There are few fireworks or tears in Flahive's touching, funny and beautiful play, whose world premiere is produced by the Manhattan Theatre Club and opened Tuesday at New York City Center.

WSJ: Review: Edie Falco shines in touching 'The Madrid'

The drama is playing in one of Broadway's smallest theaters, and the nonprofit Manhattan Theatre Club is geared around limited runs with lower-priced subscription tickets, so its grosses do not neatly compare to shows playing larger commercial houses with higher average prices.

WSJ: 'Wit,' Starring Cynthia Nixon, Took the Long Road to Broadway

Three old hands, however, wrote thoroughly impressive new plays that were all done off-Broadway: John Patrick Shanley's "Storefront Church" opened at the Atlantic Theater Company, Christopher Durang's "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike " came to Lincoln Center Theater, and Terrence McNally's "Golden Age" was presented in the Manhattan Theatre Club's downstairs space at City Center.

WSJ: Teachout's Best of 2012 Includes Salesman, A Little Night Music