This year I decided to do an extra Broadway trip over the August bank holiday. As per the new usual way I was able to tie in a quick day and half visit to Nashville before arriving in New York. As this is an extra quick visit to New York in addition to the two other trips I only plan on seeing three shows this time. I already booked two for Saturday, which left Friday evening. After landing from Nashville I booked my first show in the lyft to the hotel.
The show in question is “Rolling thunder” which opened on 10th July 2025 and is currently running until 7th September 2025 which is only a few weeks away. The show has a running time of around 2 hours with one interval. The show is directed by Kenneth Ferrone more on him later and has a book by Bryce Hallett and music from many of the top artists from the 60s and 70s. The show is currently playing at “New world stages stage 3”.
The new world stage theatre is a really interesting theatre space which is officially an off broadway theatre. However only being literally a couple of blocks away from the official “Broadway” theatre locations. I really like this as a theatre space as it is able to host seven shows at any one time with five playing consecutively across the different capacity stages. Stage one and stage three (Where I am) are the largest it’s 499 seats. I have been here once before to watch Avenue Q back in 2016. I took my seat in Orchestra central row G seat 108 which is mid way and centre of the stalls. I was surprised by the fairly emptiness of the auditorium with only really the central stall seats being occupied. However as fairly expected the general audience age was a lot older than myself due to the expected jukebox music in the show from the 60s and 70s.
The show is effectively a jukebox musical telling the story of the Vietnam war using songs from the top artists of the time in the 60s and 70s, this range from Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, Simon and Garfunkel and many others. The story uses a book by the writer of the show and journalist Bryce Hallett so is I assume very factually accurate. Most scenes are formed in the reciting of letters between those fighting and their loved ones at home. The main characters in which the bulk of the show centres around are Jonny (Drew Becker), Linda (Cassadee Pope), Thomas (Justin Mathew Sargent), Andy (Daniel Yearwood). The rest of the cast is made up by Courtnee Carter, Deon`te Goodman, Ethan Hardy Benson and ErinRamirez who all play multiple characters through the production.
The show does not really utilise any real set and very little in the forms of props. The stages stages as shown in the “View from my seat” picture above. With the 5 piece band surrounding the performing space. The staging does use three large screens which are used to play historic new reels/ documents style footage and also show the letters that are being read out. The is six or so retro/ authentic TV sets which are used in conjunction with the large screens and at time so their own. The band are visible the whole time and during the songs are as at times as much of the show as the performers with at times their own solos during some of the songs. The band consist from left to right guitarist one, pianist and MD, Drummer, bass guitar, guitar two. All of which were amazing and able to play these iconic songs brilliant live.
Due to the lack of set and props lighting and projection were used heavily throughout the show. Both done brilliantly and meant that the lack of set was not missed at all. With great lighting design to simulate a lot of the war and helicopter scenes and projection used to simulate rain and the names of fallen soldiers during the war. The lighting design targeted the audience a lot which gave a more immersive fell for the war scenes.
Like the set their was no real costume changes as the characters stayed mostly in the same outfits. There is one quite effective scene when Daniel Yearwood changes out of his civilian clothes into the army uniform as is enlisted to the war. Other than the costume are either military style or 60s or 70s themed for those located at home.
As mentioned earlier the songs are some of the top artists songs of the era. A lot of which I did not know however they did seem to fit the relevant part of the story. All were performed in a rock concert style. Which brings me onto my main opinion of the show and its choice in direction by Kenneth Ferrone. This is because all but one of the songs were song in a concert style with hand held mics and even mic stands.During a lot of the songs the performers did not seem to stay in character which for me along with the mic stands and hand held mics broke the illusion of a musical, even a jukebox musical. At time during some songs the band were even acknowledged by the performers again breaking that musical theatre style. I am not sure what the director was trying to aim for but for miss he missed. As the show seemed to be two different concepts shoe horned into one production. The talking/play historically accurate part of the show was great and the concert style performing of the songs were great however together they did not merge into one show seamless enough for me. There was one song “Killing me softly” which was song is proper musical theatre style with no hand held mics and just actors mics and it was brilliant. It really showed me wha the show could have been if it was a straight musical theatre production with the gimmick of concert style performing. Having said that the harmony’s amongst the cast during the songs were perfect and really did take the songs lyrics and make them part of the story. However this was tarnished by the boy/girl band style performances with even mic stand choreography at times which again would have worked if the whole show was like that with the straight plan/acting scenes.
During this performance I had no understudies performing. For me there were two stand out performers for me both vocally and with their acting ability there were Daniel Yearwood and Cassadee Pope who were both outstanding. Having said that it should not take away form the quality of the band and the other cast who were all brilliant just for me as a musical theatre nerd these stood out the most. An example of Daniel Yearwood performing “People get ready” from the show can be can be found on YouTube below.
The show works in America and off broadway due to the topic of the show and how I expect most people in the audience will have a direct link to the Vietnam war which has its 50th anniversary of its conclusion this year and due to the songs of the era being used. So if you are an America who loves this period of music then I am sure you would love this show more than I did. Having said that I did find it very enjoyable and once over the harsh difference between the two styles of concert style songs and the play scenes I did enjoy it as the quietly of the musicality performances were brilliant and the light design was great.
Overall I give this show 3 out of 5 stars. It is a not a musical and it is not a play. It’s 60s and 70s rock jukebox concert and a historically accurate play around the Vietnam war. Either would have worked better separately but not necessary together. As a Brit born in the early 90s I was not the target audience however the lighting and concert part of the show was worth the watch.
Further details on this show can be found on their website.
A SPURDLE reviews 