CALL ME IZZY Previews — Page 2

I was at today's matinee with the TodayTix $99 front row deal. They've definitely made cuts because I was on the street at 3:37.

I get the criticisms about the play being a Lifetime movie and not in the league of Prima Facie. But Smart is so damn good that it doesn't really matter. She makes the material work really well.

The set design is very simple (I didn't love staring at a toilet for most of the show lol). But the late 80s period details are great, Jean has the exact same laundry basket as my parents.

Stage door wise Jean was out right after 4, very nice and soft spoken. One of the best-organized stage doors I've seen, Jean stayed in one place and we came to her then walked down 53rd

edmondj5 said: How was it sitting in the front row?"

Not bad, I didn't have to crane my neck much. Jean is center stage for a lot of the show but not right at the edge. She writes in the bathroom in secret, away from her husband- hence the toilet I mentioned.

For other scenes she moves to the side but still very easy to see. Sometimes the bathroom set stays there, which is a little annoying (and honestly the biggest note I'd give the production team, more than anything content-related).

Orchestra is definitely the way to go at Studio 54 since the mezz is a death trap. A few rows back would give you a slightly better view. But it's a one-woman show, not something like Sunset- so you'd likely be good anywhere.

Is there a lot of recitation of poetry in this? I’m on the fence on seeing this and will definitely not go if there is.

Jean Smart is amazing in this.

Jean Smart is sharp and I was very happy to get to see her from the second row. She plays out multiple scenes with three to four costume changes. I did get tired of the set but it was exciting to see her perform. She is definitely one of our greats.

broadwayben3 said: "Has anyone stagedoored for this after a Wednesday or Saturday matinee? Would love to meet Jean and thank her for her work, but going to a Saturday matinee."

Yes, reposting my comment from above

Stage door wise Jean was out right after 4, very nice and soft spoken. One of the best-organized stage doors I've seen, Jean stayed in one place and we came to her then walked down 53rd

I saw this on its 4th or 5th preview and the director spoke pre-show about automation issues they were having with the set. Kind of strange, because I feel like I only noticed the bathroom initially come on, Smart later plays a scene upstage where the bathroom was in the way, then they tried to move the bathroom upstage for a later scene but it collided with a curtain and they stopped the show. When the show resumed, it was just a few feet upstage.


So I don’t know if the bathroom/set was supposed to do more, but it seems strange they had any automation for how little it was utilized and how much grief it seemed to give. You could have just moved the bathroom upstage altogether and it’d have the same effect.

Mostly echoing others here:

Not the greatest play, kind of meh direction, but Jean Smart is absolutely wonderful and captivating the whole way through, and sold it. Ultimately I found it to be a mostly emotionally satisfying experience because of how fantastic she is—she managed to get me invested.

Updated On: 6/8/25 at 01:32 PM

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "I found this a waste of Jean Smart's talent and a waste of a Broadway theatre. Ineptly written, directed, and designed. At least the ad campaign is also terrible?

A shame that it's the show she chose as her long-awaited return to the NY stage."

I kinda of felt the same. Like why did she choose this? Why this team? Why open now? Like I have so many questions. But the people around me seemed to be invested.

this is from the same producing team that did How To Dance In Ohio and while that was a different thing all together that show and this seem to have several of the same problems, mid directing, confusing/lackluster design, a question of why this story?



hoping their musical WANTED is better I guess.

Opening night tickets for tomorrow are available from $69-$89, last four rows of the mezz, cocktail attire is being encouraged

Yup, only found out when I got to the theatre at 7:30 that she was "out". Flew in from LA to see this.

Scrambled to see another show....ran to the Booth....oops JJOHN PROCTOR started at 7....ran to BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB...damn it started at 7:30!

Ran up 8th Ave and looked down each street for something I haven't yet seen, and ....

JUST IN TIME (7:56pm!) - Jonathan Groff was great, but what starts out promising just becomes another insipid juke-box-musical.

Disappointing evening at the theatre, but I did get to see PURPOSE this afternoon and that made it worth the hassle.

QUESTION: Do I take a chance and try to see IZZY on Tuesday or will she be outta that one too?

Updated On: 7/6/25 at 01:37 AM