musical Archives - 1 Minute Critic

Reviews

‘Hair’ can still spark a revolution, and this Chicago revival proves it

Lauren Emily Whalen Jul 20, 2026 0

'Hair' hasn't lost its bite. Discover why Kokandy Productions' Chicago revival earns a full five stars.

Jennifer Nettles in "Giulia: The Poison Queen of Palermo."

Reviews

Jennifer Nettles can write a hit. ‘Giulia: The Poison Queen of Palermo’ needs more

Matthew Wexler Jul 17, 2026 0

Grammy winner Jennifer Nettles takes on a 17th-century poisoner's legend in 'Giulia,' now playing at PAC NYC.

Reviews

‘The Potluck’ conjures ghosts of the Greensboro Massacre that fade too soon

Steven Vargas Jul 15, 2026 0

On November 3, 1979, members of the Ku Klux Klan and the American Nazi Party murdered five demonstrators in a…

Hot Sec

Dolly Parton’s new Broadway musical has us clocking in early, nerves and all

Matthew Wexler Jul 7, 2026 0

Dolly Parton's 'Dolly: A True Original Musical' is Broadway-bound this winter. Here's what has us excited, and a little nervous.

Megan Mullally (center) and the cast of "Iceboy!"

Reviews

‘Iceboy!’ at the Goodman: two Emmy winners and one very cold script

Lauren Emily Whalen Jun 30, 2026 0

Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman headline 'Iceboy!' at Chicago's Goodman Theatre, but the show around them never quite thaws.

Betsy Wolfe and Jennifer Simard in "Death Becomes Her."

Hot Sec

The $31.5 million question: Will ‘Death Becomes Her’ find life on the road?

Matthew Wexler Jun 29, 2026 2

"Death Becomes Her" has closed on Broadway, but it wasn't a verdict on the show—it was math. The national tour…

Lauren 'Lolo' Pritchard and Stephen Michael Spencer in "Music City."

Reviews

‘Music City’ screams Nashville until one performer just lives it

Lindsay B. Davis Jun 25, 2026 0

In "Music City," a scrappy, Nashville-inspired Off-Broadway jukebox musical oversells its opening, then Lauren "LOLO" Pritchard arrives.

Billy Porter and the cast of "La Cage aux Folles."

Reviews

Wayne Brady and Billy Porter find the heart of ‘La Cage aux Folles.’ Everything else needs a little more mascara

Matthew Wexler Jun 24, 2026 0

Billy Porter and Wayne Brady anchor 'La Cage aux Folles' at Encores!. But the direction and design drift far from…

The 2026 Off-Broadway production of Label•less.

Reviews

In ‘Label•less,’ every monologue is followed by a song. The music always wins

Matthew Wexler Jun 18, 2026 0

Drew & Lea Lachey's 'Label-less' has a script that stumbles, but vocals too good to miss.

Netza Jimenez and Cornelius Kittrell in "Freak The Mighty."

Reviews

‘Freak The Mighty’ has a star-making performance at its center and an identity crisis everywhere else

Matthew Wexler Jun 11, 2026 0

Cornelius Kittrell shines in Cleveland Play House's world premiere, but this ambitious new musical hasn't yet decided who it's playing…

‘Hair’ can still spark a revolution, and this Chicago revival proves it

Jennifer Nettles can write a hit. ‘Giulia: The Poison Queen of Palermo’ needs more

‘The Potluck’ conjures ghosts of the Greensboro Massacre that fade too soon

Dolly Parton’s new Broadway musical has us clocking in early, nerves and all

‘Iceboy!’ at the Goodman: two Emmy winners and one very cold script

The $31.5 million question: Will ‘Death Becomes Her’ find life on the road?

‘Music City’ screams Nashville until one performer just lives it

Wayne Brady and Billy Porter find the heart of ‘La Cage aux Folles.’ Everything else needs a little more mascara

In ‘Label•less,’ every monologue is followed by a song. The music always wins

‘Freak The Mighty’ has a star-making performance at its center and an identity crisis everywhere else

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Ciara Renée turns the basement lounge at ‘Masquerade’ into a Parisian cabaret

These 10 LA live music venues prove the show starts before anyone takes the stage

What is art? What is crime? Colson Whitehead’s ‘Cool Machine’ lets its characters argue it out

In Ann Patchett’s ‘Whistler,’ a chance reunion never finds its footing