Liberty: A Monumental New Musical
About the show
Inspired by historical events, this family musical chronicles how the Statue of Liberty became an immigration icon and symbol of freedom. More…
Lady Liberty was not always a beloved national landmark. She originally arrived on our shores in the middle of a heated immigration debate and a terrible recession, and political forces quickly aligned to deport her. With a strong resolve and a mighty spirit, she battles to gain acceptance and a place in our society. In this family musical, best for ages 8 and up, the Statue of Liberty comes to life as a wide-eyed teenage girl.
"Liberty is portrayed as a young girl (delightful performance by Abigail Shapiro)...The famous lines 'Give me your tired, your poor…' are made into a beautiful song 'The New Colossus' and makes everybody’s eyes sparkle with tears...'Liberty, a Monumental New Musical' is a very engaging rendition of history from human perspective. Directed by Evan Pappas, it is a delightful family show." Full Review
"A perfectly timed, unfortunately relevant and utterly thrilling musical…The entire cast is excellent…While the performance of Regina Schuyler veers into caricature, the direction by Evan Pappas is otherwise admirable…It’s a family-friendly show and even very little children were engrossed. It addresses our aspirations, the America of our hopes and dreams and, yes, this reviewer wept!" Full Review
"It gave me goosebumps. In this intimate theatre, this show explodes with talent, history, original songs and acting that is thrilling to experience...A show that is appealing to patrons of all ages...Experience 'Liberty, A Monumental Musical' with your family. It will give you a sense of history, but more importantly, you will be proud to be an American. To see this statue finally step onto her pedestal and raise her torch is something you won’t soon forget." Full Review
"Family-friendly, it surely beats an old history text for teaching you about that legendary Lady…The 17 musical numbers range from the sassy to the sublime…Goldstein adumbrates the key events of its journey with symbolism rather than retelling its history in a strict sense. And, as helmed by Pappas, it works. Abigail Shapiro turns in a solid performance as the protagonist Liberty. She pulls off her lead role with surprising confidence and has the pipes to belt out her various songs." Full Review
“The story might be confusing to younger kids who don’t understand symbolism yet, but I found it very compelling and moving. ‘Liberty: A Monumental New Musical’ is a charming musical that left me feeling patriotic and grateful to be living in a city so rich in United States history - I might even hop the ferry and visit Lady Liberty soon myself.” Full Review
"Misleading as its history may be, and middling as are much of its book and score (little of which attempts to suggest the music of the day), 'Liberty' nonetheless serves as a moderately effective work of historical propaganda on the importance of immigration in making America great...It really doesn’t get your red, white, and blues unfurled until its final moments when the company sings Lazarus’s words while striking images (I wish there were more) of the statue’s construction are shown." Full Review
“The question is: who is the intended audience? It is too simplistic for adults and has too little action for children. With a bouncy score and easily accessible lyrics, ‘Liberty’ is pleasant without being exceptional. It does prove timely with lines like ‘America, America for the real Americans,’ ‘Isn’t it time we closed the golden door?’ and ‘You can’t put up a wall’ which suggests nothing much has changed in the last 132 years.” Full Review
"Earnest, sentimental and intermittently charming, this family production offers a slice of American history that here tastes mostly like apple pie. Whether the show engages you will partly depend on how easily you accept a walking, talking statue...The strengths of 'Liberty' include its songs..It also has a winning star in the teenage Ms. Shapiro, who brings pure conviction to her peculiar role. Under Evan Pappas’s direction, the rest of the cast is largely impressive." Full Review
"The show’s pop-oriented songs are serviceable but not innovative or particularly tuneful. Some numbers are sung with ringing fervor...Doing the score no big favors is the fact that it is presented as a recorded soundtrack…The libretto is probably the show’s strongest aspect. Although 'Liberty' seems a little heavy-handed at times in the heart-on-sleeve way it wears its pro-immigrant sentiments, the story clearly drew in most of the adults and kids who saw it with me." Full Review
“The production is fun, and kid-friendly, but very uneven. While the libretto is outstanding, the music by Jon Goldstein sounds canned; all the tracks seem to have been created on a synthesizer. The stage also feels small, not only because it is small, but because Evan Pappas’s staging lacks dynamics and, at times, deflates the production. Some choreographed movement would have given the actors some breadth and depth and the production real musical-theater flair.” Full Review
“Doesn’t quite reach the top in terms of dramatic artistry and compelling storytelling...The music is a mix of pop styles and classic musical theatre styles. Overall the score feels disconnected due to the constant back and forth of these two musicals styles and the lack of cohesion and through-line…‘Liberty’ at present is a 'good musical', but it’s not great, that will take more time, and brilliance will take even longer.” Full Review
