New York Theatre Workshop sets initial productions in 2026-27 Off-Broadway season

A musical adaptation of the Jessie Buckley film Wild Rose and a Jean-Michel Basquiat tribute's return engagement will play at the downtown venue this fall.

Summary

• New York Theatre Workshop will present In Honor of Jean-Michel Basquiat and Wild Rose off Broadway in 2026
• In Honor... is created and performed by Roger Guenveur Smith as a tribute to his friend and collaborator Basquiat
• Wild Rose is a musical adaptation of the film about a Glasgow woman who wants to be a country singer

New York Theatre Workshop has set the first two productions in its 2026-27 season, playing in fall 2026 at dates to be announced.

First is In Honor of Jean-Michel Basquiat, which returns to NYTW after a sold-out limited run earlier this year. The show is created and performed by Obie Award-winning actor, playwright, and director Roger Guenveur Smith, a friend and collaborator of the late Basquiat.

The show uses personal and historical anecdotes and improv performance to explore how the two artists inspired each other: After meeting in Los Angeles, Smith’s politically charged soliloquies influenced Basquiat's paintings, and Smith eventually created “Smiley,” the Basquiat-inspired artist/arsonist for Spike Lee’s movie Do the Right Thing.

In Honor of Jean-Michel Basquiat features live sound design by Marc Anthony Thompson.

Next is Wild Rose, a musical adaptation of the same-named 2018 film starring 2026 Oscar winner Jessie Buckley. The show follows Rose-Lynn, a free-spirited woman just released from jail. She finds herself torn between her life and family in Glasgow and her dreams of moving to Nashville to become a country music star.

Nicole Taylor, the BAFTA-winning writer of the original film, adapted her script for the Wild Rose musical. The score will consist of country songs from artists like Dolly Parton, Wynonna Judd, Chris Stapleton, Caitlyn Smith, The Chicks, and Patty Griffin, alongside the film’s award-winning original song “Glasgow (No Place Like Home).”

The creative team also includes director John Tiffany, choreographers Steven Hoggett and Vicki Manderson, and music supervisor Sarah Travis.

The musical previously had its world premiere at the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, Scotland in 2025.

Additional productions in NYTW's season, as well as additional cast and creative team members for the above shows, have yet to be announced.

Photo credit: Nicole Taylor and John Tiffany. (Taylor photo by Lorraine Milligan; Tiffany photo by Manuel Harlan)