The classic tale of beauty and a big ol' beast climbs up Broadway! The musical is based on the novel of the original 1933 screenplay. Jack Thorne wrote the play, and Marius de Vries and Eddie Perfect compose the music and lyrics. Olivier Award winner Drew McOnie directs this enchanting musical that has a stunning new score by Marius de Vries (La La Land) and Eddie Perfect (Strictly Ballroom. A remarkable and innovative mix of robotics, puppetry and stagecraft bring King Kong to life in a way never before seen on Broadway. This modern myth follows an ambitious young actress and a maverick filmmaker as they voyage from the bustling streets of 1930s New York to an uncharted island to capture the greatest wonder the world has ever seen. Don't miss this larger-than-life encounter with a legend that's always been too big to contain. It came to a close last Sunday in NYC and Kong will soon roar again in Shanghai.. read more

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We purchased three seats in the second row (for the "audience experience" and to see KK up and personal) before the show opened, for my husband's BFF, who comes every January for a week long visit. Having paid $399 per ticket, we figured we'd go despite all the bad reviews, because really, how bad could it be? It was 100 times worse than the critics, and some friends, warned. No one could have prepared us for what is hands down the worst musical I've ever seen ... and this is coming from a guy who saw Grease 2 and The Pirate Movie (with Kristy McNichol) 15 times each as a kid, and who at 51 still has a few tunes from those movies on his playlist. I even liked "Cannibal, The Musical." It wasn't just bad. It was painstakingly awful. I don't understand why people were making a fuss about Kong. You could see all the people maneuvering the puppet to make it work. They didn't even black mask their faces. It was so amateurish. This was the kind of thing you'd find at a county fair or an elementary school talent contest. The theater was half empty, which I've never seen for a new musical of this magnitude. But understandable as to why. And I'm sure we are the only ones who paid full price for their tix. Closing notices must be coming soon, now that the holidays are over. This was the first time that I actually walked out on a show at intermission. Unfortunately, our guest wanted to see it through, so he and my husband stayed, which was fine by me. I sat (thankfully) in the lobby, working and looking on Yelp for a good dessert place. Run, flee, hide, or just pray that Kong eats you before the second song. read more

Loved the show. Must see. King Kong was scary at times but our students loves it. They have a few souvenirs but expensive. If you're only visiting NY, get the socks read more

King Kong on Broadway - King Kong socks $20 - Nightlife Near Me - New York, New York

I've been coming to New York on average once a year for the past decade or so. I usually take in 2-3 shows per trip, so last month, I was in the questionably enviable position of having exhausted my wish list of Broadway must-sees, wanna-sees, and meh-guess-I'll-sees. This unwieldy preface explains what led me to this show which I knew nothing about before deciding to make the splurge for rear mezzanine tickets for Jamie W. and me. It turned out the show we caught was the second of over a month of preview performances. It's scheduled to open officially this Friday, November 9. I wasn't worried about seeing an "unfinished" show because given the complicated logistics of it (which I will divulge shortly), I couldn't imagine what could realistically change other than minor tweaking and maybe some songs being jettisoned (hopefully). Here's my verdict of what I saw... It didn't stink. It was far from a theatrical masterpiece, but it wasn't horrible. I saw "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" seven years ago, so I know horrible (review: http://bit.ly/2ztjZz0). This show just didn't have a book or score that elevated above the predictable, and not a single song registered as memorable. However, what did make it watchable was the title character, a two-plus-ton, twenty-foot tall marionette. It's operated impressively like an elaborate Japanese puppet theatre piece with ten onstage puppeteers dressed in black pulling the wires and performing advanced gymnastic moves to bring Kong to life. The result was startling by Broadway standards, and when it moved downstage, it was genuinely spine-tingling. The human characters were obviously overshadowed by its presence both physically and dramatically since they're playing the stock characters familiar to anyone who has seen the three versions of the movie. Give the producers credit for the colorblind casting of Christiani Pitts as starlet Ann Darrow. She has the feisty part of her character down pat, but considering the story takes place in 1931, her contemporary personality and vocal style seemed at odds with the period depicted. Only two other actors registered in this version. Eric William Morris played the blustery producer who moves from ambitious to ruthless at the drop of a paw and Erik Lochtefeld was the devoted assistant. Neither were given much to do beyond fulfill the basic plot requirements. The choreography added energetic razzle-dazzle but was rather anomalous to the story, especially when they moved deliberately into "Hamilton" territory. If you come in expecting 2-1/2 hours of spectacle and not Sondheimesque soliloquies, this may be your banana to peel. RELATED - Looking for a few thoughts on some Broadway shows? Here's a collection of shows I've attended and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2INr814 read more

