How to Be an American NYC Reviews and Tickets

67%

(36 Reviews)

Positive

50%

Mixed

44%

Negative

Members say

Entertaining, Relevant, Great singing, Disappointing, Funny

About the Show

The York Theatre Company presents a turn-of-the-20th-century political cabaret featuring classic American songs. Presented as a staged concert reading as part of its New2NY Series.

Based on the book 'Plunkitt of Tammany Hall: A Series of Very Plain Talks on Very Practical Politics,' this new musical consists of tunes from the early 20th century American songbook. The year is 1905, one week before the next election in New York City. Tammany Hall politician George Washington Plunkitt has gathered a group of new immigrants for the purpose of educating them on the subtleties of the American political system. Directed by Bill Castellino, who helmed York's hit musical 'Cagney.'

Member Reviews (36)

Slow, Uneven, Misconceived, Ambitious, Hard-working

See it if you're interested in 1905 politics (w/ its 2016 echoes). HTBA wants us to like AND loath politicians; tough balancing act. Some good songs.

Don't see it if you have other options. The concept doesn't really work and the messages are muddled. The actors work hard and do fine. I liked my flag.

Unfocused, Slow, Thought-provoking, Disappointing

See it if it has good intentions but the comparison to today's politics albeit timely and real is still misconceived.

Don't see it if You don't want to sit through a work in progress or don't care for audience participation sketches.

Critic Reviews (3)

"Mildly pleasant, occasionally tuneful, and roundly forgettable...The numbers don't add much except for a few moments of melody, and their gentle, now-old-fashioned attitudes violently clash with the consistently conniving book...It doesn't make for much in the way of coherence or excitement, which are helpful things to have when your show only has two jokes...If you want something historical, educational, and sort of entertaining, it will suffice well enough."
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"The score featured songs from the early 20th century American Songbook and the cast nailed them in every way…This mufti-style staged concert performance was expertly lead by Tim Jerome, whose voice and acting was perfectly political…T. Cat Ford ‘s book, however, is confusing because in all honesty I do not know what this show was trying to say. It seemed it had no objective and though it was was wonderfully presented, this show seems slightly outdated."
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"Only moderately entertaining...The best parts of the offering are the appealing performances...They collectively get into the spirit of an old-fashioned political revival meeting...Although amiable and bright in spirit, the musical lacks sufficient wit to make it more than a pleasant satire on how immigrants to the United States could be molded into dominated voters for those holding onto power so that elections could be manipulated."
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