In Life of Pi, sixteen-year-old Pi and his family set off to emigrate from India, but after their ship sinks in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Pi is left stranded on a lifeboat with just four other survivors: a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan, and a Royal Bengal tiger. Time is against them, and nature is harsh-who will survive? This highly imaginative theatrical adaptation brings one of the most beloved works of fiction to the stage to tell its epic story of endurance and hope. Written by Lolita Chakrabarti based on the best-selling novel by Yann Martell, Life of Pi is directed by Max Webster.
The script, unfortunately, is not always on par with the fantastic production work. Occasionally, the action moves so quickly that the dialogue gets lost in the commotion. But these are small quibbles for such an impressive stage production. At 2 hours and 15 minutes, the play whizzes by and, while some younger children might find the action too intense, the older children and teens who attended my performance appeared rapt. Adaptations of Life of Pi have won everything from Oscars to the Booker Prize to Olivier Awards, and there is no doubt with this dazzling Broadway production that Tony Awards are sure to follow.
In the end, there’s no question that director Max Webster’s staging is a technical marvel that makes the most of its moving parts. Those include amazing puppetry; evocative scenic, lighting, and sound design; and transporting video and animation effects that conjure the ocean and the sky above. “My story will make you believe in God,” Pi insists. Whether or not that’s true, it’s impossible to doubt such powerful theatrical stagecraft.
General Rush
Price: $40
Where: Schoenfeld Theatre box office
When: The box office opens at 10 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon on Sunday.
Limit: Two per customer
Information: Determined at the discretion of the box office. Subject to daily availability.
Digital Lottery
Price: $45
Where: greyhouselottery.com
When: The lottery is open for entries between midnight and 3 p.m. the day before each performance. Winners are drawn at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., and they have five hours to claim and purchase their tickets for the next day's performance.
Limit: Two per customer
Information: Subject to availability.
2021 | West End |
Original West End Production West End |
2023 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
2024 | US Tour |
North American Tour US Tour |
Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
---|---|---|---|
2023 | BroadwayWorld Awards | Best Ensemble | Life of Pi |
2023 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Direction of a Play | Max Webster |
2023 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play | Hiran Abeysekera |
2023 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Projection and Video Design | Andrzej Goulding |
2023 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Puppetry | Nick Barnes |
2023 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Scenic Design of a Play | Tim Hatley |
2023 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance Award | Hiran Abeysekera |
2023 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Production of a Play | Life of Pi |
2023 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Director of a Play | Max Webster |
2023 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Play | Hiran Abeysekera |
2023 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Lighting Design (Play or Musical) | Tim Lutkin |
2023 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding New Broadway Play | Life of Pi |
2023 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Video or Projection Design (Play or Musical) | Andrzej Goulding |
2023 | Theatre World Awards | Theatre World Awards | Hiran Abeysekera |
2023 | Tony Awards | Best Costume Design of a Play | Tim Hatley |
2023 | Tony Awards | Best Direction of a Play | Max Webster |
2023 | Tony Awards | Best Lighting Design of a Play | Tim Lutkin |
2023 | Tony Awards | Best Scenic Design of a Play | Tim Hatley |
2023 | Tony Awards | Best Sound Design of a Play | Carolyn Downing |
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