Anthony McCarten's The Collaboration, officially opened on Broadway tonight, and the reviews are rolling in! The production, which began previews at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre November 30, has already extended its run to continue through January 29, 2023.
The production cancelled its opening performance due to a positive COVID-19 case within the company. Performances will resume at a later date, and the release of reviews will not be impacted, as critics were invited to earlier performances
Coming to New York via Manhattan Theatre Club, the work made its world premiere at London's Young Vic earlier this year. Its London stars bring the show to Broadway, with Jeremy Pope and Paul Bettany starring as artists Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol, respectively. They're joined by Krysta Rodriguez as Maya and Erik Jensen as Bruno Bischofberger. The company is rounded out by understudies Matthew Griffin and Amaia Arana.
Read the reviews here.
Broadway News (Brittani Samuel)
CitiTourNY (Brian Scott Lipton)
Entertainment Weekly (Leah Greenblatt)
New York Daily News (Chris Jones)
New York Magazine/Vulture (Jackson McHenry)*
New York Stage Review (Frank Scheck)
New York Theater (Jonathan Mandell)
New York Theatre Guide (Gillian Russo)
The New York Times (Laura Collins-Hughes)*
*This review requires creating a free account or a paid subscription.
Playbill will continue to update this list as reviews come in.
The production is Pope's first return to Broadway since making history as a two-time Tony nominee in the same season, earning nods for his performances in both Choir Boy and Ain't Too Proud in 2019. Bettany, who has appeared on screen in The Avengers, WandaVision, and A Very British Scandal, makes his Broadway debut with the production.
Set in 1984, the Bohemian Rhapsody and The Two Popes writer's work centers on superstar artist Warhol and then-newcomer Basquiat as they begin an unlikely collaboration on a modern art exhibition in New York.
READ: Paul Bettany and Jeremy Pope Get Meta With Their Own Collaboration for The Collaboration
The Broadway bow reunites much of the London creative team, led by director Kwame Kwei-Armah and also including scenic and costume designer Anna Fleischle, sound designer Emma Laxton, and projection designer Duncan McLean. New to the team is lighting designer Ben Stanton.
The production also features wig design by Karicean "Karen" Dick and Carol Robinson, original music by Ayanna Witter-Johnson, and dialect and vocal coaching by Deborah Hecht. Casting is by Kelly Gillespie of Caparelliotis Casting, and James Latus is production stage manager.
Manhattan Theatre Club is presenting the Young Vic Theatre production by special arrangement with Eleanor Lloyd Productions, Anthology Theatre, Stanley Buchthal, and Denis O'Sullivan.
Paul Bettany and Erik Jensen in The Collaboration
Jeremy Pope in The Collaboration
in The Collaboration
Jeremy Pope and Paul Bettany in The Collaboration
Paul Bettany and Jeremy Pope in The Collaboration
Jeremy Pope in The Collaboration
Erik Jensen in The Collaboration
Paul Bettany and Erik Jensen in The Collaboration
Krysta Rodriguez in The Collaboration
Paul Bettany and Jeremy Pope in The Collaboration
Krysta Rodriguez and Jeremy Pope in The Collaboration
Jeremy Pope and Paul Bettany in The Collaboration
Paul Bettany and Jeremy Pope in The Collaboration
