I Married an Angel
About the show
New York City Ballet principal Sara Mearns stars as the Angel in New York City Center's Encores! presentation of Rodgers and Hart's musical, a light-hearted, love story for the ages that weds balletic grace with drawing-room comedy. More…
Meet Count Willy Palaffi, a jaded banker who swears off women claiming the bride for him would have to be an angel. When he eventually ties the knot with an actual celestial being, there are chaotic and comic consequences that compel Willy’s shrewd sister, Countess Peggy Palaffi, to save him from his wife’s otherworldly innocence.
"Has that ebullient, slightly fairy tale charm that characterizes Depression-era musicals...Tap always lifts your spirits, and the show-stopper in 'I Married an Angel' is no exception...The performances vary...It is Sara Mearns, as the show’s angelic star, who has to carry the show, which she does admirably. Some line readings drop, but she lands most of her jokes. She has clearly been well directed by Joshua Bergasse." Full Review
"The piece is decidedly old school (and dated) but this fine glossy production allows musical theater fans an opportunity to revisit this silly chestnut...All of the dancing in this show was extremely entertaining...'I Married an Angel' is a perfect choice for the 25th anniversary of this series. Where else can you see such magic resurrected with this level of quality and polish?...The creative team has given this show a beautiful staging." Full Review
"The trouble with opening a jeweled candy box that has been collecting shelf-dust for 80 years is—well, the contents can prove to be beyond dusty. And that, alas, is today’s report on 'I Married an Angel.' What can they—songwriters and librettists Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, at the absolute pinnacle of their talents—have been thinking?..Everything is fine at the Encores! 'I Married an Angel,' actually. It’s just Rodgers and Hart who, most surprisingly, let us down." Full Review
"A feather-light postcard from a precious era of musical theatre evolution—thin on story, generous with dance, and trying, as it were, to push the form just a bit further...It is a treat to hear Richard Rodgers’ tuneful score lushly performed by the 30 piece Encores! orchestra using the original orchestrations...Mr. Bergasse does a fine job with a book newly edited of its more obvious misogyny by playwrights Sarah Saltzberg and Sandy Rustin." Full Review
"The plot is flimsy and meandering, and the score is not exactly on par with the best of Rodgers and Hart. Nevertheless, the production is an elegant affair...One hopes the production will receive a cast recording, which will at least preserve the score (which contains some lovely ballads and a lush overture) in its entirety for future generations of musical theater geeks." Full Review
"As the title angel, who comes down to heaven to satisfy the marital urge of upstanding Hungarian banker Count Palaffi (a fine Evans), Mearns looks heavenly in a series of white costumes (by Viletti, whose work throughout is gorgeous). But more importantly, she graces the stage beautifully, and proves herself a winning actress with a gentle comic flair. Her angel may have come from way above, but Mearns grounds these featherweight proceedings." Full Review
"Capturing again the lightning in a bottle that was a vintage Broadway musical is challenging, especially when a work, for all of its period charms, appears flimsy by modern-day standards. Such is the case with 'I Married an Angel'...The most entirely satisfying component of this concert is the visuals...The performances tend to be spotty...Although the visual and musical sides of 'I Married an Angel' are fairly blissful, the unsubstantial book needs sharper staging." Full Review
"Not only does it provide an opportunity to watch the New York City Ballet star Sara Mearns perform the choreography of her husband, Joshua Bergasse, and to hear a Richard Rodgers score suavely reincarnated, but it also makes you think about the role musical theater has often played in maintaining odious social norms...Mr. Bergasse has neither the troops for spectacle nor the directing chops to keep the evening from separating like mayonnaise." Full Review
"Even with a newly adapted script by writers Sandy Rustin and Sarah Saltzberg, this dated, mind-boggling musical is far too outmoded in its attitudes toward women...On one hand, it's interesting to see something like this, where the dialogue and topical references are so of a different era, to examine how far we've come socially over the past eight decades. On the other, producing a show that passes such extreme judgment on female behavior isn't a good idea now." Full Review
See it if You want a classic, old-timey musical
Don't see it if You like modern, contemporary musicals
See it if You love dance and color and joy! Fun, fun evening. Left City Center dancing.
