LITTLE BEAR RIDGE ROAD Previews

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 10/6/25 at 12:00am

Direct from a 2024 run at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Little Bear Ridge Road settles in on Broadway tomorrow evening (October 7). Written by Samuel D. Hunter in his Broadway debut, the new play stars Laurie Metcalf, Micah Stock, John Drea, and Meighan Gerachis. Opening night is October 30 for a limited run through February 15 at the Booth Theatre; Joe Mantello directs.

“Set on the remote edge of a small Idaho town, Little Bear Ridge Road centers on a razor-tongued aunt and her long-estranged nephew who find themselves suddenly back in each other’s lives – two lonely souls with a crumbling house to sell and a tangled history to unravel. Bitingly funny and quietly explosive, Little Bear Ridge Road lays bare our messy, human need to reach across voids for one another, even when it shakes us to the bones.”

Who’s going?

 

Updated On: 10/6/25 at 12:00 AM

[GottaGetAGimmick420]

Posted: 10/6/25 at 9:01am

This still doesn't look to be selling great...

[DomPhilly]

Posted: 10/6/25 at 9:10am

GottaGetAGimmick420 said: "This still doesn't look to be selling great..."

Could it be the "Rudin" effect?

[AC126748]

Posted: 10/6/25 at 9:40am

I'm sure there are people avoiding this because they don't want to support a Rudin enterprise, but I highly doubt that's why ticket sales have been light so far. Hunter might be a revered contemporary playwright among people who follow theater, but he's not largely known among the general public. (The film adaptation of THE WHALE was a flop despite its Oscar win for Brendan Fraser.) Similarly, Metcalf is not a name that is going to prime the pump on her own, and the rest of the cast are not household names. I imagine this will be a succès d'estime at best.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/6/25 at 9:50am

I saw this in Chicago and loved it but it’s a tiny show. There’s no big loud moments. There’s no giant monologue. It’s just a really smart solid show. I think it’ll depend on its rave reviews. And I also don’t think many people are buying tickets in advance as much as they use to. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 10/6/25 at 11:50am

AC126748 said: "I'm sure there are people avoiding this because they don't want to support a Rudin enterprise, but I highly doubt that's why ticket sales have been light so far. Hunter might be a revered contemporary playwright among people who follow theater, but he's not largely known among the general public. (The film adaptation of THE WHALE was a flop despite its Oscar win for Brendan Fraser.) Similarly, Metcalf is not a name that is going to prime the pump on her own, and the rest of the cast are not household names. I imagine this will be a succès d'estime at best."

Most people outside of those savvy about who produces a show couldn’t really care less about Rudin being a producer. Even then, loathsome as he may be, he has the money to bring new works and starry revivals to Broadway more or less at his pleasure. To bring Hunter to the mainstream Broadway audience may help boost his profile as a playwright, especially if it gets recognized for major awards.

THE WHALE was an independent film with a very particular subject matter that could make theatregoers uncomfortable and Hunter doesn’t seem like a playwright who is afraid to challenge his audience. It was never going to be an “Avengers: Endgame” kind of film. 

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 10/6/25 at 11:56am

This one sounds great.   Enjoy Hunter and happy he’s getting a Broadway and west end bow in the same month. 

[gibsons2]

Posted: 10/6/25 at 12:52pm

The box office for this play opened on the same day as Chess and Liberation. I think it was a missed opportunity and straight up a mistake not to sell cheap introductory tickets to get WOM out. 

[blug]

Posted: 10/6/25 at 2:08pm

I just think it's hilarious that roondawg_firstofhisname from IG is one of the understudies.  They should put him on the poster!

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 10/6/25 at 2:27pm

blug said: "I just think it's hilarious that roondawg_firstofhisname from IG is one of the understudies. They should put him on the poster!"

He was Micah Stock’s understudy at Steppenwolf, but not on Broadway. The understudy for Broadway is Aubie Merrylees.

[blug]

Posted: 10/6/25 at 2:31pm

They should STILL put him on the poster.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 10/6/25 at 2:32pm

blug said: "They should STILL put him on the poster.

"

I mean, I can’t argue with that.

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 10/6/25 at 6:36pm

AC126748 said: "I (The film adaptation of THE WHALE was a flop despite its Oscar win for Brendan Fraser.) "

It made $60 Million dollars on a $3 million budget so this is super incorrect

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 10/7/25 at 7:32pm

Looking forward to hearing about tonight.

