The Secret Life of Bees NYC Reviews and Tickets

84%

(181 Ratings)

Positive

97%

Mixed

Negative

Members say

Great singing, Absorbing, Entertaining, Relevant, Great acting

About the Show

Based on the best-selling novel by Sue Monk Kidd, Atlantic's world premiere musical comes from the creative team that brought you "Sweat," "Spring Awakening," "Working," and "Fun Home."

South Carolina, 1964. Lily Owens, a restless white teenager, struggles with her merciless father and the haunting memory of her mother’s death. When Rosaleen, her black caregiver, is beaten and jailed for asserting her right to vote, Lily’s rebellious spirit is ignited. She and Rosaleen escape on an adventure where they are taken in by a trio of black beekeeping sisters. While Lily tries to unlock the secrets of her past, she and Rosaleen find solace in the mesmerizing world of bees and spirituality in this extraordinary tale of awakening, fellowship, and healing.

Show-Score Member Reviews (181)

Great singing, Absorbing

See it if for the music. It's glorious

Don't see it if You are looking for a full representation of the book on stage.

Thought-provoking, Great staging, Great acting, Great singing, Absorbing

See it if You want to see a great musical rendition of the bestseller about the summer of 1964 in 2 small towns in South Carolina. Civil rights theme.

Don't see it if You expect an elaborate musical with lots of choreography. All musicians are interwoven onstage. Heavy civil rights abuses are upsetting. Read more

Literary, Sentimental, Great staging, Great singing, Enchanting

See it if you like Southern tales, poignant stories.

Don't see it if you're expecting the book as you remember it - a lot of liberties were taken with the story.

Great band, Great score, Entertaining, Great acting, Great singing

See it if you read the book and would like to see the story brought to life on the stage.

Don't see it if you expect a fully dramatized musical of the story. It hits the highlights and moves quickly between scenes on a fun but minimal set. Read more

Great acting, Entertaining, Great singing

See it if you like dark and moving musicals.

Don't see it if you aren't into productions in progress. There are elements that were still in the works to me.

Disturbing, Resonant, Relevant, Masterful, Great singing

See it if For fantastic performances, intelligent writing-book, lyrics&music-and a story to stay with you in today’s too similar times.

Don't see it if You need sweet stories and clear cut happy endings. T’aint happening here.

Resonant, Dated, Great singing, Entertaining

See it if you want some good music in an innovative adaptation. Saw it early in previews.. hopefully tightened up.

Don't see it if you want a polished razzle-dazzle musical. This ain't that.

Enchanting, Cliched, Refreshing, Great singing, Absorbing

See it if you want to see a well-put-together musical of this scale with a terrific cast and hear the best Duncan Sheik score since Spring Awakening.

Don't see it if you can't tolerate another civil rights narrative centered on the journey of a white protagonist.

Critic Reviews (27)

Trailer

Creative team

Atlantic Theater Company