Bandstand NYC Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (1,061)
See it if you are looking for a show that has fantastic choreography. The show tells a riveting story that has a amazing cast that never disappoints.
Don't see it if you do not like swing music. PTSD is a major theme of this show and should not be seen by those who are uncomfortable with the subject.
See it if you enjoy fantastic singing and dancing along with well staged musical based on a serious topic.
Don't see it if veteran stories hit a little too close to home, or want to leave the theatre singing a memorable tune.
See it if you want to see a show that has something important to say but says it in a fun way with great music.
Don't see it if you don't like musicals that are not completely happy all the time or you don't like swing music.
See it if for a poignant portrait of WWII servicemen & widow bonding & healing through music they perform; a moving, relatable story & tribute to vets
Don't see it if you're painfully sensitive to stories of veterans' struggles acclimating to life post-service or you dislike swing or dance-laden musicals Read more
See it if You like the blues, swing dancing and a hearfelt storyline
Don't see it if You don't like post war veterans and the emotions that they have felt
See it if You have a sense of history. Love brilliantly staged shows.
Don't see it if You are only interested in contemporary stories and gimmicky direction. Read more
See it if you love great dancing and songs with a nostalgic feel- -and a great new story!
Don't see it if It's really worth seeing- it's not your big flashy helicopter flying or chandelier dropping musical but it is wonderful in other ways
See it if you want to hear some amazing singing and musicians work their butts off! Loved the dancing!!! The costumes! It was heart wrenching
Don't see it if I can't think of a reason NOT to see it!
Critic Reviews (64)
"The creative team has put a lot of hard work into this musical and it shows...Unfortunately, they couldn’t break with the show’s big final number and denouement, or shake a certain seen-it-before nature endemic to the familiar material...It’s a promising first effort and I dearly hope the creative team of Richard Oberacker and Rob Taylor can bounce back and dive right into another show...Now they need to learn from this and go out and do it again."
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“It is about some material that doesn't normally get the musical treatment, and that’s the show’s biggest selling point…Osnes brings considerable stage presence to her role…The trajectory of Taylor’s book is largely standard, and occasionally witty by virtue of self-awareness at how corny the jokes are…‘Bandstand’ deserves props for exploring serious subject matter without the distraction of a political message. Cott and Osnes do their best to sell it.”
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“Oberacker and Taylor’s score, with punches of contemporary rhythms, is fierce and athletic, reminiscent of ’40s swing…Cott and Osnes, both attractive performers, are also both expressive singers and define their characters, and their slowly growing romance, with nuance...This is an intense story, yet uplifted by high-flying energetic song and dance, humor, strong performers, and the life-affirming promise of music.”
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"It’s an admirable but disconcertingly disjointed effort...The score is a mixed bag. It captures the driving tempos of the era’s big band music, well realized in a plenitude of strong orchestrations. What’s missing are the beguiling melodies and the deceptive simplicity of lyrics that transformed so many of the songs from that era into standards...Despite the uneven material, the cast scores its points...For Blankenbuehler, the show is a further validation of his skills."
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"The most refreshing and imaginative of the bunch of recent arrivals...It’s not all pastiche, not by a long shot. There is youthful invention everywhere...As Donny Novitsky, his current role, Cott delivers a true star turn–as singer, actor, dancer, and pianist he dominates just as his character does...If 'Bandstand,' as the last musical entry of the season, is a hint, we have reason to hope we’re in for a good time in the year ahead."
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"It’s not cheesy. Blankenbuehler provides swirling movement and zippy choreography. The leads work hard, and deliver knockout numbers...But the net result feels like a noble flop. There’s just too much music, and not all of it is top drawer. The story sometimes verges on a hackneyed Dick Powell movie. And for all the slickness and swing-era recreations, the mood borders on dullish...This one falls into the category of admirable misstep. "
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"'Bandstand' begins with a promising premise...The musicians are terrific, even those making their acting debuts...Blankenbuehler includes some exciting swing dancing, and there is a creative number featuring dancers who follow the soldiers as if they are shadows of their younger selves in combat...The show goes on too long, with what feels like extraneous scenes and music. What started out so promising in 'Bandstand' gets clichéd in the end."
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"The joy of experiencing 'Bandstand' is seeing an original musical...The subject matter is familiar but still relevant today...The book seems contrived and you can see how things are going to fall in place. However, the score is transporting and the sound of the big band/swing era is exhilarating...With 'Bandstand' you may feel you’ve seen this plot before, but who cares? Among the swing music, vitality, sound, Ms. Osnes and Mr. Cott, it is an evening of sheer delight."
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