BECKY SHAW Previews

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 3/17/26 at 12:00am

The Broadway premiere of Becky Shaw starts up at the Helen Hayes Theatre tomorrow night (March 18). A dark comedy, Gina Gionfriddo’s Pulitzer Prize finalist features Patrick Ball, Alden Ehrenreich, Madeline Brewer, Linda Emond, and Lauren Patten; Trip Cullman directs. An opening night is slated for April 6, and the play will run through June 14. 

“A newlywed couple fixes up two romantically challenged friends: wife’s best friend meets husband’s sexy and strange new co-worker. When an evening calculated to bring happiness takes a dark turn, crisis and comedy ensue in this wickedly funny play that asks what we owe the people we love and the strangers who land on our doorstep.”

Who’s going?

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 3/18/26 at 2:42pm

TodayTix says 2:30 runtime, including intermission. 

Anyone here going tonight? Understandable if CATS is stealing the thunder. 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 3/18/26 at 11:01pm

We got any initial reports?

[Sethwp2]

Posted: 3/19/26 at 12:38am

EDSOSLO858 said: "TodayTix says 2:30 runtime, including intermission.

Anyone here going tonight? Understandable if CATS is stealing the thunder."

I was there tonight and 2h30m is pretty accurate; curtain call was around 10:35. 

And you could definitely hear the cats being let out of the bag across the street during the last few scenes. I was front row mezz though so it wasn't overly distracting; I can only assume it was louder if you were orchestra level.

Really curious what everyone else says about this one. I've never seen any previous production of it so I have nothing to compare it to. And being very first preview, I hate judging too harshly... but I found most of the characters too unlikeable for the play to even be enjoyable. Thoughts?

[Auggie27]

Posted: 3/19/26 at 7:29am

I have not seen it, but I first read the play a decade ago and found it laugh out loud funny on the page. It's a wickedly dark frame on a generation whose self-importance - what might be called emotional entitlement - defines their social interactions. The story is narrow in scope - a handful of people inhabiting what used to be called "the dating scene" - wrestling with intimacy and rigidly defined expectations. I suspect that its focus might feel more like a romantic ecosystem of 10-15 years ago, since the rituals and patterns of connection are mostly old school.  People meet through friends and acquaintances, and the play explores forms of rejection with a brutal prism. So I'm wondering how well it fits into 2026. It doesn't surprise me that some will find the characters unworthy of 2.5 hours of their time, if decidedly - hilariously - recognizable. .To those who've seen it, let me know how my take on the script fits with what you witness.

Updated On: 3/19/26 at 07:29 AM

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 3/22/26 at 2:33am

It's a true breath of fresh air this season.  It's funny and the audience slowly eats it up.

Alden Ehrenreich's Max steals the show & absolutely deserves a Tony nomination this season (his first stage role ever - he usually does film).   Linda Emond is a close second.  Lauren Patten is the weak link here - she feels to be acting and not natural.  (the show couldn't secure their original choices for this role)  She's serviceable but the rest of the cast makes bit work better. Perhaps she's better suited for musicals.  Scene transitions still seem in progress during previews.

The show is totally worth seeing amongst this season's dramatic offerings.  It's longer but a great time that passes quickly -  and deeper than it appears on its surface.  Not surprised this was a Pulitzer finalist. (don't let the bad, and confusing, 2nd Stage Playbill artwork dissuade you). 

Updated On: 3/22/26 at 02:33 AM

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 3/22/26 at 5:21am

Not surprised to hear that about Patten as I have always felt she is Acting with a capital A, as I put it sometimes. She's never done much for me, I'm afraid.

[kevinr]

Posted: 3/22/26 at 10:24am

How was the stage door afterwards?  Planning to see this in June.

Updated On: 3/22/26 at 10:24 AM

[TheOtherOne2]

Posted: 3/22/26 at 12:22pm

CoffeeBreak said: "It's a true breath of fresh air this season. It's funnyand the audience slowly eats it up.

Alden Ehrenreich's Max steals the show & absolutely deserves a Tony nomination this season (his first stage role ever -he usually does film). Linda Emond is a close second. Lauren Patten isthe weak link here - she feels to be acting and not natural.(the show couldn't secure their original choices for this role) She's serviceable but the rest of the cast makes bit work better. Perhaps she's better suited for musicals.Scene transitions still seem in progress during previews.

The show is totally worth seeing amongst this season's dramatic offerings. It's longer but a great time that passes quickly - and deeper than it appears on itssurface. Not surprised this was a Pulitzer finalist. (don't let the bad, and confusing,2nd Stage Playbill artwork dissuade you)."

Can't comment on the rest, but I'm not at all suprised about Alden Ehrenreich, who's been as good as the actors who've won Oscars in the movies he's been in in the past few years.  I'd see this for him.

 

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 3/22/26 at 3:45pm

Ehrenreich could give Levey (Giant) some real competition if the Tony committee can recognize his ease in this tricky role. 

[ViniFromBrazil]

Posted: 3/22/26 at 4:40pm

I was at the performance that ended just now. The house was packed and the audience was eating up absolutely everything that Alden Ehrenreich was doing. If someone told me he had brought his fan club to the theater I would've believed it! He's quite good, though. The text is sharp and the performances were good, I just wish the direction was more creative.

After watching The Pitt I wonder what Patrick Ball would've done with the Max role. He was also great but I found his character a little dull.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 3/23/26 at 11:12am

That's interesting, when the cast was announced, I had presumed Ball was playing Max. I also thought Brewer was a natural for the other female role, a woman with a decided edge and very much in Brewer's wheelhouse.  

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 3/23/26 at 11:21am

ViniFromBrazil said: "After watching The Pitt I wonder whatPatrick Ball would've done with the Max role. He was also great but I found his charactera little dull."

Alden Ehrenreich is perfectly cast here as Max.  Ball is fine enough actor, but he's in the right role for him here.  Brewer could have played either role well I think.

[pinktonyclub]

Posted: 3/23/26 at 8:11pm

Is there merch?