Reviews: What Do Critics Think of Jesa Off-Broadway?

See production images from Jeena Yi's play, coproduced by The Public Theater and Ma-Yi Theater Company.

March 23, 2026 By Meg Masseron

The reviews are in for the Ma-Yi Theater Company and Off-Broadway's Public Theater production of Jeena Yi's Jesa. The world premiere production began performances March 10 at the Public's Shiva Theater ahead of a March 20 opening night. Previously scheduled to finish its run April 5, the limited engagement has been extended through April 12.

Yi's play centers on an explosive family gathering where four estranged Korean American sisters reunite to perform their parents' Jesa—a traditional ritual honoring the dead. Old wounds erupt, secrets surface, and ghosts (literal and emotional) refuse to stay buried.

The all-female and gender-expansive–identifying AAPI cast includes Tina Chilip, Christine Heesun Hwang (Suffs), Laura Sohn (The Blacklist), and Shannon Tyo (Yellowface, The Chinese Lady).

Read the reviews below.

Culture Sauce (Thom Grier)

New York Theatre Guide (Christian Lewis)

New York Stage Review (Michael Sommers)

TimeOut (Billy McEntee)

Vulture (Sara Holdren)*

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

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

The production also features scenic design by You-Shin Chen, costume design by Mel Ng, lighting design by Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew, and sound design by Hao Bai. Kevin Jinghong Zhu serves as production stage manager, and Kyle Daniels serves as production manager. Casting is by tbd casting co.'s Stephanie Yankwitt.

For tickets and more information, visit PublicTheater.org.