8 / 10
Ruben Santiago-Hudson summons a world of ghosts, or at least as many as will fill a couple boarding houses and a lifetime of gratitude, in his affectionate Lackawanna Blues, the one-man autobiographical tour through a childhood made golden by the presence of a strong and loving guardian angel.
9 / 10
Such basic storytelling, a collection of vignettes peppered with musical passages, could have been presented quite minimally, but MTC wraps Santiago-Hudson's colorful yarns in a handsome package. Michael Carnahan's grandly dilapidated proscenium arcs over the stage; Jen Schriever's lights evoke the ghosts and shadows of yesteryear; Darron L. West's sound design balances speech and music - of which there's an abundance. Santiago-Hudson isn't alone on stage: He's backed by accomplished guitarist Junior Mack, who strums and frets the original blues score by Bill Simms, Jr. Santiago-Hudson jams along on harmonica, wailing and keening into the air when words just aren't enough.
Manhattan Theatre Club's Broadway premiere of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's Lackawanna Blues will add additional performances on Tuesday, November 9 at 7PM, Wednesday, November 10 at 2PM, Thursday, November 11 at 7PM and Friday, November 12 at 8PM at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street).
Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director) and Barry Grove (Executive Producer) have announced that Manhattan Theatre Club’s Broadway premiere of Ruben Santiago-Hudson’s Lackawanna Blues will extend for one additional week of performances, now playing through Sunday, November 7 at MTC’s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street).
Performances of Ruben Santiago-Hudson’s Lackawanna Blues have been cancelled for this weekend due to a recurrence of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's back injury.
Tony Award winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson returns to MTC for the Broadway debut of his brilliant solo play celebrating the strong, big-hearted woman who raised him: Miss Rachel.
Manhattan Theatre Club's Broadway premiere of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's Lackawanna Blues, opens tonight at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. Read all the reviews as they roll in!
Manhattan Theatre Club (Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director and Barry Grove, Executive Producer)’s Broadway premiere of Ruben Santiago-Hudson’s Lackawanna Blues, now playing at MTC’s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street). The show will open next Thursday, October 7.
Manhattan Theatre Club will postpone the opening night performance of Ruben Santiago-Hudson’s Lackawanna Blues as the veteran performer, writer, and director continues to recover from a back injury sustained last week.
Ruben Santiago-Hudson had a back injury this week. As a result, performances of RUBEN SANTIAGO-HUDSON’s LACKAWANNA BLUES are cancelled this evening and over the weekend.
The Manhattan Theatre Club (Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director and Barry Grove, Executive Producer) Broadway premiere of Ruben Santiago-Hudson’s Lackawanna Blues is now in performances and will open next Tuesday, September 28 at MTC’s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street).
On Tuesday night, Ruben Santiago-Hudson’s Lackawanna Blues debuted on Broadway at Manhattan Theatre Club’s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street, NYC), following the theater going dark for 18 months during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Manhattan Theatre Club reopened its doors today with the first preview of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's Lackawanna Blues, which reopens MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre!
Manhattan Theatre Club will reopen its doors tomorrow, Tuesday, September 14, when the Broadway premiere of Ruben Santiago-Hudson’s Lackawanna Blues begins performances at MTC’s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street).
Ruben Santiago-Hudson's Lackawanna Blues is written, performed, and directed by Tony Award winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson (August Wilson's Jitney, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom on Netflix). Learn more about the production and how to purchase tickets here!
Ruben Santiago-Hudson's Lackawanna Blues begins performances Tuesday, September 14, 2021 and opens Tuesday, September 28, 2021 at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre The show is written, performed, and directed by Tony Award winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson. Learn more about the production and how to purchase tickets here!
| Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Play | Ruben Santiago-Hudson |
| 2022 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Music in a Play | Bill Sims Jr. |
| 2022 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Play | Lackawanna Blues |
| 2022 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance Awards | Ruben Santiago-Hudson |
| 2022 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Lighting Design (Play or Musical) | Jen Schreiver |
| 2022 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Special Achievement Awards | Ruben Santiago-Hudson |
| 2022 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play | Ruben Santiago-Hudson |
