A Letter to Harvey Milk
Closed 1h 35m
A Letter to Harvey Milk
79

A Letter to Harvey Milk NYC Reviews and Tickets

79%
(338 Ratings)
Positive
87%
Mixed
11%
Negative
2%
Members say
Great singing, Entertaining, Absorbing, Great acting, Thought-provoking

About the Show

Set in San Francisco in 1986, this musical deals with issues of friendship and loss, the grip of the past, and the hard-won acceptance set in motion by the most unexpected people. 

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Show-Score Member Reviews (338)

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60 Reviews | 3 Followers
100
Clever, Great acting, Great singing, Great staging, Intelligent

See it if If you are LGBTQ or interested in the history of the movement.

Don't see it if You are homophobic.

290 Reviews | 92 Followers
100
Absorbing, Funny, Great acting, Great singing, Great writing

See it if You want to have a wonderful theatrical experience that is relevant and a must-see for the world in today's times.

Don't see it if You don't want too see plays dealing with important issues such as Anti Semitism and Homophobia.

58 Reviews | 19 Followers
98
Absorbing, Great singing, Great writing, Intense, Refreshing

See it if you enjoy historical fiction or you enjoy original musicals with realistic, relatable characters and relationships.

Don't see it if you are looking for something fluffy. There are funny moments, but it will definitely move you deeply and leave you thinking.

120 Reviews | 12 Followers
98
Absorbing, Clever, Entertaining, Funny, Masterful

See it if You want to laugh, think and maybe even cry. Singing and acting were very good!

Don't see it if You don't like funny musicals.

146 Reviews | 34 Followers
98
Absorbing, Funny, Great acting, Great singing, Great writing

See it if You like funny, sensitive stories that are extremely well done with great singing and acting. Very poignant. Strongly recommended.

Don't see it if You are not into musicals. However, this is highly recommended.

257 Reviews | 26 Followers
97
Clever, Intelligent, Profound, Refreshing, Thought-provoking

See it if You enjoy a story loosely based on an historical event with a clever twist and some nifty lyrics

Don't see it if If you're homophobic you won't appreciate this show

don
506 Reviews | 1005 Followers
97
Absorbing, Clever, Great singing, Intelligent, Relevant

See it if you want to see great talent, explore some great problems of the 20th & 21st century ..aging. gender,. relationships the Holocaust, memories

Don't see it if No negatives for partner nor for me. Her 100% (1st time) and my 94%. The singing was excellent esp. the two leads ( left playbill in car)

159 Reviews | 38 Followers
95
Absorbing, Funny, Great singing, Thought-provoking, Intelligent

See it if Fantastic, fascinating funny and heart-wrenching musical. Very well done.

Don't see it if You need to have an open mind to enjoy this musical.

Critic Reviews (21)

Theatermania
March 6th, 2018

"Surprisingly fierce little musical...Ginsburg's lush orchestrations for piano, cello, and woodwinds give the music a sentimental air ideal for a story about the dredging of feelings long thought drowned. At the same time, the lyrics are honest and playful...Pappas juggles the overlapping plot lines with grace and precision. We're always aware of where we are...Brimming with warmth and clandestine power, this is one of those musicals that stows away in your heart without you even noticing."
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BroadwayWorld
March 8th, 2018

"There's a lot to like about this show, but it isn't wholly successful for a variety of reasons. First of all, in my opinion, 90-minute musicals rarely work. It's a tall order to develop characters, as well as relationships...While partially due to the short duration of the show, part of that is also due to the writers' decision to include some of the dialogue within the songs like recitative...That said, the actors hold the musical together nicely."
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Lighting & Sound America
March 7th, 2018

"This is an old-fashioned laughter-and-tears exercise that combines wheezy gags with weepy revelations and the tasteless exploitation of certain world-historical events...The dialogue sounds like something thrown together in the writers' room of a mediocre television sitcom...Under Pappas' direction, the cast performs in a variety of styles...Filled to the brim with good will, but tries much too hard, overreaching in a way that comes across as unpleasantly calculating."
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Talkin' Broadway
March 6th, 2018

"Mixed-bag of a musical...The plot and characters are potentially quite moving. Unfortunately, the material is undercut by a bland and generic score...The performances are better than the material...Some of the early scenes move along a bit sluggishly, but director Pappas creates some effective stage images...Fall short of its musical ambitions, but the show does conclude with a sense of reconciliation, understanding, and, of course, hope."
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CurtainUp
March 6th, 2018

"Directed by Pappas from present to past and back again, the characters gradually unveil their secrets and come to appreciate the love, humor, hope and traditions of their lives...Newman's dialogue is overly generous with Yiddish colloquialisms...If not a timeless American musical, 'A Letter to Harvey Milk' offers an honest truth in a time that needs it."
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Theatre is Easy
March 28th, 2018

"The musical really takes off in its second half...Overall 'A Letter to Harvey Milk' is impressive and quite enjoyable, but could use further revision...While some of the numbers have lyrics that are quite poetic and beautiful, others are a bit on the nose. If it weren’t for the unexpectedly poignant turn the production takes in the second half, 'A Letter To Harvey Milk' might be somewhat forgettable."
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Front Row Center
March 7th, 2018

"The play is at its best in its funny moments...The serious scenes are earnest but come off trite or corny. One exception to this is Harry’s telling of a tender moment he experienced in a concentration camp...There are 16 musical numbers in the play and they are the best element of 'A Letter To Harvey Milk'...All of the actors have lovely Broadway voices and can sell a song."
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Stage Buddy
March 8th, 2018

"In the current political climate, a musical like 'A Letter to Harvey Milk' can remind each of us of the importance of tolerance and understanding...Successful due to a range of musical numbers that run the gamut of funny to moving...Evan Pappas’ direction is thoughtful and precise with quick scene transitions for a breezy 90-minute show...The musical is shy in conflict and drama, opting for characters who are so likable that it’s hard to discern how each one grows."
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