NEW YORK, NY — As the Midtown International Theatre Festival (MITF) makes its triumphant return to the New York stage after a decade-long hiatus, festival producers have officially named “Crabs in a Barrel” by acclaimed playwright Reginald T. Jackson a featured event of the 2026 season. This dramatic tour de force will headline the festival’s residency at the American Theatre of Actors (ATA) this July, coinciding with the ATA’s landmark 50th Anniversary.

“Crabs in a Barrel” is a searing psychological drama centered on three individuals trapped in an existential “Hell.” Jackson, a celebrated PEN America Writers’ Fund grant recipient, weaves a modern-day love triangle where long-buried secrets and unspeakable crimes are slowly and methodically unmasked. The play promises to be a centerpiece of the MITF comeback, offering the kind of high-stakes, intellectual storytelling that has defined Jackson’s storied career.

Reginald T. Jackson is a titan of the New York independent theater scene. Since founding the Rainbow Repertory Theatre—the nation’s first Black Gay Theater—in 1988, Jackson has been a tireless advocate for LGBTQ+ POC voices. A National Shakespeare Pioneer and winner of multiple awards including a New York City Mayor’s Citation, Jackson’s work has graced the stages of Lincoln Center and The Public Theater, and has been utilized as a teaching tool at NYU and Pace University.
“Reginald T. Jackson is a cornerstone of the New York creative community,” said Festival representative, Jay Michaels, “Having a writer of his caliber—with a legacy that spans from the founding of the Rainbow Repertory to recent world premieres at the Fresh Fruit Festival—anchor our 2026 season is a testament to the festival’s mission of elevating vital, independent voices.”

The relaunch of the Midtown International Theatre Festival, founded by John Chatterton and produced in partnership with indie luminary Jay Michaels, and the landmark American Theatre of Actors, transforms the three-theatre ATA complex into a massive hub of creative innovation from June 15 through July 26, 2026.

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

WHAT: Crabs in a Barrel

WRITTEN BY: Reginald T. Jackson

WHERE: American Theatre of Actors (ATA), 314 W 54th St, NYC

WHEN: SARGENT THEATRE

Wednesday July 8 – Crabs In A Barrel (90 min) – 10:00pm

Saturday July 11 – Crabs In A Barrel (90 min) – 1:00pm

Sunday July 12 – Crabs In A Barrel (90 min) – 8:30pm

TICKETS ANNOUNCED SHORTLY

About Reginald T. Jackson: Reginald T. Jackson is an award-winning playwright, poet, and filmmaker. A graduate of City College of New York, he is the author of the critically acclaimed House of Lear and Straight Boys. His literary works have been nominated for Lambda Literary Awards, and his films have been featured in festivals from Hollywood to Nashville. He remains a founding member of the Other Countries writing collective and a pioneer in Arts-in-Education.

About the Midtown International Theatre Festival (MITF): Known as the “Festival Giant,” the MITF returns in 2026 after a nearly ten-year hiatus. Dedicated to showcasing the best in independent theater, the festival provides a platform for world-premiere plays, musicals, and international works in the heart of New York City.
The new festival will encompass the entire ATA complex of three theatres starting June 15 through July 26, 2026