JAWS: The Musical
Written by Wayne Henry; Directed by Anthony Logan Cole; Musical Direction by David Citron; Additional Material by David Citron and Evie Apple
Chain Theatre | 312 W 36th St. 4th floor, New York, NY 10018
April 3rd, 9th, 12th & 19th
Photo Credit by Natalie Howe
Theatre festivals are like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get.
The FRIGID Festival reflects approximately 65 shows will run in rep at 5 different venues. Shows will run a bit under an hour. There will be one-acts and bits of longer works in progress; dramas, comedies and musicals.
Here’s something I never thought I’d say - The Shark can really sing!
A NYC couple head to the beach for a long weekend to get out of the city, and a tragicomedy ensues. And puns. Lots of puns. What started as a 30-min romp at Rose’s Turn in the Village, Jaws: The Musical has grown into a 60-min show with an even longer version in the works. But if they add more puns, they’re gonna need a bigger boat.
This is a comic-send up of Spielberg’s 1975 blockbuster film, JAWS is a hoot. The cast each gets a moment to shine, and indeed they do. Kate Hoover sets a bright tone as Sally in the opening duet with creator Wayne Henry as they’re “Getting Out of the City”. Evie Apple, the Amity Island Mayor Vaughn, steps in to keep the beaches open after tragedy strikes with a little shameless self-promotion. Henry, now replaced by leftover body parts from the shark attack, reincarnates as oceanographer Hooper to join Officer Broady played by Natty Bumpercar and fisherman Quint, Suzanne Stein. Just like Quint has his unforgettable monologue in the original, Stein too is given center stage for a truly unexpected star-turn. And did I mention the Shark? Robbie Stevens Jr. rocks the boat with a remarkable turn as a misunderstood macropredator.
Jaws: The Musical has one night left in the festival. Be sure to catch it before it becomes an endangered species.
Click HERE for tickets.
Review by Nicole Jesson.
Published by Theatre Beyond Broadway on April 14th, 2025. All rights reserved