The Wanderer
Closed 2h 0m
The Wanderer
86

The Wanderer NJ Reviews and Tickets

86%
(15 Ratings)
Positive
93%
Mixed
7%
Negative
0%
Members say
Entertaining, Great singing, Great staging, Great acting, Delightful

Paper Mill Playhouse's new musical explores the life of '50s and '60s rock icon Dion.

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Show-Score Member Reviews (15)

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93 Reviews | 14 Followers
95
Great acting, Entertaining, Enchanting, Delightful

See it if you love Dion's music and rock 'n roll in general. Great music and performances by all.

Don't see it if you're not a rock 'n roll fan. We were dancing in our seats Read more

300 Reviews | 64 Followers
93
Delightful, Great singing, Entertaining

See it if you are interested in the music of the 60s or just want to see some excellent singing & dancing

Don't see it if cursing offends you or you expect a standard jukebox musical

84 Reviews | 8 Followers
90
Great writing, Great staging, Great acting, Absorbing, Clever

See it if you enjoy a show with a twist

Don't see it if you don't like a great show

65 Reviews | 24 Followers
90
Must see, Great staging, Great singing, Great acting, Entertaining

See it if You love a musical with oldies 50's & 60's music. It has great acting and is very relatable with family situations and life situations.

Don't see it if You are not into musicals or a story that refers to addiction.

268 Reviews | 36 Followers
85
Great staging, Great singing, Entertaining, Delightful, Clever

See it if you're a Frankie Valle fan, enjoy his music, want to know more about his life.

Don't see it if don't enjoy loud musicals, stories involving drug use. Prefer small intimate theaters. Read more

1312 Reviews | 354 Followers
79
Great staging, Great singing, Delightful, Absorbing

See it if Forgot to review this when it came out. This show like the sting at papermill will come to Broadway.

Don't see it if If you do not like his music then it will nor appeal to you.

324 Reviews | 52 Followers
78
Entertaining, Ambitious, Cliched, Great singing

See it if You like bio musicals. The lead singer has a wonderful voice and great stage presence.

Don't see it if You need originality. There are many parts of the show that recall Jersey Boys and A Bronx Tale.

253 Reviews | 36 Followers
66
Overrated, Intense, Disappointing

See it if to see the lead performer give an excellent performance.

Don't see it if you can deal with only learning about the negative aspects of Dion's life.

Critic Reviews (6)

The New York Times
April 7th, 2022

"'The Wanderer' doesn’t reinvent the wheel, nor does it present a back story that was begging to be told; Dion’s highs and lows weren’t unique. ... But, call me a sucker for some good doo-wop, I was continuously charmed by this throwback-y musical and its angel-voiced ensemble."
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BroadwayWorld
April 5th, 2022

"Whether you're tapping your toes to the rhythm of the music or sitting back and enjoying the beautiful verses, the score of 'The Wanderer' with many of Dion's hits is sure to please a lot of musical tastes."
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Times Square Chronicles
April 4th, 2022

"The cast and the musicians are spectacular. Wartella, is seamless and gives us a layered performance as a man in pain. McIntyre, is fabulous as the devil, you are seduced by. His voice is rich in nuance. Ms. Altomare, shines as the girl who has just as many problems, but loves Dion despite his faults with unconditional love. Her rendition of 'Teenager in Love,' is heartbreaking."
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NJ.com
April 5th, 2022

"Is there a single soul in the whole wide world who doesn’t love “Runaround Sue”? While the song is an unequivocal delight and a gleaming gem of American popular music, it often falls into that nondescript category of music called “Oldies,” and does not immediately call to mind its performer. That singer, Dion, was a major figure in early rock n’ roll"
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New Jersey Stage
April 4th, 2022

"The night belongs to Wartella. Here he unleashes full throttle charm, bombast, intelligence, and rock and roll. He embodies Dion with ambition and passion for music beyond the times. It’s a credible, full bodied award-winning, captivating performance that slays the book’s banality. He enlivens the audience and gives pulsating life to a bio musical."
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NJArts.net
April 5th, 2022

"'The Wanderer' shows the depths to which Dion fell and how he turned his life around. The music and the dancing would have been enough to make it a great show. But in addition to that, it is a love story, a redemption story and a gritty slice of life set almost entirely in the Bronx neighborhood where Dion grew up, vividly depicted by set designer Beowulf Boritt."
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