Your Classroom’s Free Ticket to Thought-Provoking Theatre
Turn your classroom into a Broadway Theatre at no cost with Lights Up! Library. This program features bold, entertaining, and thought-provoking plays to stream in your classroom. Each title comes with its own set of classroom activities that work within established curriculum standards, all designed by Broadway education professionals. Lights Up! Library is available now to high schools anywhere in the world, and to colleges within the CUNY and SUNY systems.
A Lights Up! Library Unit of Study includes:
- Access to a video recording of a complete Manhattan Theatre Club Broadway or off-Broadway production for one semester (closed captioning available)
- National Core Arts Standards-aligned classroom activities that prepare students for personally meaningful engagement with the play and allow them to exercise 21st century skills such as creative thinking, curiosity, empathy, and self-awareness
- Writing prompts to ignite your students’ imaginations, foster critical thinking, and develop their writing skills
- Supplemental resources which may include: biographies of the playwright and other key artists; relevant historical background information, articles, and photographs; and, recorded video interviews with artists involved with the production
Titles
By Henrik Ibsen
A new version by Rebecca Lenkiewicz
Directed by Doug Hughes
In this fast-paced, two-hour thriller, Dr. Thomas Stockmann (Boyd Gaines) discovers a toxic secret that threatens the health of his entire community. The doctor expects to be hailed as a hero, but his brother, Mayor Peter Stockmann (Richard Thomas), believes the information will destroy the town, forcing the men into a passionate confrontation of political will and personal ethics.
Manhattan Theatre Club’s production of Henrik Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People, in a new version by Rebecca Lenkiewicz, opened at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on September 27, 2012. It was directed by Doug Hughes. The cast included Boyd Gaines, Richard Thomas, Maïté Alina, Gerry Bamman, Kathleen McNenny, Randall Newsome, John Procaccino, Michael Siberry, and James Waterston. The scenic design was by John Lee Beatty, costume design was by Catherine Zuber, lighting design was by Ben Stanton, and original music and sound design were by David Van Tieghem.
Key Themes: Truth versus expediency, the blurry line between the majority and the mob, the complex psychology of an idealist, and the emotional cost of standing alone.
Runtime: 105 minutes
Click here for Classroom Activities.
By Jonathan Spector
Directed by Anna D. Shapiro
Wildly relevant and bitingly funny, Jonathan Spector’s play comes to MTC in an all-new production following an acclaimed London run. Eureka Day is a private California elementary school with a Board of Directors that values inclusion above all else—that is, until an outbreak of the mumps forces everyone in the community to reconsider the school’s liberal vaccine policy. As cases rise, the board realizes with horror that they’ve got to do what they swore they never would: make a choice that won’t please absolutely everybody.
2025 Tony Award Winner for Best Revival of a Play
Key Themes:
Content Advisory:
Runtime: 96 minutes
This title will be available beginning March 2026.
By Jocelyn Bioh
Directed by Whitney White
This dazzling world premiere welcomes you into Jaja’s bustling hair braiding shop in Harlem where every day, a lively and eclectic group of West African immigrant hair braiders are creating masterpieces on the heads of neighborhood women. During one sweltering summer day, love will blossom, dreams will flourish and secrets will be revealed. The uncertainty of their circumstances simmers below the surface of their lives and when it boils over, it forces this tight-knit community to confront what it means to be an outsider on the edge of the place they call home.
Manhattan Theatre Club’s world premiere production of Jocelyn Bioh’s Jaja’s African Hair Braiding opened on October 3, 2023, at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. It was directed by Whitney White. The cast included Brittany Adebumola, Maechi Aharanwa, Rachel Christopher, Kalyne Coleman, Somi Kakoma, Lakisha May, Nana Mensah, Michael Oloyede, Dominique Thorne, and Zenzi Williams. The set was designed by David Zinn; costumes were by Dede Ayite; lighting design was by Jiyoun Chang; original music and sound design were by Justin Ellington; video design was by Stefania Bulbarella; hair and wig design was by Nikiya Mathis.
Key themes: Resilience, cultural bonds, the power of sisterhood, the plight of undocumented immigrants
Content Advisory: Mature language and themes
Runtime: 90 minutes
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By August Wilson
Directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson
Set in the early 1970s, this richly textured piece follows a group of men trying to eke out a living by driving unlicensed cabs, or jitneys. When the city threatens to board up the business and the boss’s son returns from prison, tempers flare, potent secrets are revealed and the fragile threads binding these people together may come undone at last.
Manhattan Theatre Club’s Broadway premiere production of August Wilson’s Jitney opened at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on January 19, 2017. It was directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, and the cast included Harvy Blanks, Anthony Chisholm, Brandon J. Dirden, André Holland, Carra Patterson, Michael Potts, Keith Randolph Smith, Ray Anthony Thomas, and John Douglas Thompson. The set was designed by David Gallo, costumes by Toni-Leslie James, lighting by Jane Cox, and sound by Darron L. West. The original music was by Bill Sims, Jr.