“Purposely written on a grade-school level to attract families. I am not sure how many parents will find the show all that involving, but children should enjoy it...Shapiro needs much more guidance. Her singing voice has moments of loveliness...I will place the blame here with Pappas who has not guided her properly. She has definite possibilities...All these reservations could be rectified for the show itself has an appealing quality, it just needs to be executed to its full advantage.” Full Review
“Designed to spoon-feed a young audience the idea that immigrants are good and those opposed to them are bad...The idea of a girl statue offering little homilies gets old pretty fast, and the show's creators have little more to offer in the way of drama. The songs favor an '80s-'90s middle-of-the-road pop sound that isn't too appropriate given the subject matter and isn't terribly compelling on its own terms...Personally, I'd wait for a revival of ‘Ragtime’, and take the kids.” Full Review
"Undeniably well-intentioned but ultimately tepid...The nice idea here is to have the statue portrayed by a young girl and treated very much like a living person. There’s another strong idea couched in a song called 'America for the Americans,' which has the effect of reminding audiences that the victimizing of immigrants then is still going on today as Donald Trump campaigns...The music throughout is generically rousing and the figures depicted are also generic." Full Review
“An informative musical that hopes to teach, which gets in the way of a clean, fleshed-out story...Whether it was the canned instrumentation or the music itself, the score was very much cartoony, but not in a good way…‘Liberty’ has a capable company. It’s evident these performers are seasoned. It’s a shame their material didn’t match their talent...The story of Lady Liberty is cool in concept but this musical didn’t know what it wanted to be.” Full Review
"Liberty' is blessed with some talented singers and a story that should capture American’s heart, but sadly doesn’t...This musical seems amateurish and trite. Maybe if we cared about the statue, the show would have made us care just a little bit more…This 80-minute show is filled with seventeen songs that all sound alike. The canned music for the most part overpowers the terrific singers…The staging by by Evan Pappas seems forced and extremely boring after the first 20 minutes." Full Review
"Because Liberty isn't really a character—and certainly isn't a person—her quest is as meaningless as it is preachy, which is to say quite a lot. And given the stiff posture, unyielding facial expressions, and stilted singing voice Shapiro brings to the part, she's not even especially likable. (She is, however, utterly convincing as a statue.) There's no point to any of this except for Liberty to teach and for us to listen, which is made harder still by the lessons being not that much fun." Full Review
"A modest but magnificent new musical that tells the real story of the average American immigrant. The 80-minute, family-friendly show recounts how the Statue of Liberty came to the United States and became the iconic symbol we all love...There are many funny moments in Liberty. But at other times, 'Liberty' can be extremely moving...'Liberty' is more than a breath of fresh air. It is the voice out of the whirlwind." Full Review
"While it opens to the tone of a light-hearted musical comedy, the piece builds unexpectedly to intensely moving heights...'Liberty' incorporates the narratives of many New York immigrants into the tale...The more emotionally affecting staging moments come at the open and close of the piece...Though it may need more content to lengthen the piece to the Broadway standard, 'Liberty' is a surprisingly effective piece of theatre...and has the potential to go on for far longer." Full Review
for a previous production "A touching, tuneful tale about the most famous immigrant to grace New York Harbor: Lady Liberty herself…Her story may be fantasy, but it conveys a deep and heartfelt truth…The statuesque Ms. Liberty is brought to life by a petite teenager with a full-sized talent, a young immigrant played by the sweetly vulnerable Abigail Shapiro…The creative team and terrific cast truly do a monumental job!" Full Review
for a previous production "A winning Off-Broadway musical…Aimed at young adults, but with appeal for New Yorkers of any age...The heroine of the title is a living, breathing and singing embodiment of the famous statue...The charismatic actress, 14 years old, has the vocal control of a seasoned pro and a quiet stage presence that belies her years…The show is a welcome jumping-off point for a discussion about the ingredients that make America the multicultural bouillabaisse it is today." Full Review
See it if You want to see a thought-provoking and surprisingly relevant production with a beautiful new score and charming actors who connect easily
Don't see it if You don't want to be thoughtfully engaged in matters of immigration, race, and ancestry
See it if You like musical and good acting
Don't see it if If you dont like historical narrative
See it if You like a charming, historical story; you have kids into theatre and history
Don't see it if You want something more adult
See it if You need to entertain a child...many elements of the story are brought forth, leaving paths for profitable conversation.
