Jordan E. Cooper (Ain't No Mo')'s new play-with-music Oh Happy Day! officially opened its Off-Broadway debut at the Public's Martinson Hall October 15, and the reviews are in! See what critics are saying below.

The extended run continues through November 2, with Stevie Walker-Webb at the helm.

The cast features Cooper as Keyshawn with Donovan Louis Bazemore as Kevin, Tamika Lawrence as Niecy, Tiffany Mann as Holy Divine, Sheléa Melody McDonald as Mighty Divine, and Latrice Pace as Glory Divine, along with understudies Jayna Elise, Brian D. Coats, and Cole Taylor. Cooper, Lawrence, and Pace are reprising their performances from the work's 2024 world premiere at Baltimore Center Stage.

The work reimagines the Biblical story of Noah's Ark, reset to begin at a birthday barbecue in Laurel, Mississippi, and featuring original music by gospel icon Donald Lawrence.

Read the reviews below.

Culture Sauce (Thom Geier)

New York Notebook (Sandy MacDonald)

New York Stage Review (Michael Sommers)

New York Sun (Elysa Gardner)*

New York Theater (Jonathan Mandell)

New York Theatre Guide (Austin Fimmano)

TheaterMania (Pete Hempstead)

The Wrap (Robert Hofler)*

*This review may require creating a free account or a paid subscription.

Playbill will continue to update this list as reviews come in.

The production features scenic design by Luciana Stecconi, costume design by Qween Jean, lighting design by Adam Honoré, sound design by Taylor J. Williams, prop management by Samantha Llanes Gordon, choreography by Eboni Nichols, and dramaturgy by Jack Phillips Moore. Jakob W. Plummer serves as production stage manager with Monet Thibou as stage manager.

Visit PublicTheater.org.

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Photos: Oh Happy Day! at The Public

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