From Moby Dick to Hamlet: 5 Shows to See This Spring at the Brooklyn Academy of Music

If you're an avid theatre attendee, checking out what's going on at the Brooklyn Academy of Music is a must when making your show-going schedule. Located in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, this New York institution presents avant-garde work of theatre, music, dance, and opera—including from internationally renowned artists. This writer's very first experience at BAM was an Ibsen play starring Alan Rickman and Fiona Shaw, an indicator of the world-class programming that can be found in BAM's three performance spaces (the institution also operates a cinema which screens the newest indie and international releases). 

But with three performance spaces, and dozens of shows a season, it may get overwhelming to decide what to see at BAM. Playbill has looked through the upcoming spring 2026 roster and picked five shows that you should definitely plan to go see. Read below for more.

Trisha Brown Dance Company Presents Dancing With Bob (February 26—28)

Visual art and dance combine in this program from modern dance company Trisha Brown. The company is remounting two works created in the 70s and 80s with famed painter Robert Rauschenberg into one evening: Dancing With Bob, in celebration of the artist's centennial. In addition to being a pop artist, the late Rauschenberg also directed and designed sets and costumes for a number of dance-theatre pieces. Trisha Brown Dance Company will present a double bill of Travelogue, the 1977 piece choreographed by Merce Cunningham (with music by John Cage, and design and costumes by Rauschenberg), and Set & Reset, the 1983 piece choreographed by Brown, with music by Laurie Anderson, and design and costumes by Rauschenberg. More impressive, this is the first time that Travelogue has been performed since 1979, with the choreography and designs being reconstructed. This winter, see a pivotal part of dance theatre history recreated at BAM.

London's National Theatre Presents Hamlet (April 19–May 17)

The National Theatre brings its acclaimed production of Hamlet to BAM, starring Olivier winner Hiran Abeysekera (from Broadway's Life of Pi) as the Danish prince. Robert Hastie (Operation Mincemeat) directs this contemporary-set Hamlet, which brings modern sardonic wit to Shakespeare's classic, while also being "ingenious and ravishing," according to The Guardian. Hamlet isn't usually considered a fun time, but this new production will have you hearing Shakespeare's words with fresh ears.

Robert Wilson's Final Work: Moby Dick (April 29–May 3)

Legendary avant-garde director Robert Wilson passed away last year, but New York audiences will be able to see one of his final works: an adaptation of Moby Dick that premiered in 2024 at Germany's Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus, where critics praised its visual splendor and impactful storytelling. BAM will mark its American debut. Here, Wilson brings his distinctive monochromatic visual style to Herman Melville's classic novel, combined with folk-rock original songs by British singer-songwriter Anna Calvi and spectacular, large-scale projections by Wilson. With character designs that resemble 1920s silent films, this Moby Dick promises to explore the psychological depth within Melville's tale, and how the story isn't about a whale, but about humanity's capacity for destruction and rebirth. If you've never seen a Robert Wilson show, Moby Dick is not to be missed.

DanceAfrica (May 22–25)

America's largest celebration of African diasporic dance and music returns for the 49th year for Memorial Day Weekend 2026. It's not just performances—there promises to be dance troupes, film showcases, concerts, visual art galleries, and a latenight dance party for attendees. There will also be a special outdoor fair with food, arts and crafts, and fashion on display; last year's festival included over 150 vendors. Prepare to be culturally transported.

Todd Almond's I'm Almost There (June 9–28)

Todd Almond's (Girl From the North Country) contemporary musical take on The Odyssey returns to New York. Though there are no sea monsters or sirens here; instead, the archetypes in Homer's tale have been adapted to reflect the fraught world of modern dating. Here, Odysseus is a gay man living in New York City, who encounters a number of roadblocks (some physical and others mental) on his way to a first date. Directed by David Cromer (who is currently also overseeing Bug on Broadway), and featuring some fantastic original songs, Playbill staffers loved I'm Almost There when we first saw it at the 2024 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. We think you'll love it, too, especially those of you who are still navigating the perilous world of modern dating. 

Visit BAM.org.