The Assignment NYC Reviews and Tickets

83%

(72 Ratings)

Positive

92%

Mixed

Negative

Members say

Great acting, Absorbing, Relevant, Thought-provoking, Great writing

About the Show

Houses on the Moon Theater Company and Rhymes Over Beats present the world premiere of this play about an English professor who is shaken when a student’s personal essay reopens long-buried wounds.

'The Assignment' was inspired by the friendship between two individuals brought together by storytelling workshops facilitated by Houses on the Moon: a woman who founded a youth violence prevention program after her teenage son was murdered, and a man who served 17 years in prison for manslaughter. Though a fictionalization, the play was born from a mother’s desire to understand what caused another to take her son’s life, and a man’s need to express remorse. The play explores the long-term emotional toll of violence from both sides of the gun barrel, and the struggle to forgive others and ourselves.

Show-Score Member Reviews (72)

100

Clever, Great acting, Great writing, Must see, Powerful

See it if You support the cause on gun violence. If you'd like to be moved by a very well written, powerfully performed, and intelligently directed pi

Don't see it if ... no reason not to watch. Read more

100

Absorbing, Great acting, Great writing, Profound, Relevant

See it if You appreciate being moved by profound performances on a highly relevant topic. You love great acting. You are open to different views

Don't see it if You don't like 2 person theater. Read more

Great show!, Great acting, Great lights and set, Great script, Must see

See it if you enjoy well-written dramas well-performed. Great show.

Don't see it if you want a musical.

Authentic, Thought-provoking, Stellar acting, Superbly written, Absorbing

See it if you want to see a compelling, poignant, funny show that explores the guilty and the innocent, giving a compassionate voice to both sides.

Don't see it if you aren't a fan of intimate theater experiences, or are sensitive to cigarette smoke. It's a small venue and the characters smoke at times.

Absorbing, Clever, Funny, Great acting, Great staging

See it if you like great theatre with great acting, meaningful story and a relevant topic, The play is funny at times.

Don't see it if you like the NRA and believe that it's everyone right to have a gun. Also don't see it if you want to light, fluffy story. Read more

Great acting, Masterful, Must see, Profound, Resonant

See it if You want to see some amazing dramatic acting in an intense, beautiful, and often humorous story of redemption and forgiveness.

Don't see it if You want to see something without substance. This show will certainly make you think and reconsider how you view things.

Absorbing, Entertaining, Great acting

See it if It was quite a show.The characters were totally believeable as well as entertaining.The subject matter was riveting and overall worth seeing

Don't see it if If you need a large and spacious set.IF you really don't want to know about guilt and/or anguish that people fight thru for elongated times.

Great acting, Great staging, Great writing, Intelligent, Relevant

See it if You want to see a very fine 2 character drama with a behind the headlines theme. You are interested in the best of the current off off B'way

Don't see it if You are not interested in seeing a realistic portrayal on stage of one of the most crucial issues of our contemporary society.

Critic Reviews (1)

“Socially relevant and thought-provoking, profoundly heartrending and often funny…Directed with balance and compassion by Weiner, the compelling two-hander considers the issues of guilt, remorse, and second chances, understanding and forgiveness…Profoundly moving performances by Betancourt and Kandel bring emotional and psychological depth and sensitivity to the struggling characters…'The Assignment' is a powerful example of theater that can make a difference."
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Trailer

Creative team

Houses on the Moon Theater Company