Caroline, or Change
Closed 2h 20m
Caroline, or Change
85

Caroline, or Change NYC Reviews and Tickets

85%
(76 Reviews)
Positive
93%
Mixed
4%
Negative
3%
Members say
Great singing, Absorbing, Thought-provoking, Great acting, Ambitious

About the Show

This musical from Jeanine Tesori and Tony Kushner tells the story of a remarkable but uneasy friendship between a young Jewish boy and his family’s Black maid in 1963 Louisiana. 

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Member Reviews (76)

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891 Reviews | 259 Followers
83
Absorbing, Entertaining, Great singing, Great staging, Relevant

See it if you enjoy musicals with a message this one powerful when first produced and continues today, with a very talented cast, quite well directed

Don't see it if you find the projection of some young cast members difficult to hear or you find it difficult to sit on a hard folding chair for 2+ hours.

716 Reviews | 219 Followers
90
Thought-provoking, Relevant, Profound, Great writing, Great singing

See it if Perspectives on Jewish and black families who share Caroline as a common member. Deep characters & themes. Complex operatic music.

Don't see it if You would be uncomfortable sitting on a folding chair for 2+ hours, or travelling to Queens. You are uninterested in a serious musical. Read more

754 Reviews | 124 Followers
92
Weak ending, Relevant, Strong performances, Complex themes, Fantastic singing

See it if deeply character driven pieces excite you. More opera than play set in the turbulent 1960's but relevant for today. Magnificent job!

Don't see it if you expect a typical Broadway musical. The theater is a half mile from the subway and the show starts at 8 so ends late.

670 Reviews | 156 Followers
86
Well sung, Historical, Quirky, Smart

See it if you'd like to see a sharp, spare production of an important, innovative musical of the early 21st century.

Don't see it if for you a musical requires a lush production. Read more

466 Reviews | 237 Followers
98
Must see, Intelligent, Masterful, Resonant, Absorbing

See it if Moving from beginning to end.of this excellent excellent. A must see! Incredible singers with moving performances.

Don't see it if If the topic of racial segregation is difficult to hear. Read more

512 Reviews | 79 Followers
92
Ladonna burns is amazing, Great writing, Great singing, Great acting, Absorbing

See it if you want an excellent production of an important play.Performances are sensational,especially LaDonnaBurns as Caroline.She gets every nuance

Don't see it if you want something splashy.This musical is about race,family, & dignity.It's very entertaining, but it's also moving & thought provoking

434 Reviews | 95 Followers
76
Intense, Great staging, Great singing

See it if You've never seen a production of it before. The trek to Queens is worth it. Great voices and talent. Great set design

Don't see it if You don't want to go to Queens, you can't sit on a hard folding chair for 2+ hours.

399 Reviews | 203 Followers
85
Profound, Masterful, Intelligent, Great singing, Absorbing

See it if Two months in 1963 through the eyes of an African-American maid in LA and the family she works for. Clarke blows the roof off the joint.

Don't see it if The show is mostly sung-through and it was hard to understand what they were singing. I didn't care, because the singing was divine.

Critic Reviews (5)

Theatre is Easy
May 6th, 2019

“APAC's ‘Caroline, or Change’ is a welcome reminder of this unique musical...Directed by Bondarin, APAC’s ‘Caroline, or Change’ doesn’t have to reach far to connect to current events in 2019. The topicality is clear, and may even resonate more with audiences now than it did in 2003...It was ahead of its time. And with such a difficult piece, Bondarin nails it...Burns’ great leading performance is well matched by the entire cast...APAC's production is a gem.”
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Stage Buddy
May 13th, 2019

"Jeanine Tesori's soulful yet playful score, matched to Tony Kushner's perfectly crafted lyrics, bring a deep power and resonance to Caroline's story...Since 'Caroline, or Change' is a musical that deserves more attention, it's heartening to see it performed with such finesse by a regional theatre company--and that APAC performs this nuanced work with such finesse is a testament to the power of their storytelling."
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Stage Left
May 10th, 2019

"The plot of this almost entirely sung-through musical is fairly simple, but the themes explored—in typical Kushner fashion—are endlessly grand...Bondarin does a fine job staging this intimate piece...Burns sings the vocally challenging score with great aplomb, boasting both the confidence and the technical skill needed to anchor the show...While the trimmings are simple and the vocal performances vary in quality, the strength of the story still radiates."
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Show Showdown
May 11th, 2019

"'Caroline' is not an easy show to do. It requires a first-class cast and a director with a sure hand. In the APAC production, it has both, along with a small but excellent band and solid production values...Bondarin goes to the heart of a show, understands it on all levels, and honors the work by presenting it in its best light. I saw 'Caroline, or Change' both Off-Broadway and on, and thanks to Bondarin and everyone else involved, this production is every bit as amazing."
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BOAST: Best of Astoria
May 7th, 2019

“’Caroline, or change’ has arguably more social relevance today than ever before....The actors and director do a beautiful job of portraying a country on the edge of major change and conflict. We can only wonder what these rich characters would have to say about the recent events sweeping this country. With so many salient issues and engrossing story, this show provides a distinctive look back at the last 60 years of change…or not?”
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