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What does the theatrical landscape of tomorrow look like? The Theatrely31 is our annual compilation of visionary actors, directors, and theatre makers poised for a meteoric rise. These trailblazers and emerging stars are carving unique paths within our industry, and we eagerly anticipate the exciting destinations they will take us to next. See last year’s list here.
Leanne J. Antonio
Following her graduation from Michigan in 2019, Leanne J. Antonio has been on a roll. Making her Broadway debut back in 2021, she has touched so many productions, all of which have been stellar. From Private Jones to A Wrinkle In Time to Rent in Japan, to her star turn as Noelle in Little Miss Perfect, inspired by the viral hit by Joriah Kwame. Her performance as Noelle earlier this year at Olney Theatre Center truly cemented her powerhouse status to me. Antonio is a bonafide star who is only heading up from here. –Kobi Kassal, Editor-in-Chief
Cailen Fu
She is a massive deal. Cailen Fu made her Broadway debut in Mean Girls, and was the first Asian American Regina George on Broadway. Her work on numerous national tours and regional theatre, coupled with her screen work in film and television has cemented Fu as a powerhouse. She’s also focussed on developing new work such as Crazy Rich Asians, 10 Things I Hate About You, Death Becomes Her, The Devil Wears Prada, and more. We can’t wait to see all that she’s been working on! –Emily Wyrwa, Digital Editor
Noah Pacht
I’m forever going to be the biggest cheerleader of John Proctor Is the Villain and its incredible Broadway cast. I had the pleasure of seeing Noah Pacht go on as Mason, and was shocked to learn the play marked his Broadway debut; he had a magnificent presence that elevated every scene he was in. Following John Proctor, Pacht took on the iconic role of Ponyboy Curtis in The Outsiders, wowing audiences 8 shows a week. We love the energy Pacht brings to every role, and are so excited to watch him continue to shine! –Emily Wyrwa, Digital Editor
Diego Enrico
One of the greatest joys of my position is getting the chance to see new talent make their debuts, and no one has been so exciting to watch lately than Diego Enrico. Currently starring, and making his Broadway debut, as Elder Cunningham in The Book of Mormon, Enrico has turned a role and show 15 years old and made it breathtakingly new. Watching him onstage at the Eugene O’Neill is like watching a rocket take off into stardom. Watch out for Diego—we know we will be. –Kobi Kassal, Editor-in-Chief
Awa Sal Secka
To ask where Awa Sal Secka has been hiding from us would be a disrespectful truth. As a first generation Gambian-American artist, she moved to the DC area about 20 years ago and has been a powerhouse talent down there ever since. From Sarah in Signature’s Ragtime to recently starring in Chez Joey, her talent knows no end. You might have seen her in Goddess down at the Public and while we may not have gotten her Mary in Signature’s Merrily We Roll Along, she is set to make her Broadway debut (!!) this fall in Wanted. She is a performer who is equal parts mesmerizing and talented. I’m so happy New York will get to see more of her, and I hope she stays. Otherwise I foresee many more trips down to DC in my future! –Kobi Kassal, Editor-in-Chief
Katerina McCrimmon
The first time I had the privilege of seeing Katerina McCrimmon was in 2022 as Ocean in the beloved Ride The Cyclone at the McCarter Theatre and thought wow, what a voice! While she officially made her Broadway debut in The Rose Tattoo back in 2019, McCrimmon refuses to get off the stage, and thank goodness! She toured the country as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl, was wonderful in The Counterfit Opera, starred as Eva Peron in Evita at the Muny, and just played Joanne in Bigfoot! Off-Broadway. Oozing with comedic chops and a voice that envies our most endearing Broadway divas, McCrimmon is an unimaginable once-in-a-generation talent who is just getting started. –Kobi Kassal, Editor-in-Chief
Jordi Bertrán Ramírez
Following his graduation from Yale, Jordi Bertrán Ramírez went on to star as Adam/Leo in Matthew Lopez’s epic The Inheritance at Round House Theatre down in Maryland, a role in which he went on to win Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play at the Helen Hayes Awards. He can currently be seen touring the country as Fin in the national tour of Ingrid Michelson’s The Notebook. A talented star, I look forward to seeing what’s next. –Kobi Kassal, Editor-in-Chief
Larkin Reilly
As a certified Just in Time and The Rocky Horror Show superfan, I’ve had the pleasure of seeing a lot of Larkin Reilly this past year. She’s one of those dancers you just can’t take your eyes off. Reilly made her Broadway debut in 2023’s Bad Cinderella, and has dazzled us all with her skill and electric stage presence since. We are so excited to keep watching her shine as she takes Broadway and beyond by storm! –Emily Wyrwa, Digital Editor
Reanne Acasio
For triple-threat rising star Reanne Acasio, the last four years have been a wild ride. Already a fixture in the California theater scene, Acasio hit the road in 2022 after booking the Hamilton Anjelica Tour. Over the next six months, Acasio “swung in” as all three Schuyler sisters while crisscrossing the country. Next up was Here Lies Love on Broadway, a dream come true for this Filipino-American actress. And after that show closed, Hamilton came calling again—this time the Broadway production, where Acasio joined the ensemble for a year and a half.
