Final Plays

At The º¬Ð߲ݴ«Ã½, we continue a long-standing tradition of giving graduating actors the opportunity to put their disciplined training into full professional practice through a fully realized theatrical production. Presented in the Rita Morgenthau Theatre during the spring of the second year, just prior to graduation, the Final Plays represent the culmination of the conservatory experience.

These productions are directed by professional directors and rehearsed over approximately five weeks. Sets and costumes are designed and built by professional technical staff, with assistance from first-year students, creating a collaborative process that mirrors the realities of the professional theatre. Open to the public, the Final Plays are off-Broadway–caliber events that demand rigor, imagination, and discipline from every performer involved.

The rehearsal and performance process offers actors a vital opportunity for artistic growth, allowing them to apply the full range of skills developed during their training in a professional setting. Play selections span a wide range of material, chosen with careful attention to the strengths and needs of each graduating class, and have included modern American classics as well as new original works commissioned specifically for our students.

The Final Plays serve as a powerful bridge between conservatory training and the professional world, offering graduating actors a confident and meaningful transition into their careers.

The 2026 Final Plays

starring the Class of 2026

May 7th- May 17th 2026

Rita Morgenthau Theatre 

340 East 54th Street

New York, NY 10022

For tickets, email: reception@neighborhoodplayhouse.org  Cost: FREE! (donations accepted)

Poster for the º¬Ð߲ݴ«Ã½ of the Theatre, featuring three plays: 'The Art of Dining' by Tina Howe, 'Mr. Burns' written by Anne Washburn, and a play with a bus stop theme written by William Inge. The poster includes details about dates, times, and directors for each play, and mentions free admission and donation acceptance for the 2026 final performances.

Starring the class of 2026

Poster for a play titled "Bus Stop" by William Inge, presented by The º¬Ð߲ݴ«Ã½, directed by Pamela Moller Kareman. It features an illustration of a bus with a sign that reads 'Public Service' and four people standing around it, set against a starry night background.

bus stop

by William Inges

directed by Pamela Moller Kareman

In the middle of a howling snowstorm, a bus out of Kansas City pulls up at a cheerful roadside diner. All roads are blocked, and four or five weary travelers are going to have to hole up until morning. Each of them have their own hopes, fears and conflicts that will come to a head on this chilly winter day.

  • May 9, 2026 at 7:30 PM

  • May 12, 2026 at 7:30 PM

  • May 15, 2026 at 7:30 PM

  • May 17, 2026 at 3:00 PM

Poster for a play titled 'Mr. Burns' presented by The º¬Ð߲ݴ«Ã½, written by Anne Washburn, directed by Megan Campisi, choreographed by Christina Toth. Performances are on May 8, 11, 14, and 16 at 7:30 PM in 2026. Reservation email: reception@neighborhoodplayhouse.org.

Mr burns

by Anne Washburn

directed by Megan Campisi

What will endure when the cataclysm arrives – when the grid fails, society crumbles, and we’re faced with the task of rebuilding? Anne Washburn’s imaginative dark comedy is an animated exploration of how the pop culture of one era might evolve into the mythology of another.

  • May 8, 2026 at 7:30 PM

  • May 11, 2026 at 7:30 PM

  • May 14, 2026 at 7:30 PM

  • May 16, 2026 at 7:30 PM

A promotional poster for a theatrical play titled 'The Art of Dinging' directed by Cameron King, performed at The º¬Ð߲ݴ«Ã½. The poster features a collage of a black-and-white vintage photo of a woman with a slice of orange and a slice of lemon with the face of a clown, alongside large, yellow, three-dimensional text with the play's title. The poster includes performance dates in May and contact information at the bottom.

THE Art of dining

by Tina Howe

directed by Cameron King

Cal and Ellen run a small upscale restaurant. Cal is focused on repaying the $75,000 startup by filling seats, while Ellen cares about food quality and keeping him out of the ingredients. Diners play out personal dramas, including a sensual older couple, three brash young professionals, and Elizabeth, a shy and awkward writer whose disastrous dinner with her potential publisher is unintentionally hilarious.

  • May 7, 2026 at 7:30 PM

  • May 10, 2026 at 7:30 PM

  • May 13, 2026 at 7:30 PM

  • May 16, 2026 at 2:00 PM