Don't see it if The story is thin and rediculous. No redeeming social significance. Leave your politics at home.
See it if Sara Mearns sparkles in Bergasse ballets, but there is plenty of tap & ballroom too. Flimsy book draped over minor R&H score. Nice costumes.
Don't see it if "Spring Is Here" and title song are the only well-known numbers in the show. Rob Fisher and his orch sound great. Mark Evans & Nikki James!!
See it if you treasure musical comedy from the 20s/30s. enjoy excellent dancing/choreography in a variety of styles.
Don't see it if your prefer musicals with strong stories; don't enjoy "silly"
See it if like a light airy piece of confection with some lovely dancing. A nice little mindless escape.
Don't see it if want a big plot. Aren't interested in really old fashioned musicals.
See it if You can be entertained by well choreographed numbers, nicely danced, stylish production, no book to speak of and only two memorable songs.
Don't see it if Flimsy book would disappoint, or dance doesn't entrance, tho a fine mix of ballet, ballroom and tap.
See it if you enjoy the time machine aspect of Encores that allows you to see a show from another era that would otherwise never get another revival.
Don't see it if the idea of seeing an incredibly dated and sometimes clunky musical doesn't sound like a fun time.
Also It's hard to believe that only a few years ago an Encores show was sti... Read more Read less
See it if You like fluff musicals and don’t mind seeing something that’s dated. You will appreciate the exquisite dancing.
Don't see it if You expect an more edgy, modern musical with a meaningful story.
Also Although this 1938 musical will feel stodgy and dated to many an audie... Read more Read less
See it if If you love dance this is a wonderful pastiche ranging from ballet to tap but the plot is silly and flimsily held together
Don't see it if You can’t take dated musicals and a related misogynistic bent - women are either good angels or bad schemers
See it if you LOVE everythg at Encores; you'll LIKE IMAA. For me, it lacked spark. No stellar performances/songs, some fun choreography. And a harp!
Don't see it if you dislike fluff. Absurd fr start to finish. Mearns dances (like an angel!) but struggles w speaking. James is fun, but not in gr voice.
Also I'm a big fan of Encores! prodns, but this one didn't captivate me. A ... Read more Read less
See it if you are dedicated to Encores! regardless of what they present and willing to tolerate a mediocre production.
Don't see it if you expect insights into what Balanchine and or Rodgers & Hart were intending as entertainment. It was just boring.
See it if You like Encores! productions, seeing old, rarely revived shows, like a lot of dancing. Light fare, not a lot of brain-power needed.
Don't see it if You don't have a sense of humor, like fully staged productions, don't like dance, want a solid plot. No memorable songs. VERY dated.
See it if you just want to see that show and have never seen it before. Costumes are excellent, orchestra wonderful.
Don't see it if you want a solid good show. Story is inane, dancing just okay, Nikki James does not sing well, dancing disappointing.
See it if You want the opportunity to see a musical that never gets a revival and for some dazzling dancing.
Don't see it if You expect “prime” Rogers & Hart. Or even a cohesive book. Neither is here. A very rare disappointment from ENCORES.
See it if You want a good time that takes you away from the glum news of current events. Great production values; uniformly good cast.
Don't see it if If you want a second act that develops or relates to the plot.
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$100 Mezzanine Sides & Center Rows E-G
$60 Rear Mezzanine & Balcony Center Rows A - D
$40 Balcony Center Rows E-G
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Offer not valid for all sections. Prices subject to change. A $2.50 facility fee will be added to the price of each ticket. Limit of 8 tickets per order. Normal service charges apply to phone and internet orders. Offer subject to availability and cannot be combined with any other discounts or promotions. Offer not valid on prior purchases. All sales are final—no refunds or exchanges. Blackout dates may apply. Offer may be revoked or modified at any time without notice.
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