B'way/Off-B'way Reviews: The Lost Boys, Beaches, Fallen Angels, The Adding Machine

Two musicals based on films from the late 1980s are among the plethora of openings as the 2025-26 New York theater season comes to a close—one is a surprise hit (The Lost Boys), the other a disappointment (Beaches). In addition, there are two plays from the 1920s (Fallen Angels and The Adding Machine) representing very different dramatic sensibilities, but both with their merits.

LJ Benet and Ali Louis Bourzgui in
The Lost Boys.
Credit: Matthew Murphy

The Lost Boys had a lot going against before it premiered at the Palace. Broadway has had three previous vampire-themed tuners in recent memory—Dance of the Vampires, Lestat and Dracula. Each one deserved a stake through the heart and vanished into their graves after brief runs. But this latest venture into the horror genre is a genuinely scary, popcorn-crunching, Broadway equivalent of a hit summer movie. I was prepared to despise the show based on past bad bloodsucker experiences (I saw all three of the aforementioned bombs) and an overload of alienated-teen movies and TV shows, but I wound up loving The Lost Boys.

David Hornsby and Chris Hoch’s solid book adheres closely to Joel Schumacher’s cult 1987 film which spawned two direct-to-DVD sequels. One supporting character has been changed from a boy to a girl, a kindly grandpa is now deceased and resides in an urn of ashes, and another character’s possibly being gay is more explicitly addressed. But the main thrust of horror remains. Divorced mom Lucy Emerson (beautifully belting Shoshana Bean) and her two teen sons (properly sullen LJ Benet and spunky and funny Benjamin Pajak) relocate to her California beachside hometown to escape an abusive husband. Searching for community and attention, rebellious older offspring Michael falls in with with a punk rock band who just happen to be card-carrying members of the undead (led by charismatic, sexy Ali Louis Bourgui). 

LJ Benet, Ali Louis Bourzgui and cast in
The Lost Boys.
Credit: Matthew Murphy

The librettists find room for character development and nuance while maintaining a humorous edge. The family and the vampires are not just sources for jokes or screams, but credible people—within the fantasy context. Even the vampires have motivations for their bloodcurdling actions. The powerful rock score by The Rescues (Kyler England, Adrianne “AG” Gonzalez and Gabriel Mann) delineates and expresses emotions without descending to cliche. The group is also responsible for the gorgeous harmonies in their vocal arrangements and effective orchestrations along with Ethan Popp. Kudos to Adam Fisher whose sound design allows this to be one of the rare rock scores where the lyrics are intelligible throughout. 

Michael Arden’s impressive direction makes full use of Dane Laffrey’s massive set, incorporating the full depth and height of the Palace stage. Two-story houses, creepy lairs, beachside boardwalks, treacherous train trestles fly in, out, up and down as do the demonic rockers thanks to the aerial design by Gwyneth Larsen and Billy Mulholland and aerial choreography by Lauren Yatango-Grant and Christopher Cree-Grant. Arden also stages several ingenious fantasy sequences with chorus members dressed as movie stereotypes of vampires and superheroes (the amusing costumes are by Ryan Park) zooming in and out of the background. There’s also an exciting, realistic motorcycle race. Arden is a magician, pulling impressive rabbit after rabbit out of his directorial hat, along with special effects designer Markus Maurette.

B'way Update: Roundabout 2025-26 Season

Robert Icke's adaptation of Oedipus
will lead off Roundabout's 2025-26 season.
Credit: Manuel Hardin

Roundabout Theater Company has announced its 2025-26 season with revivals and new plays as well as a renovation of its Todd Haimes Theater, set to re-open in 2026 with a production of Noel Coward's Fallen Angels. Meanwhile, two Broadway productions will play Studio 54: a modern adaptation of the Greek tragedy Oedipus and a revival of The Rocky Horror Show. 

Robert Icke (Hamlet, The Doctor, Orestia) has adapted Sophocles's Oedipus, recasting the tragic hero as a contemporary politician. This London production has been nominated for four 2025 Olivier Awards and the British stars Mark Strong (A View from the Bridge) and Lesley Manville (The Phantom Thread, Another Year) will repeat their leading roles in the Roundabout staging set for this fall at Studio 54.

Tim Curry, Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon
in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (film version).

