From Tony and Pulitzer-winning playwright Tracy Letts, known for August: Osage County and Superior Donuts, comes Bug, a gripping psychological thriller making its Broadway debut later this year. Directed by Tony winner David Cromer, acclaimed for his work on The Band’s Visit and Prayer for the French Republic, this Steppenwolf production stars Carrie Coon and Namir Smallwood in a story that pulls audiences deep into paranoia and passion.
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Presented by Manhattan Theatre Club (MTC), Bug follows a lonely waitress (Coon) and a mysterious drifter (Smallwood) who connect in a rundown Oklahoma motel. What starts as a simple bond quickly spirals into a dangerous mix of delusion and conspiracy. The New York Times warns, “Buckle up and brace yourself because Bug is obscenely exciting.”
Coon, returning to Broadway after acclaimed TV roles in The White Lotus and The Gilded Age, brings depth to Agnes White. Smallwood plays Peter Evans, the enigmatic stranger. The cast also includes Randall Arney, Jennifer Engstrom, and Steve Key, all reprising their roles from the original Steppenwolf production.
The play contains intense themes including violence, drug use, mental illness, and full-frontal nudity, promising an unflinching and raw experience. Performances of Bug are set to begin on December 16, 2025, according to MTC’s website. The official opening night is scheduled for January 8, 2026, at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on Broadway.
Letts praised the production, saying, “I love this production of Bug. It’s scary and funny and intimate, and it features five great stage actors working at the peak of their powers, under the direction of my long-time collaborator David Cromer.” He added, “But what I love most about it is just how involving it is. When an audience is pulled into a story—when they lose themselves in it—it’s a kind of sorcery. And it only happens in live theatre.”
To protect privacy, the show will be phone-free, with audience phones locked away during the performance.
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