Directed by Susan Stroman
Synopsis: Happiness -- a new musical by John Weidman, Scott Frankel, and Michael Korie -- is about a disparate group of New Yorkers caught on a subway train under unusual circumstances.
NEW YORK TIMES:
"You, it seems, have been caught inside an intermission-free, 1 hour 50 minute singing version of one of those whimsical, metaphysical fantasy novels that dominate the best-seller list around Christmastime and tend to have “heaven” in their titles. Well, that or a particularly preachy episode of “The Twilight Zone.”"
Read the whole review HERE.
NEW YORK POST:
"After that, the dancing inexplicably subsides and the show settles into a predictable rhythm as each character strolls down memory lane. And I mean strolls: "Happiness" feels too long at an intermissionless 110 minutes. Even the songs, by the "Grey Gardens" team of lyricist Michael Korie and composer Scott Frankel, overstay their welcome."
Read the whole review HERE.
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS:
"The announcement for the frustrating new show "Happiness" at Lincoln Center could be trimmed to "Stand clear." This is one musical ride that never leaves the station."
Read the whole review HERE.
THEATERMANIA:
"While the foremost pitfall of an exercise of this sort, beyond miniaturizing major themes, is the tendency to sappiness, the creators and their superb cast skirt both dangers with unceasing snap and polish."
Read the whole review HERE.
VARIETY:
"But despite the best intentions of everyone involved, and the resources of Lincoln Center Theater, this underwhelming meditation on mortality doesn't resonate at all."
Read the whole review HERE.
BACKSTAGE:
"Alan Jay Lerner once said, "Only the truly talented can be truly terrible." Happiness is far from terrible, but here's hoping its truly talented creators are already at work on their next show. Nobody gets it right every time."
Read the whole review HERE.
NEWSDAY:
"Oh, dear. As if the MTA didn't have enough trouble, here comes "Happiness" - Susan Stroman's disappointing new musical about nine New Yorkers stuck in a subway car."
Read the whole review HERE.
