By Matthew Wexler
Life isn’t easy for the residents of Muddirt, a “glow-in-the-dark oasis… somewhere between a chemical dump site and a nuclear power plant.” Bigfoot (yes, that one) has it particularly rough, forced to live in the forest on the outskirts of town despite having a heart of gold.
Writers Amber Ruffin, David Schmoll, and Kevin Sciretta have combined forces to deliver a much-needed musical romp this winter, an alternative to the onslaught of Off-Broadway productions tackling gut-punch issues like addiction, systemic bias, and familial trauma.
Don’t get me wrong. Bigfoot! has plenty to say about the environment and fear-based trust in nefarious leaders. It just happens to deliver it with a knockout cast and a nostalgic 80s pop score.
A furry leading man & the humans who feed the beast
Grey Henson (Shucked, Mean Girls) plays the title character with dry humor, spot-on timing, and affection, brought to life by Ricky Reynoso’s fantastically furry costume and makeup by J. Jared Jonas and Cassie Williams. But his human counterparts, character-flipping right before our eyes, feed the beast.
Stand-outs include Katerina McCrimmon (Fanny Brice on the recent Funny Girl national tour) as an overzealous bounty hunter, Crystal Lucas-Perry as Bigfoot’s emphysemic mother with vocal chops that could cause a mudslide, and SNL alum Alex Moffat as the moonwalking mayor who drinks washer fluid to get through the day.
While the score may not be particularly memorable, Schmoll’s orchestrations and arrangements maximize what’s there, further imbued with over-the-top zeal by the six-member cast. Tim Mackabee’s charming scenic design (Main Street USA gone awry) becomes their playground amid lighting-fast costume changes and plot twists.
Director-choreographer Danny Mefford (who also helmed the revival of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) shapes a wacky world that we all want to be a part of, even if it’s radioactive. With the help of casting director Jason Thinger, he’s created a unified and joyously diverse ensemble that’s game for a cautionary tale packaged as a campy romp.
Is ‘Bigfoot! A New Musical’ worth seeing?
4 out of 5 stars
Bigfoot! is a furry, funky love letter to misfits, packed with kooky characters, 80s synth-pop charm, and a heart bigger than its leading man’s footprint.
- New York City Center, Stage I, 131 West 55th Street, New York City
- Notable performers: Grey Henson, Jade Jones, Crystal Lucas-Perry, Katerina McCrimmon, Alex Moffat, and Jason Tam
- Running time: 90 minutes with no intermission
- Performances through April 26, 2026
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Off-Broadway Review:
