Overview
- The musical opened Sunday, April 26, at the Palace Theatre under director Michael Arden, with a book by David Hornsby and Chris Hoch and songs by the band The Rescues.
- Reviews highlight the towering multi-level set, frequent aerial flights, and striking lighting, while several critics describe uneven tone, a ballad-heavy score, and a softer second act.
- Performances earn steady praise, especially LJ Benet as Michael, Ali Louis Bourzgui as David, Shoshana Bean as Lucy, Benjamin Pajak as Sam, Maria Wirries as Star, and Paul Alexander Nolan as Max.
- Variety reports a roughly $25 million-plus budget and no out-of-town run, signaling a sizable commercial gamble built on spectacle and teen identity themes.
- Opening night drew high-profile guests and original film actors Alex Winter and Billy Wirth, with appearances by figures such as Steph and Ayesha Curry, Rob McElhenney and Kaitlin Olson, Zooey Deschanel, Neil Patrick Harris, and Pink boosting visibility.