At a Glance
- Carrie Coon headlines the Broadway premiere of Tracy Letts’ Bug on Jan. 8
- The husband-and-wife duo have collaborated since meeting in 2010
- Letts says working together is “not a challenge” because they genuinely enjoy each other
- Why it matters: Their real-life chemistry powers a psychological thriller that puts audiences inside a paranoid spiral-only possible in live theater
Broadway’s newest psychological thriller unites Carrie Coon and playwright Tracy Letts-offstage spouses who turn marital trust into onstage fireworks.
Opening Night
Bug officially opened at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre after illness forced the cancellation of both Jan. 7 previews. Letts, 60, brushed off the setback with a grin: “Live theater, baby. Ain’t nothing like it.” Coon, 44, added, “Everybody’s fine,” reassuring fans the show is back on track.
The Partnership
Married since 2013, the pair met while performing in Steppenwolf’s 2010 revival of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Letts tells News Of Los Angeles their secret is simple: “We just like each other and like being with each other. We met working together, so we’re fans of each other’s work.”
Previous Collaborations
- 2017 film The Post
- Season two of USA’s The Sinner
- Multiple Chicago & New York stage productions
The Play
Set in a seedy motel room, Bug follows Agnes, a lonely waitress whose grip on reality frays when a stranger arrives. Directed by David Cromer, the production also stars Namir Smallwood, Randall Arney, Jennifer Engstrom, and Steve Key.
Letts, a Pulitzer Prize winner, praised the cast: “Five great stage actors working at the peak of their powers.” He calls the experience “a kind of sorcery” that happens only in live theater.
| Key Dates | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1996 | Bug premieres in London |
| 2006 | Film adaptation releases |
| Jan. 8, 2026 | Broadway opening night |
Family Snapshot
Coon and Letts share a son (2018) and a daughter (2021). Balancing parenting with nightly performances, Coon says the couple “just like being with each other,” making the juggling act worthwhile.
Key Takeaways
- Bug is now playing at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre
- Carrie Coon anchors the cast as the unraveling Agnes
- Tracy Letts champions live theater’s unique power to immerse audiences
- The duo’s off-stage bond fuels on-stage tension
With Bug officially open, expect the real-life spark between Coon and Letts to keep theatergoers on the edge of their seats through the final curtain.