Yet somehow, the wild journey wasn’t over yet. Acasio soon found herself jumping back into Here Lies Love—only this time, she was leading a new Los Angeles company as Imelda Marcos for a reconceived production at Mark Taper Forum. Acasio received critical acclaim for her turn as Imelda, a role she declared “the honor of a lifetime.” No time to rest, though—Acasio is now back in Hamilton on Broadway. The grind never stops. –Joey Sims, Senior Critic
Jack Roden
I came across Jack Roden as I assume many of us have, him belting (very well!!) across TikTok and thought, wow what a voice. He joined the Parade national tour as Frankie Epps and toured the country all while growing his social media to an impressive 180k followers across platforms. He proceeded to break the internet when it was announced that he was going to step in as Jack Kelly in Newsies at the Muny earlier this summer and social media went crazy for it. I have no doubt in my mind he will continue to grow as an artist and we will be watching to see what comes next. –Kobi Kassal, Editor-in-Chief
Ashlyn Maddox
The saying booked and blessed seems to have been created for one Ashlyn Maddox. I first saw her at McCarter’s Ride The Cyclone, and since then she has been non-stop. From Parade both at City Center and on Broadway to A Christmas Carol at PAC last holiday season, from Bull Durham at Paper Mill to Bye Bye Birdie at the Kennedy Center to Hairspray at the Muny. She is not only fantastic in every role she assumes, but an utter joy to watch on stage. Lately the land of Film and Television has been calling her name with The Four Seasons on Netflix, but I think she will have a very long and prosperous career here on the New York stage. And wherever she ends up next, I can’t wait to see it. –Kobi Kassal, Editor-in-Chief
Madison Thompson
Madison Thompson has starred on some of the most popular television shows from Ozark to Euphoria, but has always been a theatre kid at heart. Nominated for a Shuler Award back in 2018, Thompson went on to star in the short-lived but beloved Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies (bring it back!!). This past summer she took on the delicious villain Amber Von Tussle in Hairspray at The Muny and now serves as a producer for Theatrely31 alum Jacob Ryan Smith's Like Father at The Alliance this fall. Thompson has her hands in many great pots and we can’t wait to see what she cooks up next. –Kobi Kassal, Editor-in-Chief
Bryson Battle
When I spoke to Bryson Battle for Theatrely’s 2025 Fall Preview, they were fresh out of school in Boston (I wasn’t far behind!), and carried themself with such a presence. When I saw them in their Broadway debut in Cats: The Jellicle Ball, that presence was absolutely apparent. His voice wowed me in “Gus: The Theatre Cat,” and his command of the Tony Award winning choreography asserted him on that incredible stage. A performance like that a year out of school — I’m impressed. We know this is the start of a long and exciting career for Battle! –Emily Wyrwa, Digital Editor
Isa Antonetti
Isa Antonetti blew us all away, and made her Broadway debut in Buena Vista Social Club before graduating from Carnegie Mellon University with her BFA in Musical Theatre! Her performance as Young Omara is incredibly moving, and to know she wowed us all even before graduation is nothing short of extraordinary. It’s also serendipitous; she grew up performing with her father’s Latin band, Orquesta Antonetti, making this Broadway debut in Buena Vista Social Club a perfect full circle moment. We can’t wait to follow along her many successes! –Emily Wyrwa, Digital Editor
Senzel Ahmady
Senzel Ahmady is best known for originating the role of Daisy in both the national tour and the original Seoul production of The Great Gatsby. She also dazzled audiences as Jasmine in the national tour of Aladdin. She brings a fresh, joyful energy to the stage, and we are so excited to see her continue dazzling audiences. We know she has a long and exciting career ahead! –Emily Wyrwa, Digital Editor
Naomi Serrano
