Theater for the New City will launch its 2026 Street Theater tour with The Root of It All: A Dentist's Tale, a free outdoor musical touring New York City from Aug. 1-Sept. 13.
The annual production continues the company's long-standing tradition of bringing original performances to parks, playgrounds and closed-off streets across the five boroughs, making live theater accessible to neighborhood audiences.
Written and directed by Artistic Director Crystal Field, with an original score by Peter Dizozza, the 75-minute musical follows a neighborhood dentist whose free clinic serving children from immigrant families is disrupted after an ICE raid.
A dream sequence featuring dancing teeth, giant puppets, masks, choreography, smoke effects and a moving scenic backdrop explores themes of compassion, resilience and community. The outdoor production features a cast of 22 actors, five live musicians and a large production team performing for audiences of all ages.
Brooklyn performances include: Friday, 8/14 at 5:00pm on the Coney Island Boardwalk at W. 21st Street; Saturday, 8/30 at 2:00pm in Sunset Park at 6th Avenue and 44th Street; and on Sunday, 8/31 at 2:00pm in Fort Greene Park.
The Street Theater tour has been presented annually since 1976 and has introduced generations of New Yorkers to free live performances in their own neighborhoods. By combining music, comedy and visual spectacle with stories that reflect contemporary issues, the productions encourage community engagement while celebrating the city's diversity and shared cultural experiences.
The performances are designed to appeal to families, presenting complex topics through imaginative storytelling and accessible entertainment.
The production is distinguished by its large-scale outdoor staging, original music and theatrical effects, including oversized puppets and a moving scenic screen that transforms public spaces into temporary performance venues. The free tour continues through mid-September.