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Saw King kong while in previews. The opening date for Broadway is November 9th. The mix of robotics, puppetry and stagecraft were pretty amazing. King Kong himself was visually stunning. Being in previews, producers take this time out for any adjustments which it did need a bit more work but overall it was money well spent. Great job & great show! read more

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I was one of the lucky lottery winners, and was able to purchase same day tickets to see King Kong up close & personal. My luck was on my side when I arrived about 30 minutes before show time to obtain tickets at will-call and my seats were a few rows from the stage in the orchestra section. I personally enjoyed the show, it definitely depicted the era of the original King Kong movie and it brought back memories as a kid watching it in black and white tv. The barely recognized any of the songs but the depiction of the movie was definitely apparent. The massive structure of King Kong was perfectly maneuvered by a group of athletic people dressed in all-black attire to seamlessly maneuver this structure. It was truly amazing to see him (King Kong) come to life including his roar and facial expressions. I would not suggest having big hopes but it is an entertaining show and anyone who appreciates technological advances in the theater will definitely see this is one of a kind. read more

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Was curious to see how King Kong would be brought to Broadway...my friend got us tickets to watch as a group...wow! Amazing puppeteer and lighting effects of the show. Storyline was slightly different from the movies but still good. Everyone was amazed and awaiting each time King Kong was on stage and how many puppeteers it took to move a large gorilla around the stage. Luckily we got to see it during Broadway Cares week so they allowed us to take pictures of Kong after the show. Overall good show, go see it before it closes. read more

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Another amazing show! Wanted to see this play before it left theaters and was so happy I did. The King Kong puppet was so amazing. His face motions and eyes were very realistic. His sad eyes made him look real! Sound effects and special effect really made the show spectacular. People complaining about being able to see the people who move Kong obliviously do not appreciate all the hard work that each one of those people had to do. Loved when they showed the orchestra and the people who controlled Kong face at the end. read more

King Kong on Broadway - Nightlife Near Me - New York, New York

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So I went with my girlfriend to see king Kong. the theater is small so it seems wherever you sit you have a great view. When we walked in we went and grabbed a beer at the bar and went and sat down. one mixed drink one beer $47. Yikes!! The theater is really clean and still keeps its old school ambience that it's had for 100 years. My biggest issue was the place was absolutely Freezing! Ice cold ant arctic freezing. The play had a bit of a twist from what the original storyline was so with that I didn't care for it in that respect but I love King Kong and how the mechanical ingenuity it presented. It really was hard to watch the show because it was so cold. it was very realistic with the sound effects so it made the theater shake and it was loud and a great lighting show that gave it a 3-D effect in parts of the play. What I thought was really cool was at the end of the play they allowed you and people in the audience to take photos of the cast members and King Kong at their finale bow. read more

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Go for the Gorilla. The gorilla is the only memorable part of this show. There is no shortage of talent but the songs are forgettable​ and the characters are unlikeable. The puppetry is amazing, that is where the real heart of this show lies. The story is fairly well known and there are no surprises. The most empathetic character is the gorilla and you do feel for him. The rest of the characters​? Eh. read more

This play looked very interesting on line so we decided to purchase tickets to se the show. They obviously put a lot of money and time into this play. The storyline was as expected and very good, a beautiful woman and a giant monkey just seems to pull everyone in for some reason! They decided to use video screens in place of some props, although it did look quite good I prefer the physical props. They seemed to put a lot of time into Kong, it took several handlers to move the massive puppet around, they did a very good job but with the handlers in plain sight I found that somewhat distracting. The sound effects were well done, the music was not very memorable though. Overall the play was done very well and it was money well spent. Cheers! read more

