5 Reasons to See Eureka Day on Broadway

Sometimes, real life is so absurd that the only thing you can do is laugh. So why not laugh in a room filled with other people? Eureka Day by Jonathan Spector, currently running on Broadway at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, is helping you do just that.

In the show, Amber Gray, Jessica Hecht, Thomas Middleditch, and Chelsea Yakura-Kurtz play parents who argue over vaccines after the elementary school their children attend has a mumps outbreak. Comedian Bill Irwin plays a hapless school administrator. You might think such a (to put it mildly) topical issue might not be an easy thing to laugh over. But in Eureka Day, it's not just easy; it's a good (we might say cathartic) time—which is why the show has now been extended until February 5, 2025.

Below are five reasons why you should see Eureka Day. And read critics' reviews of the new play here.

Jessica Hecht and Amber Gray in *Eureka Day* Jeremy Daniel

1. Jessica Hecht and Amber Gray (Nicely) Spar

If you love plays, then you love Jessica Hecht. And if you love musicals, then you love Amber Gray. So imagine these two expert actors (and Tony nominees) sharing a stage and butting heads as mothers who disagree with each other on vaccinations. And they do it while maintaining a smile on their face, and exchanging some very passive aggressive scones. They never raise their voices, which only increases the tension. And with the legendary Bill Irwin as their referee? Well, the effect is some verbal fireworks.

2. It's a Comedy, That Makes You Think

Broadway is currently rich with well-crafted comedies—whether it's the campiness of Oh, Mary! or the holiday-flavored Cult of Love. Eureka Day is a comedy that seems to be ripped straight from the headlines: "Mumps Outbreak Affect Day School. Parents Refuse to Vaccinate Their Children." So you might be wondering, how can this be funny? What Eureka Day does brilliantly is showcase how these hot-button conversations actually occur in real life—there's usually no yelling because everyone is trying to avoid an awkward moment and they don't want to say the wrong thing. So they talk around what they actually are saying. Sound familiar? The best comedies highlight the absurdity of being human, and Eureka Day excels at turning the mirror onto its audience. You will laugh, because you've been in this situation before. And doesn't it feel nice to be seen?

Thomas Middleditch, Amber Gray, Bill Irwin, Chelsea Yakura-Kurtz, and Jessica Hecht in *Eureka Day* Jeremy Daniel

3. That Zoom Scene

Everyone who has seen Eureka Day is buzzing about this Zoom scene, which occurs around the show's halfway point. Again, you might be thinking, "How is this funny? Thinking about Zoom gives me anxiety." Well, you will thoroughly enjoy this Zoom call, where the parents are trying to lead a "community discussion" about vaccinations. You already know it's going to be a disaster when you see Bill Irwin in front of the laptop. But what you don't predict is, sitting in the Friedman Theatre, how loud the audience will react to the scene—so much so that you can barely hear the actors (it's not a spoiler to say the discussion begins with yoga and ends with Nazis). It's the laughter of recognition, and you will never laugh harder at the use of emojis. 👍

4. That Set

As someone who is from California, the Eureka Day set (by Todd Rosenthal) took me back home. If you've ever gone to school in California, you know that we love an outdoor campus, and Eureka Day captured that sense of openness and light very accurately. And if you're a fan of set design that looks simple on the surface but is actually filled with dramaturgical details, then the Eureka Day set is a goldmine. It's an elementary school library, but there are drawings of Michelle Obama and Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the wall, and a section marked "social justice." And in a bit of visual comedy, the adults sit on chairs that are a tad too small for them. From the outset, the set tells you just what kind of space these characters want to build, and how over the course of 90 minutes, they will fail to live up to the ideals of that space. And also, those too-small chairs will make for a funny and uncomfortable time.

5. You'll Learn How to Have Hard Conversations

With the rise of the anti-vaccination movement, it seems that these days, vaccines have become one of those topics that makes you want to tear out your hair whenever it comes up. You might not even want to have those discussions because it fills you with stress and rage. But do not worry, you'll feel better after seeing Eureka Day. For one, it perfectly captures how frustrating those conversations can be. But it is very clear on what doesn't work: online discourse (see point number 3). But what can work: in-person conversations, and finding a safe community. Sure, these difficult discussions may not always come to a resolution, but as Eureka Day makes clear, if we are to share space together, actually talking to each other is the most important thing.

Below, see photos from the show's opening night, which had its own share of comedy legends. Chris Rock and David Schwimmer were among the attendees.