Liberation at James Earl Jones Theatre

Hot off the reels… Bess Wohl’s celebrated new play is transferring to Broadway after an incredibly successful off-Broadway run. Applauded as Whitney White’s most provocative and illuminating work to date, the exciting new show traces the events of two moments in time. The Tony Award® nominated playwright Bess Wohl (“Grand Horizons”) teams up with cutting-edge director Whitney White (“Jaja’s African Hair Braiding”) to deliver an electric show focused on open conversations behind closed doors. Expect “a gripping, funny and daring work of great ambition” (The New York Times) with “uniformly terrific performances” (The Wall Street Journal). Don’t miss out on the must-see Liberation, secure your places today, and experience a play “as good as New York theater gets” (The Wrap) at the esteemed James Earl Jones Theatre!

Liberation Tickets

“The best play I’ve seen this season. LIBERATION is heart-breaking miracle of theater” – New York Magazine

Liberation at James Earl Jones Theatre

Experience Liberation at the stunning James Earl Jones Theatre. If you didn’t already know, this is a state-of-the-art Broadway venue located within the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan. The show opens on 28th October 2025, with previews on 8th October 2025. The run will last until 11 January 2026. Seating just over a thousand people, the James Earl Jones Theatre is one of Broadway’s most intimate houses, making it the perfect venue to experience this state-of-the-art play up close and personal. Opened in 1912, the theater’s rich history of hosting bold, relevant, and conversation-driven plays makes it a natural home for Bess Wohl’s latest masterpiece. As you can expect from a top tier Broadway show, tickets won’t be around for long. To secure your place, we highly recommend booking your tickets now!

Synopsis

Liberation explores events across two separate time periods. Set in 1970, the story follows six women, who are all strangers to one another, as they gather at their local community center. In the center’s basement gym, these brave women are hell bent on shaking up their lives – and the world around them. 50 years later, their daughters unite and piece together what on earth happened. At its heart, Liberation is a provocative and illuminating new play that poses important questions about friendship, legacy, and what liberation truly means.

“A gripping, funny and daring work of great ambition” – The New York Times

“Liberarion balances the intensely personal and the broadly civic with extraordinary rigor and grace” – Vulture

 “A provocative, wildly theatrical world premiere that poses vital questions” – New York City Theater 

Creative Team

Liberation is written by the extraordinary Bess Wohl and directed by the visionary Whitney White. If you didn’t already know, the award-winning playwright Bess Wohl is recognized and adored around the world for her striking and moving plays, which are often imaginative and uncover more than meets the eye. Plays such as “Grand Horizons,” “Small Mouth Sounds,” “Make Believe,” and “Camp Siegfried” have solidified Bess Wohl as a main player in the theater circuit over the past decade. Other works such as the musical “Pretty Filthy” was such a hit with both audiences and critics that it scored nominations at the Drama Desk Awards and Lortel Awards. 

Whitney White is also an incredibly talented New York creative. She has taken home an Obie Award, as well as directed the groundbreaking “What to Send Up When it Goes Down,” and huge productions at The Public Theater, Steppenwolf, and other popular theaters. Now, these two extraordinary women are teaming up to tell a story about sisterhood which is found in unexpected places.

The set is designed by David Zinn, with costumes by Qween Jean, lighting by Cha See, and sound design by Palmer Hefferan. Hair and wig design are by Nikiya Mathis. Kelsey Rainwater serves as intimacy director, while Gigi Buffington is the vocal and dialect coach. Erin Gioia Albrecht is the production stage manager.

The Broadway production of Liberation at the James Earl Jones Theatre features the acclaimed Off-Broadway cast reprising their roles. Betsy Aidem plays Margie, Audrey Corsa is Dora, Kayla Davion appears as Joanne, Susannah Flood is Lizzie, Kristolyn Lloyd takes on the role of Celeste, Irene Sofia Lucio plays Isidora, Charlie Thurston is Bill, and Adina Verson plays Susan. The understudies for the production are LeeAnne Hutchison, Matthew Russell, and Kedren Spencer.

History and Awards

Liberation is an exciting new play which hosted its world premiere at the esteemed Laura Pels Theatre on Friday 31st January 2025. The Broadway transfer is scheduled for October 2025 at the James Earl Jones Theatre. 

The off-broadway show received widespread critical acclaim. It won the 2025 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play. At the Drama Desk Awards, it was nominated for Outstanding Play, and the ensemble cast won the award for Outstanding Ensemble. The show won big at the Lucille Lortel Awards with nominations across a number of categories, including Outstanding Play, Outstanding Director for Whitney White, Outstanding Lead Performer for Susannah Flood, Outstanding Featured Performer for Betsy Aidem, and Costume Design for Qween Jean.