THE HEART OF ROCK AND ROLL Opening Night Critics’ Reviews- Page 2

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 4/22/24 at 8:45pm

3 1/2 stars from the New York Post:

"Huey Lewis’ Broadway show is hilarious fun"

https://nypost.com/2024/04/22/entertainment/the-heart-of-rock-and-roll-review-huey-lewis-broadway-show-is-hilarious-fun/

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 4/22/24 at 8:48pm

Even though this might close on Broadway in a few weeks, I have to say these reviews could give it the drive it needs to eventually launch a tour of some sort.  

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 4/22/24 at 8:54pm

Musigamist said: "Vincentelli for NY Times is mixed/leaning positive:https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/22/theater/heart-of-rock-and-roll-review.html?unlocked_article_code=1.mk0.N4AY.6baIxy0zCPPM&smid=url-share"

That is a solid respectable review and it just sold at least one ticket (mine).

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 4/22/24 at 9:11pm

DTLI Consensus: The Broadway jukebox musical canon gets an unlikely pulse of pure joy.

5 positive (including the NYT), 3 mixed.

https://didtheylikeit.com/shows/the-heart-of-rock-and-roll/

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 4/22/24 at 9:27pm

This season is wild.

Good on the cast and crew.

[Mr. Wormwood]

Posted: 4/22/24 at 9:44pm

Not bad reviews at all but I don't know that they are the game changing types of reviews that could reverse the box office fortunes. I doubt it but I hope it can!

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 4/22/24 at 9:47pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "Even though this might close on Broadwayin a few weeks, I have to say these reviews could give it the drive it needs to eventually launcha tour of some sort."

Definitely feels like the sort of show that will have a healthy future in regional and community theatre. 

Watch MTI snap up the licensing rights toot sweet.

 

 

[bwaylyric]

Posted: 4/22/24 at 9:54pm

Best musical nom? 😮 

I bet CBS would love Huey to perform on the Tonys. If not, maybe he’ll get a Kennedy Center Honor lol

[RWPrincess]

Posted: 4/22/24 at 10:29pm

Can Huey still perform?
 

i have a ticket for the end of May and I'm kind of wondering if I should move ir up sooner. I really hope this one succeeds.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/22/24 at 10:36pm

Well I couldn’t have enjoyed this any more than I did, tonight. Maybe the most fun show of the season and I 1000% will be back again. And probably again. And then one more again. 
 

And those arms……

Updated On: 4/22/24 at 10:36 PM

[Zeppie2022]

Posted: 4/22/24 at 10:59pm

"Well I couldn’t have enjoyed this any more than I did, tonight. Maybe the most fun show of the season and I 1000% will be back again. And probably again. And then one more again. And those arms……"

From the reviews  it sounds like a great time. A show that does not take it self seriously and just wants to entertain with some good old time rock and roll. 

I have to admit I keep laughing at all of the comments about "those arms". My goodness, have you all never seen a pumped up guy before in your life. Obviously Corey Cott hits the gym, good for him. I get some of you were having fun with those comments but still it is really tacky IMO. Part of me also wonders the comments some of you would make if some guys made similar comments about a body part of a good looking woman. I have a feeling you would be calling that guy a sexist pig, just saying.

 Anyway, the important thing is the show got some pretty decent reviews and let's hope they help the show stay around for awhile. 

[Zeppie2022]

Posted: 4/22/24 at 11:08pm

"Can Huey still perform?"

I believe due to hearing loss in both ears, Huey can no longer perform.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 4/22/24 at 11:12pm

RWPrincess said: "Can Huey still perform?


i have a ticket for the end of May and I'm kind of wondering if I should move ir up sooner. I really hope this one succeeds."

I’d move it up 3-4 weeks if I were you, unfortunately. 

Updated On: 4/22/24 at 11:12 PM

[quizking101]

Posted: 4/22/24 at 11:47pm

Jordan Catalano said: "Well Icouldn’t have enjoyed this any more than I did, tonight. Maybe the most fun show of the season and I 1000% will be back again. And probably again. And then one more again.


And those arms……"

Having seen pretty much everything that has opened, this was shockingly one of the better musical outings I’ve had. It’s completely unserious and knows exactly who their demographic is. It’s not afraid to be self aware and hits every single 80s trope like a neon game of whack-a-mole.

