In the first moments of “The Lost Boys,” a new musical on Broadway, an actor cinematically flies down from the top of an expansive set. There’s a crack of thunder, and a flashy score.
That’s the best part about theater: it can be this giant, technically thrilling feat. It can also be quiet, no frills, and just as powerful.
These are the five very different shows I’ve seen this month, three of which you should catch at the theater next month.
Cold War Choir Practice
Sometimes, the worst part of a show was when I saw it. That was the case for “Cold War Choir Practice,” only because I saw it so close to the end of its run that I didn’t have time to tell everyone in my life to also go see it.
I loved this weird, hilarious, and moving play about Meek, a young Black girl in Syracuse who believes her choir has the power to stop the Cold War with song. Shows about real moments in history risk becoming too expansive or trying to play to everyone; “Cold War Choir Practice” succeeds by doing the opposite. It focuses on a very well-known few days in the Cold War—the days leading up to President Reagan’s meeting with Gorbachev to sign a treaty—but details an outrageous sequence of events from the perspective of a child. Meek has a Soviet pen pal that speaks to her, a dehydrated aunt who’s been tortured by a cult, and a protective father who wants to make his skating rink cool again. All of these events are bookended with musical interludes from a delightfully perky and physically hilarious three-person choir.
It’s a very hard thing to make life-threatening historical stakes both funny and surprising, and to still keep a strong emotional heart—but “Cold War Choir Practice” is able to do it all.
Becky Shaw
There are shows with clear heroes and people you can’t help rooting for. Then there are ones where everyone is despicable in their own intriguing way—and it’s hard to pick who you hate the least. The revival of “Becky Shaw” gives us the latter. We dive into the intricate and messy dynamics of a family after one of them goes on a blind date.
The blind date is with no other than a perky and seemingly innocent Becky Shaw, who subsequently unravels all of the show’s relationships. Yet Becky is simply a mirror of what’s already been happening—emotional neediness, bullying mothers, marriages on the edge. This show has some of the most explosive writing and depications of human relationships I’ve seen without any wild plot fabrications. It’s just people at their worst, saying their worst. And it makes for impeccable theater.
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When to see it: Now through June 14th.
How to see it for cheap(er): Second Stage has $30 tickets if you’re under 30. Use the code “30U30” when selecting seats and make sure to bring your ID to the theater.
Off the Record: Acts of Restorative Justice
I don’t usually jump at the idea of interactive theater. Yet “Off the Record: Acts of Restorative Justice” was pitched to me as a “radically interactive” piece of theater that would give the audience an actual toolkit for combatting the American Criminal Justice system. Theater can do a lot of things—including incite action—but can it give us that kind of toolkit? I was intrigued.
The show initially succeeds in engaging the audience and winning us over through acts of connection. The performers used direct addresses to speak to us, asking us to raise our hands, make specific reactions, and even speak to our neighbors. We each had to turn to a stranger and give them compliments for a full minute, which was wonderfully sweet and disarming.
Yet “Off the Record: Acts of Restorative Justice” then turned to a darker side that pitted the audience against the performers. They asked the audience for real solutions for addressing the problems of the criminal justice system, then picked apart every one. I waited for the alternative, the call to action—the toolkit I was promised. Instead, there was nothing: only despair and fear.
Theater can shapeshift to a lot of different things: protests, calls to action, powerful messages. I’m still hopeful there’s some kind of performance that can address topics like these and leave us feeling emboldened, not stuck.
Note: “Off the Record: Acts of Restorative Justice” closed today, but you can find all of HERE Arts Center’s upcoming shows here.
Cats: The Jellicle Ball
“Cats” is one of my least favorite musicals ever written. Yet I believe if you had to see one show this year, it should be “Cats: The Jellicle Ball.”
This revival completely reimagines the musical in ballroom culture, where performers walk the runway and compete in various categories. It’s incredible how these performers contort and move their bodies; I truly believe this show has some of the most spectacular feats of performance on Broadway right now.
There is no comprehensible plot—but it’s “Cats” and there never was to begin with. There is only joy, wonder, and awe. And if you don’t have tickets, you’re missing all the fun.
When to see it: Now! Tickets are available through early September.
How to see it for cheap(er): $49 digital lottery tickets are available on Telecharge. I’ve also seen this on TDF for $60.
The Lost Boys
After director Michael Arden brought my least favorite musical of all time to Broadway last year—another show based on a movie with a giant set—I was wary of “The Lost Boys.” Based on the 1987 film about a family that moves to Santa Clara and gets mixed up with a group of vampires, “The Lost Boys” is pulling off feats of true theater magic. It must cost ten million dollars, but they’re spending it well: the vampires fly in gorgeous, believable suspension; the layered set is larger than life, and the large ensemble is singing their hearts out in gorgeous harmonious arrangements. Were the lyrics so straightforward and cheesy that I had to write them down in my playbill so I could laugh at them later? Yes. But did they sound incredible? Also yes.
This was a sleeper surprise of my month—not the most cerebral or thought-provoking, but a feat to watch and gorgeous to listen to.
When to see it: Now! Tickets are available through November.
How to see it for cheap(er): $45 digital lottery tickets are available on Broadway Direct. This has also come up on TDF for $60.
What I’m Seeing Next Month
As always, much more to come. Here’s what I’ve got on the books through mid-May:
Schmigadoon!: A new Broadway musical based on the Apple TV series, which I loved.
Proof: A revival of a play I loved in college, featuring stars Don Cheadle, Ayo Edebiri, and Kara Young.
RADIO MAN: A new futuristic play about two sisters and a mysterious radio broadcast.
The Rocky Horror Show: A star-studded revival of the spooky cult classic. I’ve seen the movie, but this will be my first time seeing it on stage.
Canciones: An immersive site-specific production that takes place in a Brooklyn home and is served with a family-style dinner.
And I’m sure a few more will sneak on there in between...
When you get to Rocky Horror, please let us know your thoughts and experience with audience participation and call-outs! It’s my understanding that the production is having a very hard time balancing the Broadway “expected behavior” with the traditional culture behind the piece. Along with increasingly difficult to understand vague messaging about this participation and behavior to audiences. I have no interest in seeing this show myself but would love to get your insights on this angle after you’ve seen it!
Cats Jellicle Ball literally changed me for the better. I was there the night the guest judges were Lin Manuel Miranda and ALW 😭😭