The Great American Drama

See it if You want to see an innovative concept executed well. It's an easy to swallow yet complicated enough experimental piece. Solid performing.

Don't see it if Experimental shows are not your thing. You don't have a curious mind.

See it if You want to take a unique journey w/the actors & audience for a moving & funny experience that's part theatre & social experiment.

Don't see it if You don't like experimental theatre. You don't like shows that were created through improv. You want a show w/a story.

See it if you like to participate in your theater, and you want to help a very earnest young playwright with an ambitious theatrical experiment.

Don't see it if you like traditional theater, you're unwilling to accept that when theater is created by the audience, sometimes it's pretty disjointed.

Also You'd be hard pressed to find a more unique experience at the theater, and this cast is very likable and hard working. The reality is, some of the responses that they are so conscientiously following in performance are just plain silly, and others are mean spirited. For me, it's a question of which should take precendence - art vs. pleasing your audience. Which comes first? Which should prevail? I vote for art, for a message, for a meaningful throughline. One doesn't get that here, but all in all, it's a fascinating experiment and well worth your time and effort.... Read more Read less

See it if You like in-your-face theatre that takes its prompts from online feedback.

Don't see it if You want a narrative, you don't like breaking the fourth wall.

Also Thinks it's clever, and it mainly is. But not consistently compelling enough for 90 minutes.... Read more Read less

See it if You're up for a fresh & different theatrical evening. Timely questions abound about the nature of time, life, ethics & the American Dream.

Don't see it if You don't want to engage, expect a storyline or traditional scripted play; or dislike having to think.

Also With scripted set pieces, improv, constant engagement with the audience & tweaking the show each night in response to audience votes & reactions, TGAD is a unique piece of theatre that essentially attempts to induce Mindfulness on a grand scale.

Be Here Now. In the moment, in the present; this moment, this present; this theatre, with these performers, these people around you. Individuals all. It's an audacious premise & attempt, usually the stuff of Zen Enlightenment and Satori.

Appropriate, since theatre, like life, is always current, in the present, in the now. It’s a difficult bit of mindfulness to maintain, but deconstructing the theatrical experience thus succeeds in reminding us what it is to be human.

The talented cast—with terrific music throughout by singer/composer LiJie—wastes no time in setting up the evening as an attempt, with the audience, to create the perfect show, the perfect American Drama, through persistence & work, a paradigm for the American Dream.
Fun.
Go.... Read more Read less

See it if you want a show with no plot and jumps all over the place. The acting was fine, but it wasn't a show. Very disappointed.

Don't see it if you don't want to waste 1 1/2 hours thinking to yourself, what am I watching. there are a few scenes that are decent, rest awful.

Also I hate giving bad reviews, but have to be fair to the audience. The actors are more talented then I would ever be, and I give them credit for trying, but this show only had a few skits that I enjoyed. I understood what they were trying to accomplish, and there is talent performing the show. It just was not executed well. They could of took some of the ideas and made one complete story from audience ideas. Went with a few friends and we all felt the same way, so not just one persons opinion.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see experimental threaters: including interactions with the actors and the actors' carrying out feedbacks from the audience.

Don't see it if You want a coherent story. Experimental theater is not your thing.

See it if you're up for experimental theater. This is a clever, original premise that kept us guessing what was coming next; we weren't disappointed!

Don't see it if you want a plot, a 'through line,' or everything spelled out for you. You'll be thinking and talking about this for a while figure it out.

Also The premise is based on notes given to the playwrights about what people felt they needed for a night in the theater for them to label it a success. All of those notes are projected on the back of the stage while the company in front of you attempts to fulfill all of those requirements. The audience then decides if they were successful. We decided - YOU BET THEY WERE! I hope they get additional funding so this can be produced again; it really deserves to be seen and expanded. It was amazing to see what criteria people required of a production for it to be deemed a successful entertainment, and it was astounding to see how a small company with few props but boundless imagination stepped up to the plate with every intention to give their audience what they wanted. Bravo, kudos, and thanks for the flowers.... Read more Read less

See it if you like starving artists in a therapy session on why they choose acting over another vocation. get over it & don't burden the audience!

Don't see it if you want entertainment. its original & creative but not enjoyable or worthy of a broader audience. dont burden us w/your financial woes

See it if You like interactive theatre that is creative and innovative. You like current topics and creativity!

Don't see it if If you like traditional linear shows and dislike being asked to be part of the theatre experience

See it if you want light entertainment with fresh ideas to keep audience interested.

Don't see it if you're looking for a serious play.

See it if you like devised pieces experimenting with outside ideas and a non-linear structure.

Don't see it if it is painful for you to see a style of show that feels dated and periodic forced moments.

See it if you like the neo's or just enjoy true theater that can be edgy at times.

Don't see it if you don't like non-linear, or continuos storylines, or are easily offended.

See it if you like episodic shows that are topical as well as entertaining

Don't see it if you need a show with a strong through-line or are put-off by a show that is hit or miss; some material works, some doesn't

See it if you trust high scoring members reviews. Show is experimental mishmash of short vignettes. Approval is audience demographically oriented.

Don't see it if you trust critics' reviews. I could not connect with the show, yet audience give 90+% approval. This time for me improv stands for improve!

See it if You want to laugh uproariously in one scene and be on the verge of tears in the next. You care about what's happening in the world.

Don't see it if You're not familiar with theatre, you don't appreciate "meta" commentary. You want to see something that's just silly without a message.

Also See this show. It's brilliant. I went in thinking it was going to be gimmicky and silly, and while there were delightful moments of that, the show was so much more. If you work in the theatre, appreciate the theatre, or just want to get a glimpse at an "insider" perspective on what's happening in the theatre and the world, don't miss this show.... Read more Read less

See it if you get a chance. I think it closed today. I'm sorry you missed this clever unique show.

Don't see it if you don't like unlinear shows.

See it if you enjoy experimental theater w a talented, committed cast

Don't see it if you dislike improv or similarly free-form performances. There is no real storyline

See it if you enjoy theatre outside the box. Very tongue in cheek but in a sincere way.

Don't see it if You don't enjoy theatre that will make you think. But if that's the case then stop going to theatre.

See it if you like experimental shows and are willing to provide the show with the space as it tries to improve. The show is edgy

Don't see it if you would like a show designed by committee (i.e. the audience) or a show that does not really have a focus.

Also The show would improve if the producers would show leadership by providing a framework where the audience can choose what they like.

At the moment, the show is all over the place. I personally am rooting for the show and its courage to become successful. However, quite a bit of work still needs to be done.... Read more Read less

See it if You like fun, interactive theater. This is a troup trying to make it big. See it

Don't see it if You want to see raw emotion in a production

See it if you want to see great actors experiment with a show. You never know what version you will see since the show changes each night.

Don't see it if theater that tries to push boundaries makes you feel uncomfortable.

See it if you want to see an ensemble of skits

Don't see it if you enjoy a traditional theater show with a cohesive story line

See it if you enjoy productions that are experimental in nature, and if you appreciate theatrical experiences that are never the same thing twice

Don't see it if you don't have a "ready-for-anything" type of attitude.

See it if you like improve, audience participation, and a series of skits.

Don't see it if like a well rehearsed show with a story line and well developed characters..