JOY is an uplifting musical based on the true story of entrepreneur and inventor Joy Mangano. Her journey—also told in the 2015 film JOY, starring Oscar nominee Jennifer Lawrence—now comes to life on stage. From single motherhood and financial struggles to building a business empire, Joy’s story shows the power of resilience and determination. Don’t miss this inspiring celebration of a woman who never gave up and redefined the American Dream!
The film, I remember at least diving into the corporate chicanery employed to cheat Mangano out of her due profits, and it briefly peeks out in the second act of Ken Davenport’s book for the musical. But neither it, nor AnnMarie Milazzo’s music and lyrics, wring much more from those ideas, which might have lent the story the specificity needed to justify itself. Instead it takes a generic, “er, adulting, right?” derp that flattens everything out for the sake of relatable bonhomie.
Wolfe gives her all throughout and sells “A Better Way,” the de rigueur 11 o’clock empowerment anthem, as effectively the real Joy pitched her product. But what does it say about the show that a mop giveaway to some audience members provides one of the biggest flashes of excitement?
| 2025 | Off-Broadway |
Off-Broadway Premiere Off-Broadway |
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