I was bopping along, laughing at some really good jokes (mostly by Tamika Lawrence) and just generally grinning like an idiot. I hope this gets some love. Jukebox musicals tend to let me down, but this one fills the gap that I had for Rock of Ages. 

[Wick3]

Posted: 4/23/24 at 12:01am

I was there too and had a blast!!! I thought the NYT review was quite short and would at least mention Cassandra’s dream sequence of what life would be like with her ex or the exercise segment led by Richard Simmons. For me, I also enjoyed Hell’s Kitchen but I’d see this musical Heart of Rock n Roll again and again.

The merch booth now has pins which is great and it was great to see Huey Lewis there in the lobby as well. 
 

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 4/23/24 at 12:07am

I was also there tonight and had a great time. Probably had a stupid grin on my face for most of it and I was uncontrollably bopping along. Easily the most fun to be had all season.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/23/24 at 12:09am

How cool was that to see Huey just hanging out in the lobby?! Lots of other Gen Xers just losing our cool seeing that. 

And yeah, that dream sequence and the Richard Simmons (the always amazing Tommy Bracco) opening of Act Two deserve special shout-outs. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/23/24 at 12:15am

Oh! And Tom Francis and Oliver Tompsett (original Shakespeare in "& Juliet") were there together tonight. They both seemed surprised I recognized them lol. 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 4/23/24 at 12:23am

Jordan Catalano said: "Oh! And Tom Francis and Oliver Tompsett (original Shakespeare in "& Juliet") were there together tonight. They both seemed surprised I recognized them lol."

I wish they could reprise their & Juliet roles in the States before the inevitable stunt-cast phase begins to keep the show alive.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/23/24 at 12:28am

As much as I loved Jordan Luke Gage as Romeo, Tom was my favorite so far to ever play the role - how amazing would it be for the two of them to just do a few months here? Ugh, I want it so bad lol

[RumTumJM]

Posted: 4/23/24 at 12:50am

What does everyone think, now that the reviews have come out?

Will the show run for a short while, or is it still likely to announce a closing, any day now? 

Most importantly, considering that I have a ticket for the Saturday, June 1st performance, should I be checking my calendar for open days, before then? HAHAHA!

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/23/24 at 12:57am

Oh my God. I just looked at both shows on Wednesday and there’s NOTHING sold. Thats a damn shame. 

[Mr. Wormwood]

Posted: 4/23/24 at 1:06am

RumTumJM said: "What does everyone think, now that the reviews have come out?

Will the show run for a short while, or is it still likely to announce a closing, any day now?

Most importantly, considering that I have a ticket for the Saturday, June 1st performance, should I be checking my calendar for open days, before then? HAHAHA!"

I think they'll hold out for Tony noms in hopes of a surprise Best Musical nomination (unlikely)

Sadly, I think this will probably be gone by June but I hope I'm wrong.

[Bill Snibson]

Posted: 4/23/24 at 1:07am

I mean, the show has been grossing about $250k per week, It needed across the board RAVES to help move the needle and I don't see that happening. It's a fine time if you get a comp or a deeply discounted ticket. The plot and conflict is so unbelievably stupid. Kudos to the supporting cast who are delivering great performances and god bless Corey Cott who does all the heavy lifting in a poorly written part that leads up to an 11 o'clock number that actually makes no sense. The conflict is all wrapped up via a deus ex machina that is worthy of an epic eye roll. Side note..the theater looks amazing and the seats in the balcony and the mezz are great. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 4/23/24 at 1:13am

The most damning thing about this show's abysmal advertising campaign is that I (a person who keeps tabs on almost all Broadway shows) only learned tonight via reviews that the show is:

• a musical comedy
• set in the 80s
• antics involving a cardboard factory
• featuring a himbo in a towel

Of course, a person could learn that with just a few minutes of reading, but most potential buyers won't give them that sort of time.

The entire press and advertising campaign so far has been so earnest, with avuncular Huey Lewis as the show's mouthpiece.

The campaign has told us absolutely nothing about the show except that it features Huey Lewis songs. If this show had a campaign even half as great as SHUCKED, they would have increased grosses by 50% so far. Not that SHUCKED's campaign led to Bway recoupment, but it had a much better start than this...

Updated On: 4/23/24 at 01:13 AM