Overview
- The R&B‑driven Obama tribute opened at the Daryl Roth Theatre on Thursday, launching its Off‑Broadway engagement after earlier stops in Los Angeles and Chicago.
- Creator Eli Bauman wrote, composed and directed the show, which he conceived after 2016, and he frames it as a revue‑style look at Obama’s rise and first term.
- T.J. Wilkins leads as Barack Obama with Shanice as Michelle Obama and Chad Doreck as Joe Biden, alongside portrayals of Sarah Palin, Mitch McConnell and Ted Cruz.
- Reviewers praise strong vocals and a few standout numbers, including the recurring, explicit “M. F.O.” refrain and “How Black Is Too Black?,” but fault a thin book and uneven execution.
- Critics highlight jarring tonal shifts between broad satire and grave events such as the bin Laden raid and Sandy Hook, calling the production’s taste and balance into question.