why Stereophonic is the best new play on Broadway | ★★★★★ review

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OHMYGOD HEY!
Earlier this year I travelled to New York to see upwards of 20 Broadway and Off-Broadway Shows and during that trip I snagged a pair of rush tickets to see the transfer of the hit new play STEREOPHONIC.
The play, written by David Adjmi and directed by Daniel Aukin, had an acclaimed off-Broadway run and is now playing at the Golden Theatre, where it has been nominated for a record number of Tony Awards.
Check out this video review to find out why this just might be my new favourite show on Broadway right now...
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00:00 | introduction
02:15 | synopsis / material
10:07 | cast + creatives
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#theatre #newyork #broadway

[@browneyes142a]

One of the things I love about this casting is that, other than the drummer, these actors only had very basic experience with their instruments. I really appreciate the way they cast it.

[@rosebyanyname]

Last Sunday I waited six hours in a rush line to see “Stereophonic,” & it was beyond worth it. Just a sublime piece of theater from everyone involved.

[@yankee04]

Saw it last week. It was excellent. So real! It didn’t feel like over 3 hours. I feel lucky to have seen it. Very impressed the actors learned to play the instruments so well.

[@joshuaklein8465]

Got front row seats via rush and thought it was one of the most brilliant things I've ever seen on stage. One thing I appreciated being in the front was the nuances of Juliana Canfield's performance especially. She had so many little moments like slight facial reactions and whatnot that idk if I would have grabbed from further back.

[@LPM12]

Having seen it at Playwrights and the Golden, the show only got better...and it was fantastic the first time around when I saw it...I knew it was going to Broadway the moment the curtain came down. And for a show over 3 hours long, it SURE does NOT feel like it. I couldve watched 3 more hours tbh. It's not only the best play of this Broadway season, but I would argue it is one of the best shows of this season too. In my Top 5 for sure.

[@dylansmith1833]

This show is just an absolute masterpiece! My father grew up during this era of music, and he agrees that this was indeed the golden age of rock music. To have a show shine a light on this era of music but be a fictional band with original music is incredible. While Butler's score is new and original, it is amazing to have a score written in the style of 70's rock. To anyone here who is in or planning to visit New York, GO SEE THIS PLAY! They just extended it to January; it is a hot ticket right now, so go while you can get tickets. I definitely will be seeing this again!

[@browneyes142a]

Another thing that really interested me about the development of this is that instead of focusing on listening to 70s music and trying to recreate it, Butler listened to 50s music. He wanted to listen to the music that the people who wrote the music in the 70s were listening to.

[@yankee04]

And it will be an even hotter ticket after the Tony’s!

[@toric6005]

You’ve convinced me Mickey. I’m getting tickets now

[@origami_wasp]

Best play I saw on my trip for sure

[@kimber11buddha]

I finally get to see this in a few days! I love the music already… Will Butler is a genius. I can’t wait for this show. Thanks so much for your review- I was eagerly awaiting this video!

[@ChristopherButler-um2ko]

I definitely want to see more of this director's work. He is masterful about the "little"details. Way too many directors imo are too concerned about the big picture and the production suffers. This unfortunately is encouraged by many producers. What house in the West End do you think this would play best in? Oh, Floyd Collins has been announced for Lincoln Center!🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@lennies_mindful_life]

Its my favourite soundtrack currently

[@annamlanave]

Yippee! I have been patiently waiting for this!🎉

[@nicolemellion5272]

I absolutely love this show. I saw it a couple months ago, and can't stop thinking about it and listening to the album.

[@joannekatende]

Beautiful piece of theatre. Loved the band dynamics and the music itself.

[@rachi5212]

Soooo happy this has been extended so I can get to see it!

[@origami_wasp]

Just bought the whole album! It's fabulous The set was 10/10, I enjoyed looking around at the small details and shaggy carpets

[@benjaminwaterhouse9417]

Stereophonic has now been confirmed to be playing at the Tony's this year!

[@origami_wasp]

That's awesome!

[@barbaraz8264]

Seeing it in 2 weeks. Cannot wait!

[@genevieveweston671]

Thank you for explaining why this is a play, not a musical. Separate note, I love the color of your sweater.

[@decipherthemind]

Was in the audience for Drama Desks last night and watched it sweep...might have to check it out

[@LittleMissLion]

I thought it might be about the band Stereophonics, who i really like, but this still sounds rad.

