The New York City Center Encores! run of the rarely-seen musical Love Life began its run at the Manhattan venue March 26, and the reviews are rolling in. See what critics are saying about the show below.
Tony nominee Kate Baldwin and Tony winner Brian Stokes Mitchell lead the company as Susan and Sam Cooper, respectively. Two-time Tony winner Victoria Clark (Kimberly Akimbo; The Light in the Piazza) is directing the 1948 musical, which depicts over two centuries of American history through the eyes of a family who never ages. With music by Kurt Weill and a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, the musical explores the intimate aspects of a marriage through a juxtaposition of heartfelt scenes and satirical vaudeville acts.
READ: 'It's Very Severance': Inside the 'Spectacular Experimentation' That Is Kurt Weill and Alan Jay Lerner's Love Life
The cast also includes John Edwards as Hobo, Sara Jean Ford as Miss Ideal Man, Clarke Thorell as Mr. Cynic, Andrea Rosa Guzman as Elizabeth Cooper, and Christopher Jordan as Johnny Cooper. (Baldwin, Mitchell, Edwards, Ford, and Thorell were all part of the canceled 2020 production.)
The ensemble includes Kate Bailey, Jordan Barrow, Adam Bashian, Kerry Conte, John Harmon Cooper, Daniel Everidge, Nicole Fernandez-Coffaro, Ta’Nika Gibson, Joseph Ryan Harrington, Mary Illes, Andrea Jones-Sojola, Esther Lee, Cory Lingner, Cameron Loyal, Renni Anthony Magee, Robin Masella, Michael Milkanin, Kristin Piro, Nathan Andrew Riley, Heath Saunders, Daniel Schwait, Allyson Tucker, Nicholas Ward, and Minami Yusui.
Read the reviews below.
New York Stage Review (Steven Suskin)
The New York Times (Elisabeth Vincentelli)*
*This review may require creating a free account or paid subscription.
Playbill will continue to update this list as reviews come in.
The production also has choreography by JoAnn Hunter, music direction by Rob Berman, scenic design by Ryan Howell, costume design by Tracy Christensen, lighting design by Paul Miller, sound design by Scott Lehrer, hair and wig design by J. Jared Janas, and illusions and magic by Skylar Fox. Casting for Love Life is by The Telsey Office's Destiny Lilly.
The 2025 Encores! season will conclude with Wonderful Town, starring Aisha Jackson and Anika Noni Rose (April 30–May 11).
For additional information visit NYCityCenter.org.
