Off Broadway in November: Five Shows Worth the Ticket

Twenty-three Off Broadway shows open or run this November in New York, and five stand out for their names alone. The list runs from a revival of August Wilson's "Seven Guitars" to a musical parody of the reality show "The Traitors," with plenty of creative range in between.

What's playing, and where?

'Tristan & Yseult' — Director Emma Rice's quirky take on the love story that inspired Wagner's opera of the same title returns to St. Ann's Warehouse, where it first played in 2014. The New York Times described the "ecstasy-drunk" show at the time as "equal parts exaggerated whimsy and overwhelming rue." (Through Nov. 22.)

'The Woman on the Edge' — Elf Lyons's solo show at SoHo Playhouse straddles the line between comedy and theater, like much of that venue's programming. The British performer's high-concept take on the autobiographical monologue invites comparison to masters of archness such as Meow Meow and Lypsinka. (Through Nov. 8.)

'Legerdemain' — The excellent Danielle Skraastad, late of "Hurricane Diane," plays a New England waitress in Lynn Rosen's new play at the Tank. Steve Cuiffo, an expert illusionist, serves as magic consultant. When Cuiffo is involved, intrigue follows. (Through Nov. 22.)

Who's back at the Public Theater?

'We'll See' — Richard Nelson has added an entry to his sprawling "Rhinebeck Panorama" cycle, set on the midterm Election Day of 2026. The Apples return, which is the headline. Regulars Jay O. Sanders, Maryann Plunkett, Sally Murphy and Laila Robins are all back. For followers of Nelson's chronicles of Hudson Valley family life, that cast list is the whole pitch. (Through Nov. 29, Public Theater.)

Which new musical wants your attention?

'The King's Critique' — Nat Zegree and Eric Holmes's new musical comedy seems to aim for campy satire, though tone remains to be seen. The cast is the certainty here, and it is stacked: Sky Lakota-Lynch ("The Outsiders"), Taylor Iman Jones ("Six," "Head Over Heels") and Justin Collette, most recently of "Beetlejuice," lead the company at Pershing Square Signature Center. (Nov. 3-Dec. 20.)

The month's slate spans revived myth, solo comedy, intimate drama with magic tricks, a political family epic and a campy musical — a fair cross-section of what Off Broadway does best when Broadway prices aren't part of the equation. Most of these runs close by late November, so the window is narrow; 'The King's Critique' alone stretches into December, giving stragglers one safety net.