Eureka Day
Closing: February 16, 2025Eureka Day - 2024 Broadway History , Info & More
Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (Broadway)
261 W. 47th St. New York, NY 10036
School is in session! Manhattan Theatre Club brings Jonathan Spector’s play Eureka Day, directed by Anna D. Shapiro, to Broadway.
What's it all about? Eureka Day is a private California elementary school with a Board of Directors that values inclusion above all else – that is, until an outbreak of the mumps forces everyone in the community to reconsider the school’s liberal vaccine policy. As cases rise, the board realizes with horror that they’ve got to do what they swore they never would: make a choice that won’t please absolutely everybody.
Despite its familiar subject matter, Spector has explained that he wrote the play long before the COVID pandemic.
Before Broadway, the comedy had its world premiere at Aurora Theatre Company in Berkeley, California as part of their 2017-2018 season and was commissioned through their Originate+Generate program. It went on to have its east coast premiere off-Broadway at Walkerspace in 2019, and opened at the Old Vic in London in 2022. It arrives on Broadway with an all new cast.
Eureka Day - 2024 - Broadway Cast
PREVIEW Eureka Day - 2024 - Broadway
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FEATURED REVIEWS FOR Eureka Day
Eureka Day
4 / 10
Meanwhile, the board, for their part, seems far more worried about the financial health of the school than the physical health of their students, or in the case of Suzanne, furthering her own personal agenda. (Hecht’s brilliant delivery of a small monologue explaining her “reasoning” is heartbreaking and slightly terrifying.) But here’s the biggest problem of all: as Covid still looms, the concept of people resisting and refusing vaccines isn’t likely to engender much sympathy in New York theatergoers (many of whom have started to wear masks again). Worse yet, with the prospect of vaccine-denier Robert F. Kennedy Jr. becoming the next secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services – and asking the FDA to revoke approval of the polio vaccine – the issue no longer feels fit for satire. Ultimately, even in a better production than this one, the day to produce “Eureka Day” has passed.
Eureka Day: To Vax or Not to Vax
7 / 10
But neither the dialogue, characterizations, nor plot elements, the latter including the revelation of an affair between Eli and Meiko, have the crisp sharpness of, say, Yasmina Reza’s God of Carnage, which similarly lampooned parental conflicts. The 100-minute evening feels longer than it is thanks to the sluggish pacing and frequent repetition. There is the occasional powerful moment, most notably a monologue by Suzanne in which she reveals the tragic backstory behind her opposition to vaccination. But too much of the play is dependent on such tired cliches as the “artisanal scones” which help the board members get through the long meetings in which decisions are made not by majority vote but consensus. Still, Eureka Day deserves praise for its comic treatment of the sort of contemporary social issues not often paid attention to on Broadway, the fine performances by its ensemble (Irwin deserves special credit for tamping down his usual comic persona), and that amazingly funny livestream sequence that will prevent you from ever sitting through a similar one with a straight face ever again.
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Chelsea Yakura-Kurtz Shares Her Pre-Show Rituals and Backstage Must-Haves at EUREKA DAY
by Stephi Wild - February 4, 2025
by Stephi Wild - February 4, 2025
Chelsea Yakura-Kurtz is appearing in Eureka Day on Broadway. She recently took us backstage to share some of her favorite backstage routines, pre-show rituals, must-haves and more.
EUREKA DAY Cancels January 14 Performance Due To Illness
by A.A. Cristi - January 14, 2025
by A.A. Cristi - January 14, 2025
The Broadway production of Eureka Day has announced the cancellation of tonight's performance (January 14, 2025) due to non-COVID related illness within the company.
EUREKA DAY Extended Again on Broadway Through Mid February
by Chloe Rabinowitz - January 8, 2025
by Chloe Rabinowitz - January 8, 2025
Manhattan Theatre Club's Broadway premiere of Eureka Day, a play by Jonathan Spector, directed by Tony Award winner Anna D. Shapiro, has extended for the second time. Learn more about the production and see how to purchase tickets.
EUREKA DAY & The 92nd Street Y To Host Special Performance and Talkback
by A.A. Cristi - December 20, 2024
by A.A. Cristi - December 20, 2024
The 92nd Street Y has announced a performance of Eureka Day and post-performance conversation with the cast – Amber Gray, Jessica Hecht, Bill Irwin, Thomas Middleditch and Chelsea Yakura-Kurtz – moderated by Ruthie Fierberg.
Video: EUREKA DAY Celebrates Opening Night
by Joey Mervis - December 19, 2024
by Joey Mervis - December 19, 2024
Stars aligned earlier this week at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, where Eureka Day celebrated its opening night. Watch in this video as the cast and creative team chat more on opening night!
