Here’s a few - going about as well as you’d expect.
https://newyorktheater.me/2025/07/20/joy-a-new-true-musical-review-a-self-made-woman-and-mop/
https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/reviews/joy-a-new-true-musical-off-broadway-review-betsy-wolfe
https://nystagereview.com/2025/07/20/joy-a-new-true-musical-a-messy-show-that-not-even-a-miracle-mop-can-clean-up/
https://www.theatrely.com/post/a-wonderful-betsy-wolfe-mopping-up-mess-in-joy-review
Broadway Star Joined: 12/9/23
Love when BWW creates their Review Roundup after we do all the legwork to find the review ourselves
Featured Actor Joined: 9/25/24
quizking101 said: "Love when BWW creates their Review Roundup after we do all the legwork to find the review ourselves"
It's a hard knock life, isn't it?
Understudy Joined: 7/5/25
Where are all the MAJOR critics/outlets?
How does this work. Are they not invited or do they not want to review this show?
I’m also wondering what’s going on here.
no major outlets reviewed the show? Why would they do that? Having no major outlets reviews looks pretty bad.
It’ll be reviewed but these sort of limited run, off-season Off Broadway productions are no longer a priority for major outlets.
Chorus Member Joined: 2/24/25
1 Minute Critic:
Long, long ago, in a land not too far away, we’d sit in front of the TV for hours on end, watching a circus car full of personalities convince us that we needed a supersonic hairdryer, pressure cooker, or—in the case of inventor and entrepreneur Joy Mangano—a Miracle Mop.
Adapting Mangano’s life into a musical, in many ways, makes sense. AnnMarie Milazzo’s music and lyrics provide the emotional lift that parallels the Miracle Mop’s X factor. (Self-wringing! Absorbent cotton head! Versatile!). The score is most successful when it sits in an easy pop vein, but veers off-course in an over-choreographed doo-wop QVC production number, and later in a two-stepping country conflict where Joy faces off against a crooked business partner. Director Lorin Latarro, who energized pedestrian movement with her choreography for Waitress, turns the reins over to Joshua Bergasse, resulting in a movement style (though beautifully executed by the ensemble) that feels like it belongs in a different show.
As the can-do entrepreneur who won’t take no for an answer, Wolfe is a charmer, evolving from exasperated to empowered. Time spent in Huntington, Long Island, where Mangano grew up, might have helped shake some of the California out of Wolfe. Still, she carries the bulk of the show with the panache and power of her source material, one easy clean-up at a time.
Full Review Here ⏰
This doesn't seem to be extending past August 17th. I hope they do a lot more work to it and then perhaps...try again?
Broadway Star Joined: 3/29/23
‘Joy’ Review: A Rags-to-QVC-Riches Story
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/21/theater/joy-review-musical-miracle-mop.html?unlocked_article_code=1.YE8.BG3Y.WQA477fM75n7&smid=nytcore-android-share
Understudy Joined: 7/5/25
Elisabeth Vincentelli is the best critics at The New York Times. Even when she doesn't like a show, she is never cruel. I think she has excellent taste and is a great writer. If they ever replace Green with a full-time critic, it should be her.
Sutton Ross said: "This doesn't seem to be extending past August 17th. I hope they do a lot more work to it and then perhaps...try again?"
They apparently cannot extend due to the timing of Roundabout's production of Archduke in the venue (which oddly hasn't announced dates, just "Fall 2025").
Understudy Joined: 7/5/25
What happens next to a new musical like this. Limited run, not selling great, negative reviews.....
After playing New York, can they go out of town and fix the problems and then return? Or will they try to get a licensing deal and hopefully make money? Or does it die a death and never returns again?
There’s no real viable path to Broadway for this show. They already had an out of town production and it seems little changed. The best it can hope for is a life in licensing.
I’m sure this will do great in stock and amateur.
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