Bull Durham at Paper Mill

[The Bandstand]

Posted: 9/20/25 at 3:40pm

OCT 2–NOV 2, 2025 

Bull Durham brings the classic 1988 film to the stage. Veteran catcher “Crash” Davis is tasked with mentoring hotshot rookie pitcher “Nuke” LaLoosh, while baseball muse Annie Savoy must choose her seasonal protégé. Directed by Marc Bruni (The Great Gatsby) and adapted by its original screenwriter, Ron Shelton, with music and lyrics by Susan Werner, this pitch-perfect musical delivers a winning blend of comedy, drama, and romance as passion, ambition, and America’s favorite pastime collide.  Choreography by Joshua Bergasse. Starring Carmen Cusack  

 

[Ensemble1711444445]

Posted: 9/20/25 at 3:52pm

Wow. The workshop was interesting. This looks cheesy and overly choreographed. 

 

[The Bandstand]

Posted: 9/20/25 at 3:55pm

Overly choreographed?  They’re literally playing baseball, so I would expect some energetic, physical choreo. I think it looks great. 

[Zeppie2022]

Posted: 9/20/25 at 4:32pm

This is a great baseball movie. Part of what made it work was Costner is very athletic and looked like he could play baseball. Sarandon and Costner had great chemistry and that is hard to duplicate. I always have my doubts when Broadway tries to do a show regarding sports. Wish them luck, would love to see it succeed.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 9/20/25 at 4:36pm

The Bandstand said: "Overly choreographed? They’re literally playing baseball, so I would expect some energetic, physical choreo. I think it looks great."

A Bull Durham musical has been floating around for a long time now (when I got to interview Melissa Errico she mentioned her time with the project.)  I still... am not sure how successful it can be, but the choreography in this 40 second clip doesn't seem like an issue to me--the actual dance vocabulary is not much different from what Fosse did in Damn Yankees (before anyone jumps on me for that comment, I'm not saying it'll be as good as Fosse or anything but, unless every number is done like this, it certainly isn't any more over choreographed than his original Shoeless Joe ballet.

[DaveyG]

Posted: 9/20/25 at 5:37pm

Unlucky timing for Bull Durham and Damn Yankees to be aiming for Broadway at the same time. 

[KrupYou]

Posted: 9/21/25 at 10:49am

I saw a production a decade ago in atlanta - was fun but not great yet. fingers crossed 

[Granny Smith]

Posted: 10/3/25 at 3:02am

First preview was tonight, would love to hear peoples opinions. Im going next week. 

[cglaid]

Posted: 10/6/25 at 2:25pm

KrupYou said: "I saw a production a decade ago in atlanta - was fun but not great yet. fingers crossed"

Saw this yesterday. It remains fun but not great.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 10/6/25 at 3:13pm

DaveyG said: "Unlucky timing for Bull Durham and Damn Yankees to be aiming for Broadway at the same time."

Agreed, and unfortunately for this show, Damn Yankees will always remain the superior production.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 10/6/25 at 9:17pm

a big yawn and Damn Yankees will win out on BWY before this!

[merrily_we_roar_on.11]

Posted: 10/7/25 at 9:11am

cglaid said: "KrupYou said: "I saw a production a decade ago in atlanta - was fun but not great yet. fingers crossed"

Saw this yesterday. It remains fun but not great."

Completely agreed. The book wasn't very profound and none of the songs were memorable whatsoever. Its strong suit is certainly Bergasse's choreography. I thought Nik Walker knocked it out of the park (pun intended), and Carmen Cusack was great when she actually remembered her lines... An overall good time though and I found myself laughing quite often.

 

[70sBwayBaby]

Posted: 10/8/25 at 1:12pm

I saw it over the weekend.  I found it to be fun - I loved the leads - and I think it has a good shot at a Broadway run.  A great time that wives can take their husbands to is something sellable.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 10/8/25 at 3:05pm

Considering the majority of ticket buyers are women buying for their family, that's a really good point. He doesn't have to watch the game on his phone because it's right in front of him! 

[Zeppie2022]

Posted: 10/8/25 at 7:44pm

"Unlucky timing for Bull Durham and Damn Yankees to be aiming for Broadway at the same time. "

"Bull Durham" is actually a better and more realistic baseball story than the fantasy "Damn Yankees".

