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King Kong on Broadway

3.9 (37 reviews)

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Montage of images from King Kong on Broadway
Ed U.

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

Skull island iced tea
Tanesha J.

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!

Lottery win, orchestra seats
Esmeralda C.

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.

cast
Winny L.

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.

Yesenia R.

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.

Sunday P.

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.

View if stage
Darlene L.

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.

Kong island iced tea
Farrah B.

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.

Theater
Rosa C.

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.

An amazing animatronic 20-foot puppet played King Kong
Jeff H.

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!

Broadway street
Mark N.

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

KING KONG AND THE CAST OF THE SHOW!
Michael C.

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

Preshow curtain. Perfect seat front row mezzanine.

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

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Review Highlights - King Kong on Broadway

The casting is also done really well and the lead actress has an exceptional voice with a lot of power.

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NYC's Wildest Multi-Course Dinner Party right now!…read more Born at EDC in Las Vegas, Salvage City Supper Cclub brings its chaotic multi-sensory dining experience to Paradise Club -- blending Michelin-level dining with acrobatics, live performances, music, art and ritual-driven storytelling. The entire night felt raw, immersive and completely unpredictable -- felt like stepping into another reality for a few hours. Definitely one of NYC's most unique nights out right now. Dates till August only! Don't miss out! Check out their website for details. Follow me @foodie.elite on IG and Tiktok for more great finds.

Came here for the Moonrise show. You line up in the lobby along the left side and once they're…read moreready to let you up, they scan your tickets once you get to the elevator bank. Upon exiting the elevator they make you feel like you enter "paradise", do some tarot card reading by asking for your birthdate, and then get some beads with perfume dropped on them depending on which card you got. After all of that, none of those stuff mattered. We were served a three course meal before the actual aerobics show happened, but they still had performers perform while we had our meals or a few drinks. I enjoyed their Crescent Dip, which is a hummus dip with whipped feta and comes with a massive chip. The Full Moon Rice I wasn't really a fan of. After those two, they came out with the entree, which they called Fire, Water, Earth; essentially beet, halibut, and short rib. These were alright, not amazing. The third and final course came during the intermission of the show, which was a bunch of dessert treats and they were delicious. The show itself was fantastic. It was more than just aerobics, has there are also singing, dancing, and violinist. You may get wet in the front so FYI. There's also some fire involved. Overall, a well put together show. I'd probably skip the food, but the drinks were great.

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Paradise Club
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The Woo Woo is loud and touristy--and honestly, that kind of sums it up…read more They market it as a speakeasy, which... technically yes. You need a password (easy to find online), and you go through a hidden door down a staircase. But it feels more like a novelty than anything else. NYC has way more iconic speakeasies, so this isn't somewhere I'd go out of my way for more than once. Nothing wrong with the vibe--it's Times Square, so you already know what you're getting--but it's definitely a one-and-done kind of spot. The drinks are good and super fun, but they're very extra (smoke, presentation, all that), so between that and how packed it gets, it can take a while just to get one cocktail. Didn't try the food. Overall, go for the pics and TikToks--it's perfect for that. I'd recommend checking it out once, but I don't really see it being a repeat spot.

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Buffalo Chicken Spring Rolls
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A speakeasy bar in the basement
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The end of the bar. Pay no attention to that small TV.
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The bartender Josiah was great! He was very knowledgeable about the spirits and made great drink…read morerecommendations! The ambiance was just what you want for a speakeasy just with a more inviting entrance. Their menu is also designed like a cute little newspaper. I came alone after seeing a show! Glad I stopped in!

We had scored an awesome street parking spot and there was no way we were giving that up, so hubs…read moremade sure wherever we ate was within this area. We reserved for a quick bite at Redeye Grill before catching Dog Day Afternoon on Broadway, but as soon as we walked up, some bouncer told us they were closed for a private wedding reception. We were dazed and confused because how was I able to reserve online? But the real plot twist was that it ended up being the best thing that happened. We actually stumbled into Tanner Smith's thinking it'd be the typical, boring bar-food spot. Nope. They first sat us at a hi-top by the door, but that wasn't our vibe, so we grabbed seats at the bar instead. Best decision. Our bartender, Josiah, was absolutely killing it. My cocktail had passion fruit, so of course I asked my usual question: "But is it real passion fruit?" He just nodded in agreement and that told me everything I needed to know. That drink was legit and had nice strength. The food was great too. My fish tacos were packed with fresh fish, the guacamole and salsa were chunky and full of flavor and hubs enjoyed his pastrami sandwich. I have no clue when we'll be back in Midtown, but one thing's for sure- we're sitting with Josiah again.

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The setting from the entrance
The setting from the entrance
Double Smoked Cheeseburger
Double Smoked Cheeseburger
Gluten free bun

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King Kong on Broadway - nightlife - Updated July 2026

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