I saw this on Sunday and loved it. First things first, for those asking, you definitely do not need to be a New Yorker, or alive on 9/11, or affected personally, or American ... you just need to be a human. It's a human story and a beautifully told one at that.
The music is great and the entire ensemble of 12 is working their tails off for 100 minutes - I was so impressed with how they transitioned between the different characters they are all asked to play. Some have wished that characters were more fleshed out, and I understand that, but to me it didn't really matter. Because there were so many characters, I didn't even remember all of their names but I can picture them and probably tell you exactly who they are and a character quirk if you gave me photo flashcards. They stick with you even though you don't know everything about their 4-5 day experience.
The show made me, and those around me, cry at times, but it's also filled with great and clever humor. I agree with others who wished they had a chance to applaud at different moments during the performance, but as a result of that the audience went crazy at the end. I couldn't believe how almost every person in the theatre stayed to watch the band play for a few minutes after instead of rushing out. It was great!
I'm a Jenn Colella fan for sure and she is excellent in this, I loved her solo. I also particularly loved Rodney Hicks and Chad Kimball, but honestly the whole cast is great and many of them don't have a lot of big credits. This is a story of human kindness, love, and hope. I really hope that it is successful here on Broadway.
I like a good rhyme more than a good time