When Naomi Serrano got the call about joining Evita at Boston’s American Repertory Theater in February 2023, the young actress hadn’t yet graduated from high school. Serrano took the leap, jumping into Sammi Cannold’s bold new take on the Andrew Lloyd Weber/Tim Rice classic in both the role of Juan Perón’s mistress and an ensemble track. (In between rehearsals, Serrano completed her education online.) That was only the beginning. Serrano recently wowed audiences with her powerful presence and soaring voice in the new hit musical Giulia: The Poison Queen of Palermo, an off-Broadway hit this summer. Performing alongside country music legend Jennifer Nettles, the show’s creator and lead, Serrano more than held her own. It was a commanding New York debut for the promising newcomer, and an exciting sign of much more to come. –Joey Sims, Senior Critic
Ishmael Gonzalez
“Absolutely wonderful.” “Dynamic.” “Alternately raucous and melancholy.” This spring, Ishmael Gonzalez earned high praise for their star-making turn in off-Broadway cult hit Spread. A powerhouse talent, Gonzalez had been building up a name for themselves since joining the national tour of & Juliet back in 2024, graduating from the ensemble to the role of May and wowing audiences across the country with their rendition of “I’m Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman.” A quick stint in the hit musical’s Broadway staging came next, followed quickly by that acclaimed run in Spread. Most exciting, though, is what’s ahead: Gonzalez is set for the role of Sonny in New York City Center’s upcoming gala presentation of In the Heights. If you didn’t know Gonzalez’s name yet, get ready—soon, they’ll be everywhere. –Joey Sims, Senior Critic
Eliana Theologides Rodriguez
Indian Princesses by Eliana Theologides Rodriguez took our breath away. The play, which was seen at the Atlantic Theatre in 2026 and La Jolla Playhouse in 2025, earned her a 2024 Terrence McNally Fellowship and a 2023/2024 Playwrights Realm Writing Fellowship. If that is not a testament to truly impressive and exciting new writing, we aren’t sure what is. Theologides Rodriguez’ work brilliantly balances important topics with humor and heart. We can’t wait to see what she mounts next here in NYC. –Emily Wyrwa, Digital Editor
Kayta Thomas
As Lida in Eliya Smith’s Dad Don’t Read This, which had a stellar off-Broadway run this past summer, Kayta Thomas exploded across the stage in a high-energy performance that captured the raw tenderness of adolescent girlhood. Thomas’s talents as a theatremaker range from acting, choreography, experimental performance, and puppetry. As a puppeteer for The Herds, an international group of artists committed to climate action, known particularly for their life-size puppet animals, Thomas is dedicated to using art as a way of making change and calling us all to action. Only one year out of college, Thomas is at the beginning of what is sure to be an auspicious career. –Andrew Martini, Staff Writer
Jake Brasch & Nadja Leonhard-Hooper (American Sing-Song)
As a dyed-in-the-wool musical theatre lover, American Sing-Song (A.S.S.) fills me with genuine hope for the art form. Jake Brasch and Nadja Leonhard-Hooper are the deranged duo behind the filthy and big-hearted Hole!, a musical about, well, butt plugs that has played Joe’s Pub, Edinburgh Fringe, the Soho Theatre in London, and will play at Playwrights Horizons this winter. Jake and Nadja are impish and unhinged, but they are also both virtuosic performers, unafraid to shock and titillate with irreverence and raunch, while guaranteed to make you smile. What’s more, this team of off-the-wall artists are also fantastic playwrights in their own right. Nadja’s Derangements at Clubbed Thumb’s Summerworks was sharp, absurd, and hilarious. Earlier this year, Jake’s play The Reservoir, a co-production between Atlantic Theater Company & Ensemble Studio Theatre, brought a deft touch to a story about addiction that refused to dip into the maudlin, remaining triumphant in the face of tragedy. –Andrew Martini, Staff Writer
Else Went
A two-time nominee for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, Went’s explorations of gender, adolescence, and connection in the modern world are often staggering to behold. I’m thinking of 2025’s Initiative at the Public Theater, a 5-hour epic about high schoolers experiencing growing pains in a podunk town, plus Dungeons & Dragons. It sounds like a hard sell, but the warm and inviting world Went created left audiences and critics alike spellbound. Vulture included it on its Best Theatre of 2025 list. I’m looking forward to Degenerates at Playwrights Horizons this fall, a play about a dangerous internet subculture that’s sure to be as complex and nuanced as Went’s earlier work. –Andrew Martini, Staff Writer
