Matthew Murphy

Broadway Review: “Bug” at Manhattan Theatre Club’s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (Currently On)

Twenty-nine years after its London premiere, Tracy Letts’ “Bug” has finally crawled onto Broadway at Manhattan Theatre Club’s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, and the question that matters most isn’t whether this David Cromer-directed production succeeds or fails—it’s whether Cromer understood what play he was directing. “Bug” is a psychiatric horror about folie à deux, the clinical term for shared psychotic…

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Broadway Review: “Chess” at the Imperial Theatre (Through Sunday, May 3, 2026)

December 16, 2025 | Broadway > | "Chess", Aaron Tveit, Adam Halpin, Aleksandr Ivan Pevec, Aliah James, Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, Bradley Dean, Brian Usifer, Bryce Pinkham, Casey Garvin, costume design by Tom Broecker, Daniel Beeman, Danny Strong, Emma Degerstedt, Fredric Rodriguez Odgaard, Hair, Hannah Cruz, Jason Thinger CSA, Jim Carnahan CSA, Johanna McKeon, Joseph Verlezza, Katerina Papacostas, Katie Webber, Kyla Bartholomeusz, Lea Michele, lighting design by Kevin Adams, Lorin Latarro, Matthew Murphy, Michael Mayer, Michael Milkanin, Michael Olaribigbe, New York Theatre Reviews, Nicholas Christopher, Ramone Nelson, Regine Sophia, Samantha Pollino, Sarah Meahl, Sarah Michele Lindsey, scenic design by David Rockwell, Sean Allan Krill, Sean MacLaughlin, Shavey Brown, sound design by John Shivers, Sydney Jones, Theatre Reviews, Theatre Reviews Limited, Tim Rice, Travis Waldschmidt, video design by Peter Nigrini, Wig and Makeup Design are by Luc Verschueren for Campbell Young Associates

The recent revival of “Chess “on Broadway comes nearly forty years after its first opening on London’s West End in 1986, with a subsequent move to Broadway after major revisions, in 1988. The Broadway production directed by Trevor Nunn closed after two months recording good attendance, but unfavorable financial returns. This recent incarnation, deftly directed by Michael Mayer, confines the…

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Broadway Review: “Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)” (Currently On)

December 2, 2025 | Broadway > | "Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)", Christiani Pitts, Jim Barne, Joseph Verlezza, Kit Buchan, Lighting Design by Jack Knowles Sound Design by Tony Gayle, Matthew Murphy, Music Supervision by Nick Finlow, New York Theatre Reviews, Orchestrations by Lux Pyramid, Sam Tutty, Scenic and Costume Design by Soutra Gilmour, The Longacre Theatre, Theatre Reviews, Theatre Reviews Limited, Tim Jackson

The recently opened new Broadway musical “Two Strangers Carry A Cake Across New York” leans towards the formula of a savvy rom com that is unassuming and charming, thanks to Christiani Pitts and Sam Tutty, who star in this two-hander. They are challenged by the superficial and at times rambling script penned by Jim Barne and Kit Buchan, who are…

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Broadway Review: “Ragtime” at Lincoln Center Theater’s Vivian Beaumont Theater (Currently On)

October 26, 2025 | Broadway, Music > | “Ragtime”, 59 Studio (projection design), Adam Honoré (Lighting Design), Alan Wiggins, Allison Blackwell, Ann James (sensitivity specialist), Anna Grace Barlow, Ben Levi Ross, Billy Cohen, Brandon Uranowitz, Briana Carlson-Goodman, Caissie Levy, Colin Donnell, David Jennings, David Korins (scenic design), Deandre Sevon, Eean Sherrod Cochran, Ellenore Scott (choreography), Ellie Fishman, Ellie May Sennett, Jackson Parker Gill, Jacob Keith Watson, Jason Forbach, Jenny Mollet, John Clay III, John Rapson, Jordan Chin, Joseph Verlezza, Joshua Henry, Kai Harada (Sound Design), Kaleb Johnson, Kane Emmanuel Miller, Kayla Pecchioni, Kent Overshown, Kerry Conte, Lauren Blackman, Lincoln Center Theater, Linda Cho (Costume Design), Marina Kondo, Matthew Murphy, Matthew Scott, Morgan Marcell, Music Director James Moore, New York Theatre Reviews, Nichelle Lewis, Nicholas Barrón, Nick Barrington, Nick Gaswirth, Rheaume Crenshaw, Rodd Cyrus, Shaina Taub, Stephen Flaherty, Ta’Nika Gibson, Tabitha Lawing, The Telsey Office, The Telsey Office Craig Burns CSA (casting), Theatre Reviews, Theatre Reviews Limited, Tom Nelis, Tom Watson (hair and wig design), Vivian Beaumont Theater, William David Brohn

