Sarah Ruhl’s Faydra casts Julianne Moore, bringing her back to New York theater

Mark your calendars: Julianne Moore is set to headline the world premiere of Faydra Off-Broadway, with performances beginning in February 2027 at New York City Center Stage I. The new play comes from Sarah Ruhl, a Pulitzer Prize finalist known for rewriting classical stories on her own terms, and will be staged by Les Waters, a Tony-nominated director with a long track record in adventurous new work.

Presented by Manhattan Theatre Club, Faydra reimagines the Phaedra myth through a modern lens. In this version, the goddess Aphrodite sets off a chain reaction that sends Moore’s character spiraling into a love she knows could destroy her life — and still can’t resist.

Manhattan Theatre Club describes the catalyst as a bolt of “sudden, all-devouring lust.”

That taboo target is Faydra’s soon-to-be stepson, and the play leans into the collision between reason and desire — how a single impulse can upend everything you think you know about yourself. Moore leads the cast; additional casting will be announced.

The team and timeline

• Playwright — Sarah Ruhl (Pulitzer Prize finalist)
• Director — Les Waters (Tony nominee)
• Presenter — Manhattan Theatre Club
• Venue — New York City Center Stage I (Off-Broadway)
• Start — February 2027

Moore’s stage track record

• The Vertical Hour (Broadway, 2006) — David Hare’s drama; Moore played Nadia Blye, a former war correspondent, alongside Bill Nighy and Andrew Scott.
• Serious Money (The Public Theater, 1987) — Caryl Churchill’s take on high finance; Moore handled multiple roles, including Jacinta Condor, a ruthless Peruvian businesswoman.
• Hot Fudge / Ice Cream (The Public Theater, 1990) — Churchill double bill; in Hot Fudge, Moore played a slick grifter wrapped up in a high-society fraud.

Seats for Faydra are available now through Manhattan Theatre Club’s subscriber packages. Further casting and exact performance dates will be announced closer to the start of the run.