Upcoming Becky Shaw dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
Becky Shaw has closed on Broadway
Becky Shaw is no longer running. Second Stage Theater's revival, the play's Broadway debut, ran as a limited engagement at the Hayes Theater from March 18, 2026, opened on April 8, and closed as scheduled on June 14, 2026. In that short window it earned two Tony nominations and won one: Alden Ehrenreich took Best Featured Actor in a Play for his Broadway debut as Max.
The play is a dark comedy by Gina Gionfriddo. Suzanna and her partner, Andrew, arrange a blind date between Suzanna's longtime friend Max and Becky, a woman Andrew knows. The date goes wrong in ways nobody planned, and the fallout spreads to everyone involved, including the fifth character, Susan. The five characters argue about loyalty, money, sex and obligation, and the play keeps changing who seems to be right. Gionfriddo has described the appeal as a tug of war in her own head over who is right and who is wrong.
From Louisville to Broadway
Becky Shaw took 18 years to reach Broadway after its premiere:
- 2008, Louisville: the world premiere at the Humana Festival of New American Plays, opening February 29, 2008.
- 2008–2009, New York: an Off-Broadway production at Second Stage Theater ran from December 16, 2008, through March 15, 2009, with Annie Parisse as Becky, David Wilson Barnes as Max, Emily Bergl as Suzanna, Kelly Bishop as Susan and Thomas Sadoski as Andrew.
- Recognition: the play was a finalist for the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and won the 2009 John Gassner Award, with nominations from the Outer Critics Circle and the Lucille Lortel Awards. Gionfriddo is a two-time Pulitzer finalist.
- 2011, London: a production at the Almeida Theatre from January 20 to March 5, 2011, with Barnes again as Max and Daisy Haggard as Becky.
Second Stage, which premiered the play in New York, brought it back as one of its Broadway productions at the Hayes, the company's own theater.
The 2026 revival: cast, run and reception
Trip Cullman directed a five-person cast:
- Madeline Brewer as Becky Shaw
- Alden Ehrenreich as Max
- Lauren Patten as Suzanna
- Patrick Ball as Andrew
- Linda Emond as Susan
Reviews stressed how current the play felt nearly two decades after it was written, and Ehrenreich's performance drew the strongest praise, described in coverage as show-stopping. At the 2026 Tony Awards the production was nominated for Best Revival of a Play, and Ehrenreich won Best Featured Actor in a Play. The show ran about 2 hours and 20 minutes with one intermission and was recommended for ages 13 and up.
The Hayes Theater, Broadway's smallest house
Part of what made the revival distinctive was the room. The Hayes Theater, at 240 West 44th Street, is the smallest theater on Broadway, with 597 seats on two levels, an orchestra and a single balcony. It opened in 1912 as the Little Theatre, gained its balcony in 1920, and later carried the name Helen Hayes Theatre. Second Stage bought it in 2015, renovated it, and reopened it in 2018 under the shorter name Hayes Theater.
For a talky, five-character play, that scale is ideal. Even the back of the balcony is close by Broadway standards, which is why the Hayes is a frequent home for small-cast plays. If you are buying for a future production there:
- Orchestra, center: the best seats for reading actors' faces in an intimate drama.
- Front of the balcony: often the best value in the house, with a clear sightline over the orchestra.
- Extreme sides: the stage is narrow, so side seats lose less than in a large house, but furniture placed downstage can still block part of the view.
Where to see Gionfriddo's work and plays like it
The 2026 production was a limited run by design, and it closed on its announced date. Because Becky Shaw needs only five actors, it suits regional and university theaters, so check local theater seasons for a future production. For dark comedies and dramas currently playing in New York, see the planned Plays hub and the Broadway guide. Second Stage's current season is listed on its official site.
Frequently asked questions
Is Becky Shaw still on Broadway?
No. Second Stage Theater's limited-run revival closed at the Hayes Theater on June 14, 2026, after beginning previews March 18 and opening April 8.
Who starred in Becky Shaw on Broadway?
Madeline Brewer played Becky Shaw, with Alden Ehrenreich as Max, Lauren Patten as Suzanna, Patrick Ball as Andrew and Linda Emond as Susan. Trip Cullman directed.
Did Becky Shaw win a Tony Award?
Yes. Alden Ehrenreich won Best Featured Actor in a Play at the 2026 Tony Awards, and the production was nominated for Best Revival of a Play.
How long was Becky Shaw?
The Broadway production ran about 2 hours and 20 minutes with one intermission and was recommended for ages 13 and up.
Who wrote Becky Shaw?
Gina Gionfriddo. The play premiered at the Humana Festival in Louisville in 2008 and was a finalist for the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.