Playbill UniverseReviews: What Critics Are Saying About '60s Jukebox Musical A Sign of the Times Off-Broadway
The York Theatre Company production features the songs of Petula Clark, Lesley Gore, Dusty Springfield, and other hits.
By
Margaret Hall
February 23, 2024
New jukebox musical A Sign of the Timesofficially opened Off-Broadway February 22, and the reviews are rolling in. The musical, presented by The York Theatre Company, began performances February 8 at New World Stages.
Featuring the songs of Petula Clark, Lesley Gore, Dusty Springfield, and other 1960s hits, A Sign of the Times had its world premiere in at Goodspeed Musicals’ Norma Terris Theatre, before heading to the Delaware Theatre Company in 2018, where it had a sold-out run. An industry reading was held in NYC last October.
With a book by Lindsey Hope Pearlman, the work is based on an original story by Richard J. Robin, following one young woman in the center of the pivotal decade of the 1960s, as the Vietnam war raged on, women fought for liberation, and culture shifted rapidly. Gabriel Barre directs.
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Playbill will continue to update this list as reviews come in.
The cast includes Chilina Kennedy (Paradise Square) as Cindy, Ryan Silverman (Chicago) as Brian, Justin Matthew Sargent (Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, Rock of Ages) as Matt, Akron Lanier Watson (Hamilton) as Cody, and Crystal Lucas-Perry (Ain’t No Mo) as Tanya.
They are joined by Cassie Austin, Erica Simone Barnett, Alyssa Carol, Melessie Clark, Jeremiah Ginn, Kuppi Alec Jessop, Lena Matthews, Maggie McDowell, J Savage, Justin Showell, Michael Starr, and Edward Staudenmayer.
A Sign of the Times features choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter, music direction by Britt Bonney, music supervision, arrangements, and orchestrations by Joseph Church, set design by Evan Adamson, costume design by Johanna Pan, lighting design by Tony Award winner Ken Billington, sound design by Shannon Slaton, projection design by Brad Peterson, and hair, wig and makeup design by J. Jared Janas. Casting is by JZ Casting.
The Fred Ebb Award recognizes excellence in musical theatre songwriting, by a songwriter or songwriting team that has not yet achieved significant commercial success.