Good News! THE HEART OF ROCK AND ROLL, the new musical comedy inspired by the chart-topping anthems of HUEY LEWIS AND THE NEWS, is coming to Broadway.
Set in 1987 and jam-packed with HUEY LEWIS megahits like “Do You Believe in Love,” “Hip to Be Square,” and “If This Is It,” THE HEART OF ROCK AND ROLL centers on a couple of twenty-somethings on the cusp of their futures—Bobby, a rock and roller who’s traded his guitar for the corporate ladder and his boss Cassandra who’s always put the family business first. When they both get a second shot at their dreams, it’ll take “The Power of Love” and a little help from their friends to figure out what kind of life they really want.
THE HEART OF ROCK AND ROLL is a smart, funny, heartfelt throwback to the era of big feelings, classic rom-coms, and music that really “Stuck With You.”
To its credit, The Heart of Rock and Roll tries to get out before the buzz wears off. The second act lags and then accelerates around the point where Bobby’s choice between rock and cardboard gets obvious. While Abrams delights in adding new complications to the book, he seems to get bored of its circumstances about three quarters of the way through, and the show slams into its denouement at 90 miles per hour. There are a few lines of tossed-off explanation, right before the big finale, about why various threats to our heroes’ well-being are no longer an issue. You can pursue your dreams and also settle down! You can avoid the risk of a hostile takeover if you are … pure of heart and have some investment money from a Swede! The heart of rock and roll is still beating … as long as you don’t think too hard about it.
Ideal fodder, then, for a modestly scaled and warm-hearted jukebox show that might prove to be one of the sleeper hits of the season. That’s thanks to an inestimably witty book with plenty of hard laughs and a suite of winning lead performances under director Gordon Greenberg.
General Rush
Price: $45
Where: James Earl Jones Theatre box office
When: When the box office opens on the day of the performance.
Limit: Two per customer.
Information: Subject to daily availability.
Digital Lottery:
Price: $49
Where: https://rush.telecharge.com/.
When: Entries begin at 12:00 am one day before the performance, and winners are drawn that same day at 10:00 am and 3:00 pm.
Limit: Two per customer
Information: Subject to availability.
2018 | San Diego, CA (Regional) |
The Old Globe's World Premiere Production San Diego, CA (Regional) |
2024 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
---|---|---|---|
2024 | BroadwayWorld Awards | Best Choreography | Lorin Latarro |
2024 | BroadwayWorld Awards | Best Ensemble | The Heart of Rock and Roll |
2024 | BroadwayWorld Awards | Best Featured Performer in a Musical | Tamika Lawrence |
2024 | BroadwayWorld Awards | Best Orchestrations | Brian Usifer |
2024 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Choreography | Lorin Latarro |
2024 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Production of a Musical | The Heart of Rock and Roll |
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