I saw this show back in April 2019. It was simply amazing! I wasn't sure what to expect or how they were going to show kong, as I've seen every king kong movie. I can tell you the show was marvelously staged in all aspects. For this show it was great having a center balcony view as I felt like I had a bird's eye view of the ship's front and even felt a little sea sick during the voyage to skull island. Also, I've seen a broadway puppet show before (avenue Q), but this kong puppet was huge! It was controlled by at least 8 to 10 people. When kong roared, he shook the room. Oh, and the way they set the stage for the climb up the Empire State Building was spectacular! This broadway show is a must see for young and old, no matter how many times you've seen the movie, this show just doesn't get old. read more

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This play was much better than I expected. With the troubled history of the original storyline things get really tricky every time this play is performed or put on the big screen. This time it's almost as if it is a fractured fairy tale that takes the story line in makes a stronger statement about fighting back injustice. Its underlying original troubled themes are slightly shifted with a new lead (struggling African American actress from the country) while still hanging on to the outcome of the king being taken from his home, put on display and killed. The outstanding parts of this show is all in the master puppetry and the amazing minimalist scenery that seamlessly transformed by a speedy cast. Though the dancing was lackluster, the dancers doubled as the operators of the 30ft tall Kong! The costumes were on par with the period style and color wise. The drinks were a little sad, sweet syrupy mess. Other shows have had better choices. The soda guns have zero fizz, and the signature drinks are filled with cheap vodka or whiskey and triple sec. The kong island ice tea was just as so. $54 for 2 drinks felt a bit steep, but at least the cups are reusable. read more

King Kong on Broadway - Kong island iced tea - Nightlife Near Me - New York, New York

I really liked the show and the surround sound makes you feel like you are right in the action. I went during the week and street parking is available after 6 but it's metered. Limit 4 hrs The performance was great and I definitely recommend. read more

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Okay let's get right into this. The 2000 pound (908 Kilos) 20 foot high (7 meters) animatronic puppet of King Kong is pure wow and something you have never seen on stage. Ever!! Even his eyes were incredibly expressive. It's a marvel of puppeteering. I saw this show on Broadway one week before its closing and I am glad I did. The audience loved it - breaking into applause numerous times - with a standing ovation at the end. The critics and theatre snobs were way too hard on this entertaining show. And who will ever forget King Kong himself! read more

King Kong on Broadway - An amazing animatronic 20-foot puppet played King Kong - Nightlife Near Me - New York, New York

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Broadway brings King Kong to the stage. The show was entertaining and an experience. King Kong received applause for the awesome 14 puppeteers that bring him to life onstage. The scenery was outstanding as Kong traveled through NYC and as the actors traveled to Skull Island. The play itself was alright. The talent was great, but the show's plot and the songs carried through slowly. See this for the experience itself. read more

Looking for the show that delivers the most spectacle of this season, you won't be disappointed by King Kong. Updating the classic story to reflect 21st century sensibilities, this show, which doesn't have the best music or best acting, delivers through its namesake character. King Kong, through his 14 handlers, delivers a truly human performance full of love and pathos. He probably deserves a Tony Award for best featured performer though this is usually reserved for a human actor. He is the reason to see King Kong and again you won't be disappointed. read more

This show was phenomenal. It seemed so real and got me teary eyed. The puppeteer was on point as was the special effects. I have only one complaint. It was too long due to some skits being unnecessary. Usually im always left wanting more but this time I was yawning towards the end. Shout out to the men maneuvering King Kong. That was a lot of work. read more

Loved it. The acting, the singing, the dancing, the emotion.... everything comes and gets you! But the best is the special effect of King Kong, the movement and the sound keeps you on the edge of your chair for the entire time. Loved the special effects they had in the back ground, it gave so much movement to King King. This is a must see broadway! Kudo read more

King Kong on Broadway - Broadway street - Nightlife Near Me - New York, New York

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Wonderful and breathtaking! It was crazy from the beginning to the end. I definitly recommend it ! read more

I didn't enjoyed it especially how they change the story. I still love the original one! Sorry.. read more