It is very rare that a revival of a musical is imagined better than the original production and exceptional that its message is more relevant now than when it first opened on Broadway nearly thirty years ago in 1997, garnering four Tony Awards. That is the case for the glorious revival of “Ragtime” with a book penned by Terrence McNally,…

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Broadway Review: “Punch” at Manhattan Theatre Club’s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (Closed on Sunday, November 2, 2025))

“You always step in,” Jacob Dunne (Will Harrison) tells us from the stage of the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, explaining the code of the Meadows housing estate where loyalty means throwing fists without thinking. “Always. With a mate. No matter where, no matter what.” This philosophy—this toxic, tribal, inevitable logic—will cost James Hodgkinson his life in a single, unprovoked punch…

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Broadway Review: “ART” at the Music Box Theatre (Through Sunday, December 21, 2025)

September 21, 2025 | Broadway > | "ART", Bobby Cannavale, David Roberts, David Rockwell (Set Design), James Corden, Jen Schriever (lighting design), Kid Harpoon (Original Music), Linda Cho (Costume Design), Matthew Murphy, Mikaal Sulaiman (sound design), Music Box Theatre, Neil Patrick Harris, New York Theatre Reviews, Theatre Reviews, Theatre Reviews Limited

Everyone has been there: that moment when a close friend reveals something about their taste, their values, their inner life that makes you wonder if you ever really knew them at all. “ART” turns that uncomfortable recognition into ninety minutes of brilliant theatrical warfare. Under Scott Ellis’s direction, Bobby Cannavale (Marc), James Corden (Yvan), and Neil Patrick Harris (Serge) bring…

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Broadway Review: “Dead Outlaw” at the Longacre Theatre (Closed Sunday, June 29, 2025)

May 1, 2025 | purpose, the lion king, Uncategorized > | "Dead Outlaw", and Dean Sharenow (orchestrations), Andrew Durand as Elmer McCurdy, Ani Taj (choreography), Arnulfo Maldonado (scenic design), Casting is by Tara Rubin Casting/Peter Van Dam, Casting is by Tara Rubin Casting/Peter Van Dam CSA., CSA, Cynthia Cahill serves as Production Stage Manager, Dashiell Eaves as Louis/Charles Patterson, David Cromer, David Yazbek, Dean Sharenow (music supervision), Eddie Cooper as Coroner Johnson, Emily Fink, Erik Della Penna, Graham Stevens, Heather Gilbert (lighting design), Itamar Moses, J. Jared Janas (hair & wig design), Jeb Brown as Band Leader/Jarrett, Joseph Verlezza, Julia Knitel as Helen/Maggie, Justin Gregory Lopez, Kai Harada (Sound Design), Ken Marks as George, Matthew Murphy, Max Sangerman, New York Theatre Reviews, Noah Plomgren, Rebekah Bruce (music direction), Sarah Laux (costume design), Scott Stangland, The Longacre Theatre, Theatre Reviews, Theatre Reviews Limited, Thom Sesma as Coroner Noguchi, Trent Saunders as Andy Payne

Only in America, where greed, fame, crime and capitalism reign and members of a civilized society aspire to become part of the materialistic regime, can you discover the story of Elmer J. McCurdy, a futile outlaw who was gunned down in 1911. The new musical, which opened at the Minetta Lane Theatre off-Broadway last season, is now playing at the…

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Broadway Review: “Smash” at the Imperial Theatre (Closed Sunday, June 22, 2025)

