Still More Theater Saturday - Chasing Grace & My Joy is Heavy

We received complimentary tickets to Chasing Grace for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

What: Chasing Grace

Where: Mezzanine Theatre/A.R.T. NY

             502 W. 53rd St.

             New York, NY

Who: Recommended for Ages 16 and Up

When: Through March 29, 2026

Chasing Grace is meta-musical about addiction and recovery. Grace is a woman who has been through rehab. She is also a playwright trying to get a play about her experiences produced.

The first act is a reenactment of Grace's memories of rehab and the women she met there. The women are portrayed in a very real way. Their stories are painful and traumatic. The songs in this part of the show are poignant and meaningful.

The second half is the exact opposite. When Grace finds a producer to help her produce a musical about her experiences,  she loses control of her own story. The women's stories are no longer treated with truthfulness or dignity. The songs in this half of the show reflect this. 

The talented cast does a brilliant job handling this dual perspective on their roles. In the first half, their performances are heartbreaking and sincere. In the second half, their performances are over the top. The characters are kind of amusing, but they don't feel authentic

Grace's journey highlights important lessons we all can learn from. They include holding fast to what is really important and believing in oneself.  

And that's our view. For more information about Chasing Grace or to purchase tickets, visit shenycarts.org/ChasingGrace.

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We received complimentary tickets to My Joy is Heavy for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

What: My Joy is Heavy

Where: New York Theatre Workshop

             79 E. 4th St.

             New York, NY

Who: Recommended for Ages 16 and Up

When: Through April 5, 2026

Just getting up and performing in their show, My Joy is Heavy, can be considered an act of bravery for the husband-and-wife folk duo Shaun and Abigail Bengson. Every night, they get up on stage and reenact some of the worst times of their lives: depression, chronic pain, pregnancy loss. However, at its heart, this is not a depressing show. Yes, it is sad, but it's not about wallowing in pain. It's about bouncing back. It's about resilience. It's about celebrating what is lost and moving on. 

As the title indicates, there can be heaviness in joy, and conversely, there can be joy in heaviness. This feeling is inimitably captured in the duo's own particular style through a series of songs. For some, who have had similar experiences, it might be too triggering, especially if their experience occurred recently. Others may find it comforting to realize they are not alone. In a very real sense, the show is kind of catharsis, not just for the Bengsons but for us all.

And that's our view. For more about My Joy is Heavy or to purchase tickets, visit www.nytw.org/show/my-joy-is-heavy

Tune in tomorrow for this week's Sunday Scoop.

Photo credits:

All Chasing Grace production photos by Danielle DeMatteo

All My Joy is Heavy production photos by Marc J. Franklin

Images used in this post were sent by publicists, artists, and/or  PR firms and are used by permission.  Address any concerns regarding image usage here.

Theater Thursday - Dust of Egypt: The Story of Sojourner Truth

We received complimentary tickets to Dust of Egypt: The Story of Sojourner Truth for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

 What: Dust of Egypt 

 Where: The Sheen Center

               18 Bleeker St.

                New York, NY

Who: Recommended for Ages 12 and above

When: Through March 29. 2026 

Dust of Egypt: The Story of Sojourner Truth is the story of the legendary abolitionist, activist, and evangelist known for her "Ain't I a Woman" speech. While parts of this famous speech are quoted in the play, the focus of the story is a lesser-known story about how she rescued her son from slavery after he was sold and illegally taken south. The show is unsuitable for very young children due to mature subject matter. However, it is highly recommended for children in middle school and above as an excellent opportunity to learn about and experience history in a visceral way. 

The show can be gut-wrenching and emotional. However, even though it might not be easy to take at times, it shines a harsh light on some important truths about our past. Contrary to what some believe, you cannot sweep the past under the rug and forget about it. 

Understudy, Nadel Henville's portrayal of the older Sojourner Truth did not feel authentic enough. She seemed too young and spry to have lived through and experienced what the character did. However, Jade Cayne was excellent in the role of Belle (Sojourner before she renamed herself). Her portrayal was both fierce and heartbreaking, and clearly the highlight of the show. The rest of the cast was good.

And that's our view. For more information about  Dust of Egypt: The Story of Sojourner Truth or to purchase tickets, visit www.dustofegypt.com.

 Tune in Saturday for Still More Theater Saturday.

Photo credits; 
All Dust of Egypt: The Story of Sojourner Truth production photos by Rainer DeLalio 

Images used in this post were sent by publicists, artists, and/or  PR firms and are used by permission.  Address any concerns regarding image usage here.

Where-To-Go Wednesday: Beyond Utility

What: Beyond Utility 

Where: Museum at FIT

             227 W. 27th St.

             New York, NY

Who: All ages

When: Through March 22, 2025

Beyond Utility is an exhibit that examines how clothing with specific purposes branched out into other areas. Sometimes, members of the fashion industry co-opted a style or an article of clothing into their collections. Other times, specific groups adopted and/or adapted them for their own purposes. At times, this new usage completely subverted the garment or style's original purpose. For instance, military camouflage is meant to hide, but when the style is used for skimpy bathing suits, it does the exact opposite.

 The exhibit is divided into three areas. The first is military garments. In addition to the previously mentioned bathing suit, this section includes trench coat dresses, a hat used by the Harris-Walz campaign, and more. The second is crafting. This section includes items that mimic those that would have been made by hand for domestic purposes. It includes a patchwork-like sweater popularized by the singer, Harry Styles. The final section regards work-related clothing. It shows how clothing, including overalls and jumpsuits, originally used for specific work-related purposes, began to be used for other purposes, including general fashion. 

And that's our view. The Museum at FIT is open Wednesday through Friday. There is no admission fee. For more information about this exhibit, specific museum hours, or any other information regarding the museum, go to www.fitnyc.edu/museum/index.php. 

Please note this exhibit closes this weekend. Accordingly, if you are interested, you should visit soon. 

Tune in tomorrow for Theater Thursday.