Invisible Thread
Closed 1h 50m
Invisible Thread
87

Invisible Thread NYC Reviews and Tickets

87%
(101 Ratings)
Positive
97%
Mixed
3%
Negative
0%
Members say
Absorbing, Original, Entertaining, Thought-provoking, Great staging

About the Show

American Repertory Theater and Second Stage Theatre present a new musical directed by Diane Paulus. It follows the life-changing journey of a young New Yorker who volunteers for a humanitarian aid project in Uganda.

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Show-Score Member Reviews (101)

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79 Reviews | 39 Followers
100
Exquisite, Great acting, Great writing, Intelligent, Masterful

See it if You want to be moved in a way that stays with you long after the play has ended. It was simply one of the best I've seen.

Don't see it if Can't think of one reason not to see this. If I could rank it as 200 I would.

127 Reviews | 13 Followers
100
Intelligent, Entertaining, Thought-provoking

See it if you can find it. I was amazed to be pulled into the story so strongly. Made you want to lend a hand.

Don't see it if you don't like new, inventive musicals.

58 Reviews | 8 Followers
100
Absorbing, Intense, Great writing, Original, Must see

See it if you like original stories, and passionate story telling.

Don't see it if you're not ready to affected by it.

146 Reviews | 19 Followers
97
Absorbing, Entertaining, Original, Relevant, Funny

See it if Next to Hamilton, this is the most important musical I've seen in years. I had a great time, while learning about myself & the world.

Don't see it if you're so old fashioned that you're not interested in anything new and moving.

124 Reviews | 32 Followers
97
Absorbing, Great acting, Must see, Riveting, Resonant

See it if You have a heart and want to be told an incredible true story told by a masterful cast

Don't see it if You need a show that is more classical or onstage nudity offends you

575 Reviews | 734 Followers
95
Exquisite, Great staging, Great writing, Profound, Must see

See it if you like great music, great set design, and great stories with heart and meaning.

Don't see it if you're turned off by gay themes and shows with a social message.

399 Reviews | 205 Followers
95
Delightful, Entertaining, Great acting, Original, Profound

See it if Loved it. The music, the dancing, the story. I was in tears by the end. Moving and entertaining, too.

Don't see it if I can't think of a single reason not to see this. The NY Times was completely wrong about this show.

109 Reviews | 341 Followers
95
Original, Thought-provoking, Must see, Moving, Ambitious

See it if you like powerful, fresh new theatre from promising young creators. The most exciting new musical I've seen this season. Go see it!

Don't see it if you can't get tickets because word has gotten out.

Critic Reviews (24)

The New York Times
December 2nd, 2015

"The music for 'Invisible Thread' is polished, melodic pop-rock in the vein of 'Rent'...But many songs tend to be soul-baring ballads or generic expressions of uplift that fail to advance the story, lending a static quality...there’s something pasted-on about the dancing, as if a musical set in Africa must have joyous, foot-stomping passages or it wouldn’t be authentic. These sequences are not remotely integral to the plot...For all his good intentions, Griffin never move beyond being cultural tourists."
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Time Out New York
December 2nd, 2015

"Exuberant and soulful...the show releases gale-force waves of faith, hope and love every time its hardworking cast joins together on gospel wails or Afrobeat jams. The score is bold, fresh and catchy. But when those bracing numbers end, problems begin...Diane Paulus’s slick and muscular production helps cover up some of the less plausible or airbrushed aspects of the story, which is fictionalized to the edge of slight melodrama."
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New York Theatre Guide
December 15th, 2015

Sweet, sincere and sophomoric...The ensuing story of a guy trying to do good because he was looking for his place in the world is interesting but not engaging. The music is all uplifting, and there is some glorious talent, but the songs begin to sound the same after a while...What was intended as an epic tale of a boy turning into a man ends up being a series of bland incidents that feels almost insignificant."
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New York Magazine / Vulture
December 2nd, 2015

"The production, overcompensating for the possibility, leaves no room for unauthorized ideas. As is her style, Paulus has staged 'Invisible Thread' within an inch of its life; there is never a dull moment or a part of the picture unactivated...But a show that is less than excellent, and less than true, need not be less than worthwhile. If I wanted to turn down the show’s volume sometimes (literally, too — it’s over-amped) I never wanted to turn it off."
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Deadline
December 3rd, 2015

"'Invisible Thread' showcases a tremendous amount of talent. That talent is at present mostly imitative: 'Invisible' mimics the musical versatility and determination-in-the-face-of-defeat of 'Rent' without advancing the form. But the show is bursting with potential, not to mention infectious energy, humor and a few surprises...But by the end, 'Invisible Thread' drowns in a pool of sentiment and cliché."
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Variety
December 2nd, 2015

"In 2005, an actor named Griffin Matthews volunteered to work at an orphanage in Uganda and returned home to start his own charitable organization. The writer-performer drew on that episode in his life for 'Invisible Thread', a musical he wrote with his partner, Matt Gould. But despite the heavy drumming, the show isn’t really about Uganda or African orphans or African anything. It’s about Griffin Matthews...It’s a pretty conceit, but a thin concept for a musical."
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AM New York
December 2nd, 2015

"It ends on a somewhat unresolved and downbeat note. But for the most part, 'Invisible Thread' is a highly personalized but relatable and heartfelt coming-of-age story that explores issues of culture clash and global responsibility. The attractive score combines pop-rock with African rhythms and gospel. Paulus' production features a very effective visual design (with great use of video projections) and strong performances from the mostly black ensemble cast."
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Theatermania
December 2nd, 2015

"It feels like a musical college essay, the type in which an applicant waxes philosophical about the very important lessons he learned volunteering for a summer in the developing world. Still, the music is tuneful and the book touches on some vital issues, if only slightly...the cast rarely slows to catch its breath in the frenetic staging... Sadly, not every story is best served by the conventions of the American book musical."
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