Seat Filler: 's Guide to Theater 

  The Bus
Driven by Our Town-y narration, James Lantz’s intimate and touching drama stars Bryan Fitzgerald and Will Roland as teens who swap spit in an old bus parked in the middle of an explosive conflict between a megachurch and a gas station. Though often steered off-course, it’s an admirable critique of faith-fueled small-town homophobia. The Bus next travels to Topeka, Kan., in hopes of imparting its message to Westboro Baptist Church.
59E59 Theatres, through October 30.

  Lemon Sky
A self-referential memory play that recalls The Glass Menagerie, late gay playwright Lanford Wilson's autobiographical 1970 drama is enjoying a quietly powerful revival courtesy of Keen Company. Keith Nobbs, who memorably played gay in Stupid Kids and Four, is immensely engaging as Alan, a sweet but aimless 17-year-old who gets attacked for his perceived homosexuality after moving in with his estranged father’s new family.
The Clurman Theatre, through October 22.

  The Submission
Both n-words and f-words fly like daggers in MCC Theater’s piercing premiere of Jeff Talbott’s scintillating drama, which stars Glee’s Jonathan Groff as a gay playwright who has written a surefire hit about a black family in the projects. True Blood’s Rutina Wesley plays the actress hired as his stand-in when the play’s accepted into a prestigious festival, and American Pie’s Eddie Kaye Thomas provides comic relief as his devoted boyfriend.
Lucille Lortel Theatre, through October 22.