Julia Lester to star in 'Hungry Women' off Broadway

The Tony Award nominee will lead Melissa Maney's new play for a six-week limited engagement at SoHo Playhouse starting later this month.

Summary

• Julia Lester (Into the Woods; High School Musical: The Musical: The Series) will star in the new play Hungry Women off Broadway
• Performances run at SoHo Playhouse from July 23 to August 30
• The play imagines a world without men over the course of 200 years

Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle nominee Julia Lester will star in an Off-Broadway run of the new play Hungry Women, written by Melissa Maney and directed by Daniella Caggiano. Performances will run at SoHo Playhouse from July 23 to August 30 only, with opening night on July 25.

Spanning 200 years, Hungry Women is a dark comedy that imagines a world where men have gone extinct. Alongside Lester (Into the Woods on Broadway, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series), the cast includes Zoe Dean, Mariyea, and Sophie Zmorrod.

The production also features scenic and projection design by Qingan Zhang, costume design by Olivia Hern, lighting design by Annie Garrett-Larsen, sound design by Chris Verde, and dramaturgy by Alejandra Godoy.

“When some people hear the plot of Hungry Women, their first reaction is, ‘Wait, how can women survive in a world without men? How would they reproduce? How can they create their own government, structures, and society when men have always been at the center of it all?’,” said Maney in a statement. “This play answers all of this, showing you how these women adapt, evolve, and survive on their own from the Victorian Era to 2091 — including a bit of cannibalism and paranormal activity along the way."

Hungry Women won the Soho Playhouse Lighthouse Series last year, and the 2026 production features a new production team and revised script.

Check back for information on Hungry Women tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

Photo credit: Julia Lester. (Photo courtesy of production)