NY Times Gives Critics Pick to 18 out of 31 Shows

Magic2Do · 2026-04-27T08:07:06Z

Critic's PicksJoe Turner's Come and Gone The Rocky Horror ShowThe BalustersSchmigadoon!Fallen AngelsDeath of a SalesmanCats: The Jellicle BallBecky ShawGiantEvery Brilliant ThingBugMarjorie PrimeTwo Strangers Carry a Cake Across New YorkOedipusThe Queen of VersaillesLittle Bear Ridge RoadLiberationRagtimeNOT Critic's Picks BeachesProofThe Fear of 13TitaniqueDog Day AfternoonChessPunchWaiting for GodotArtTake a Banana for the RideCall Me IzzyMamma MiaThe Lost BoysNot ReviewedAll OutBeetlejuice

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NY Times Gives Critics Pick to 18 out of 31 Shows

Posted: 4/27/26 at 8:07am

Critic's Picks

Joe Turner's Come and Gone
The Rocky Horror Show
The Balusters
Schmigadoon!
Fallen Angels
Death of a Salesman
Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Becky Shaw
Giant
Every Brilliant Thing
Bug
Marjorie Prime
Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York
Oedipus
The Queen of Versailles
Little Bear Ridge Road
Liberation
Ragtime

NOT Critic's Picks

Beaches
Proof
The Fear of 13
Titanique
Dog Day Afternoon
Chess
Punch
Waiting for Godot
Art
Take a Banana for the Ride
Call Me Izzy
Mamma Mia
The Lost Boys

Not Reviewed

All Out
Beetlejuice

NY Times Gives Critics Pick to 18 out of 31 Shows

Posted: 4/27/26 at 8:21am

Still crazy that QOV got a Critics Pick.

I haven’t seen 3 of those shows but I can’t fault most of the others. As has been said elsewhere, it’s such a great year for plays and musical revivals.

NY Times Gives Critics Pick to 18 out of 31 Shows

Posted: 4/27/26 at 9:00am

Grade inflation is good for business, taking a stand on real value is a money loser.

NY Times Gives Critics Pick to 18 out of 31 Shows

Posted: 4/27/26 at 9:45am

Other than QoV, these weren’t outlier reviews. This season has been weird and definitely thin in terms of new musicals, but it had a consistent quality level.

"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."

NY Times Gives Critics Pick to 18 out of 31 Shows

Posted: 4/27/26 at 11:05am

Now these shows are able to slap that pointless sticker onto their marketing artwork. The mainstream masses will be impressed. 😎

NY Times Gives Critics Pick to 18 out of 31 Shows

NY Times Gives Critics Pick to 18 out of 31 Shows

Posted: 4/28/26 at 7:37am

The Times has never defined what it means when it gives a Critic’s Pick.

I wouldn’t say Shaw was necessarily an outlier on Rocky Horror, but her review was the most positive of those I read.

NY Times Gives Critics Pick to 18 out of 31 Shows

Posted: 4/28/26 at 7:57am

We were all so thrilled when Shaw became the New York Times critic, as we had enjoyed her so much at New York Magazine. But something has changed. Her writing style even has changed! She isn't that much different from Jesse now in her taste level. The other New York Times critics have always been sus.

Updated On: 4/28/26 at 07:57 AM

NY Times Gives Critics Pick to 18 out of 31 Shows

Posted: 4/28/26 at 9:53am

my understanding is that the critic does not choose what gets a "pick" some editor does based on what the critic writes.

18 seems like alot (if the idea is to recommend a show to the average reader, youve recommended the majority) but its notable that some of the big star vehicles were overlooked (proof, fear of 13, godot) while more beloved works were not for the most part. and its clear from this list that Critics Pick has no bearing at all on box office...

NY Times Gives Critics Pick to 18 out of 31 Shows

Posted: 4/28/26 at 10:46am

So?

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