The original stars of The Book of Mormon together again, in a hilarious new musical about an unintentionally hilarious new musical!
Need we say more? Okay we will! Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells – who became pretty famous on Broadway and then extremely super famous out in Hollywood – are coming back to their musical theater roots, putting on a show together because they just love each other so damn much. And what did they pick? A hilarious new musical from the guys who wrote Beetlejuice and the guy who directed Beetlejuice and Moulin Rouge. It’s the story of two best pals named Bud and Doug who put on a show together because they just love each other so damn much. It’s art imitating life imitating art! And it’s the funniest thing to come to Broadway since 1448! (Which is the year the printing press was invented by Johannes Gutenberg, who is the subject of the musical that Bud and Doug write, but that’s not important right now.)
The result suggests a cross between Christopher Guest’s Waiting for Guffman and the beloved cult musical [title of show], which also began at the New York Musical Festival in the 2000s. Affection is the key that opens the show’s comedy: As ridiculous as Doug and Bud may be, you feel for these guys and even root for them. As stupid as their historical musical may be, you can’t deny that they’ve got heart.
Scenic designer Scott Pask simulates a disorganized backstage area with tables, technical gear and touches that suggest a Nutley yard sale (I see he bought the Star Wars bedsheets from my childhood on eBay) and costume designer Emily Rebholz gives the boys the perfect level of dweeby élan, down to Rannells’ tucked-in sweater. I don’t know if the bazillion trucker hats are sets, costumes, props or what, but give someone a Tony. Having staged much costlier and busier spectacles, it’s a treat to see Timbers work his signature blend of irony and ecstasy on a smaller scale with a tighter focus, while reserving a juicy reveal for the end. Gutenberg! is not designed to be anyone’s gateway musical or inspire a career in that impossible, flop-filled field, but it’s firmly imprinted on my heart, sans serif.
Rush Tickets:
Price: $40
Where: Rush tickets will be available every day when the Jones Theatre box office opens, on a first-come, first-served basis. The box office opens Tuesday through Saturday at 10 AM ET and Sunday at 12 PM ET.
Limit: Two per customer.
Restrictions: Seat locations and the number of tickets available are subject to availability and determined at the discretion of the box office.
Digital Lottery:
Price: $45
Where: https://rush.telecharge.com/
When: The digital lottery opens at 12 AM ET, one day before the performance. Winners will be drawn that same morning at 10 AM ET and then later that afternoon at 3 PM ET.
Limit: Two per customer
Information: Tickets are non-transferable and subject to availability.
Standing Room:
Price: $40
Where: Standing room tickets will be available when shows are sold out at the Jones Theatre box office opens, on a first-come, first-served basis. The box office opens Tuesday through Saturday at 10 AM ET and Sunday at 12 PM ET.
Limit: Two per customer.
Restrictions: Subject to availability.
2006 | New York |
New York Musical Theatre Festival Production New York |
2007 | Off-Broadway |
Original Off-Broadway Production Off-Broadway |
2023 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
---|---|---|---|
2024 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Musical | Gutenberg! The Musical! |
2024 | Drama League Awards | Disinguished Performance | Josh Gad |
2024 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance | Andrew Rannells |
2024 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Direction of a Musical | Alex Timbers |
2024 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Musical | Gutenberg! The Musical |
2024 | Tony Awards | Best Revival of a Musical | Gutenberg! The Musical! |
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