Kerry Washington and Kara Young are set to lead The Whoopi Monologues, a reimagined revival of Whoopi Goldberg’s iconic 1984 solo show, as part of Lincoln Center Theater’s newly announced 2025–2026 season. Directed by Whitney White (The Last Five Years), the Off-Broadway production begins July 6, 2026, in the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater, with opening night set for July 14.
While Goldberg created and originally performed the material, she will not be starring in this new production. Instead, her groundbreaking monologues will be brought to life by a cast of five performers, including Washington and Young, with three additional names still to be announced.
The Whoopi Monologues is based on Goldberg’s self-titled 1984 Broadway debut, which earned her Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk Awards. A televised version aired on HBO and won her a Grammy for Best Comedy Album. Goldberg later revived the material on Broadway in 2004 as Whoopi, receiving a Tony nomination for Best Special Theatrical Event.
The new season kicks off in October with Kyoto, the U.S. premiere of Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson’s play about climate change negotiations at the Kyoto Conference Centre in 1997. Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin direct, with Stephen Kunken reprising his acclaimed portrayal of notorious American oil lobbyist Don Pearlman.
December will bring a fresh take on Amahl and the Night Visitors, directed by Tony winner Kenny Leon and starring opera star Joyce DiDonato. Performances run from December 16, 2025, to January 4, 2026, opening night on December 18.
Over at the Claire Tow Theater, LCT3 and Seaview will present The Comedy Series—a rotating lineup of comedians working out new material in real-time, promising a different show every night. Jenny Slate is confirmed to perform, with more names on the way.
Spring 2026 brings the powerful musical Night Side Songs by The Lazours, opening March 2 under the direction of Taibi Magar. The piece draws on Susan Sontag’s words—“illness is the night side of life”—and weaves together the voices of doctors, patients, and caregivers.
LCT3 also welcomes back Julia May Jonas for a revised version of A Woman Among Women, her thought-provoking response to Arthur Miller’s All My Sons. Performances begin May 16, 2026.
Beyond the Off-Broadway lineup, the season includes a Broadway revival of Ragtime directed by deBessonet, set to open October 16 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater. There’s also a new reading series at the Tow, featuring curators like Ayad Akhtar, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Lynn Nottage, Sarah Ruhl, Marco Ramirez, and J.T. Rogers. One more Broadway production is still under wraps.
To cap it off, there’s a one-night-only Silent Disco Listening Party on July 30, celebrating Lin-Manuel Miranda and Eisa Davis’ concept album Warriors. Miranda, Davis, a guest DJ, and special guests will be in attendance at Josie Robertson Plaza.