JOHN LITHGOW: STORIES BY HEART Previews

Previews for Tony and Emmy winner John Lithgow's solo play begin in just a few days (Thursday, December 21, 2017) at the American Airlines Theatre. Featuring direction by Daniel Sullivan, Stories by Heart is set to open officially on Thursday, January 11 for a limited run currently through March 4, 2018.

Who's going?!

Looking forward to going Saturday

I plan on skipping this one.

This is an evening where JL spends each act performing a short story, nothing more and nothing less. He spends the first 15 mins talking about his father and what stories mean to him, he also tells the audience that he picked two short stories to enact that evening but will make some digressions for witty insight and philosophizing (that never happened, he just tells the stories straight out without any side commentary). The set is just an armchair with wood panelling behind I guess to resemble and old library. In fairness, he isn't just sitting down all night rather in the first story where he is supposed to be a barber he is actually moving around a lot.

I am a JL fan but was so bored I actually fell asleep in the middle of the first act and when I woke at intermission the old man next to me was sleeping also. I was in the mezzanine and between the dim lighting, JL's soft voice which didn't project and the fact that he was just telling a story that wasn't really interesting (Haircut by Ring Lardner), I wouldn't operate heavy machinery while watching this show.

I think this would be better suited Off-Broadway, he tries to make it an intimate evening but the whole thing got swallowed up with a crowd that big. One example is when he is talking about a book his father gave him and talking about the writing, the spine, all these details about the book to a room where nobody past the first row could actually see it. I would pass on this, I could have stayed home and just read the stories myself he didnt add much.

Alfie6 said: "One example is when he is talking about a book his father gave him and talking about the writing, the spine, all these details about the book to a room where nobody past the first row could actually see it."

In his defense, you say he describes it in very granular detail. Is the point to be close enough to confirm he's telling the truth?!

Alfie6 said: "One example is when he is talking about a book his father gave him and talking about the writing, the spine, all these details about the book to a room where nobody past the first row could actually see it."

In his defense, you say he describes it in very granular detail. Is the point to be close enough to confirm he's telling the truth?!

The point is that if you hold up a book and tell people to look at the handwriting or how cracked the spine is or how the book is bound and 95% of the audience isn't sitting on stage or close enough to actually see any of the book what's the point. I guess that works in the Mitzi Newhouse where everyone is in a close space but here it did not work unless you brought binoculars.

If you'd rather stay home, here's that first act story - you can read it yourself, and imagine Lithgow (or Britney Spears, or whoever) reading it to you:

http://www.classicshorts.com/stories/haircut.html

Going tonight, does anyone have the runtime?

What's the second story?

I got burned when I went to see William Shatner's one man show. Thought it would be sooo much fun. Not.

I love John Lithgow but don't want to go through seeing an actor going through the motions for a paycheck.

Was there tonight as well. Agreed with most things stated so far. He's charming and clearly loves what he's doing but it is indeed a bore. I left at intermission.

Didn't have an issue not being able to see the book spine from the back of the mezz as the story was more important than the visual. I wish it was a reflection on his life and career or more of his growing up as the first 15 minutes were lovely.

what the hell is roundabout doing man, except for it being super cheap to produce with a name, WHY is roundabout producing this on broadway?

LightsOut90 said: "what the hell is roundabout doing man, except for it being super cheap to produce with a name, WHY is roundabout producing this on broadway?"

Hey, if they don’t have anything to fill the slot, they know they’ll be able to make a few bucks in the lean winter months. It’s similar to a few years ago when LIPS TOGETHER TEETH APART was cancelled and they shoved EVERYDAY RAPTURE in there in 10 Days. They’d rather fill it with some self-indulgent passion project rather than it go empty

quizking101 said:

Hey, if they don’t have anything to fill the slot, they know they’ll be able to make a few bucks in the lean winter months. It’s similar to a few years ago when LIPS TOGETHER TEETH APART was cancelled and they shoved EVERYDAY RAPTURE in there in 10 Days. They’d rather fill it with some self-indulgent passion project rather than it go empty"

Everyday Rapture was fantastic.