A series of four images of Ephraim Sykes, an athletic Black man in his 30s. He poses against an off-white wall, variously leaning against it in counterbalance or creating dramatic shadows. He wears denim overalls over a bare chest, letting one strap fall off his shoulder, and bright sneaks.

Ephraim Sykes Is the Toast of Broadway and Beyond

His brilliant dancing and magnetic presence wowed Broadway in “Ain’t Too Proud”; landed him the lead (which he eventually relinquished) of “MJ: The Musical”; and will be on display in the title role of Tony Goldwyn and Savion Glover’s reimagined “Pal Joey” at New York City Center this month. But ask Ephraim Sykes for his story and he starts with, “My mother and father fell in love…” 

A dancer whose arms are encased in an almost skeletal suggestion of enormous wings is seated, their torso nearly touching the ground as they lean forward, wings curving upward and back against the black stage behind them.

7 Must-See Performance Picks Hitting Stages This Month

A long-awaited world premiere, a festival filled with experiments, two New York City mainstays and a trio of new works tackling environmental issues head-on—there are a lot of performances to be excited about this month, and our top picks are just the tip of the iceberg.