The Gospel of John NYC Reviews and Tickets

84%

(21 Reviews)

Positive

95%

Mixed

Negative

Members say

Absorbing, Great acting, Masterful, Ambitious, Thought-provoking

About the Show

Drama Desk-winning Broadway actor Ken Jennings ("Sweeney Todd," "Grand Hotel," "Side Show") performs "The Gospel of John," playing all the parts and bringing the Gospel to life.

From the show:

St. John’s Gospel is breathtakingly poetic, containing soaring theology, yet it is filled from start to finish with eyewitness details that came from John’s life with Jesus. For over 2,000 years, this written testimony from John’s personal experience has been proclaimed all over the world.

Ken started memorizing The Gospel of John as a spiritual practice during a difficult time in his life. He always had an affinity for John, which seemed to him to truly be a firsthand narrative by a man who was actually there. So he memorized it. To make it theatrical, he made a few cuts for time, which he cleared with a Jesuit priest, an Episcopalian priest, a Baptist minister, and a sister of the Sacred Heart — all encouraged him to go on with his presentation.

Ken will tell it to audiences as if for the first time, as it was originally told by the Beloved Disciple — so that they too may have a personal encounter with Jesus during this Advent-Christmas season.

Member Reviews (21)

Intense, Masterful, Profound, Ambitious, Great staging

See it if as an alternative to all the holiday hype. Ken Jennings does an astounding job of creating a personality for each of the speaking characters

Don't see it if you find Biblical text repetitious to the point of irritation. The fundamentals of Christianity are represented if that's a problem for you

Thought-provoking, Great acting, Absorbing, Ambitious

See it if fan of Ken Jennings, interested in this Gospel, are a Christian, enjoy 1-person shows, have seen performances of other Gospels (ie. Mark)

Don't see it if Not a Christian or interested in the Gospels, don't enjoy 1-person shows, uncomfortable around religion, not familiar with John

Ambitious, Resonant, Great acting, Absorbing

See it if Powerful performance on the topic of Jesus Christ’s adult life thru one performer. His performance spoke of truth and strong beliefs.

Don't see it if You don’t want to watch a performance on the topic of Jesus Christ.

Devout, Intelligent, Great writing, Ambitious, Absorbing

See it if you're a "Believer"-Christian & especially Catholic; you want to hear a virtuoso recitation of the Gospel of St. John by a good actor.

Don't see it if you're expecting a Gospel reenactment w/ multiple actors; you dislike religion,especially Catholicism.You'll struggle w/being still so long Read more

Simple staging, Meaningful -- but for a niche audience, Unusual, Roman catholic beliefs focused on, Gospel shared in a story-telling form

See it if you're Roman Catholic; you've never heard "The Gospel of John" spoken aloud; you're a New Testament fan; you've ever wished for a miracle

Don't see it if you're expecting a traditional play with scenes, costumes, a large cast instead of a 2-hr recitation by one actor; you're an Atheist Read more

Profound, Relevant, Masterful, Great acting, Absorbing

See it if You want to see a master craftsmen grab his audience as he speaks the language of the Bible.

Don't see it if You do not like solo performances.

Intense, Intelligent, Ambitious

See it if you want to be inspired by the WORD and that someone would memorize the complete Gospel of John and share it with an audience.

Don't see it if you are not a fan of the BIBLE or dislike one man performances.

Great acting, Masterful, Thought-provoking, Riveting, Absorbing

See it if you want to watch the life of Jesus unfold before you in this moving, verbatim dramatization of the Gospel of John by a consummate actor.

Don't see it if You don't enjoy solo-performances, a minimal set, or the subject matter which is essentially a Christian scripture with theology and dogma. Read more

Critic Reviews (3)

"What's missing in Jennings' performance is any sense of specificity, a moment-to-moment reality that would make the words come alive."
Read more

"What makes Jennings' execution all the more remarkable, and especially deserving of the tour-de-force appellation, is his ability to make the discursive, nearly two-millennia-old, literary work pulse with urgency and wonderment.
Read more

"After marveling at Ken Jennings' power of memorization, one has to also admire his ability to deliver the entire text of 'The Gospel of John 'with unwavering clarity and devotion to its meaning both as literature and as a Christian lodestone."
Read more