In Life of Pi, sixteen-year-old Pi and his family set off to emigrate from India, but after their ship sinks in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Pi is left stranded on a lifeboat with just four other survivors: a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan, and a Royal Bengal tiger. Time is against them, and nature is harsh-who will survive? This highly imaginative theatrical adaptation brings one of the most beloved works of fiction to the stage to tell its epic story of endurance and hope. Written by Lolita Chakrabarti based on the best-selling novel by Yann Martell, Life of Pi is directed by Max Webster.
Direction is by Max Webster, with Set and Costume Design by Tim Hatley, Puppetry and Movement Direction by Finn Caldwell, Puppet Design by Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell, Video Design by Andrzej Goulding, Lighting Design by Tim Lutkin, and Sound Design by Carolyn Downing. Together, they’ve created a visual—and visceral—feast that engages the senses. I’d recommend sitting in the front mezzanine. That’s where they seated press people like myself, so we could properly take in the entire swirl happening onstage. By the end, you will no longer doubt the fact that bananas float.
Besides the spellbinding puppetry, the production features stunning projection designs, special effects, lighting, sound design and musical underscoring that combine to create a truly stunning experience. That praise, however, must come with a caveat: Theatergoers would be well advised not to sit in the front orchestra section, as many of the projections, including the swirling ocean, are displayed on the particularly high stage floor, making viewing them difficult if not impossible from there. The best seats would definitely be in the front mezzanine. The play feels somewhat drawn out at 135 minutes (including intermission), and the climactic narrative twist is too blatantly spoon-fed to the audience, as if the show’s creators were afraid that we would not be able to figure it out. But those are minor quibbles about this enthralling, wildly imaginative production.
General Rush
Price: $40
Where: Schoenfeld Theatre box office
When: The box office opens at 10 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon on Sunday.
Limit: Two per customer
Information: Determined at the discretion of the box office. Subject to daily availability.
Digital Lottery
Price: $45
Where: greyhouselottery.com
When: The lottery is open for entries between midnight and 3 p.m. the day before each performance. Winners are drawn at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., and they have five hours to claim and purchase their tickets for the next day's performance.
Limit: Two per customer
Information: Subject to availability.
2021 | West End |
Original West End Production West End |
2023 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
2024 | US Tour |
North American Tour US Tour |
Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
---|---|---|---|
2023 | BroadwayWorld Awards | Best Ensemble | Life of Pi |
2023 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Direction of a Play | Max Webster |
2023 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play | Hiran Abeysekera |
2023 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Projection and Video Design | Andrzej Goulding |
2023 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Puppetry | Nick Barnes |
2023 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Scenic Design of a Play | Tim Hatley |
2023 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance Award | Hiran Abeysekera |
2023 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Production of a Play | Life of Pi |
2023 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Director of a Play | Max Webster |
2023 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Play | Hiran Abeysekera |
2023 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Lighting Design (Play or Musical) | Tim Lutkin |
2023 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding New Broadway Play | Life of Pi |
2023 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Video or Projection Design (Play or Musical) | Andrzej Goulding |
2023 | Theatre World Awards | Theatre World Awards | Hiran Abeysekera |
2023 | Tony Awards | Best Costume Design of a Play | Tim Hatley |
2023 | Tony Awards | Best Direction of a Play | Max Webster |
2023 | Tony Awards | Best Lighting Design of a Play | Tim Lutkin |
2023 | Tony Awards | Best Scenic Design of a Play | Tim Hatley |
2023 | Tony Awards | Best Sound Design of a Play | Carolyn Downing |
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