Overview
- The musical opened November 9 at Broadway’s St. James Theatre, starring Kristin Chenoweth and F. Murray Abraham, directed by Michael Arden with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Lindsey Ferrentino.
- Reviews range from a New York Times Critic’s Pick to scathing pans in outlets like the New York Post, with many describing an uneven, sometimes unfinished feel and a second act that struggles to cohere.
- Chenoweth’s performance is widely hailed as the production’s chief asset, and critics spotlight the show’s lavish spectacle, including Dane Laffrey’s expansive sets and Christian Cowan’s splashy costumes.
- Schwartz’s new score draws mixed notices, earning praise for select numbers but frequently labeled inconsistent or not especially memorable, while the book’s shifting point of view blurs satire and sympathy.
- Adapted from Lauren Greenfield’s 2012 documentary, the stage version extends the timeline and adds a 17th‑century Versailles framing device, and reviewers note that Jackie Siegel has been actively promoting the production.