Immersive Musical 'Here Lies Love' Dances Onto Broadway, Raising Questions About Glorifying Controversial Leaders

The disco musical about Imelda Marcos has transformed Broadway's theater into a nightclub atmosphere with neon lights and audience participation.
The show aims to provoke reflection on the Marcoses' regime in the Philippines, but some criticize it for glamorizing their rule.
While visually impressive, reviews note weaknesses in storytelling and character development.
The all-Filipino cast engages with their homeland's history, but the spectacle risks trivializing the horrors of dictatorship.
As an immersive experience, the audience plays a complex role celebrating Filipino culture while potentially complicit in whitewashing.