Woody Sez: The Life & Music of Woody Guthrie NYC Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (105)
See it if want to hear four insanely talented people sing and play multiple instruments.
Don't see it if Don't like American Folk Music or want to see a "play" Read more
See it if you are a fan of Woody Guthrie or just want to learn more about him, if you like folk music, if you want to be entertained and inspired.
Don't see it if you don't like folk music, you don't like leftist politics, you want theatre to be elaborately staged, you don't like biographical shows.
See it if Appreciate old school folk music without electronic amplification. Fans of Woody Gutherie . Uplifting portrail of the American spirit .
Don't see it if Do not enjoy folk music or shows with a historical context that .Think the idea behind "this land is your land ..." is corny. Read more
See it if you like politically conscious music & to remember a time when people fought back
Don't see it if you think bankers should own the world, you love conservative or Trump politics, you hate folk music
See it if Like folk music and engaging storytelling with very talented actors/ musicians
Don't see it if You have no interest in music on stage
See it if you're interested in Woody Guthrie, his music or how his history relates to today's world.
Don't see it if you hate folk music.
See it if You like musical biography of Woody Guthrie
Don't see it if If you are looking for a dramatic play or a musical concert
See it if you love the songs of Woody Guthrie
Don't see it if If ¥ou have no interest in folk songs
Critic Reviews (24)
“An amiable 90 minutes of melodies…The musicianship is first-class…The cast effortlessly adapts to the rousing spirit of the songwriter’s heartland balladeering and protest music…As presented here, though, Guthrie’s music is more seductive than antagonistic, often managing to express with dry-eyed humor the bitter experiences of the poor…The topical similarities of some of the songs do provoke a few yawns, but ‘Woody Sez’ says good night well before its welcome is worn out.”
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“I defy anyone to go and see ‘Woody Sez’ and not come away feeling that this modest yet delectable offering is a pretty snug fit for these cash-strapped, anxious times…If the evening valuably helps puts today’s travails in historical perspective, what comes across equally forcefully is how the songs transcend the time of their writing…The performers sing with lusty conviction and they handle their instruments with impeccable finesse. They spread warmth out across the auditorium.”
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“Four talented, versatile musicians provide a low-key musical commentary-biography…The four musician-singer-performers happily breeze along with the breeze and melodies, having a great time on stage…Multi-talented, lanky David Lutken as Guthrie is refreshingly sincere, singing and strumming Guthrie’s tunes with gusto…Guthrie’s songs ring out today as loudly as they did when he wrote them.”
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“David M. Lutken plays Woody with communal charisma...Lutken, as sympathetic in his down-home decency and grass-roots purity as his inspiration, colors all the warm notes in Woody’s haunting call to arms, ‘Why Do You Stand There in the Rain?’ It’s an odyssey of a hootenanny, as unflinchingly sincere as Garrison Keillor in front of a mike or Woody’s pals Pete Seeger and Leadbelly singing up a storm just by ‘always going on.’”
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“An eminently likable concert biography...The emphasis is clearly on the music, at which the supporting cast is admirably adept, though Lutken, as the featured player, brings more theatrical skill and empathy to his role...Although there’s nothing particularly surprising in the format of 'Woody Sez,' and often the paean to Guthrie borders on hero worship...the sympathetic production provides a toe-tapping, foot-stomping, crowd-pleasing hootenanny of a tribute to an American icon."
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“A show so good that it makes my job easy…Brimming with toe-tapping music, rich emotion, and powerful messages…Lutken brings Guthrie’s complex prairie philosopher persona to life with practiced confidence and genuine love for his subject…On the whole, it’s a triumphant piece of theater that simultaneously delivers larger than life commentary and moving personal drama in the tale of an American legend.”
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“Thoroughly enjoyable and effectively assembled...All four members of the cast are expansively competent, both vocally and instrumentally…Lutken and his crew bring home to us today just how valuable Guthrie and his music are to understanding the complexity of America’s past…Those who are close to young children owe it to them to take them to this production, if only as a way to help them better understand the history of the country they will inherit.”
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“Wholesome and homespun…With laid-back passion and gentle amusement, David M Lutken takes on the role of Guthrie…Much like Guthrie and his music, the production is low-key and easy going. Whilst often amusing, it’s never hilarious, though often toe-tapping and uplifting, it never blasts you with a wall of euphoria. Though it would probably be better in a smaller space, the cast create an intimate, welcoming and inviting atmosphere.”
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