King Kong on Broadway - KING KONG AND THE CAST OF THE SHOW! - Nightlife Near Me - New York, New York

Loved this show. We went bc our 11 yo is obsessed with King Kong but we all loved it. The actors & the puppeteers were amazing. Highly recommend! read more

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Adventurous with lots of creative background effects! I was wondering how they'd make the King come to life on stage! Even thou I knew the ending I was sad to see him go. Very entertaining! read more

The staff in the entrance is very rude. The scanner was suck. They even tested few times before entrance but they still cannot scanned my QR entrance code on my phone. And then they shouted at me and my wife to go to the ticket store to exchange a paper ticket. What pissed me off is that my codes on my phone have been successfully scanned in any stores in the world. It's their scanner problem and also the way the staff scanned it. And the attitude of the staff is very rude and unprofessional. He's not patient, rude and untrained. I never saw a staff like that ! The performance and actress are all great. But the staff in the entrance is super rude and shout at the guest. Very unprofessional. The ticket officers are also very rude without any smiles like people are owing them money. They don't know customer services at all and give the bad images of the New York City. Great show but ruined by the frontline staff. So disappointed! read more

Sucked! Person sitting next to me fell asleep. At one point the snake puppet got stuck on the scaffolding above the stage. Should not have payed money for this. read more

This show was 50% amazing and 50% terrible and I'm not sure which was which. On one hand it was incredible and impressive to watch 12 people move the giant Kong around the stage. On the other hand it was distracting to watch 12 people move a puppet around the stage. The special effects were impressive but the special effects were all mostly digital. The sound was breath taking but couldn't really hear the actors. The acting was good but I felt like they just kind of knew the script wasn't good. The orchestra was incredible, the songs and libretto were laughably bad. The staging took some real visionary person to pull off, but why would they let the rest of it be so bad then. The script was shallow, the song placements were weird, the lyrics felt like they were made with a set of word magnets and the choreography was just strange. At some points it was a 1930s style of song and dance and at other points it was a techno rave. I honestly text my friend and said I'm not even sure what I'm watching and I wish I could describe it to you. The actual King Kong was impressive and cool. I really liked that aspect of the show. How they introduced him was awesome. It was certainly a visual spectacle but not a broadway show. I feel bad saying it because it's clear a lot of talented people were involved but maybe this is just what you get when you have 75 producers listed in the program. We took a bunch of students to see it and they really liked it. So maybe that was their target audience. But the whole show is over powered by the ape that had way more facial expressions and emotional depth than the script and song writing. read more

King Kong on Broadway - Nightlife Near Me - New York, New York

Soooo good. We didn't know what to expect and were blown away. The sets and the king was amazing. Go see it!!!

Wow! King Kong is breathtakingly beautiful. This update on the classic film character is an amazing production with a group of talented people who give their all at every performance. This show has great acting, excellent music played by a wonderful orchestra and the best special effects of any show to date. Forget spending a bundle on Hamilton and see King Kong. You will be touched, and amazed. This is a not to be missed show. read more

King Kong on Broadway - Nightlife Near Me - New York, New York

This was, frankly, the coolest thing I've ever seen as far as musicals go and one of the coolest things I've ever seen in general. Yes, the dialogue and songs were a little dull and predictable at times but the anticipation you feel during them before KK appears and the residual shock and adrenaline you feel after he appears and reappears make up for the simple dialogue and songs. I'm 39 years old and my heart was pounding and my jaw was hanging open as he ran towards me to pounding techno music surrounded by lasers and lights (impossible to describe). I would see this again without question and do not understand the one star reviews at all. I also think it's worth it to pay more to be very close to KK as he towers over you and reaches out towards the audience, but it's probably also enjoyable from the back since he is so big after all. read more

What a fabulous play. The actors were phenomenal , how they take a stage and transform it to a city in New York then to skull island was specular. The music and sounds of this play were worth every dollar . King Kong you have my heart!! read more

This was an awesome play. The cast was great and kept me on the edge of my seat. Very well put together and organized. Not a bad seat in the house and the lead actress by far the best read more

Absolutely loved it! Kong on stage is so impressive!!! The cast and crew did an amazing job! One of my favorite broadway shows! I can't even put into words how realistic Kong is... do yourself a favor and go see it! read more

