Off-Broadway News
Taylor Trensch Will Step Into Night Side Songs Off-Broadway at Select Performances
The piece explores the small human connections that make up life, focusing on people navigating the complexities of health.
March 04, 2026 By Meg Masseron, Logan Culwell-Block
Tony nominee Taylor Trensch will join new musical Night Side Songs Off-Broadway for select performances this week, taking over the roles Player 2 and Dr. Verlaine. Robin de Jesús, who originated the role, will be out of the show for several performances this week. De Jesús' mother passed away March 2.
Trensch, who has been attached to the production in previous iterations, will perform March 4, 7, and 8; and also performed March 3. De Jesús is currently scheduled to perform March 5-6. Information for future performances will be announced at a later date.
“My beloved mother passed away yesterday, following a valiant journey with ALS," says de Jesús in a statement. "I will be missing a few performances to be with my family as we grieve her loss and return her to her homeland, Puerto Rico. I am so grateful for the Night Side Songs team for not only being so accommodating, but for unknowingly preparing me for this moment through this magnificent show that celebrates caretaking. The brilliant Taylor Trensch will be stepping into my role with barely any notice. We're so lucky. Performing in this production has been wonderfully healing. I cannot wait to return to the world the Lazour brothers have created."
Composed by The Lazours, Night Side Songs officially opened Off-Broadway March 1 via Lincoln Center Theater's LCT3, in their Claire Tow Theater. Directed by Taibi Magar (We Live in Cairo), the work is inspired by an insight from writer Susan Sontag that "illness is the night side of life." The Lazours' songs explore the small human connections that make up life, focusing on patients, caregivers, and medical professionals navigating the complexities of health. The score was developed with Madeline Benson.
The production stars de Jesús (The Boys in the Band, In The Heights) as Dr. Henry Verlaine/Lillian Jones/Uncle Jere, Brooke Ishibashi (Into the Woods) as Yasmine, Jonathan Raviv (The Band's Visit) as Frank, Mary Testa (Oklahoma!, 42nd Street) as Desirée/Prudence of Dursley, and Kris Saint-Louis (Mexodus) as Pilgrim/Nurse/Harris Reading. Casting is by The Telsey Office's Taylor Williams.
The production features musical direction by Alex Bechtel, set design by Matt Saunders, costume design by Jason Goodwin, lighting design by Amith Chandrashaker, and sound design by Justin Stasiw. Elizabeth Emanuel serves as stage manager.
Night Side Songs originated in a world premiere co-production between American Repertory Theater at Harvard University and Philadelphia Theatre Company, following a commission by American Repertory Theater. The show was further developed and presented by Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in the Under the Radar Festival.
Visit LCT.org.
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