Under the Radar theater festival to distribute 1,500 free tickets
Christopher-Rashee Stevenson and Stephanie Weeks in the world premiere of “Ulysses” at the Fischer Center at Bard in 2024. Photos by Maria Baranova
Under the Radar, the theater festival that brightens New York City every January with more than 30 free and affordable shows citywide, returns this month for its biggest edition yet. Running through January 25, the event features boundary-pushing productions, from a tasteful adaptation of James Joyce’s “Ulysses” at The Public Theater to performances at Lincoln Center, the Irish Arts Center, and more. On Friday, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that the festival will offer 1,500 free tickets to New Yorkers, as the festival aligns with the administration’s push for greater accessibility and affordability in the arts.
For more than 20 years, Under the Radar theater festival has produced hundreds of new works in the city. This year, between January 7 and 25, the festival will present more than 225 performances of 30 different shows at 25 partner theaters across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx.
“Under the Radar believes in Mayor Zohran Mamdani‘s vision for an affordable NYC for all,” the festival’s website reads. “In solidarity with the city of New York and our extraordinary community of partner venues, we are proud to be able to offer free tickets for many of our performances to the general public.”
To access free tickets, you must submit your name and email here.
During a press conference on Friday following a ticket giveaway, Mamdani celebrated Under the Radar and highlighted its accessibility, noting how it aligns with his broader goals of making the city more affordable.
“When I speak about making our city more affordable, my vision is not limited to the homes that we live in, or the childcare that we’re making universal,” Mamdani said. “It’s also a vision where we make it possible for working people to afford lives of joy, of art, of rest, of expression.”
He added: “I’m so thankful to this incredible festival for not only the work it has done in years past, but its commitment today in ensuring that arts become that much more accessible for each and every New Yorker, especially those for whom it hasn’t been the reality.”
Created by the Elevator Repair Service (ERS), the Public Theater’s production of “Ulysses” runs January 13 through February 15 in Martinson Hall. Directed by John Collins, the show transforms Joyce’s famously dense epic into a highly engaging theatrical experience while retaining its “humor, pathos, and bawdiness.”
The cast includes Dee Beasnael, Kate Benson, Maggie Hoffman, Vin Knight, Scott Shepherd, Christopher-Rashee Stevenson, and Stephanie Weeks. The production features original scenic design by dots, costumes by Enver Chakartash, lighting by Marika Kent, sound by Ben Williams, projection by Matthew Deinhart, and props by Patricia Marjorie. Maurina Lioce serves as production stage manager, with Kelsey Vivian as stage manager.
“Ulysses” is ERS’s latest production, following the acclaim of “Gatz,” its live, full-length adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby.”
“The Public has been ERS’s biggest and most consistent partner over the last 15 years and we are thrilled to be continuing this collaboration,” Collins said. “Ever since ‘Gatz’ premiered in New York in 2010, The Public has been a home for us, and we can’t wait to bring ‘Ulysses’ to the Martinson.”
Running through January 18 as the first Under the Radar production ever staged at Midtown’s Irish Arts Center, “Bellow” tells the true story of Danny O’Mahony, one of Ireland’s most celebrated accordionists, and his quest to preserve traditional Irish music. In collaboration with Brokentalkers, O’Mahony shares a moving exploration of artistry, highlighting the pivotal moments that shaped his journey as a musician.
Part live exhibition, part epic performance, “12 Last Songs” at La MaMa’s Ellen Stewart Theater is an unscripted production featuring real New York City workers taking paid shifts on stage in front of a live audience. The piece highlights the city’s cultural diversity and the varied lifestyles of its inhabitants. The performance runs January 17 from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m.
At Lincoln Center’s Clark Studio Theater, Agrupación Señor Serrano’s genre-defying production of “Birdie” runs January 14–18. The mesmerizing show, exploring themes of migration, consumer society, and human resilience, features three performers who manipulate cameras, scale models, and over 2,000 miniature animals, transforming tiny details into vivid landscapes.
Presented by New York Theatre Workshop and Under the Radar, Obie Award-winning actor, playwright, and director Roger Guenveur Smith’s “In Honor of Jean-Michel Basquiat” pays tribute to his late friend. Running through January 18, the intimate solo performance explores the life and enduring legacy of the renowned artist.
Staged at the Perelman Performing Arts Center from January 21-25, “The Visitors” tells the story of seven Aboriginal leaders in Sydney, Australia, who must decide whether to welcome or turn away arriving foreign ships. Written by Muruwari playwright Jane Harrison and directed by Quandamooka man Wesley Enoch, the production marks its first international staging.
To sign up for free tickets, enter your contact information on Under the Radar’s website.
RELATED:
