> At a Glance
- Two preview performances of Bug were scrapped on Jan. 7 after illness hit the company
- The cancellations come one day before the revival’s official Jan. 8 opening
- Theatergoers were first told the halt was due to “back-stage technical difficulties”
- Why it matters: Broadway audiences face last-minute disruptions just as the high-profile Tracy Letts thriller aims to impress critics
Broadway’s newest revival of Tracy Letts’s psychological thriller Bug hit an unexpected snag when both Act 2 of the Jan. 7 matinee and the evening show were called off, less than 24 hours before its official curtain rise.
What Happened at the Theater
Intermission stretched longer than usual, then a crew member walked onstage to announce a hold. Patrons were told technical problems were to blame, according to one attendee, but a production spokesperson later confirmed to News Of Los Angeles that illness within the company forced the shutdown.
No details about the affected performer or crew member have been released.
About the Production
Previews began Dec. 17, 2025, at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. The play stars Carrie Coon as Agnes, a lonely waitress, and Namir Smallwood as Peter, a drifting ex-soldier who draws her into a maze of conspiracy fears inside a ramshackle Oklahoma motel room.
- Written by Tracy Letts (August: Osage County)
- Directed by David Cromer, Tony winner for The Band’s Visit
- Also features Randall Arney, Jennifer Engstrom, and Steve Key
Letts, married to Coon since 2013, praised the staging last August:
> “It’s scary and funny and intimate … when an audience is pulled into a story … it’s a kind of sorcery.”
From Stage to Screen
Bug first premiered in London in 1996, transferred Off-Broadway in 2004, and was adapted into a 2006 film starring Ashley Judd, Michael Shannon, and Harry Connick Jr.
Tickets remain on sale for performances following the Jan. 8 opening.
Key Takeaways
- Two Jan. 7 previews canceled because of company illness
- The Broadway revival officially opens Jan. 8, 2026
- Carrie Coon leads a five-actor cast under David Cromer’s direction
The production now races to recover before critics file their opening-night notices.
