Brigadoon
About the show
New York City Center presents Lerner and Loewe’s classic musical, which brings the mystery and magic of the Scottish Highlands to life. Starring Tony nominee Patrick Wilson and Tony winner Kelli O’Hara ('The King and I').
... Read moreNew Yorker Tommy Albright (Wilson) unexpectedly arrives at the mysterious Scottish village of Brigadoon, which only appears for one day every 100 years. When Tommy meets and falls in love with Fiona (O'Hara), a beautiful resident of this magical hamlet, he must decide whether to return to his old life, or stay in Brigadoon—forever. Featuring such standards as 'Almost Like Being in Love,' 'Come to Me, Bend to Me,' and 'Heather on the Hill.' Costarring Tony nominees Robert Fairchild and Stephanie J. Block, and directed and choreographed by Tony winner Christopher Wheeldon.
“One of the very finest musicals of Broadway’s so-called golden age...Thanks to the ministrations of Christopher and a knockout singing and dancing cast, magical is the word...High among the numerous attractions of the evening is—no surprise here!—the voice and acting and all-round presence of Kelli O’Hara...The dancing tears up the stage with stark emotionalism...Ticketholders will most assuredly enthuse as they float out of City Center.” Full Review
"A welcome treat…‘Brigadoon’ is not technically part of this season’s Encores! series. But for all intents and purposes, this is an excellent and unusually elaborate Encores! production, with a big cast and orchestra...and accomplished leading players well-suited to such a piece of traditional musical theater…As you would expect, O’Hara sings beautifully…Wilson makes for an appropriately strapping, straight-laced leading man.” Full Review
“A ravishing revival...It’s as ephemeral as the story it tells, and as essential a ray of light as one could hope for today, thanks to a luminous performance by O’Hara and the thrilling staging by director/choreographer Wheeldon...The casting is pitch-perfect across the board...O’Hara is impossibly beautiful, vocally and in conveying Fiona’s romantic determination and heartbreak.” Full Review
"Wheeldon further validated his full-blown skill as a stage director along with his long-acclaimed reputation as a choreographer. His production brought to the fore all of the show’s romanticism in captivating fashion...And those folks on stage were pretty wondrous too...And of course, there is the orchestra giving symphonic grandeur to Loewe’s inspired score. It all makes you hope that it won’t be too long before 'Brigadoon' awakens again." Full Review
"According to legend, the mythical Scottish village of Lerner and Loewe’s musical appears only once every hundred years. But you wish a different fate for this glorious production...It’s the dancing, though, that raises the barre, with direction and choreography by former City Ballet dancer Christopher Wheeldon...Please let us not have to wait even 100 days for this beautiful 'Brigadoon' to reappear." Full Review
"For the first act anyway, glorious. And if part of that glory was historical — showing us what made musicals tick at the start of the Golden Age -part of it, too, was vehemently alive. Wheeldon’s dances certainly fit that bill, and so does Loewe’s triple-crème music...If, in the second act, Mr. Wheeldon’s invention can’t outrun Lerner’s creeping incoherence, he can at least abridge it. The show’s awkward ending doesn’t undo the gift of the rest." Full Review
"This is one lustrous 'Brigadoon,' thanks to a first-rate cast of performers and the magical ministrations of director/choreographer Wheeldon. I had forgotten just how lush and sweeping the score is. Loewe’s music is flowing and supple, alongside Lerner’s intelligent and often cheeky lyrics...Lerner’s libretto is certainly chockablock with his signature wry wit, but it’s also a little on the static side...I’d be willing to see this production again in a New York minute." Full Review
"Dance cannot dominate at the expense of the gorgeous near-operatic songs. In a production so polished and star-studded that it looked like an audition for Broadway, Wheeldon tackled this conundrum by trading between talents...The story presented the only problems...A fantasy of turning back the clock that you might recognize from recent political campaigns...But these few faux pas are nothing that a bit of snipping and rearranging wouldn’t fix." Full Review
“The limitations of the old-fashioned material cannot be disguised...But there's nonetheless plenty to savor...High among the production's strengths is the breathtaking vocal performance of O'Hara...Perhaps the most thrilling highlight is the impassioned dancing of Fairchild...As rousing as they are, the numerous dance interludes do tend to slow down the story, pointing up its relative flimsiness and minimizing character development." Full Review
"The show...can be a little awkward. The first half lays on exposition and Scottish dancing, as exuberant and athletic as it is, very thick...Still, 'Brigadoon' ascends thanks to its songs and mix of sun and shadow...Wheeldon and the cast make every minute count...Wilson’s voice is handsome and colorful as ever, though his stage presence is a bit paler...And then there’s O’Hara, whose 'Waitin’ For My Dearie' and 'Almost Like Being in Love' spill over with blissful warmth and beauty." Full Review
"As lush as the production is conceptually, though, this 'Brigadoon,' headlined by oddly tentative performances from Kelli O'Hara and Patrick Wilson, is a little more of a bore than the ecstatic delight we want it to be...Yes, Brigadoon is pretty to look at, and even prettier to listen to...But Wheeldon, who also directs, is more focused on creating images than telling a story. The acting suffers and the pacing needs to be picked up so the show feels as fizzy as an Irn-Bru." Full Review
See it if You can appreciate a beautiful love story, though fantastical and love great voices. Kelly O'Hara is amazing!
