Opening night for the U.S. premiere of Rolling Thunder was July 24 at Off-Broadway's New World Stages, and the reviews are in. See what critics had to say about the jukebox musical, originally developed and produced in Australia, below.
The rock journey, which features a book by journalist-writer Bryce Hallett, is directed by Kenneth Ferrone (The Wanderer, Prelude to a Kiss).
The cast features Drew Becker as Johnny, Cassadee Pope as Linda, Justin Matthew Sargent as Thomas, Daniel Yearwood as Andy, Courtnee Carter as Lauren and others, and Deon’te Goodman as Mike and others. Understudies Ethan Hardy Benson and Erin Ramirez complete the company.
Part rock concert, part documentary, the show tells the heartfelt stories of young soldiers caught in the Vietnam War and the galvanizing protest movement that sought to end it.
Read the reviews below.
New York Stage Review (Frank Scheck)
New York Theatre Guide (Kyle Turner)
TheaterLife.com (Paulanne Simmons)
TheaterScene.org (Darryl Reilly)
Times Square Chronicles (Suzanna Bowling)
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Playbill will continue to update this list as reviews come in.
Rolling Thunder showcases more than 20 rock classics of the era, including "A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall," “All Along the Watchtower,” “Born to be Wild,” “People Get Ready,” “The Letter,” “Black Magic Woman,” “Gimme Shelter,” “Help Me Make it Through the Night,” “Eve of Destruction,” “Killing Me Softly with His Song,” “We’ve Gotta Get Out of This Place,” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”
The production also has set design by Wilson Chin, costume design by Andrea Lauer, lighting design by Jake DeGroot, sound design by Mike Tracey, video design by Caite Hevner, arrangements and orchestrations by Chong Lim AM and Sonny Paladino, and U.S. music supervision and music direction by Sonny Paladino. Casting is by Geoff Josselson Casting.
KGM Theatrical serves as general management with Jen Ash as production stage manager and Jason Weixelman as assistant stage manager.
Blake Entertainment's Rebecca Blake, who produces, said in an earlier statement, “Rolling Thunder has been a labor of love for many years and salutes Vietnam and contemporary veterans. It is bursting with energy and passion and has the invigorating atmosphere and feel of a rock concert. It also has tremendous energy and heart…I have no doubt that audiences in New York will be touched and inspired. More than anything, Rolling Thunder is a plea for peace.”
For more information, visit RollingThunderUS.com.
Courtnee Carter and company of Rolling Thunder
Deonte Goodman in Rolling Thunder
Cassadee Pope, Deon'te Goodman, Daniel Yearwood, and Courtnee Carter in Rolling Thunder
Cassadee Pope and Drew Becker in Rolling Thunder
Justin Matthew Sargent in Rolling Thunder
Cassadee Pope, Drew Becker, Daniel Yearwood, Justin Matthew Sargent, Courtnee Carter, and Deon'te Goodman in Rolling Thunder
Company of Rolling Thunder
Courtnee Carter in Rolling Thunder
Daniel Yearwood in Rolling Thunder
Cassadee Pope in Rolling Thunder
Cassadee Pope in Rolling Thunder
Cassadee Pope and Drew Becker in Rolling Thunder
Deon'te Goodman, Drew Becker, Justin Matthew Sargent, and Daniel Yearwood in Rolling Thunder