[GottaGetAGimmick420]

Posted: 10/8/25 at 7:53pm

I caught this this weekend and was surprised by how misogynistic the entire premise is. Granted, I do not know the movie... but there's only two female characters and their whole existence in the story is to sleep with members of the team. It's a hard sell for a family musical that has the line "You know how a woman's hair 'down there' is shaped like a triangle? They call it the bermuda triangle on account of a man can get lost down there" ... but then clarifies that that's supposed to be a compliment. This just wasn't for me. It was all about sex. Maybe if I knew the plot going in I wouldn't have been as shocked, but... 

 

As someone that caught both, Damn Yankees is the stronger of the two as a whole. And apparently has the full support of the MLB.

Updated On: 10/8/25 at 07:53 PM

[Cream Puff]

Posted: 10/8/25 at 7:54pm

Bull Durham is coming in the spring apparently.  Damn Yankees is aiming for fall.  So no Robbie, that is incorrect. 

[MysteriousLady]

Posted: 10/8/25 at 7:56pm

Cream Puff said: "Bull Durham is coming in the spring apparently. Damn Yankees is aiming for fall. So no Robbie, that is incorrect."

Cream Puff= Broadway Flash 

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 10/8/25 at 8:08pm

WE've been debating if it's worth a trip out to NJ or if a Bway run is very likely..

[Cream Puff]

Posted: 10/8/25 at 9:41pm

It opens on Sunday so I’m assuming reviews will be out after that

[Zeppie2022]

Posted: 10/9/25 at 9:37am

"I caught this this weekend and was surprised by how misogynistic the entire premise is. Granted, I do not know the movie... but there's only two female characters and their whole existence in the story is to sleep with members of the team. It's a hard sell for a family musical that has the line "You know how a woman's hair 'down there' is shaped like a triangle? They call it the bermuda triangle on account of a man can get lost down there" ... but then clarifies that that's supposed to be a compliment. This just wasn't for me. It was all about sex. Maybe if I knew the plot going in I wouldn't have been as shocked, but..."

I have not seen the show, just loved the movie. The movie was not all about sex. It is also a baseball story of how a career minor league catcher is brought down a level (AAA to AA) to tutor a physically gifted young pitcher. Young pitcher is typical young kid who thinks he knows everything and is taught some lessons by the veteran catcher along the way. Finally, the kid catches on, and the mental part of the game catches up with his physical abilities. He makes the big leagues and leaves the small town and "Annie" in the dust. "Crash" (veteran catcher) is released by team after he is done being tutor and retires as minor league player who spent only 23 in the major leagues. Some funny bits about baseball if you are fan of the game.

Movie was made in the late 80's which is long time ago. It is not shocking then or even now that athletes have "groupies", even minor league players. This is an adult movie and there is nothing about it intended for a family. The baseball "inside jokes" children would not get and obviously there is a bunch of sexual content. Don't see this as a musical but as a fan of the movie wish it luck.

[Voter]

Posted: 10/10/25 at 11:03am

I saw the show last night. It is a very cute musical for a regional audience and theatre. I think it will fail on Broadway. It is not even selling out well at Paper Mill. 

The book is pretty strong with funny lines and jokes. Most of the songs are fine and passable. This is on par with Take the Lead in which it will do better at a regional level. The 2 leads are phenomenal and elevate the songs in a great manner. Carmen Cusack sings so well and Nik Walker is so charismatic on stage. 

 

I agree that Damn Yankees will always be the better baseball musical even though Bull Durham is more a realistic story. 

 

Wanted was a better musical and that is what I would put my money in. Wanted sold horribly at Paper Mill but it was in much shape for broadway than this show 

[Cream Puff]

Posted: 10/10/25 at 1:22pm

Much better shape for broadway?  Quality and success on Broadway are not mutually exclusive unfortunately 

[shomeika]

Posted: 10/10/25 at 2:27pm

I hope this is much improved from the workshop/development production in ATL quite a few years ago.

[Jmuep2]

Posted: 10/10/25 at 4:17pm

I saw this yesterday and was pretty disappointed. I was bored senseless in Act One. Act Two was a little better. It gave me a couple of songs I didn't instantly forget. Overall, I was really unclear what the leads wanted till way too late. And I just kept thinking "this worked better as a movie." Definite can't see this transferring in this state. But the choreography worked and really made the thing not suck like it could have.