Don't see it if You don't like fantasy.
See it if Loved it! It was glorious. Beautifully done. Fantastic cast. A full orchestra. So perfect and beautifully done. Moved me to tears.
Don't see it if There were only 6 performances, and it has closed. If you weren’t there, I’m sorry, but you missed something very special.
See it if You love great music, voices, orchestra, choreography and dancing
Don't see it if You don't like old fashioned musicals
See it if you want to be thoroughly entertained! Every element of this show was wonderful. A really special event.
Don't see it if you don't like musicals. But give it a try; it may convert you!
See it if You want beautiful music sung by wonderful singers. You want outstanding choreography performed by amazing dancers.
Don't see it if You prefer contemporary musicals.
See it if Terrific! The singing, divine, the dancing - superb. Grab a ticket any way possible You won't be disappointed.
Don't see it if You don't enjoy fantasy, an old fashioned musical, or an improbable plot.
See it if you enjoy things that are absolutely delightful in every way.
Don't see it if need a realistic story or if you don't like great singing and acting and dancing.
See it if You like old-fashioned meter circles which have wonderful lyrics melodies and dancing
Don't see it if You don't like a Fantastical love story and you would insist on comparing it to the movie which was also wonderful
See it if You love great singing and dancing. If you love Kelly O’Hara
Don't see it if You are afraid of steep inclined seating
See it if you love classic musicals, can believe in fantasy, love Kelli oHara, like romance, good acting,great singing and incredible dancing
Don't see it if you hate musicals, fantasy, minimal staging,
Also NY City Center is a treasure and it's sad their shows only last a week... Read more Read less
See it if Lovely production for musical theater fans. An all star cast that delivered - beautiful singing, humor and terrific dancing. A special nigh.
Don't see it if Well it was a limited run so...and you don’t like old classic shows that have lots of romance and great tunes.
Also A thrilling night of theater. Just terrific. There were as many famous... Read more Read less
See it if You still believe in romance, with a side of comedy; love any of the cast—they’re all excellent; if you enjoy dusty older shows made fresh.
Don't see it if You need glitz and action. Encores! makes each production special, but the sets are what you would expect for a week-long production.
See it if you like dance infused with musical theater. You love old musicals. It was enchanting. Everyone should see it.
Don't see it if you're looking for a big production, completely finished musical. This was a concert version
Also I would watch Kelli O'Hara since anything. She was just perfection. Ro... Read more Read less
See it if you like old-fashioned musicals from the Golden Era. This rarely seen gem was close to perfection. Kelli O'Hara, Patrick Wilson flawless.
Don't see it if you don't like old-fashioned musicals with lots of dance; you can't relate to a fantasy
Also Brigadoon is rarely performed any more. This production hopefully will... Read more Read less
See it if You want to see beautiful people sing, act, and dance beautifully. An adorable story that will warm even the most Grinch of hearts.
Don't see it if You want something deep and dark. Or don't like musicals or general merriment. Or men in kilts.
See it if What Broadway musicals should be! Third time I've seen this show and by fr the best. Kelli O'Hara can do no wrong.
Don't see it if You don't like old fashioned musicals
See it if you want to see classic American musical theater staged and performed to perfection. A great score and magical story.
Don't see it if you don't like romantic stories and "old-fashioned" musical theater.
See it if cast excellent, Kelli's heavenly singing/performance will be long-remembered; meltingly beautiful songs; dynamic new choreography
Don't see it if second act slight, ending implausible; still per NY Times, production elevates this rarely-performed musical into first ranks
See it if You believe in love at first sight. You love Kelli O’Hara and Stephanie J. Block.
Don't see it if You don’t like old fashioned musicals.
See it if Brigadoon has flaws as a musical but this revival with Patrick Wilson Stephanie Block and Kelli Ohara is stunning. De Mille dancing. Bravo
Don't see it if Limited run at City center. The theater is a challenge for those though elevators. Cant be missed performances.
See it if you want to see a classic musical sung and danced as well as it's ever going to be.
Don't see it if you're bothered by a little (OK, a lot) of implausibility in a plot.
See it if if you want to see an exquisite Lerner/Loewe musical, beautifully choreographed, danced, and sung by a talented cast.
Don't see it if if you are bored by lengthy dance numbers.
Also What a score, and the orchestra did it proud.
Cast & Creatives (41)
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