by Jerry Portwood
The spectacle begins as you enter Theater 555, far west of Broadway’s twinkling lights. But The Crimson, a makeshift lobby bar with specialty cocktails, sets the scene of what’s to come once inside: crimson uplights, haze, and pre-show music (The Cure, Nine Inch Nails) feel goth-adjacent. “Welcome to Hell,” the voiceover intones before the over-the-top “vampire pop opera” Blood/Love erupts.
So much talent has been amassed for this production that it’s difficult to parse it all out. At many points, it gives Phantom of the Opera vibes, which makes sense: director Hunter Bird is part of the creative team for Masquerade, the immersive reimagining of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. Blood/Love embraces a similar heady mix of sentimental camp and romantic gothic drama, but with a contemporary beat.
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Carey Renee Sharpe stars as Valerie Bloodlove, the world’s first vampire, and also co-wrote the rock-tinged musical with Dru DeCaro (who wields his electric guitar onstage). The story, in a nutshell: Valerie’s immortal existence is challenged when she falls for mortal rock star Anzick (Christopher M. Ramirez), who has sold his soul to the devil, forcing her to choose between her own survival and a love that demands ultimate self-sacrifice.
Both of her vampire sidekicks—fashionista Demetrius (Zephaniah Divine Wages) and party girl Cleo (Brooke Simpson)—can belt like nobody’s business. Jonathan and Oksana Platero (Dancing With the Stars) and Natalie Malotke’s whiplash choreography serves sexy ballroom set to bangers, bops, and ballads. And throw in a tango, why not!
Bursting with creativity, it’s incredible that so much can be packed into Theater 555’s relatively small space. Much of the spectacle can be attributed to set designer Jason Ardizzone-West, who’s crafted a turntable(to dispatch bodies quickly), a stage lift, and LED flats—coupled with stunning video (59 Studio) and light design (Japhy Weideman). Plus, the costumes (Alex & Juli Abene)—a resplendent mix of satins, silks, pearls, leather, lace, and spikes—are a visual feast.
Blood/Love has big ambition, and with The Lost Boys arriving on Broadway this spring, it’ll be interesting to see which vampire musical bites harder.
Is ‘Blood/Love’ worth seeing?
4 out of 5 stars
Blood/Love is a goth-glam fever dream with genuine theatrical ambition: messy in the best possible way, and impossible to look away from.
- Theater 555, 555 W 42nd Street, New York
- Notable performers: Carey Renee Sharpe, Christopher M. Ramirez, Brooke Simpson, Zephaniah Divine Wages, Jonathan Platero, Oksana Platero
- Running time: 90 minutes with no intermission
- Performances through May 10, 2026
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