[@mwmheps]

I did really enjoy Stereophonic on the whole (love the music making process, love the complexity of the characters, really loved the music itself) but I gotta say I totally disagree with you on the success of the accents 😅 maybe it was just because I hadn’t seen any mention of them and my expectations were in general very high going in overall, but I found them quite distracting at times in taking me out of the immersion. I was front row far left and did wonder if being so close made it more noticeable to me. So doesn’t beat Merrily for me! I would happily watch it again though!

[@angelagoldman5899]

I should have asked this to everyone in my previous post- dis the actors look happy at their curtain call? On our night, they looked distinctly…not happy even though they were greeted with a standing ovation.

[@jasminda2401]

I saw this show at playwrights last december. I didn't really notice any changes between the show then and now. The show is just as amazing as it was off-broadway, but being second row, completely level with the stage was incredible. Not something you can get at the golden, unfortunately.

[@leahjennings9181]

Apparently the house boats monologue was originally like 30 pages long. I’d pay good money to read all 30 pages

[@MickeyJoTheatre]

I feel like we could crowdfund this because I'm right there with you

[@leahjennings9181]

@@MickeyJoTheatre I think the time is done, but they should sell it for BCEFA.

[@starlove7474]

It was fabulous!

[@shout467]

What happened to the Sarah brightman sunset video?? Came back to watch the rest and can’t find it 😅

[@browneyes142a]

So bummed my work schedule changed for next week and had to sell my ticket. I will be having to buy partial view. Do you think I'd miss more by being high up at the top of rear mezz or far to the side in the orchestra. Also, better to be far left or far right?

[@dylansmith1833]

You would be better off with Rear Mezz. You may miss some heads when the actors are in the studio, but that's about it. I've heard that the far ends of the orchestra up close are the worst seats because of how the set is designed.

[@MickeyJoTheatre]

Adding to Dylan's advice to say I think far left is better than far right!

[@mwmheps]

I was front row on the far left, it wasn’t too bad but definitely missed some of what was going on in the studio and wished I’d been a bit further back!

[@patiencekillz]

oh my godd i’m so jealous, this sounds exactly like something i’d become obsessed with. like a better daisy jones and the six

[@scswp6945]

What’s happened to your Sunset Boulevard Australia video? It has disappeared! I was looking forward to watching it.

[@deansproductions]

What happened to the sunset boulevard video?!

[@hannahdelagrense5084]

This also sounds very much like Daisy Jones and the six, which I think was also based on the Fleetwood Mac story too tbh. Wish I could see this but I'm w UK resident so no luck there.....do you think it might come this way at some point???

[@MickeyJoTheatre]

I do! Wouldn't be surprised if we see it somewhere like the Harold Pinter Theatre in 2025.

[@SpiritMystery777]

Your reference to "Girl from North Country," I'm curious about your review of that show.....

[@susanpolastaples9688]

So Diana is the Stevie Nix character? No wonder you raved about Stereophonic I the NYC vlogs. Hoping Sara wins Tony

[@donbrown1284]

Mick Fleetwood lives here in Hawaii. I wonder if he's seen the play.

[@donbrown1284]

Wow -- would I love to see Bradley Cooper direct this with him as Peter and Lady Gaga as Diana!

[@allisonbaby7477]

So... is the band supposed to be Fleetwood Mac? Because this sounds exactly like the story of Rumours. (I read a book by the sound engineer. This sounds like what I was reading there.)

[@yankee04]

Yes, loosely based on Fleetwood Mac.

[@mshalo1822]

People can say what they want- it’s about Fleetwood Mac- even right down to the discussion of the title of the next album they were recording (I don’t remember word for word, but something about a prehistoric animal- and I said to myself “right- they’re talking about ‘Tusk’”)

[@origami_wasp]

PLEASE PLEASE let it go to the West End

[@Roadtripper5432]

Interesting. I really want to see it and I can't wait to see the bits that will be shown on The Tonys. It sounds like a mix between Virginia Woolf, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, and the Documentary Now episode about the fake Co-Op musical recording lol kzbin.info/www/bejne/anmod4ucgNyNack

[@aschmarkl]

Just got extended to January!!!!!

[@MickeyJoTheatre]

Thrilled! I will be going back, possibly to do a 2 show day of this and The Hills of California, while dressed for the 70s.

