Matthew Murphy

Broadway Review: “Jaja’s African Hair Braiding” at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (Closed Sunday, November 19, 2023)

Manhattan Theatre Club is presenting a new Broadway production entitled “Jaja’s African Hair Braiding” penned by Jocelyn Bioh at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. Ms. Bioh has set her dramedy inside a hair braiding shop located in Harlem, during one entire day, and has filled the establishment with an array of colorful and outlandish employees and clientele. The occasional street…

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Broadway Review: “Here Lies Love” at the Broadway Theatre (Closed Sunday, November 26, 2023)

One of the best things about the new incarnation of the musical “Here Lies Love” which has recently opened at the Broadway Theatre, is that it does not rely on that common fact that Imelda Marcos had more than enough shoes. There are many other aspects of this production that make it an entertaining evening, including the cast, music, technology,…

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Broadway Review: “Shucked” at the Nederlander Theatre (Currently On)

After all the hype and waiting it is here. The new Broadway musical “Shucked,” with a book by Robert Horn, and music and lyrics by Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, has opened and is currently playing at The Nederlander Theatre. The result resembles the aftermath of a collision between “The Music Man” and “Hee Haw” that took place in a…

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Broadway Review: “& Juliet” at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre (Currently On)

Broadway has had quite a roster of juke box musicals grace the stage in the past and it seems that this season will add a few more to the archive. Opening at The Stephen Sondheim Theatre is “& Juliet” featuring music and lyrics by Max Martin and Friends and a book by David West Read. Songs from Mr. Martin’s repertoire…

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Broadway Review: “Almost Famous” at the Bernard Jacobs Theatre (Closed Sunday, January 8, 2023)

In heeding the advice mentor Lester Bangs gives young music journalist William Miller, the following comments will be “honest and unmerciful.” Fans of the movie “Almost Famous” released twenty-two years ago may have mixed feelings about the musical stage version now playing on Broadway at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre. On the one hand, book writer Cameron Crowe has religiously…

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Broadway Review: “Into the Woods” at the St. James Theatre (Currently On)

The most recent revival of the 1987 Broadway musical “Into the Woods” featuring music and lyrics from the late, great Stephen Sondheim is now making its triumphant return, playing at the St. James Theatre. It is without a doubt a fitting tribute to this musical theatre giant. Director Lear deBessonet has assembled an unrivaled cast of astute actors, who are…

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Off-Broadway Review: “A Commercial Jingle for Regina Comet” at the DR2 Theatre (Closed Sunday November 21, 2021)

The new musical “A Commercial Jingle for Regina Comet” with music, book and lyrics by Ben Fankhauser and Alex Wyse, who also star in the Off-Broadway production now occupying the DR2 Theater is old. That’s a compliment and a good thing. It comes across as a good old fashioned musical comedy from decades ago with a present-day spin. The book…

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Broadway News: “The Inheritance” at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre Announces Final Weeks on Broadway

Producers Tom Kirdahy, Sonia Friedman Productions, and Hunter Arnold announced today that Matthew Lopez’ acclaimed play, THE INHERITANCE, directed by Stephen Daldry, will conclude its Broadway run on Sunday, March 15th. THE INHERITANCE began previews on Broadway at the Ethel Barrymore Theater (243 West 47th street) on Friday, September 27th, 2019 and officially opened on Sunday, November 17th, 2019. At…

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Off-Broadway Review: “Sing Street” at New York Theatre Workshop

Quite a few audience members may be familiar with the 2016 film “Sing Street” which the new musical being presented at New York Theatre Workshop is based on and hails by the same name. Playwright Edna Walsh is responsible for transporting the work of John Carney to the stage after being so successful in their first collaboration with the production…

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Broadway Review: “Slave Play” at the Golden Theatre

“Slave Play,” currently running on Broadway at the Golden Theatre, reiterates the events on the fourth day of the Antebellum Sexual Performance Therapy being held at MacGregor Plantation, a few miles south of Richmond, Virginia. Three couples have signed up for the workshop to engage in the “radical therapy designed to help black partners re-engage intimately with white partners from…

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