April 15, 2025 | Broadway, Music > | "Smash", Bella Coppola, Bob Martin, Brooks Ashmanskas, Caroline Bowman, Casey Garvin, Chelle Denton, Connor McRory, costume design by Alejo Vietti, dance and incidental music arrangements by Sam Davis, Daniel Gaymon, David Paul Kidder, Deanna Cudjoe, Ian Liberto, Imperial Theatre, J Savage, Jacob Burns, Jacqueline B. Arnold, Jake Trammel, John Behlmann, Johnny Milani, Joseph Verlezza, Joshua Bergasse, Katie Webber, Kristine Nielsen, Krysta Rodriguez, Libby Lloyd, lighting design by Ken Billington, Marc Shaiman, Matthew Murphy, McGee Maddox, Megan Kane, Merritt David Janes, music supervision by Stephen Oremus, Ndaya Dream Hoskins, New York Theatre Reviews, Nicholas Matos, orchestrations by Doug Besterman, projection design by S Katy Tucker, Rick Elice, Robyn Hurder, Sarah Bowden, scenic design by Beowulf Boritt, Scott Wittman, sound design by Brian Ronan, Susan Stroman, Theatre Reviews, Theatre Reviews Limited, Wendi Bergamini

The new musical “Smash,” opening on Broadway at the Imperial Theatre, creates more than one bombshell, strategically detonating a multitude of explosive twists, turns, and powerful production numbers, to create a good old-fashioned musical. Never having seen the popular television show of the same name, there were no comparisons or expectations to be fulfilled, so this production seemed fresh and…

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Broadway Review: “The Last Five Years” at the Hudson Theatre (Closed Sunday, June 22, 2025)

April 14, 2025 | Broadway, last five, Music > | "The Last Five Years", choreography by Jeff Kuperman and Jeff Kuperman, Cody Renard Richard, costume design by Dede Ayite, Hudson Theatre, Jason Robert Brown, Joseph Verlezza, Lighting design by Stacey Derosier, Matthew Murphy, New York Theatre Reviews, set design by David Zinn, sound design by Cody Spencer, Theatre Reviews, Theatre Reviews Limited, Whitney White, wig and hair design by Mia Neal

“The Last Five Years” featuring a book, music and lyrics, by Jason Robert Brown, has had a long journey since first opening in Chicago in 2001. It has had two off Broadway runs, two London runs (one West End), it was made into a film, and it has now finally arrived on Broadway at the Hudson Theatre. It is a…

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Broadway Review: BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB™ at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (Currently On)

March 29, 2025 | Broadway, ghosts, Music > | Angélica Beliard, Anthony Santos, Arabella Powell, Ashley De La Rosa, BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB™, Carlos Falú, costumes by Dede Ayite, Da’von Moody, David Oquendo (Guitar), Eddie Venegas (Trombone), Frankie Ramirez, Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, Gustavo Schartz (Bass), hair & make-up by J. Jared Janas, Héctor Juan Maisonet, Hery Paz (Woodwinds), Ilda Mason, Isa Antonetti, Jainardo Batista Sterling, Javier Díaz (Percussion), Javier Diaz and David Oquendo, Jesus Ricardo (Trumpet), Joseph Verlezza, Juan de Marcos, Julio Monge, Justin Cunningham, Leonardo Reyna, lighting by Tyler Micoleau, Marco Paguia (Piano, Marco Ramirez, Marielys Molina, Matthew Murphy, Mauricio Herrera (Percussion), Mel Semé, Music Director), Natalie Venetia Belcon, New York Theatre Reviews, Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck, Renesito Avich, Román Diaz (Percussion), Saheem Ali, scenery by Arnulfo Maldonado, Sophia Ramos, sound by Jonathan Deans, Tara Rubin Casting, Theatre Reviews, Theatre Reviews Limited, Wesley Wray, Wigs, Xavier Rubiano CSA

The creative team for the musical “Buena Vista Social Club” have been hard at work making a few changes in preparation for its Broadway debut after a successful run at the Atlantic Theater. The most notable alteration is the transition from a small off-Broadway stage to the considerably larger stage of the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. Although, at no fault of…

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