Key Themes: Responsibility to oneself, one’s family, and the community; the struggle for survival and stability — economic and personal — amidst family and societal dysfunction
Content Advisory: Mature language
Runtime: 121 minutes
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By Amy Herzog
Directed by Anne Kauffman
Captivating, affecting and compassionate, it’s the story of a single mother in an impossible family situation. Faced with seemingly insurmountable odds, Mary Jane relies on unflagging optimism and humor, along with the wisdom of the women around her who have become a makeshift family, to take on each new day. But will inner strength and newfound friendships be enough to see her through?
Manhattan Theatre Club’s Broadway premiere production of Amy Herzog’s Mary Jane opened at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on April 23, 2024. It was directed by Anne Kauffman and featured Rachel McAdams in the title role. The supporting cast included April Matthis, Susan Pourfar, Lily Santiago, and Brenda Wehle. The scenic design was by Lael Jellinek; costumes were by Brenda Abbandadolo; lighting was by Ben Stanton; sound was by Leah Gelpe.
Key Themes: The indomitable power of maternal love; the many facets of womanhood; the failures of the American medical system; finally, the search for life’s meaning in the face of calamity
Content Advisory: Mature language and themes
Runtime: 95 minutes
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By Qui Nguyen
Directed by May Adrales
Qui Nguyen, the wildly inventive playwright (and screenwriter for Marvel and Disney) known for his use of pop culture, pop music and puppetry, reunites with his frequent director, May Adrales, for this funny, sexy and brash new play. A young Vietnamese family attempts to put down roots in Arkansas, a place as different from home as it gets. A mom and dad balance big hopes and low-wage jobs, as old flings threaten to pull them apart. It all makes for a bumpy road to the American dream. From the world of Nguyen’s Vietgone, with its comic book and action movie influences, comes a play that melds a deeply personal story with the playwright’s trademark, killer humor. The New York Times hails the writer’s work as “culturally savvy comedy,” and this production shows you why.
Manhattan Theatre Club’s New York premiere production of Qui Nguyen’s Poor Yella Rednecks opened at City Center Stage I on November 1, 2023. It was directed by May Adrales. The cast included Jon Hoche, Ben Levin, Samantha Quan, Jon Norman Schneider, Maureen Sebastian, and Paco Tolson. The set design was by Tim Mackabee, costume design byValerie Thérèse Bart, lighting design by Lap Chi Chu, original music and sound design by Shane Rettig, and projection design by Jared Mezzocchi.
Key Themes: The immigrant experience, assimilation versus cultural identity, the need for human connection
Content Advisory: Mature language and themes, drug use
Runtime: 2 hours
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By Joshua Harmon
Directed by David Cromer
Winner of the 2022 Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best New Off-Broadway Play, Joshua Harmon’s Prayer for the French Republic bursts onto Broadway after MTC’s highly acclaimed extended, sold-out Off-Broadway run. A celebrated work by the author of Bad Jews and Significant Other, which The Wall Street Journal calls “easily the finest play of the Broadway season.” The Chicago Tribune calls Prayer for the French Republic “gripping and epic,” and New York Stage Review gives it five stars, stating “Prayer packs a wallop.” Directing is David Cromer, a Tony Award® winner for The Band’s Visit.
Manhattan Theatre Club’s Broadway premiere production of Joshua Harmon’s Prayer for the French Republic opened on January 9, 2024, at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. It was directed by David Cromer. The cast included Betsy Aidem, Francis Benhamou, Ari Brand, Anthony Edwards, Ethan Haberfield, Rachel Masur, Nael Nacer, Daniel Oreskes, Molly Ranson, Nancy Robinette, and Aria Shahghasemi. Scenic design was by Takeshi Saka; costume design was by Sarah Laux; lighting design was by Amith Chandrashaker; original music and sound design was by Daniel Kluger.
Key Themes: Antisemitism, identity, the role of religion and tradition in modern life, the meaning of home, the power of familial love
Content Advisory: Mature language and themes; discussions of antisemitism, genocide, hate crimes, sexual assault, suicide
Runtime: 3 hours+
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By James Graham
Directed by Adam Penford
As Jacob tears through Nottingham in a whirlwind of drugs, girls, and bar fights, he makes a fatal mistake that lands him in prison. But as he struggles to accept the consequences of his actions and build a new life, he finds an unusual source of salvation: the parents of the boy he killed. Based on a remarkable true story, Punch is two-time Olivier winner James Graham (INK)’s “most moving work yet” (The Times of London). This production is dedicated to James Hodgkinson and all victims of one-punch.
