A complete Broadway lineup is unveiled for David Lindsay-Abaire’s The Balusters, produced as a world premiere by Manhattan Theatre Club. Exclusive details confirm new cast members Michael Esper (known from Broadway’s Appropriate and TV’s Trust) and Kayli Carter (TV’s Mrs. America) joining the previously announced ensemble. They will perform alongside Ricardo Chavira (TV’s Ballard; West End’s The Motherf**ker with the Hat), Maria-Christina Oliveras (Broadway’s Between Riverside and Crazy) and Jeena Yi (Broadway’s Network), directed by Kenny Leon.
Already announced in the cast are Marylouise Burke, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Margaret Colin, Renée Elise Goldsberry, and Richard Thomas. Previews are scheduled to begin on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, with opening night set for Tuesday, April 21.
The Balusters, Lindsay-Abaire’s latest work following Rabbit Hole and Kimberly Akimbo, is described as a lively, unruly journey through a tight-knit neighborhood rich with strong opinions. The Vernon Point Neighborhood Association is a fervent group, whether they’re arguing over porch railings that may not be historically accurate or over the city’s trash can rules. Yet no one expects the neighborly feud to escalate when a new board member proposes a radical idea: placing a stop sign at the corner of the community’s most picturesque block.
Lindsay-Abaire’s long association with MTC includes the Pulitzer Prize–winning Rabbit Hole, Good People, Ripcord, Wonder of the World, Fuddy Meers, and Kimberly Akimbo, the latter of which he adapted with Jeanine Tesori into a Tony-winning musical.
Kenny Leon, renowned for directing A Raisin in the Sun, Fences, Topdog/Underdog, Purlie Victorious, Our Town, and Othello on Broadway, returns to MTC. He previously helmed Rajiv Joseph’s King James for the company in 2023 and now leads The Balusters’ Broadway debut.
