The Steel Man
Off-Broadway premiere of a drama by Cary Gitter
A drama inspired by a true story: a son wants a life of his own, while his father, who survived the Holocaust, is bound to the past. About 1 hour and 25 minutes, no intermission.
Quick take
- Play
- 1h 25m · no intermission
- 59e59 Theaters - Theater B
- Based on a true story of a son and his father, a Hungarian Jewish Holocaust survivor
- 7 performances a week, dark on Mondays
The Steel Man showtimes
All times Eastern. Schedule last checked Nov 7
- 7:15 PMEvening
- 7:15 PMEvening
- 7:15 PMEvening
- 7:15 PMEvening
- 2:15 PMMatinee
- 7:15 PMEvening
- 2:15 PMMatinee
- 7:15 PMEvening
Our guide to The Steel Man
On this page 7 sections
What it is
The Steel Man is a drama by Cary Gitter about a son and his father, a Hungarian Jewish Holocaust survivor. It is inspired by a true story. Joe Brancato directs the Off-Broadway premiere, a limited engagement presented by Penguin Rep Theatre at 59E59 Theaters.
Penguin Rep is a nonprofit company from Stony Point in Rockland County, New York, founded by Brancato in 1977. The company is one of the resident groups at 59E59, and the play arrives in Manhattan after its first staging at the company's own theater in 2024.
The story
The play centers on Jake Gellert, who wants a life and an identity that are his own. His father, Leo, stands in the way of that. Leo survived the Holocaust and has never left it behind: he is still driven by a wish for vengeance on behalf of the relatives he lost.
Jake wants to break free, yet he also hopes to bring his father some calm. The play follows how those two wishes pull on the bond between them. Legacy and identity are named as its main themes.
The writing
Gitter has been the playwright-in-residence at Penguin Rep. The Steel Man is written for a cast of three and is performed without an intermission.
History
Penguin Rep staged the first production of The Steel Man at its home in Stony Point, New York, in September 2024, as part of its 2024 season. The 59E59 run is the Off-Broadway premiere.
It is the fourth Gitter play that Penguin Rep has brought to 59E59, after The Sabbath Girl in 2020, The Sabbath Girl: Musical in 2024 and Gene & Gilda in 2025.
Creative team
Brancato, who directs, founded Penguin Rep. The scenic designers are Christopher Swader and Justin Swader, the costume designer is Christian Fleming and the lighting designer is Ed McCarthy. Max Silverman is credited as both composer and sound designer, Brian Pacelli designs the projections and Buffy Cardoza handles props. Jenn Haltman is the casting director and Isaac Goldman is the production stage manager.
As of October 2026, the cast is Sam Guncler, Amanda Kristin Nichols and Leighton Samuels. The official page does not say which performer plays which role, so check it for the latest details.
- Playwright
- Cary Gitter
- Music
- Max Silverman
- Director
- Joe Brancato
- Scenic Design
- Christopher Swader, Justin Swader
- Costume Design
- Christian Fleming
- Lighting Design
- Ed McCarthy
- Sound Design
- Max Silverman
- Projection Design
- Brian Pacelli
More production credits (4)
- Casting
- Jenn Haltman
- Cast
- Sam Guncler, Amanda Kristin Nichols, Leighton Samuels
- Props
- Buffy Cardoza
- Production Stage Manager
- Isaac Goldman
Theater
59e59 Theaters - Theater B
59 East 59th Street, New York, NY 10022
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Before or after the show
- Museum of Broadway
- Hell's Kitchen food tour before the show
- Empire State Building observation deck
- SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
- Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferry
More Off-Broadway plays
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