Caroline, or Change NYC Reviews and Tickets

86%

(63 Reviews)

Positive

94%

Mixed

Negative

Members say

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

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.

Member Reviews (63)

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

Talented cast, Great singing, Dated kushner/tesori musical, Worth a trip to queens

See it if Sung through opera-like plot with tension between social class, race, and religion

Don't see it if Hard metal folding chairs in auditorium with no rise. You won't cross East River.

Enjoyable, Mostly equity cast, Great staging, My first time at this musical presented far above the expected in a community room

See it if You dont mind an easy 30 min trek on the N train from Mid-Manhattan. You want to see some young stars getting experience.

Don't see it if You dont want to sit on a folding chair in what looked like a gym. You dont want to take the train.

Critic Reviews (5)

“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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"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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"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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"'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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“’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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