Manhattan Theatre Club’s Broadway premiere production of James Graham’s Punch opened at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on September 29, 2025. It was directed by Adam Penford. The cast included Camila Canó-Flaviá, Victoria Clark, Kim Fischer, Will Harrison, Cody Kostro, Piter Marek, Jacob Orr, Sam Robards, Lucy Taylor, and Amber Reauchean Williams. The scenic and costume designs were by Anna Fleischle; lighting was by Robbie Butler; sound was by Alexandra Faye Braithwaite.
Key Themes: Forgiveness, masculinity, restorative justice, shared identity, the consequences of violence
Content Advisory: Incarceration, fighting, mature language and themes, substance use
Runtime: 2 hours and 5 minutes
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By Martyna Majok
Directed by Trip Cullman
From Pulitzer Prize winner Martyna Majok (Cost of Living, Sanctuary City) comes an epic drama about hunting for the American Dream, finding family, and facing the ghosts you left behind. In an illegal basement apartment in Queens, multiple generations of immigrant women fight to launch a new life. But when a young Ukrainian woman comes searching for the mother who abandoned her years ago, she forces a reckoning with the impossible choices the women made to survive. Directed by Trip Cullman (We Had A World, Choir Boy), Queens chronicles the strivers who sacrificed whole worlds for the chance at something remarkable.
Key Themes: Immigration, dislocation, assimilation, the struggle for survival and stability
Content Advisory: Alcohol use, mature language, smoking, strobe and flashing light effects, violence against women
Runtime: 2 hours
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By Dominique Morisseau
Directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson
In 2008 Detroit, a small automotive factory is on the brink of foreclosure, and a tight knit family of workers hangs in the balance. With uncertainty everywhere, the line between blue collar and white collar becomes blurred, and this working family must reckon with their personal loyalties, their instincts for survival and their ultimate hopes for humanity.
Manhattan Theatre Club’s Broadway premiere production of Dominique Morisseau’s Skeleton Crew opened on January 26, 2022, at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. It was directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson; the cast included Chanté Adams, Joshua Boone, Brandon J. Dirden, Adesola Osakalumi, and Phylicia Rashad. The set was designed by Michael Carnahan; costumes were by Emilio Sosa; lighting by Rui Rita; original music and sound design by Rob Kaplowitz, with additional original music and lyrics by Jimmy Keys, aka “J. Keys.” Choreography was by Adesola Osakalumi and hair and wig design was by Cookie Jordan.
Key Themes: Loyalty and connection despite hardship; confronting social injustice and inequity.
Content Advisory: Mature language and themes, including a gun used as a prop
Runtime: 110 minutes
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By Qui Nguyen
Directed by May Adrales
A modern twist on the All-American love story, Qui Nguyen’s (She Kills Monsters) new play Vietgone pulses with contemporary energy. It’s the classic story of boy meets girl – except this boy and girl are refugees from the Vietnam War newly settled in a relocation camp inside Middle America. Borrowing elements from the world of up-to-the-minute popular culture to recreate the playwright’s own parents’ meeting, Vietgone ranges from hilarity to heart-wrenching drama. Nguyen and director May Adrales (Luce) skip through time and around the globe to present a fresh theatrical take on a moving account of one real family’s history.
Manhattan Theatre Club’s New York premiere production of Qui Nguyen’s Vietgone opened at City Center Stage I on October 25, 2016. It was directed by May Adrales. The cast included John Hoche, Jennifer Ikeda, Raymond Lee, Samantha Quan, and Paco Tolson. The set design was by Tim Mackabee, costume design by Anthony Tran, lighting design by Justin Townsend, original music and sound design by Shane Rettig, and projection design by Jared Mezzocchi.
Key Themes: Immigration, dislocation, assimilation, legacy, and the hunger for human connection
Content Advisory: Mature language and themes, sex, substance use
Runtime: 2 hours
Click here for Classroom Activities.
- Please download, read, and print the full Lights Up! License and Terms of Use.
- We are able to provide classroom activities and access to a performance recording for one semester to high school and CUNY/SUNY classrooms at no cost.
- The classroom activities are provided as PDF documents available for download on this webpage at any time.
- We are unable to provide the scripts to the plays. Most are available for purchase at low cost in the commercial marketplace.
- Access to the performance recording commences on the first day of the semester (August 1 for fall, January 3 for winter/spring, June 1 for summer) and concludes on the last day of the semester (December 20 for fall, May 31 for spring, July 31 for summer).
- Passwords required to view performance recordings are changed at 5pm EST/EDT on the last day of the semester.
- Performance recording links and passwords will be emailed to the teacher within five business days of registration and on the first day of the requested semester.
- Performance recordings may be viewed only during regularly scheduled class time in classrooms or assembly spaces on your campus. Viewing credentials may not be shared with students for individual viewing at home or on social media.
- No admission fees of any kind may be charged for viewing the performance recording.
- The performance may not be used as the artistic, directorial, or production design basis for a class or school production of the play under study.
- Performance recordings tend to be a full stage wide angle with some close-ups.
- Teachers are required to complete and submit a usage survey at the end of the Unit of Study month.