7 plays and theatrical productions to see in Brooklyn this fall

By Anna Rahmanan

Although schlepping to Manhattan to catch a Broadway production is certainly something you can do, there are plenty of shows mounted around Brooklyn that deserve love as well. Some of them might even end up moving to Manhattan in the near future — and you’ll be able to say that you saw ‘em here first.

Produced in the best Off-Broadway, indie theaters in Brooklyn and inside nondescript venues, these are the best shows to see in the borough this fall.

‘The Wind and the Rain: A Story about Sunny’s Bar’ at the Waterfront Museum
Through October 27
Sunny’s is a beloved Red Hook bar that has called the neighborhood home since the 1890s. This site-specific show kicks off at the Waterfront Museum barge and takes spectators to the saloon itself by the end of the production, all the while exploring the venue’s history and introducing the family behind it all. 290 Conover Street.

‘Safety Not Guaranteed’ at the Brooklyn Academy of Music
Through October 30
This much-buzzed-about indie-rock musical is an adaptation of Derek Connolly’s 2012 eponymous sci-fi film about a reporter working on a story about a man who goes back in time. Featuring original songs by Guster’s Ryan Miller and a book by Broadway mainstay Nick Blaemire, the cast is led by Nkeki Obi-Melekwe and Taylor Trensch, both frequent Broadway replacements that are finally getting their own spotlights. 30 Lafayette Avenue.

‘Queen of Hearts’ at Théâtre XIV by Company XIV
Through October 31
Queen of Hearts is a burlesque show loosely based on the “Alice in Wonderland” books — albeit an adults-only version of it split into three acts that are narrated by an on-site, uber festive White Rabbit. Expect an avalanche of entertainment, from circus-like acts to new renditions of pop hits, all made sweeter by the cocktails on offer. 383 Troutman Street.

‘Reconstructing (Still Working but the Devil Might Be Inside)’ at the Brooklyn Academy of Music
October 24 to 27
Billed as a “meta-theater experiment,” “Reconstructing” was written by a team of 21 artists that range in age from 28 through 98. That setup alone should be enough of a draw to the limited number of shows that will be mounted this fall, each one exploring the relationship between Black and white Americans in the aftermath of slavery. 30 Lafayette Avenue.

‘Still/Here’ at the Brooklyn Academy of Music
October 30 to November 2
Bill T. Jones created “Still/Here,” a dance theater work, during the AIDS epidemic, specifically focusing on the day-to-day lives of people living with the illness all around the country. In addition to the choreographies on display, attendees will be catapulted into their world through spoken text scenesx`, video portraits and more. 30 Lafayette Avenue.

‘Gaviota’ at the Brooklyn Academy of Music
November 13 to 23
Performed entirely in Spanish by a five-piece Argentinian ensemble, Gaviota is a stripped down, intimate interpretation of Anton Chekhov’s famous 1895 play “The Seagull,” about a group of artists living in the Russian countryside in the late 19th century. 30 Lafayette Avenue.

‘Burnout Paradise’ at St. Ann’s Warehouse
From November 12 to December 1
Award-winning Australian experimental collective Pony Cam is behind Burnout Paradise, an extremely creative show that takes the very concept of burnout a step into insanity. Four performers spend the duration of the 65-minute show on four different treadmills while trying to complete a series of tasks. You’ll get tired just looking at them. St. Ann’s Warehouse, 45 Water Street.