Don't see it if You don't have a child with you.
See it if You like musicals it is a cleverly written piece of American history. Good singing. Good cast There is 1 80munute act no intermission.
Don't see it if You dont like musicals. Or if you Want a big extravagant set. It's a sweet story about the Statue of Liberty
See it if you'd enjoy a blatantly unsubtle yet surprisingly moving story of the value of immigration to America.
Don't see it if you're lactose intolerant. There's a fair amount of cheese for one show. But the actors are talented and earnest, and perfectly cast.
See it if you like-great singing, a take on a historical event that resonates today, a piece where actors/singers juggle multiple roles & do it well
Don't see it if you-want live music,are looking for character development,(this is about ideals,competing patriotic narratives),want an elaborate set design
See it if You love musicals and history. My daughter is eleven and enjoyed it. Abigail Shapiro was excellent.
Don't see it if If you do not like history and musicals.
See it if You are a history buff. Or if you enjoy the history of Ellis island and how our ancestors got jere
Don't see it if You want a major musical production w a large cast and well known actors.
See it if You like new works....works based on history...intimate spaces...small casts...period pieces
Don't see it if you don't like intermission-less shows, experimental works, works-in-progress, American history, non-traditional venues
See it if you want to enjoy a show that is educational ,entertaining,original,and fun for the whole family.Great cast,especially Tina Stafford.
Don't see it if just see it!
See it if The music and songs were creative and entertaining.
Don't see it if If you aren't interested in the history of the Statue of Liberty and the time period involved around immigration
See it if You enjoy great singing
Don't see it if You don't like historical events
See it if You are interested in history, and singing.
Don't see it if You only like big broadway shows.
See it if Like history musicals
Don't see it if You do not like to be entertained
See it if You are interested in history and dramas.
Don't see it if You are looking for bells and whistles or a lot of dancing
See it if you're cool with little-known US history facts & anecdotes. Enjoyable, & if you pay attention you'll learn a lot. Young A Shapiro's amazing.
Don't see it if you don't want to see another history-lesson musical. Fun & fact-filled afternoon (NO INTERMISSION), with good singing. Perfect family show.
See it if You enjoy history and like original musical. It is a a nice paced musical with a talented young lady to play the Statue of liberty
Don't see it if You like live orchestra musicals, need elaborate sets...its done well paired down.
See it if You like heartwarming stories about early America and you enjoy small, intimate theater experiences. Nice way to spend 80 mins on a hot day.
Don't see it if You are looking for a large-scale theater production with very high production values.
See it if You like historical musicals
Don't see it if You dislike child actors
See it if you are looking for a kid friendly or educational musical. It was an interesting way to tell the story of the Statue of Liberty.
Don't see it if you do not like to be cold, the theater is freezing, are expecting to be blown away.
See it if Good singers, bad songs; strained story, great message. Headache inducing digital display is primary setpiece. Very talented teenage lead.
Don't see it if General admission with chairs being scraped around by late arriving tourists chatting with their kids, FREEZING a/c, pretty unendurable.
See it if You enjoy a show that tetters on the border of confusing and mind numbingly boring. Actors and actress' are beyond talented, story is poor
Don't see it if If you enjoy quality theatre and paying a fair price for the show you are seeing
See it if you want to take your kids to a cute show with good performances.
Don't see it if don't like midi tracks.
See it if If you are interested in the story behind the Statue of Liberty. And how the base was purchased.
Don't see it if Not deep or thought provoking, too much singing. Music not catchy.
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