We're Gonna Die
Closed 1h 5m
We're Gonna Die
74

We're Gonna Die NYC Reviews and Tickets

74%
(117 Ratings)
Positive
70%
Mixed
24%
Negative
6%
Members say
Great singing, Entertaining, Ambitious, Thought-provoking, Absorbing

About the Show

Second Stage presents Young Jean Lee's non-musical/non-play/non-concert that is not about dying.

Read more Show less

Show-Score Member Reviews (117)

Sort by:
  • Default
  • Standing in our community
  • Highest first
  • Lowest first
  • Newest first
  • Oldest first
  • Only positive
  • Only negative
  • Only mixed
80 Reviews | 11 Followers
97
Riveting, Relevant, Masterful, Great staging, Great singing

See it if You want feel your actual emotions; be moved by intelligent storytelling; witness theatre like you haven’t before

Don't see it if You find it difficult to live in the juxtaposition of reality and metaphor; loud music is hard to handle Read more

91 Reviews | 8 Followers
96
Intelligent, Great writing, Enchanting

See it if You enjoy good music and existentialism

Don't see it if You want a traditional show

72 Reviews | 13 Followers
90
Resonant, Quirky, Intelligent, Great singing, Ambitious

See it if you want to see a great singer rock out to the inevitability of death. Well staged and well performed by the entire cast/band.

Don't see it if you are hoping for a traditional musical or play, or if you have trouble dealing with the fact that everyone's going to die.

470 Reviews | 114 Followers
90
Absorbing, Great singing, Great acting

See it if You enjoy great singing & poignant stories by the lead. Full band. Would love to hear a soundtrack released.

Don't see it if You don't like tons of balloons being released at the very end of the show.

457 Reviews | 101 Followers
90
All the greats! gorgeous lighting., Great singing, Ambitious, Absorbing

See it if This is a raucous, high energy, one woman show with a great ensemble backing her. Sing they do. She has a lovely voice easy to listen to.

Don't see it if This is loud. Sad. As in Straight White Male, we are bombarded with hits echoing death and dying. Lights flash and players MOVE. Read more

120 Reviews | 12 Followers
89
Great singing, Delightful, Entertaining, Clever, Absorbing

See it if You like good music behind a story

Don't see it if you don't like a one woman show

121 Reviews | 22 Followers
85
Great singing, Delightful

See it if A smart and dark performance that perhaps would stand better as a cabaret show than a full-blown play, WGD plumbs the feeling of loneliness.

Don't see it if The lead singer/actor felt perhaps too stage-y, too much of a performer for the relatively plain-spoken and deadpan text and music.

258 Reviews | 104 Followers
84
Delightful, Entertaining, Refreshing, Great singing, Absorbing

See it if a truly enjoyable mix of story telling & great songs sung with lots of heart backed by a terrific band appeals to you. A hybrid, fun piece!!

Don't see it if If subject of catastrophic illness is way too painful for you. Otherwise, it's irrepressibly engaging—McDermoth is terrific as is the band!

Critic Reviews (12)

The New York Times
February 25th, 2020

"In ‘We’re Gonna Die,’ Pop Songs for the Reaper: Young Jean Lee offers upbeat tunes about downbeat lives and inevitable ends."
Read more

Time Out New York
February 25th, 2020

4/5 Stars. "'We're Gonna Die' is in no way sentimental, but it's full of earnest emotion. As our guide and avatar, McDermoth is charming and sounds great, and the band behind her gets our blood pumping even when our hearts are breaking."
Read more

New York Magazine / Vulture
February 26th, 2020

"Lifeboats and Lifelines: Two Musicals Make the Case for Not Giving Up"
Read more

Theatermania
February 25th, 2020

"Face Your Mortality the Fun Way: With Young Jean Lee's 'We're Gonna Die' Janelle McDermoth stars in Second Stage's new production of Lee's theatrical concert."
Read more

Lighting & Sound America
February 26th, 2020

"The sounds are as mellow as good whiskey enjoyed in the midnight hour of a troubled day that is swiftly receding into memory."
Read more

Talkin' Broadway
February 25th, 2020

"This uncategorizable show...presents one of the frankest reflections on death, aging, rejection and isolation that you are likely to see on stage. Yet, it also happens to be one of the most exhilarating, reassuring, and life-affirming performances you may experience this year."
Read more

New York Stage Review
February 25th, 2020

4/5 Stars. "If I said you were going to have a great time at a musical called 'We're Gonna Die,' you probably wouldn't believe me. But Young Jean Lee's show will send you off with a smile on your face."
Read more

New York Stage Review
February 25th, 2020

4/5 Stars. "A surprisingly lively look at death, 'We're Gonna Die' directly confronts human mortality with some songs, a few stories, and a matter-of-fact attitude."
Read more