★★★★☆ A new production of the Tony-nominated musical comedy goes to the head of the class
Off-Broadway
The Seat of Our Pants: Too Mild Wilder
★★☆☆☆ Ruthie Ann Miles shines amid Ethan Lipton’s respectful musical version of a mad Thornton Wilder classic
Archduke: Murder, He Says
★★★☆☆ Patrick Page blazes as a Balkans terrorist in Rajiv Joseph’s what-if World War I history play
The Baker’s Wife: Redemption for a Musical With a Big Heart
★★★★☆ A flawless cast and thoughtful direction turn a famously problematic tuner into a darling, healing event
The Baker’s Wife: Fabled Flop Charms in Amiable Revival
★★★☆☆ Scott Bakula, Adriana DeBose, and Judy Kuhn enhance Stephen Schwartz’s underbaked musical
Richard II: Michael Urie Plays Shakespeare’s Materialistic, Superficial King
★★★☆☆ Red Bull Theater sets the Bard’s first Henriad play in the decade of decadence
Richard II: This Campy Breed, This England
★★☆☆☆ Michael Urie and entourage double down on facile gimmickry and leave Shakespeare behind
The Burning Cauldron of Fiery Fire: What the Hell Was That All About?
★★★☆☆ Anne Washburn’s absorbing study of collective existence melts into something else at the finish line
44 The Musical: The Obama Years, Satirized with Four-Letter Words
★★☆☆☆ Eli Bauman’s musical mistakes vulgarity for actual entertainment, with a hard-working cast vainly trying
Queens: The American Dream Does Not Live Here
★★★☆☆ Marin Ireland stars in Martyna Majok’s timely play about the cost of being a stranger in a strange land.