[@aschmarkl]

What they are calling costumes I refer to the stuff in the back of my closet that no longer fits

[@angelagoldman5899]

We saw it last night and agreed that it was good, not great. Get Back, the documentary on the creation of songs for the Beatles’ famous rooftop concert is far more compelling. It gives you a similar “fly on the wall “ sense of the group’s dynamics as the relationships within the group are deteriorating and you also get to see the actual creative process behind some classic Beatles songs.

[@Wildcat612]

Loved this play! One quibble I had, and I wonder if anyone else thought the same: while Sarah Pidgeon was very talented (that moment of her recording the high note which you also mentioned-- amazing!), her performance didn't give me 1970s like the others in the cast. It gave me "Upper East Side girl in 2024." Frankly not sure whether it was the characterization or her portrayal, but it did take me out of the story a few times. Loved Eli Gelb and particularly Will Brill. Will Brill should be the next big character actor. (The Coen Brothers need to cast him immmmmediately.)

[@ronnycheung4162]

i watched it in April with the rush ticket which gave me one of the worst seats in the house. i was on the wall with a fixture in front of me. and i can't see most of the sound booth. also maybe because my native language is not English, it makes it hard for me to understand all the dialogue. i can't stop falling asleep during the very long dialogue. i think if someone who are not familiar with the music history at the time like me, may wanna learn a little bit about the story before going. also it really feels like a documentary so even though they are arguing, the pace is really slow. i really wish i enjoy the show like everyone else. it's worth the money to get a better seat that you can see the actor's expression and tension. it's kinda lost when i'm sitting all the way up and on the side.

[@AllofTimeandSpace]

I so wanted to love this show but I just don’t get why it’s the most Tony nominated play of all time. It does have good performances and music but it just feels like any band documentary but onstage. It also should have been a lot shorter, 3 hours felt like a stretch and there should have been more music after the intermission. It just doesn’t feel like it lives up to its reputation.

[@DougSuna]

Wow how I disagree. The avid theater going couple next to me walked out at intermission. I gave it a C+ and my wife a D. The first half of the show was a highly disjointed set of skits. The second half was less disjointed, but too little too late. Fantastic acting and set but this show gets beyond too much hype. Critics overweight shows about artists- anyone who sees a lot of movies and plays as I do know that’s a risk of believing these reviews

[@MickeyJoTheatre]

Of course you're entitled to your opinion, especially as someone who sees a lot of shows! At the same time, this year's Tony voters and nominators have also seen a decent amount 😉

[@michaelsburnett]

It was not as effective as Jaja and French Republic both of which played at MTC. Therefore in my opinion it is not the BEST play of the season.

[@Vino-bv5ic]

Because Bwy is limping along, this show gets raves. Absurdo !

[@jeffkoons001]

I think there were many man other plays which opened this season both on and off Broadway that didn't get raves, despite the fact that Broadway is "limping along" -- try again!

[@fairamir1]

Since it is catagorized as a play...and nominated a a play.....then the music probably should not be eligible for best score of a musical. No biggie as it will not win...unless they make a huge mistake on best score like they did in 2017.

[@christopherrex8203]

The official category name for Best Score is Best Original Score (Music and / or Lyrics written for Theatre) so plays are usually eligible even if it is just for underscoring, they just rarely get nominated.

[@fairamir1]

@@christopherrex8203 Perhaps they should adjust the name

[@fairamir1]

Side note Micky: Grow in the beard.....and get to a hairdresser....that long hair middle part is not doing you any favors...!

[@user-rw7tw5tx6h]

Sorry Micky, but I have to agree about the hair. (I have no problem with the beard length.) Your habit of constantly sweeping your hair aside with both hands is distracting and robs you of a bit of your gravitas -- hey, it's fun to be fun and you are fun. But you're a serious critic. Excellent. Losing just a bit of the fandom would help. But don't change much. Your enthusiasm is infectious, and your knowledge truly impressive. You are thoroughly absorbing, watchable and listenable just as you are.

[@fairamir1]

@@user-rw7tw5tx6h Cut the hair...then gell it and spike it...would look good on you. Just make sure your hair dresser is gay !

[@Chibbykins]

​@@user-rw7tw5tx6h oh please. You talk like you're his mother. He's had one 'bad' hair day, it shouldn't stop anyone taking him seriously. He's still pretty as a picture and I spent half the video listening to him and *not* looking at him while I painted my nails

[@user-rw7tw5tx6h]

@@Chibbykins It was a suggestion. He's of course free to ignore it. I praised his work, which is far, far more important.