.
The production has received positive reviews. A New York Theatre Guide article notes the duo’s “cleverly constructed” perspective‑shifting encounters, while a Guardian piece highlights the performers’ “power‑play, flirt and fight” dynamic. The show’s run at Ars Nova has been extended, reflecting strong audience interest.
Eric Bentley’s Are You Now or Have You Ever Been: The Investigations of Show‑Business by the Un‑American Activities Committee 1947–1958 is a docudrama that reconstructs HUAC hearings from transcripts. The play, directed by Anna D. Shapiro, features a rotating cast of actors portraying historical figures such as Jerome Robbins, Paul Robeson, and Lionel Stander. The production emphasizes the tension between artists and the committee’s probing questions, with moments of satire and historical context. According to a New York Times review, the play’s “sharp, icky” moments highlight the era’s political climate.
Todd Almond’s I’m Almost There began as a Fringe Festival piece before moving to New York. The musical follows a nameless New Yorker who, after a chance meeting with a man named Guy, attempts to reach him but encounters a series of surreal obstacles—vampires, cults, and a talking cat. Almond’s work is described as a “distended, surreal odyssey” that blends modern pop references with mythic structure. The BAM Fisher production, directed by David Cromer, has been praised for its “light touch” and “live radio play” feel.
The Wild Project’s Summerworks festival, which runs through June 30, features the new play Derangements by Nadja Leonhard‑Hooper. The piece is a comedic exploration of 1980s‑style absurdity, with characters navigating bizarre scenarios involving cults, snowmobile escapes, and a Duolingo Owl. The production is noted for its “smart absurdism” and emotional depth.
All four productions are currently running in New York. And Then the Rodeo Burned Down remains at Ars Nova until July 2, Are You Now or Have You Ever Been continues at New York City Center until September 11, I’m Almost There concludes at BAM Fisher on June 28, and the Wild Project’s Summerworks festival ends on June 30.
These shows illustrate the diversity of contemporary New York theater, from clowning and physical comedy to historical drama and surreal musical storytelling. Each production offers a distinct perspective on performance, audience engagement, and the broader cultural landscape.
