What’s It All About? Bacharach Reimagined – Location, Tickets, Reviews
What’s It All About? Bacharach Reimagined, a tribute to the celebrated singer, songwriter, composer, and producer Burt Bacharach, is having its world premiere at the New York Theatre Workshop.
Conceived by Kyle Riabko and David Lane Seltzer, What’s It All About? Bacharach Reimagined is a 90-minute fast-paced, soulful concert performed by a group of energetic, youthful musicians and singers. As the title suggests, the show features songs originally written by Burt Bacharach and his collaborators as arranged by Riabko. It revives or introduces (as the case may be) a score of 35 classics, balancing upbeat melodies that put a smile on your face and heartfelt moments that are genuinely touching.
Oh, and don’t hurry to leave when you think it is over. It is a concert, there will be an encore.
It opened to positive reviews. New York Magazine said the show is “fantastic;” TheaterMania concluded “Bacharach couldn’t ask for a finer tribute;” and Entertainment Weekly called it “swoon-worthy.” Although some critics were less enthusiastic, such as Daily News, they still admitted it “is affectionate and adventuresome.”
There are some unique seating options available, if you want to be up close to the performers, comfy couches line two sides of the stage providing about 30 seats for audience members.
Recommended if…
- You, like Riabko who conceived the show, grew up with Bacharach as a soundtrack to your life courtesy of your parents;
- You just love Bacharach (all the more so);
- You are looking for relaxing, high quality entertainment after a long day; OR
- You are planning a lovely date, hand-holding is guaranteed.
LOCATION
New York Theatre Workshop
79 East 4th Street
New York City
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RUNNING TIME
1 hour and 30 minutes, no intermission
TICKETS
Regular $85, member $40 (click here for tickets)
DATES
Extended through February 16, 2014
NEWS & REVIEWS
Reviews
New York Times
Rueful Romance, Stripped of All but Vulnerability
TheaterMania
It’s an auditory smorgasbord that exposes the endless possibilities in a simple melody.
Newsday
The wrong kind of cool
Entertainment Weekly
Seven fresh-faced, musically ambidextrous actors play their own instruments, perform tight minimalist choreography by Hoggett (Once,Black Watch), and loll about on couches between songs.
New York Megazine
What’s It All About? has not only figured out how to make the songs work onstage but how to make them sing with deep feeling that matches their surprising content. It’s a revelation — and it’s fantastic.
The Republic
Burt Bacharach classics get tasty update in new musical ‘What’s It All About?’
am New York
With song after song offered in a similar manner and with little movement, it is a visual bore and a homogenized musical mush.
Daily News
The show is affectionate and adventuresome, but only semi-satisfying and sometimes irritating.
News
New York Observer
Back to Bacharach: Steven Hoggett and Kyle Riabko Are Reviving Burt Bacharach for the Young Folks
CAST & CREW
(partial list)
Conceived by Kyle Riabko, David Lane Seltzer
Music by Burt Bacharach
Lyrics by Hal David and others
Directed by Steven Hoggett
Music arrangement by Kyle Riabko
Featuring Daniel Bailen, Laura Dreyfuss, James Nathan Hopkins, Nathaly Lopez, Kyle Riabko, James Williams, Daniel Woods