The Monsters (play)
The Monsters is a dramatic stage play written by Nigerian-American playwright Ngozi Anyanwu. The play debuted in 2025 at the Two River Theatre in Red Bank, New Jersey, and later Off-Broadway by Manhattan Theatre Club at New York City Center. The show follows the reunion of two estranged siblings who share a deep connection to martial arts.
Plot
The play follows Lil, who has always secretly dreamed of being a professional martial arts fighter like her estranged brother, Big. One day, she decides to show up at his doorstop, and the show follows their reunion as they discuss their common bond to fighting. As Big's career winds down, the opportunity to create the next big fighter in his younger sister presents itself.
Production history
New Jersey (2025)
The show first premiered in November 2025 at Two River Theatre in Red Bank, New Jersey in a production directed by Ngozi Anyanwu herself, and starring Aigner Mizelle as Lil and Okieriete Onaodowan as Big. The production was co-produced by Manhattan Theatre Club. The show received positive reviews, with BroadwayWorld calling it "outstanding", praising the actors' performances as "brilliant".
Off-Broadway (2026)
In 2026, following strong reception, the production transferred Off-Broadway at New York City Center, produced by Manhattan Theatre Club. Anyamu returned to direct, Mizzelle and Onaodowan reprised their roles, and Rickey Tripp choreographed. The production opened on January 23, 2026 and ran through March 22, 2026. The production yet again received positive reviews, with The New York Times calling it a "searing two-hander" and praising it as "engrossing," along with naming it as an NYT Critic's Pick. New York Theatre praised the dichotomous nature the play achieves being "both unsentimental and sweet."
The production was nominated for four Outer Critics Circle Awards, two Drama Desk Awards (winning one), two Drama League Awards, and four Lucille Lortel Awards, with Mizzelle winning for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play.
Cast and characters
Character |
Two River Theatre 2025 |
Off-Broadway 2026 |
|---|---|---|
Lil |
Aigner Mizzelle |
|
Big |
Okieriete Onaodowan |
|
Accolades
2026 Off-Broadway production
Year |
Award |
Category |
Nominee |
Result |
Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2026 |
Drama Desk Award |
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play |
Aigner Mizzelle |
||
Outstanding Fight Choreography |
Gerry Rodriguez |
||||
Outer Critics Circle Award |
Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play |
||||
Outstanding Direction of a Play |
Ngozi Anyanwu |
||||
Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway Play |
Aigner Mizzelle |
||||
Outstanding Choreography |
Rickey Tripp |
||||
Drama League Award |
Outstanding Production of a Play |
||||
Distinguished Performance |
Aigner Mizzelle |
||||
Lucille Lortel Award |
Outstanding Play |
||||
Outstanding Choreographer |
Rickey Tripp |
||||
Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play |
Aigner Mizzelle |
||||
Okieriete Onaodowan |
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