Richard O'Brien's cult-hit favorite The Rocky Horror Show follows in the Spring. Sam Pinkleton of Oh, Mary! directs a new production. Ironically when the show first appeared on Broadway in 1975 it was a 45-performance flop. But the movie inspired feverish devotion and a 2000 revival fared better with 437 performances. 

Emmy nominee Rose Bryne and Tony winner Kelli O'Hara will star in Noel Coward's Fallen Angels, directed by Roundabout Interim Artistic Director Scott Ellis, set to reopened the renovated Todd Haimes.  This comedy of two suburban wives clashing over the return of a mutual lover has a brief Broadway run in 1927, but a 1956 revival did better with 239 performances. The latter starred Nancy Walker (Rhoda, On the Town), Margaret Philips (Summer and Smoke), Alice Pearce (Bewitched), William Windom (Murder She Wrote) and Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. (The FBI).

Off-Broadway, Roundabout's Laura Pels will play host to two new play. Archduke by Rajiv Joseph (currently represented Off-Broadway by Dakar 2000 at Manhattan Theater Club) will star Tony nominee Patrick Page (Hadestown) in an historic drama focusing on the anarchist group responsible for the assassination of the Archduke Ferdinan which launched the First World War. Tony winner Darko Tresnjak (A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder) directs. Alex Lin's Chinese Republicans deals with a group of high-powered businesswomen whose monthly lunches are joined by a bright young woman. Obie winner Chey Yew directs.

B'way Update: Days of Wine and Roses; Boebert Booted from Beetlejuice

Kelli O'Hara and Brian d'Arcy James
in Days of Wine and Roses at Atlantic
Theater Company.
Credit: Ahron R. Foster

Announcements of Broadway shows are coming in on an almost daily basis now. After news that Mary Jane, Water for Elephants and Lempicka (the latter announced via a casting call) were arriving next spring, a press release was issued today that Days of Wine and Roses, the musical version of JP Miller's 1962 film and 1958 teleplay about an alcoholic couple would be transferring to Broadway's Studio 54 in early 2024. Tony winner Kelli O'Hara and Tony nominee and Drama Desk winner Brian d'Arcy James will repeat their roles from the Off-Broadway Atlantic Theater Company production which ran from June 5 to July 16 of this year. The new musical features a book by Tony nominee Craig Lucas, score by Tony winner Adam Guettel, and direction by Tony nominee Michael Greif. Further casting will be announced. Previews begin Jan. 6 at Studio 54 with an opening announced for Jan. 28.

Off-B'way Update: Days of Wine and Roses Musical

Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick in
Days of Wine and Roses

A musical version of the 1962 film Days of Wine and Roses will open Off-Broadway at the Atlantic Theater Company with previews starting May 5 and continuing till June 25. An opening date has not yet been announced. The show is a hot item because of its stars and the creative team. Tony winner Kelli O'Hara (The King and I) and Tony nominee and Drama Desk winner Brian d'Arcy James (Sweet Smell of Success, Shrek) will play the leads, a young couple battling alcoholism played by Lee Remick and Jack Lemmon in the film (Piper Laurie and Cliff Robertson starred in the original 1958 TV play.) The score is by Adam Guettel (Richard Rodgers' grandson and Mary Rodgers' son) and Craig Lucas pens the book based on JP Miller's screenplay. Michael Greif (Rent) directs. Guettel and Lucas previously collaborated on The Light in the Piazza, both winning Tonys, which starred O'Hara.

Kelli O'Hara and Brian d'Arcy James

B'way Update: 'King and I,' 'Illusionists'

Oscar nominees Ken Wantanabe and Sally Hawkins in
Godzilla or We Need a Paycheck

As summer progresses, more Broadway shows are announced for the fall and winter. One of the most anticipated will be Lincoln Center Theater's revival of The King and I starring Kelli O'Hara and Ron Wantanabe, directed by O'Hara's South Pacific and Light in the Piazza stager Barlett Sher. We just saw Wantanabe in Godzilla on a double bill with Edge of Tomorrow at the Coxsackie drive-in last weekend. I'm still itching from the mosquito bites. I thought Edge of Tomorrow would be as bad as last year's Oblivion because both involved Tom Cruise going through some kind of time-loop or multiple-identity crisis. But it was actually pretty entertaining.