Hold Me in the Water
Closing: May 07, 2025Hold Me in the Water - 2025 Off-Broadway History , Info & More
Playwrights Horizons
416 West 42nd St.(between 9th & 10th Aves) New York, NY 10036
When Ryan falls for a man he just met, he’s ready for the romance of his dreams. But as their connection grows, Ryan learns that new heights of joy can bring deep insecurities to the surface. Disarmingly vulnerable and playfully provocative, Hold Me in the Water is a funny and tender solo play about the passion and intimacy of first love.
FEATURED REVIEWS FOR Hold Me in the Water
Hold Me In The Water Review
8 / 10
he has been promoting “Hold Me in the Water” as a “poignant romantic comedy.” On its face, a romantic comedy is challenging to achieve with just one performer on stage, and Haddad doesn’t even seem interested in giving his crush anything resembling an independent identity. The man is not even given a name, nor any other specific details that would make him something besides just the object of Ryan’s desire. Perhaps the playwright is trying to protect the real man’s privacy. But the one-sided account makes the romance feel shallow at best and Ryan less than self-aware. “How much did Ryan get to know the actual person?” I wondered — way before Ryan recounts the man telling him “you don’t even really know me.”
Hold Me in the Water: An Intimate Boy-Meets-Boy Story
8 / 10
We feel like we’re right there with Haddad as he recalls the early goosebump stages of the relationship—the handholding, the flirting, the overanalysis of texts, the visions of “wedding photos, printed in The New York Times Style section” dancing in his head. Where Hold Me goes—and where they end up—we won’t share. But Haddad leaves us with a few thoughtful questions: “Have you ever dated a disabled person?” (He hasn’t, he admits. “Yet. That I know of.”) “Have you ever…even entertained the idea that romance might be possible for you and them?” He’s not judging; he’s just asking questions that, truthfully, no one has ever really asked.
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Review Roundup: Ryan J. Haddad's HOLD ME IN THE WATER
by Nicole Rosky - April 24, 2025
by Nicole Rosky - April 24, 2025
Hold Me in the Water, written and performed by Ryan J. Haddad and directed by Danny Sharron, just celebrated opening night at Playwrights Horizons. Let's see what the critics are saying about the new play...
Hold Me in the Water History
Other Productions of Hold Me in the Water
| 2025 | Off-Broadway |
Playwrights Horizons Off-Broadway Production Off-Broadway |
Hold Me in the Water - 2025 Off-Broadway Awards and Nominations
Note: Award winners will appear on a background
| Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Solo Performance | Ryan J. Haddad |
| 2025 | Drama League Awards | DISTINGUISHED PERFORMANCE | Ryan J. Haddad |
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