Jesse Jae Hoon
Last summer, Jesse Jae Hoon’s spectacular Titans opened Clubbed Thumb’s Summerworks, a mini-festival of one-act plays that’s becoming the must-see event to find actually bold, actually exciting new work in NYC. Titans tackled the harrowing realities of the immigrant experience and the difficulties of organizing and building community amid the rising tide of fascism while still being delightfully screwball and funny. It’s a highwire act that only a playwright deeply invested in craft can pull off. In 2022, as a Creatives Rebuild New York Resident Artist, Jesse wrote 3 Lehrstücke (“learning plays”), inspired by Bertolt Brecht, that involved time interviewing organizers, observing the work of the Flushing Food Collaborative in Queens, and visiting the Bertolt Brecht Archives in Berlin. Jesse is not just interested in making art, but investigating how art can serve the collective good and investigate power and those who wield it. His work is that rare combination of crucial to our theatrical ecosystem while also entertaining as hell. –Andrew Martini, Staff Writer
Oliver Richman
I first came across Oliver Richman on my Instagram page — day 400-something of his writing a song every day for 1,000 days challenge (which will culminate with a Day 1,000 concert at Joe’s Pub on Sept. 26!). He brings a light and levity to my feed that is so appreciated. His tunes range in subject from Punxsutawney Phil to AI and immortality; his creativity shines with every post. We know he will continue wow-ing us on and off social media, and can’t wait to keep listening. –Emily Wyrwa, Digital Editor
Lily Ling
Simply put, Lily Ling is a trailblazer. She was the first female music director for Hamilton, served as the Associate Music Supervisor of Alicia Key’s Hell’s Kitchen, and has dazzled Broadway audiences with her impeccable accompaniment to Maybe Happy Ending, How to Dance in Ohio, and Moulin Rouge! Meanwhile, she’s on her way to her EdD CT in Music and Music Education at Teachers College at Columbia University. We know she is going to continue to be an incredible advocate for education and outreach, while amazing us all with her talents on stage. –Emily Wyrwa, Digital Editor
Connor Wang
It’s a good day whenever we see Connor Wang’s name in our program. From his work as lead sound designer on the 2026 revival of Proof and Broadway’s How to Dance in Ohio, to his work as assistant sound designer on Hamilton, Hadestown, The Cher Show and Tina, we are continually impressed by his skill. We can’t wait to follow his continued success. –Emily Wyrwa, Digital Editor
The Fricks
Founded by Courtney Campbell, Ethan Halpern, and Emma Magnus, The Fricks have made a name for themselves over the past few years with wildly entertaining and experimental theatrical experiences. From being the first production at East Village Basement, taking audiences into the experimental lab of the “happiest place on earth,” to an art cult in the basement of a Brooklyn gallery, to the filthy wedding of Mozart every other Friday at The Slipper Room downtown, The Fricks have consistently found new ways to delight, bewilder, and surprise. Not to mention their annual Mischief Night Conundrum, now in its eighth year. Their particular brand of amusement and bewilderment is a breath of fresh air, and if The Fricks’ name is on it, you can be sure you’re in for a treat. —Kobi Kassal, Editor-in-Chief
Jared Harbour
There are few Substacks I actively await their arrival in my inbox. By few, I mean one, and it belongs to Jared Harbour. Harbour, a JD/MFA candidate at Columbia University, breaks down the theatre industry and the business of Broadway deeply. He analyzes the systems at play that make our industry what it is. His in-depth knowledge of the industry’s legal and financial structure is not only fascinating to learn from, but an incredible asset for producers and aspiring theatre-makers. You can read Harbour’s work here (and I really recommend you do). He also doubles as a dancer, a producer, and a soon-to-be legal professional; we think there’s nothing he can’t do! –Emily Wyrwa, Digital Editor
