Between Riverside and Crazy
2 hours, including intermission
Between Riverside and Crazy - 2022 Broadway History , Info & More
Hayes Theatre (Broadway)
240 West 44th St. New York, NY
City Hall is demanding more than his signature, the landlord wants him out, the liquor store is closed – and the Church won’t leave him alone. For ex-cop and recent widower Walter “Pops” Washington and his recently paroled son Junior, the struggle to hold on to one of the last great rent stabilized apartments on Riverside Drive collides with old wounds, sketchy new houseguests and a final ultimatum in this Pulitzer Prize-winning dark comedy from Stephen Adly Guirgis. For Pops and Junior, it seems the Old Days are dead and gone – after a lifetime living Between Riverside and Crazy.
Between Riverside and Crazy - 2022 - Broadway Cast
FEATURED REVIEWS FOR Between Riverside and Crazy
BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY: WILD AND WONDERFUL NEW YORK STORY
10 / 10
With each successive scene, Guirgis peels away layers, and we learn more about Walter: He basically drinks from morning to night. There’s more to his shooting story than we thought. And he has a real mean streak toward the end—truly avaricious and petty. Yet we’re rooting for him despite each disturbing discovery. Henderson, an exceptional stage actor who’s perhaps best known for his roles in August Wilson plays, gives a bravura performance—all the more impressive considering he’s seated for most of his scenes. In his dalliance with the Church Lady (Liza Colón-Zayas, another Guirgis vet)—which features the wildest passing of the Communion wafer you’ll ever see—he’s confined to a wheelchair; and he’s hooked up to an IV and bedridden for an uncharacteristically restrained confessional with Junior. Judging by the entrance applause, Common is this production’s biggest draw, and the neophyte stage actor seems to still be finding his footing. But he’s sweet and subtly charming in a rooftop scene with Colón, and powerful in the aforementioned muted emotional exchange with Henderson. Guirgis gives his characters plenty of R-rated barbs and razor-sharp banter, but those smaller, low-key moments reveal Riverside’s bruised, battered heart.
Review: In ‘Between Riverside and Crazy,’ Real Estate Gets Real
8 / 10
Everyone should see it anyway, to experience the pleasure of a great cast making a shrimps-and-veal meal of the incredibly rich material, even as it flips between comedy and tragedy on its way to the truth in between. Actually, that meal may even be too rich at points; the final scene can’t quite digest all that came before, and there are brief moments throughout when the actors’ love for the material itself begins to show through the facade of character, like those bricks behind the plaster. For the most part, though, Pendleton’s production is amazingly confident, featuring not just Walt Spangler’s set, but also top-notch lighting by Keith Parham, sound and music by Ryan Rumery and, especially, costumes by Alexis Forte, which tell their own story on top of Guirgis’s. And when the scene changes are as expressive as the actors’ attention to every nuance of each other’s actions, staging becomes a kind of emotional choreography: thrilling, precise, impossible to pin down.
Category
by Nicole Rosky - February 19, 2023
Stephen Adly Guirgis' Pulitzer Prize-winning play, BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY, directed by Austin Pendleton, plays its final Broadway performance.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - February 13, 2023
Due to popular demand, Second Stage Theater has added four simulcast performances of BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY. See details about the performances, and learn how to purchase tickets!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - February 9, 2023
Second Stage Theater will partner with Common and his not-for-profit, Imagine Justice, to host “Justice Nights On Broadway” following the matinee performances of Between Riverside and Crazy at The Hayes Theater on Saturday, February 11th and Saturday, February 18th 2023.
by Stephi Wild - January 24, 2023
Second Stage Theater has announced an extension for Stephen Adly Guirgis’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play, BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY, directed by Austin Pendleton. The production has extended one week and will now run through Sunday, February 19th.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - January 23, 2023
Gary Perez has joined the cast of Stephen Adly Guirgis’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play, BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY, directed by Austin Pendleton. Mr. Perez assumed the role of Lieutenant Caro on January 20, 2023.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - January 4, 2023
Tonight's (Wednesday, January 4th at 7pm) and tomorrow’s (Thursday, January 5th at 7pm) performances of Between Riverside and Crazy have been cancelled due to an exposure of COVID-19.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - January 3, 2023
Maria-Christina Oliveras has joined the cast of Stephen Adly Guirgis’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play, BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY, directed by Austin Pendleton. Ms. Oliveras has assumed the role of Church Lady.
