Hugh Jackman is back in New York this month, but don't go looking for him at the Winter Garden or any of the usual Broadway haunts. He's currently hunkered down in the Minetta Lane Theatre, a space so intimate you can practically hear him think. He’s reprising his role in Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes, a play that trades the "jazz hands" of The Music Man for a much sharper, more uncomfortable brand of drama.
It’s a gutsy move. Most stars of his caliber stick to the safe, high-budget glow of the Great White Way. Instead, Jackman is leaning into the gritty, experimental energy that only Off-Broadway provides. If you're heading to the city in March 2026, you're looking at one of the most crowded and creatively diverse theatrical calendars we've seen in years. From folk musicals about illness to puppets that take you on a literal walk through the theater, here’s why you should skip the Times Square tourists and head for the smaller stages.
Hugh Jackman and the art of the slippery slope
In Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes, Jackman plays Jon, a charismatic professor and novelist whose life is messy. His third marriage is falling apart, and he finds himself drawn to a 19-year-old student named Annie, played by Ella Beatty.
This isn't a simple "bad guy" story. That’s what makes it so unsettling. Jackman uses his natural charm—the same charm that sold millions of tickets for The Greatest Showman—to make you like Jon, even as he starts crossing lines that shouldn't be crossed. Written by Hannah Moscovitch, the play is basically a masterclass in how power dynamics get twisted.
It runs from March 17 through April 20. One thing I love about this production is the accessibility. Audible Theater is making 25% of the seats available for $35 on the day of the show through TodayTix. It’s a rare chance to see a global superstar for less than the price of a mid-range dinner in Greenwich Village.
The weird and wonderful musicals of March
If you want something lighter than a deep dive into moral ambiguity, the musical scene this month is leaning heavily into the "weird."
- Bigfoot! (New York City Center): Imagine a musical comedy about an eight-foot-tall teenager trying to survive small-town politics. It sounds ridiculous because it is. Written by Amber Ruffin, this show is high-energy and hilarious.
- Night Side Songs (Lincoln Center Theater): This is a "folk-inflected" musical by the Lazours. It deals with the emotional world of healthcare—patients and caregivers. It’s intimate, moving, and proof that musicals don't need a chorus line to be powerful.
- Blood/Love (Theater 555): If you’ve been missing the goth-pop energy of the mid-2000s, this "vampire pop opera" is for you. It’s loud, stylized, and perfect for a late-night show.
- About Time (Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater): This is the final part of a trilogy from legends Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire. It’s classic, sophisticated cabaret-style theater about how relationships change as we get older.
Experimental theater that makes you move
Some of the best stuff happening right now doesn't involve sitting in a velvet chair for two hours.
Footnotes at La MaMa is a multimedia puppetry performance about the history of walking. Here’s the catch: the audience has to walk too. You're guided through different spaces in the theater with a booklet of instructions. It’s part history lesson (Aristotle, Thoreau, Gandhi) and part art installation.
Then there’s Burnout Paradise at the Astor Place Theater. The performers are literally on treadmills the whole time. They try to complete increasingly difficult tasks while running. It’s a visceral, sweaty metaphor for modern life that will make you want to go to the gym and take a nap at the same time.
New plays you can't miss
While Jackman is the headliner, several other heavy hitters are in the West Village and beyond this month.
What We Did Before Our Moth Days
This is a brand-new play by Wallace Shawn, directed by Andre Gregory. If you know My Dinner with Andre, you know what to expect: intense, intellectual, and deeply human monologues. The cast is stacked with talent like Hope Davis and Josh Hamilton. It’s playing at the Greenwich House Theater through May.
Ulster American
Over at the Irish Repertory Theatre, Matthew Broderick stars in this satirical firecracker by David Ireland. It’s a play about a director, an actor, and a playwright trying to stage a new show. It starts out as a comedy about ego and quickly turns into something much more explosive.
Titus Andronicus
If you want blood, go see Patrick Page in Red Bull Theater’s production. It’s one of Shakespeare’s most violent plays, and Page has the kind of gravelly, commanding voice that makes the horror feel very real. It starts previews on March 17 at the Pershing Square Signature Center.
The logistics of your March theater trip
March in New York is unpredictable. It might be 60 degrees; it might snow. Most of these theaters are in the Village or Chelsea, which means you'll be doing a lot of walking between the subway and the venue.
- Tickets: Use the TodayTix app for the best last-minute deals. Many Off-Broadway houses have "rush" tickets that open up two hours before curtain.
- Run Times: Most of these shows are lean. Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes is only 85 minutes with no intermission. That’s the beauty of Off-Broadway—they don't waste your time with fluff.
- Dinner: If you're seeing Jackman at the Minetta Lane, grab a bite at Minetta Tavern right next door. It’s iconic for a reason, but you'll need a reservation.
If you’re serious about seeing the Jackman play, set an alarm for the TodayTix drop. Those $35 seats are going to vanish in seconds. Once you've secured those, look into the smaller houses like La MaMa or the Irish Rep. That’s where the real soul of New York theater lives right now. Don't just follow the bright lights; follow the best stories.