Telecharge says 95 minutes, no intermission. 

[carolinaguy]

Posted: 10/7/25 at 8:46pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "Looking forward to hearing about tonight.

Telecharge says 95 minutes, no intermission."

That would be consistent with Steppenwolf. 

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 10/7/25 at 9:56pm

Bows started at 9:37/9:38, so that running time is accurate.

[BroadwayGuy12]

Posted: 10/7/25 at 10:52pm

I'm a huge Samuel D. Hunter fan so I'm likely biased, but I thought this was phenomenal. A top-tier play from him, both funny and heartbreaking, anchored by a knockout performance from Laurie Metcalf. So glad this has found a home on Broadway, and so grateful I got to experience it tonight.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 10/8/25 at 8:06am

I've been eagerly checking TDF for more dates. The first handful were snatched up in a few hours. I'm hoping to find a Wednesday matinee preview. This is on my list of unmissables this season. 

Update, Wednesday afternoon: Just got seats for this weekend. All four performances are on TDF.

Updated On: 10/8/25 at 08:06 AM

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

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

I really enjoyed Laurie Metcalf and Micah Stock, they were both incredible and the dynamic they have together really works. See it just for them. The show itself, meh. Definitely wasn’t moved emotionally by anything, at least the comedy hits when it needs to. The drama felt like waters that have been well-tread many times.

[carolinaguy]

Posted: 10/9/25 at 9:16am

Can anyone who has been to the Broadway previews comment on the set design? Simple is one thing, but the transition to the bar scene by using the back of the sofa as a bar-rail in the Chicago production just looked cheap to me. I mean, there could have at least been a telescoped neon beer sign or something. Has that been jazzed up at all?

Also, is the final scene still staged with only Laurie Metcalf's arm visible? It didn't fully land for me, and I wondered if they had tweaked it in the interim.

[MemorableUserName]

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

carolinaguy said: "Can anyone who has been to the Broadway previews comment on the set design? Simple is one thing, but the transition to the bar scene by using the back of the sofa as a bar-rail in the Chicago production just looked cheap to me. I mean, there could have at least been a telescoped neon beer sign or something. Has that been jazzed up at all?

Also, is the final scene still staged with only Laurie Metcalf's arm visible? It didn't fully land for me, and I wondered if they had tweaked it in the interim."

That's how it was Tuesday. The only set was the sofa and the ceiling fan light overhead; the back of the sofa was a bar. I don't remember anything else being added. 

And the final scene is as you described it.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/9/25 at 10:16am

Now I want to re visit this as I don't even remember the finale scene. 

I do remember loving how they used the back wall for one scene. It's a tiny little show, and I. usually want a big set, but I think this all just works wonderfully. 

[Auggie27]

Posted: 10/11/25 at 5:57pm

Significant spoilers in the comments above, which really should be framed with alerts. This play's surprises all generate emotional suspense, and deserve to be discovered.. 

I saw this afternoon's matinee. Old school minimalist naturalism, beautifully orchestrated by Mantello - with a stark poetic prism, elegantly designed by Pask - with a star making performance by Micah Stock. We expect a vehicle for the singular Metcalf, who is vivid, wry, and heartbreaking, but ultimately are rewarded with more. A small canvas portrait that shouldn’t be oversold. 

Updated On: 10/11/25 at 05:57 PM

[TheOtherOne2]

Posted: 10/11/25 at 6:16pm

I saw it this afternoon as well, thanks to TDF listing it again at some point yesterday.  The performances, particularly Metcalf's, are excellent, but I didn't care very much for the play overall.  I found the lead character of Ethan more annoying than compelling, despite Stock's best efforts.

A disappointment.  

[gibsons2]

Posted: 10/11/25 at 6:29pm

TheOtherOne2 said: "I saw it this afternoon as well, thanks to TDF listing it again at some point yesterday. The performances, particularly Metcalf's, are excellent, but I didn't care very much for the play overall. I found the lead character of Ethan more annoying than compelling, despite Stock's best efforts.

A disappointment."

I was there today too and hated the play. Even Laurie Metcalf couldn't save it. The main character Ethan was horrible and the lead actor chose to use Homer Simpson voice. Not a single emotion was earned. It was bad. Avoid.

Updated On: 10/11/25 at 06:29 PM