Ani Taj
There’s a lot to love about the current revival of The Rocky Horror Show at Studio 54 — and the choreography is certainly at the forefront. Ani Taj’s work is classic yet thrilling, and utterly joyful to watch. It even earned her a Tony Nomination this year! Taj’s work has also been seen in Dead Outlaw last season, and serves as the co-creator of Untitled DanceShowPartyThing with Sam Pinkleton. Any chance I get to see Taj’s choreography, I will always take. The fact that her process is rooted in joy absolutely shines through; I can never stop myself from smiling and dancing along in my seat. –Emily Wyrwa, Digital Editor
William Carlos Angulo
It is my worst-kept secret that my day trip to Ogunquit, Maine every summer is my favorite day of my year. This year, that is thanks in part to the incredible work of William Carlos Angulo. His choreography of the Ogunquit Playhouse production of Hello, Dolly! starring Beth Leavel left me utterly dazzled. A few years ago, his choreography of The Muny’s production of Legally Blonde took the world by storm when it took over all our feeds (it’s been hashtagged more than 17 million times across TikTok and Instagram). In addition to his incredible choreography work, he has directed new plays and musical readings presented at LCT3, the Steppenwolf LookOut Series, the JAW New Play Festival, Ars Nova ANT Fest, and Joe's Pub at The Public Theater. Angulo has a fan in me forever, and I can’t wait to see him continue making waves in the theatre world. –Emily Wyrwa, Digital Editor
Jared Mezzocchi
Jared Mezzocchi is the definition of a multi-hyphenate; his work spans directing, design, writing, performing, and digital work. His work has helped define what multimedia theater can be. He is perhaps best known for the digital production of Russian Troll Farm, a Critic’s Pick and one of the first digitally-native successes of the pandemic era, which won him his second Obie Award in 2023. He will soon continue a project he’s written and will perform in at TheaterWorks Hartford plus a Hudson Valley Shakespeare’s Tent Pole Commission called The Hudson Valley Hootenanny. In addition to all his creative work, Mezzocchi built the University of Maryland’s MFA in projection and multimedia design track, and served as the Artistic Director of Andy’s Summer Playhouse for 10 seasons (stepping away in 2024). Mezzocchi’s work is nothing short of groundbreaking for the industry, and we can’t wait to continue see him making waves. –Emily Wyrwa, Digital Editor
Caitlin Sullivan
Caitlin Sullivan is hardly new on the scene—theatergoers in Seattle have known about her sharp and humorous directorial hand since 2008, when Sullivan’s acclaimed ensemble The Satori Group first laid down roots in Washington state. Thankfully, over the last few years, New York has also gotten hip to Sullivan’s immense skill as a theatermaker. She collaborated with David Cromer on Jordan Harrison’s daring new play The Antiquities, delighted audiences at Clubbed Thumb with new works by Crystal Finn & reid tang, and moved us to tears with musical duo The Bengsons’ Keep Going Songs at LCT3. Sullivan’s latest hit, Libby Carr’s tragicomic new play Calf Scramble, demonstrated her unique skill at theatricalizing strange and off-kilter worlds like a dusty East Texas barn filled with wild animals. What will she conjure next? –Joey Sims, Senior Critic
Hold us! Bat Boy: The Musical will release a new cast album tomorrow, Aug. 28, based on the celebrated gala production last fall at New York City Center. The new album features several brand-new songs and revised book by the original creators, and expanded orchestrations for twelve musicians.
Bat Boy features a pulsing pop-rock score by Tony Award nominee Laurence O’Keefe and book by Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming. This new album shines fresh light on a beloved score with several brand-new songs and revised book by the original creators, and expanded orchestrations for twelve musicians by Laurence O’Keefe and Ben Green, delving deeper into the musical’s themes of identity, acceptance, and the healing power of love.
