WE HAD A WORLD - MTC

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 2/27/25 at 10:39am

Has anyone seen this one yet? 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 2/27/25 at 12:37pm

Not personally, but I've seen a few good reviews. 

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 2/27/25 at 12:46pm

I'm eager to hear about ''We Had a World'' by Joshua Harmon (''Bad Jews,'' ''Prayer for the French Republic'' and ''Significant Other,'' which I especially loved). And the cast consists of Joanna Gleason, Andrew Barth Feldman and Jeanine Seralles. But it just started previews Tuesday night (Feb. 25). Earlier that day, Manhattan Theatre Club announced a two-week extension. It opens March 19 and now plays through April 27. Granted, it's playing in MTC's Stage II, not the biggest theater: seating capacity, 150, but I'd hurry to buy ticckets.

Updated On: 2/27/25 at 12:46 PM

[dave1606]

Posted: 2/27/25 at 2:49pm

I caught this last night, I was so excited as I’ve loved Joshua Harmon plays, especially Prayer for the French Republic. I do not think this touches the brilliance of that play, but it is very very funny and quite moving still. This is an excellent showcase for all three actors, particularly Andrew Barth Feldman who anchors the show. Joanna Gleason is excellent as is Jeanine Serralles.

This is an excellent pairing with Conversations with Mother, (this could be called Conversations with Grandmother). I don’t think its perfect, there are definitely some things that could be trimmed, I think it would be more effective at 90 minutes rather than the 1:50 it is currently running, but I came out pretty satisfied and moved by the play. The ticket prices are high for this, but it’s a very small theater and I felt lucky to see fantastic actors in such a small space.

 

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 2/27/25 at 5:02pm

dave1606 said: "I caught this last night, I was so excited as I’ve loved Joshua Harmon plays, especially Prayer for the French Republic. I do not think this touches the brilliance of that play, but it is very very funny and quite moving still. This is an excellent showcase for all three actors, particularly Andrew Barth Feldman who anchors the show. Joanna Gleason is excellent as is Jeanine Serralles.

This is an excellent pairing with Conversations with Mother, (this could be called Conversations with Grandmother). I don’t think its perfect, there are definitely some things that could be trimmed, I think it would be more effective at 90 minutes rather than the 1:50 it is currently running, but I came out pretty satisfied and moved by the play. The ticket prices are high for this, but it’s a very small theater and I felt lucky to see fantastic actors in such a small space.

"

Thank you for the report. Can you tell me if it is 1:50 with or without an intermission? 

[Dan6]

Posted: 2/28/25 at 6:40pm

Anyone have a mailer/promo code for this?

[Melissa25]

Posted: 2/28/25 at 7:58pm

I doubt a promo code will be shared by MTC since it is already well sold and there are only 150 seats in Stage II.  

[VernonGersch]

Posted: 2/28/25 at 11:19pm

looks like this show is SELLING.   just scored a ticket.  Really liked PRAYER and SKINTIGHT and I don't think I have ever been in the small theater at New York City Center.  How is the back row in Orchestra?  It was all that was left 

Updated On: 2/28/25 at 11:19 PM

[drewalexander]

Posted: 3/1/25 at 1:01am

Saw this second preview and really enjoyed it! I sat front row center and highly recommend these seats if you’re able to get them. I felt a part of the world which was super cool, given how intimate the space is.

Andrew Barth Feldman is a knockout in this. Joanna Gleason broke my heart. The show gets a tad confusing towards some sections in the middle but , overall i’d definitely recommend this one. 

Funny, uplifting, heartbreaking. 

[VernonGersch]

Posted: 3/16/25 at 9:45am

For those that have seen or a have been to theater 2 at NYCC recently, would a seat 3rd row on the side be better than the last row in the middle?

Any folks have seen recently?  Curious to hear further opinions.

[theatergoer3]

Posted: 3/16/25 at 9:50am

I was third row and I would say it probably is. Due to the set up, you miss some things but being that close makes up for it.

Similar to Prayer, I loved this. Terrific trio and the script was fantastic. 

Updated On: 3/16/25 at 09:50 AM

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 3/16/25 at 11:01am

I adored this play. All of the actors are incredible. Joanna Gleason shattered my heart in the most beautiful way. Andrew is sublime and carries the play. Jeanine was a force of nature. It’s a very personal play for Harmon and it’s very moving. 
 

The theatre has stadium seating so I’d sit in the last row center rather than the side. My only gripe is playing $135 and having to sit in those hard stackable chairs for two hours. It’s really hard on the body. Especially with such an elderly audience base. I’d say 80% of the audience was over 60. 
 

Great to see such amazing actors in such a small space. I don’t see any discounts coming. Every show is selling out. 

[yyys]

Posted: 3/16/25 at 11:09am

There is really no bad seat in the house but I would prefer the last row center.  I got a seat on last row (side) and felt like my  seat should've been priced lower.

