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Classic Stage Company’s ‘The Baker’s Wife’ Draws Warm Reviews in Intimate Revival

The long-sidelined Stephen SchwartzJoseph Stein musical gets a fresh reevaluation in a chamber-scale staging.

Overview

  • The Off-Broadway production opened November 11 and runs through December 21 at Classic Stage Company in Union Square.
  • Ariana DeBose and Scott Bakula lead the cast as Geneviève and Aimable, with reviewers singling out DeBose’s renditions of “Meadowlark” and “Where Is the Warmth?”.
  • Critics broadly praise the ensemble’s vitality—highlighting Judy Kuhn among others—with TheWrap calling it the year’s best musical revival.
  • Gordon Greenberg directs with choreography by Stephanie Klemons and designs by Jason Sherwood, Catherine Zuber, and Bradley King, supported by Charlie Alterman’s nine-piece orchestra featuring a harp.
  • Several reviews note ongoing weaknesses in the book, and commentary varies on whether this successful revival could transfer to Broadway.