by Red Carpet - December 22, 2022
Stephen Adly Guirgis' Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Between Riverside and Crazy has at last arrived on Broadway. BroadwayWorld is taking you to the red carpet in this video!
by Opening Night - December 21, 2022
The Broadway debut production of Stephen Adly Guirgis' Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Between Riverside and Crazy just opened and BroadwayWorld was there. We're taking you behind the scenes in this video!
by Bruce Glikas - December 20, 2022
See photos of the stars arriving at opening night of Stephen Adly Guirgis' Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Between Riverside and Crazy, and get a look inside the party!
by Bruce Glikas - December 20, 2022
The Broadway debut production of Stephen Adly Guirgis' Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Between Riverside and Crazy opened last night, December 19. BroadwayWorld was there and you can check out photos of the cast on the red carpet here!
by Bruce Glikas - December 20, 2022
The Broadway debut production of Stephen Adly Guirgis' Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Between Riverside and Crazy opened on December 19. Directed by Austin Pendleton, the play stars Oscar, Emmy, and Grammy Award-winner Common. Check out photos from inside the big night.
by A.A. Cristi - December 19, 2022
The Broadway debut production of Stephen Adly Guirgis' Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Between Riverside and Crazy opens tonight, directed by Austin Pendleton and starring Oscar, Emmy, and Grammy Award-winner Common. Read the reviews!
by Michael Major - December 13, 2022
Common appeared on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert to discuss making his Broadway debut in Between Riverside and Crazy. Common also discussed what he keeps in his dressing room and reveals why he has to show up early for the show every night. Watch the new video interview now!
by Jennifer Broski - December 8, 2022
Previews have officially begun for the Broadway debut production of Stephen Adly Guirgis' Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Between Riverside and Crazy, directed by Austin Pendleton and starring Oscar, Emmy, and Grammy Award-winner Common. Check out photos of the new marquee at the Hayes Theatre!
by Backstage Live with Richard Ridge - December 3, 2022
Common chats with BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge about the new Broadway play, Between Riverside and Crazy in this extended interview.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - November 30, 2022
Tonight's performance of Between Riverside and Crazy has been cancelled due to company illness. It would have been the show's first preview.
by Nicole Rosky - November 26, 2022
In this video, Common and the company of Between Riverside and Crazy meet the press ahead of the show's arrival on Broadway on Wednesday, November 30. The play will officially open on Monday, December 19, 2022 at Second Stage's Hayes Theater.
by Jennifer Broski - November 18, 2022
See photos of the company of Between Riverside and Crazy meeting the press! BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY will begin previews Wednesday, November 30th and will officially open on Monday, December 19, 2022 at Second Stage's Hayes Theater.
by Stephi Wild - November 30, 2022
Second Stage Theater's Broadway production of Stephen Adly Guirgis' play, Between Riverside and Crazy, directed by Austin Pendleton begins previews tonight, Wednesday, November 30th. Meet the cast here!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - November 10, 2022
Tickets will go on sale for Second Stage Theater's simulcast performances of its Broadway production of Stephen Adly Guirgis’ play, BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY, directed by Austin Pendleton on Friday, November 11 at 12pm EST.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - October 11, 2022
Second Stage will offer simulcasts of its upcoming Broadway production of Stephen Adly Guirgis’ BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY, directed by Austin Pendleton, for the final two weeks of its run, January 31 – February 12, 2023, allowing theater fans who aren’t able to attend in person the opportunity to witness a live Broadway performance from home.
by Stephi Wild - September 16, 2022
Oscar, Emmy, and Grammy Award-winner COMMON will make his Broadway debut in the role of “Junior” in the Broadway debut production of Stephen Adly Guirgis’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Between Riverside and Crazy, directed by Austin Pendleton.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - September 9, 2022
Second Stage Theater has announced casting for the Broadway debut production of Stephen Adly Guirgis’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play, BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY, directed by Austin Pendleton. The production will star Victor Almanzar, Elizabeth Canavan, Rosal Colon and more.
Between Riverside and Crazy History
Other Productions of Between Riverside and Crazy
| 2014 | Off-Broadway |
Atlantic Theater Production Off-Broadway |
| 2015 | Off-Broadway |
Second Stage Theatre Production Off-Broadway |
| 2022 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
Between Riverside and Crazy - 2022 Broadway Awards and Nominations
| Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance Award | Stephen McKinley Henderson |
| 2023 | Tony Awards | Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Play | Stephen McKinley Henderson |
| 2023 | Tony Awards | Best Play | Between Riverside and Crazy |
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