The cast features Kerry Butler (Meredith Parker), Gabi Carrubba (Shelley Parker), Andrew Durand (Rick Taylor), Mary Faber (Lorraine), Alan H Green (Bud), Evan Harrington (Ned), John-Michael Lyles (Ron Taylor/Rancher), Tom McGowan (Sheriff Reynolds), Jacob Ming-Trent (Reverend Hightower), Alex Newell (The God Pan), Olivia Puckett (Ruthie Taylor/Rancher), Marissa Rosen (Daisy), Christopher Sieber (Dr. Parker), Taylor Trensch (Bat Boy), Colin Trudell (Charley), Rema Webb (Maggie), and Marissa Jaret Winokur (Mrs. Taylor), in addition to August Bagg, Will Mann, and Stephanie Reuning-Scherer.
Theatrely has an exclusive first listen to Deer in the Headlights performed by Gabi Carrubba, Taylor Trensch, Andrew Durand, John-Michael Lyles, Olivia Puckett, Keythe Farley, Brian Flemming, and Laurence O’Keefe.
After being discovered in a cave and adopted by a local West Virginia family, Bat Boy, also known as Edgar, wants nothing more than to be accepted by his new community and works hard to appeal to their “Christian Charity.” But will his insatiable bloodlust be his undoing? Or will the bloodlust of a town searching for an easy scapegoat beat him to the punch?
Bat Boy releases on streaming platforms tomorrow, Aug. 28. To pre-save the album, visit here.
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Here’s one thing you might not expect but I’m gonna say it at the top: Paranormal Activity is funny! Yes of course you will get your full share of screams, but playwright Levi Holloway has delivered a story that is equal parts humorous and eerie, and a ton of fun.
Following a tour hitting major cities across the US, and currently running in London, Paranormal Activity officially opened on Broadway earlier tonight at the August Wilson Theatre and it's an impressive feat. I remember watching the original film—I was way too young—and being obsessed with the found footage franchise that relies on minimalism, and that’s where the stage show works. Its atmospheric set by Fly Davis when paired with Anna Watson’s lighting and Luke Halls’ video + projection design work incredibly well, without going overboard.
Holloway returns to Broadway, following Grey House a few seasons back, in top form. The story is simple, Lou and James move to London for work, and I can’t really say much more… let’s just say things start to go awry. Holloway blends this modern day ghost story with themes of religion, mental health, and family in ways one might not expect. And while I think it could be tightened up a bit, it’s a smart, sharp script that allows the scares to breathe. His ability to build a strong sense of dread is admirable.
I love being scared, and Paranormal Activity is by far the best entry for horror theatre we have seen on Broadway, perhaps ever? Illusions Designer Chris Fisher worked with Holloway and director Felix Barrett from the jump creating the story with them, and his work here is as impressive as ever, and the glee the audience gets at certain moments are of course the standout crowdpleasers.
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Barrett has assembled a top-notch ensemble who bring life to these roles that make it such a treat for the audience. This play demands a lot from its actors but Cher Álvarez and Travis A. Knight knock it out of the park. Eva Kaminsky and Shannon Cochran, I should mention, are also terrifying.
Davis’ two story modular house design while attractive to look at, I don't think was designed for the space at all. Sitting Orchestra D in the center the other night, I had trouble seeing some moments upstairs, and if you sit on the far sides, you will surely miss others. While those seats are surely marked partial view, keep this in mind when purchasing your seats.
This is not your typical Broadway show, and I don’t expect it to find the typical Broadway audience, and how exciting. While on tour across the country, this production at numerous stops brought in the most amount of first time ticket buyers than ever before, and we need that more than ever right now. As a horror fanatic, yes I wanted them to go even further with the scares, but Barrett and Holloway have smartly devised a piece that works well for everyone and gets you thoroughly spooked. As fall and spooky season quickly approach, go get your heart rate pumping at Paranormal Activity, you surely won’t regret it.
Paranormal Activity is now in performance at the August Wilson Theatre on West 52nd Street in New York City. For tickets and more information, visit here.