 

VernonGersch said: "For those that have seen or a have been to theater 2 at NYCC recently, would a seat 3rd row on the side be better than the last row in the middle?

Any folks have seen recently? Curious to hear further opinions."

 

[Melissa25]

Posted: 3/16/25 at 11:51am

I loved all the stories of how Josh (Feldman) and Renee (Gleason) would go to the movies, theater, ballet, museums and lunch. Great acting and direction in a very intimate thrust-like setting.  As much as I loved Feldman and Gleason, it is Jeanine Serralles’ performance as Josh’s mother that has haunted me since seeing it Wednesday evening. With the character of Ellen you really get to see some brilliant range of emotions as she navigates the love for her son, his love for his grandmother and her own hate/love for her mother Renee. All I can say is that I have loved Ellen even more since seeing this on Wednesday. 

I’m very glad that I got to see this and recommend it if you like family dramas.  I sat 3rd row center and it was great since it was stadium-like so there weren’t any heads blocking your vision.  If I had to pick a side, I’d go with the right because more action occurs stage left.

[raddersons]

Posted: 3/18/25 at 10:03pm

Wow what an incredibly moving piece this is. This so accurately portrays the complicated ebb and flow of relationships we have with our own parents and grandparents, our memories of them, and how we cope with when they conflict. These performances will stay with me for a long time. I agree that while all three are fantastic, Jeanine Serralles had the most difficult needle to thread and really just nailed it. 

I have to say it reminded me a lot of the biographical nature of Liberation at Roundabout, also fab. These “memory memoirs” really get to the heart of what a playwright wants to discuss and I’m a sucker for them.

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 3/19/25 at 9:31pm

NY Stage Review

WE HAD A WORLD: ‘VIRGINIA WOOLF, PART 2,’ WITH JOKES

By Steven Suskin

★★★★★ Playwright Joshua Harmon explores and explodes his roots, with Andrew Barth Feldman and Joanna Gleason

https://nystagereview.com/2025/03/19/we-had-a-world-virginia-woolf-part-2-with-jokes/

 

WE HAD A WORLD: A TOO FRACTURED MEMORY PLAY

By Frank Scheck

★★★☆☆ Andrew Barth Feldman, Joanna Gleason, and Jeanine Serralles star in Joshua Harmon's autobiographical family drama.

https://nystagereview.com/2025/03/19/we-had-a-world-a-too-fractured-memory-play/

[Dan6]

Posted: 3/19/25 at 9:38pm

Critic's pick from Maya Phillips: 

"Harmon’s script doesn’t feel as didactic or self-consciously stagy as many contemporary memory plays can be; it strikes an impressive balance of negotiating a story with many adverse emotional perspectives and moving parts while also maintaining a sense of honesty. I don’t just mean honesty in the sense of facts — though the verifiable biographical facts in Harmon’s story, and a bit of recorded material at the end, lend a gravitas to the characters and occurrences. I mean honesty in the sense of emotional transparency, the very real mix of love and resentment and insecurities and doubts that define all relationships, especially those within a family."

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/19/theater/we-had-a-world-review.html?unlocked_article_code=1.5U4.Q4bd.KTUDJiAlPDK5&smid=url-share

Updated On: 3/19/25 at 09:38 PM

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 3/19/25 at 9:49pm

Dan6 said: "Critic's pick from Jesse Green:

Maya Phillips was the reviewer.

[Dan6]

Posted: 3/19/25 at 10:16pm

MemorableUserName said: "Dan6 said: "Critic's pick from Jesse Green:

Maya Phillips was the reviewer."

Oops! Thanks, corrected.

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 3/19/25 at 11:27pm

These are uniform raves-- any chance it transfers?

[theatergoer3]

Posted: 3/19/25 at 11:32pm

I’m thrilled to see the reviews. Truly wonderful piece.

Harmon is a big enough writer to transfer but it might lose some of its power in a bigger space. 

Updated On: 3/19/25 at 11:32 PM

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 3/20/25 at 1:22am

Absolutely adored this. Harmon is probably my favorite playwright. Love all his stuff. I'd love to see this transfer just because it's so good and deserves to be seen by a bigger audience. But, there is very little I'd trade for the intimacy of this production. You really feel like you're in it with them. 

I'd say Harmon got my but in the seat and Gleason and Feldman got me excited. But it was Serralles who I walked away thinking about most. She was just so so good. All three of them were firing on all cylinders though. 

Glad this is getting deserving reviews!

[Melissa25]

Posted: 3/20/25 at 9:33pm

Extended again through 5/11.

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 3/23/25 at 2:27pm

Playbill.com: 'We Had a World' Offers the 'Best Part' Joanna Gleason's Gotten to Play in a Long Time

https://playbill.com/article/we-had-a-world-is-the-best-part-joanna-gleasons-gotten-to-play-in-a-long-time

[bwayobsessed]

Posted: 3/23/25 at 2:45pm

I want to buy tix but the ticketing website is so bad it won’t load. Anyone else experience this?