Worst play ever performed. I should have walked out during intermission- whose idea was this atrocity? Save your money - go see a real broadway play not something a high school could put 9n. read more

I was quite surprised to read the negative reviews. First of all, you need to have an imagination and see past the puppeteers. Do you really expect a mechanical gorilla operating on a broadway stage? Now that we have that out of the way, there is an incredible amount of work that goes into making King Kong come alive. His eyes blink, his nose flairs, you see his actual facial muscles move. This is totally different than all other musicals, if your looking for sparkle, rainbows and jazz, no this is not your musical. If you want to see high tech theatrics that will really make you sit back and say how did they do this, it's a must see. The casting is also done really well and the lead actress has an exceptional voice with a lot of power. I've seen hundreds of musicals, King Kong has a visual wow factor that is like no other. If you appreciate theater and understand how much effort it takes to put on a production with this much technicality, and manual effort from the cast and crew you're going to love it. Sit in the mezzanine, it will give you a better view for everything that is going on. My husband was also blown away and he's not a huge fan of musicals. Forget the other reviews and go see it. I hope you appreciate it as much as we did. read more

See it for the gorilla. Score wasn't great, book was good, the choreo was absolutely AMAZING!! But the gorilla. That's a different story. Especially because the show is a marquis (projections in the background) it made it even better! Both acts were great, with a very small bit of humor. Talent was great. They casted this show perfectly. The puppetry, WOW!!! The puppetry. WOW!!!!! THE PUPPETRY! WHATTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go for the gorilla, but don't expect much from the score. Music wasn't memorable. read more

King Kong has a mammoth cast of 43 actors, dancers, singers, and handlers for the 20-foot, one-ton animatronic puppet. The plot is thin. It's the middle of the Great Depression with the play set in 1931 in New York City. People stand on bread lines, and both Carl Denham (Eric William Morris) and Ann Darrow (Christiani Pitts) are hungry and out of work. Denham convinces Darrow to make a movie with him that results in a visit to the mystical Skull Island where Kong is captured and brought back to New York to make them rich. Darrow has forged a relationship with the gorilla and asks him to break out of Denham's freak show. His climb to the top of the Empire State Building ensues with the demise of the beast. This is a musical, but the numbers by Marius de Vries and Eddie Perfect are largely unmemorable, including the finale "The Wonder," which exhorts people to let creatures be free. This is obviously dated material since the world's leading biologists, ecologists and economists predict 60% of animal species will be extinct largely due to loss of habitat and encroaching agriculture by the end of the century. The action focuses on Darrow's being a poor actress. She's a shade above that, but the role is not meaty enough to highlight her talents. Aside from Denham's imposing role as the creator and director of the show with Kong, the audience feels no connection with the actor. What the production offers is its remarkable special effects. Peter England's scenic and projection designs allows the S.S. Wanderer to set sail from New York to Skull Island and Kong to climb the Empire State Building. Fourteen handlers in the King's Company/Ensemble move the creature, and the three voodoo operators, Jon Hoche, responsible for Kong's head and neck movements, and also his voice. Australians Danny Miller and Jacob Williams originated the show. Miller controls Kong's jaw and facial expressions--blinks, nose-sniffing, raised eyebrows, lip snarls, and winces. Williams operates the shoulders, arms, and wrists. With the exception of the scene aboard the Wanderer in which the sailors manipulate the ropes, the choreography, while entertaining is unrelated to the plot until the ship reaches Skull Island. This is the place where, lighting designer's Peter Mumford's and costume designer's Roger Kirk's skill really shine in the vines of the jungle. This play is notable for its spectacular presentations. The 1932 novel and 1933 film with Fay Wray and Carl Armstrong has a more fleshed out plot than the beauty-and-the-beast or a-star-is-born qualities in the latest production. Nevertheless, this is an entertaining play that will leave you impressed with its stagecraft and imagination. read more

This was a phenomenal production! It is truly amazing how the stage transformed into a moving boat. The puppeteers should receive multiple awards for making King Kong come to life. King Kong had such a presence that I was crying by the end of the show. I highly recommend this show. read more