EUREKA DAY Extends Broadway Run
by Stephi Wild - December 18, 2024
by Stephi Wild - December 18, 2024
Manhattan Theatre Club has announced that the Broadway premiere of Eureka Day, a play by Jonathan Spector, directed by Tony Award winner Anna D. Shapiro, has extended its run! Learn more here!
Photos: On the Red Carpet at EUREKA DAY Opening Night
by Bruce Glikas - December 18, 2024
by Bruce Glikas - December 18, 2024
Eureka Day by Jonathan Spector, directed by Tony Award winner Anna D. Shapiro, is now officially open on Broadway. BroadwayWorld was there at opening night and you can check out photos from the red carpet here!
Photos: The Cast of EUREKA DAY Takes Opening Night Bows
by Bruce Glikas - December 17, 2024
by Bruce Glikas - December 17, 2024
Eureka Day, by Jonathan Spector and directed by Tony Award winner Anna D. Shapiro, is now officially open on Broadway at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. Check out photos of the cast taking their opening night bows!
Review Roundup: EUREKA DAY Opens On Broadway
by A.A. Cristi - December 16, 2024
by A.A. Cristi - December 16, 2024
The Broadway premiere of Eureka Day, a new comedy from playwright Jonathan Spector, celebrates its opening night tonight in a new production from Anna D. Shapiro! Read the reviews!
Photos: EUREKA DAY Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night
by Bruce Glikas - December 16, 2024
by Bruce Glikas - December 16, 2024
Eureka Day, a play by Jonathan Spector, directed by Tony Award winner Anna D. Shapiro, is now officially open on Broadway at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. Check out photos of the cast on the red carpet here!
Photos: EUREKA DAY is Now Playing on Broadway
by Stephi Wild - December 6, 2024
by Stephi Wild - December 6, 2024
All new production photos have been released for the Broadway premiere of Eureka Day, a play by Jonathan Spector, directed by Tony Award winner Anna D. Shapiro. Check out the photos here!
Up on the Marquee: EUREKA DAY
by Jennifer Broski - December 3, 2024
by Jennifer Broski - December 3, 2024
Next up at Manhattan Theatre Club is Eureka Day, by Jonathan Spector, directed by Anna D. Shapiro. Check out new photos of the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre marquee here!
Meet the Cast of EUREKA DAY on Broadway
by Stephi Wild - November 25, 2024
by Stephi Wild - November 25, 2024
Meet the talented cast of Eureka Day on Broadway, featuring Amber Gray, Jessica Hecht, Bill Irwin, Thomas Middleditch, and Chelsea Yakura-Kurtz.
Interview: Jonathan Spector's EUREKA DAY Brings Timely Vaccine Debate to Broadway
by Chloe Rabinowitz - November 10, 2024
by Chloe Rabinowitz - November 10, 2024
BroadwayWorld interviewed playwright Jonathan Spector about the Broadway debut of his play Eureka Day, starring Amber Gray, Jessica Hecht, Bill Irwin, and more. Learn more about the play!
Video: EUREKA DAY Cast Gets Ready for Broadway
by Joey Mervis - November 5, 2024
by Joey Mervis - November 5, 2024
Up next at Manhattan Theatre Club is Jonathan Spector's Eureka Day, starring Amber Gray, Jessica Hecht, Bill Irwin, Thomas Middleditch, and Chelsea Yakura-Kurtz. Watch as the cast tells us more about the new play in this video.
Photos: Manhattan Theatre Club's EUREKA DAY Cast Meets the Press
by Bruce Glikas - October 30, 2024
by Bruce Glikas - October 30, 2024
Manhattan Theatre Club is presenting Eureka Day, by Jonathan Spector, directed by Anna D. Shapiro. See photos of the company meeting the press here!
Chelsea Yakura-Kurtz Will Make Broadway Debut in EUREKA DAY
by Stephi Wild - October 2, 2024
by Stephi Wild - October 2, 2024
Chelsea Yakura-Kurtz (“Scandal,” “The Flash”) will make her Broadway debut in the Manhattan Theatre Club production of Eureka Day, by Jonathan Spector, directed by Anna D. Shapiro.
Amber Gray, Jessica Hecht & More to Star in EUREKA DAY on Broadway
by Chloe Rabinowitz - June 18, 2024
by Chloe Rabinowitz - June 18, 2024
The full cast has been revealed for the Broadway premiere of Eureka Day, written by Jonathan Spector and directed by Anna D. Shapiro. See who is starring and learn how to purchase tickets.
Eureka Day History
Other Productions of Eureka Day
| 2024 | Broadway |
MTC Original Broadway Production Broadway |
Eureka Day - 2024 Broadway Awards and Nominations
Note: Award winners will appear on a background
| Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Drama League Awards | DISTINGUISHED PERFORMANCE | Amber Gray |
| 2025 | Drama League Awards | OUTSTANDING DIRECTION OF A PLAY | Anna D. Shapiro |
| 2025 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play | Jessica Hecht |
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