Joél
Acosta
Overview
- Produced by:
- New Light Theater Project in association with Calliope Stage and NewYorkRep
- Dates:
- January 13 - February 18, 2024
- Run Time:
- 1 Hour, 45 Minutes
- Intermission:
- No
- Theater:
- Showing in Theater
- Tickets:
- $66-$86 (incl. a $6 fee) | 59E59 Members: $50
Show Info
By Michael Aguirre
Musical Arrangements by Grace Yukich & Jennifer C. Dauphinais
Directed by Sarah Norris
With Joél Acosta, Kristoffer Cusick, Kleo Mitrokostas, Martin Ortiz, and Erika Rolfsrud
It’s the summer of ‘99. The Franco family is taking the Great American Road Trip and getting to know each other along that legendary highway, whether they like it or not.
Accompanied by live music drawn from Carl Sandburg’s American Songbag, an eclectic 1920s anthology of American folk songs, the parents are challenged at every turn by their unpredictable children and soon find themselves detouring into their own childhood memories. History lessons are peppered in as the family careens around America’s iconic landmarks and cultural relics, framed by the familiar music of a bygone era.
One part family comedy, one part musical odyssey, The Greatest Hits Down Route 66 navigates the wide open spaces in our personal and collective histories and the spaces that exist between people — even those we think we know best.
Photo Caption: The company of THE GREATEST HITS DOWN ROUTE 66
Photo: Hunter Canning
Photo Caption: Martin Ortiz and Kleo Mitrokostas in THE GREATEST HITS DOWN ROUTE 66
Photo: Hunter Canning
Photo Caption: Erika Rolfsrud, Joél Acosta, Kristoffer Cusick, Martin Ortiz, and Kleo Mitrokostas in THE GREATEST HITS DOWN ROUTE 66
Photo: Hunter Canning
Photo Caption: Kleo Mitrokostas, Erika Rolfsrud, Martin Ortiz, and Kristoffer Cusick in THE GREATEST HITS DOWN ROUTE 66
Photo: Hunter Canning
Photo Caption: Joél Acosta in THE GREATEST HITS DOWN ROUTE 66
Photo: Hunter Canning
Photo Caption: Kristoffer Cusick, Erika Rolfsrud, Hannah-Kathryn "HK" Wall, and Joél Acosta in THE GREATEST HITS DOWN ROUTE 66
Photo: Hunter Canning
Photo Caption: Martin Ortiz, Kleo Mitrokostas, Hannah-Kathryn Wall, Erika Rolfsrud, and Kristoffer Cusick in THE GREATEST HITS DOWN ROUTE 66
Photo: Hunter Canning
Photo Caption: Joél Acosta, Erika Rolfsrud, Kristoffer Cusick, Kleo Mitrokostas, and Martin Ortiz in THE GREATEST HITS DOWN ROUTE 66
Photo: Hunter Canning
Photo Caption: Kristoffer Cusick and Erika Rolfsrud in THE GREATEST HITS DOWN ROUTE 66
Photo: Hunter Canning
Producing Company
New Light Theater Project
New Light Theater Project (NLTP) nurtures a collective of artist-practitioners through the presentation of compelling stories across theatrical genres.
NLTP believes in the strength of ensemble work and is committed to fostering our collective composed of writers, actors, directors, stage managers, designers, and other artist-practitioners from diverse backgrounds. At least 50% of an NLTP production engages our collective while the rest of the production team consists of innovative artists with whom we hope to cultivate deeper relationships.
Read more at: www.newlighttheaterproject.com
Reviews
"The timeless folk songs work beautifully to develop the thought-provoking and entertaining story." – BroadwayWorld
"It reckons with the national mythology, acknowledges America's prejudices and inequities, and creates hope and warm feeling through the sheer power of song." – Blog Critics
"A trip definitely worth taking!" – Citi Tour
"Easily qualifies as one of the most imaginative musicals of recent memory."
"An ace cast, vocally and dramatically, brings the whole concept to life – you'll indeed leave the theater singing an American tune." – The 100 Word Review
"Mingles beauty and melancholy in its reflection of life as a member of a family and of a nation, an ever-evolving present bookended by a checkered past and uncertain future." – Thinking Theater NYC
"There's something genuinely affecting in the sight of a family contending with its itendity issues as it travels along an iconic American highway" – Lighting and Sound America
"Song and scene enhance each other, and the road trip takes flight" – OffOffOnline
"When songs like 'Midnight Special' are performed by [HK] Wall, smiles can be seen lighting up faces in the audience" – TheaterMania