The Underground Update

January 2026 (Volume 2.1)

Author

Kiera Egan
January 25, 2026

Spotlight On:

The UTA’s 2026 Season

by Artistic Director and Founder Laura Clinton

For those in the know, The Underground Theatre Alliance has been a sacred home for those who wish to desecrate Shakespeare’s legacy since our inception in 2013. This year, we are finally ready to change that narrative — not by treating Shakespeare with reverence, obviously, but by bringing you TWO (2!!) non-Shakespeare productions!



On April 17th & 18th, we’re proud to produce Karel Čapek’s Rossum’s Universal Robots, an early science-fiction play that coined the term “robot” and looked ahead to the wonders and dangers of artificial intelligence decades before it was cool to worry about such things.


This July, we’ll return to the classics with a new take on Edmond Rostand’s iconiqué French play Cyrano de Bergerac, a tale of love, loss, and clown noses that we’re thrilled to produce alongside our friends Alexandra Matsu and Megan Twamley over at GrannyCart Theatre!



Finally, it wouldn’t be a true UTA season without bringing you at least SOME of our usual Shakespearean shenanigans. We hope to see you this November for our interpretation of THEE seminal Shakespeare play Romeo & Juliet, where we hope to bring new color into the well-known world of family feuds and star-crossed lovers.


Stay tuned for more information on how you can join us this year, both onstage and off. Feel free to also DM us on Instagram, or email us if you have any inquiries.

Party with Us:

Alliance Events in February!

Please join GrannyCart Theatre, an independent theatre operated by alliance members Alexandra Matsu and Megan Twamley (and our dear collaborators for the recently announced clown-themed Cyrano) at their upcoming Giggle Hour: Bing-Gos My Heart event next Sunday, February 1st at 7:00 PM at Brooklyn Comedy Collective. You can purchase tickets using this link!

MORE ALLIANCE MEMBER EVENTS AND UPDATES

SG Egan, co-wrote and co-directed the short film Secret Menu Beauty Pagaent, produced through Nice Hog Productions and now available to stream via this link.

Matthew Fay will be stage managing and starring in Brody West Missing, written and directed by Matt Stephens, at Caveat on February 1st at 5:00 PM. Purchase tickets here.

Lily Lipman wants disabled folks to know they can join the Disabled Dismantlers group to help provide collective care, equity, safety, and joy for each other and yourself. Interested parties are invited to fill out this Form, join a Zoom, or reach out to Lily at [email protected].

Rebecca Wolf will be featured in The Duck Show, a comedy variety show that will begin at 9:30 PM on February 7th at The PIT. Purchase tickets here.

Word on the Street:

Laura Clinton and Paolo Ragusa are ENGAGED!!!

Almost one month after the momentous day on December 31st, 2025, we over here at The UTA are still GIDDY over the engagement of artistic director Laura Clinton and longtime alliance member Paolo Ragusa.



These lovebirds met in 2019 during a UTA production of Taming of the Shrew and started dating soon after. Ever since, they have been a creative POWER COUPLE.

Laura Clinton (left) and Paolo Ragusa (middle) during a rehearsal for the Rat Galathon this past Decemeber. Also pictured: Jim McMahon (right)

Seriously, Laura’s got a degree in directing and a decade’s worth of experience in theatre, and Paolo’s an NYU-trained actor with incredible skills in music and writing. Together, their collective and complementary talents have enriched every UTA endeavor since 2019.

Paolo Ragusa (left) and Laura Clinton (right) in 2023’s Merry Wives of Windsor. Also pictured: Megan Twamley (middle).



Although they have never played a couple on The UTA stage, these two have recently decided to become each other’s love interests for life. Laura and Paolo are two of the brightest and funniest people around, and we could not be happier for them both.

 


Cheers and well-wishes to the happy couple!

Much Ado About:

2026: Ins and Outs

As we head into what is bound to be a busy year, the executive board of The UTA spent some time reflecting on what they’d like to invite in and cast out this year in 2026. Please note that the following decisions were not made lightly. UTA e-board members spent countless sleepless nights deliberating their predictions and hopes for the upcoming twelve months.

JULIA CAHN

In:

  • Collecting freaky little trinkets and oddities that might be haunted??

  • Buying clothes from Costco

Out:

  • Small talk - Oh, we just met? Tell me the latest tea. Your darkest secret. Your mom’s life story.

  • Sleeping less than 9 hours a night

LAURA CLINTON

In:

  • Being in LOVE!! Openly! Unapologetically!!

  • MAKING IT HAPPEN. DOING THINGS.

Out:

  • Being too cool 2 express your feelings!! TELL EVERYONE HOW YOU FEEL ALL THE TIME

  • EXCUSES FOR NOT DOING THINGS. DO THEM THANGS!!!

FIONA EGAN

In:

  • Oversized mugs filled with warm tea

  • Painting to dissociate. If we have to live in the bad timeline, we deserve to get some cool art.

Out:

  • 8 episodes seasons. I want my beach day filler episodes back goddamnit.

  • Artificial cinnamon flavor. Just admit it’s gross already

KIERA EGAN

In:

  • Supporting indie theater, music, and movies

  • Toast, topped with a variety of spreads and/or toppings

Out:

  • Uncomfortable shoes

  • Elf on the Shelf. May 2025 be the year it dies.

DANIEL WALTON

In:

  • Stinkin'. Smellin' bad is hot now.

  • SCOOTERS YOU SIT ON BUTT FROM GYM CLASS

Out:

  • DEODORANT. Stunk it up my man. Get gross, sister.

  • NOT ENOUGH PLACES FOR SCOOTING ON BUTT

What Willy Said:

“I am ill at these numbers.”

~ William Shakespeare, after seeing that he’s only authored one (1) of our three (3) plays this season