Theater Thursday: Night Side Songs

We received complimentary tickets to Night Side Songs for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own. 

What: Night Side Songs 

Where: Claire Tow Theater 

              150 W. 65th St.

              New York, NY

Who: Recommended for Ages 15 and Up

When: Through March 29, 2026

According to Susan Sontag, "illness is the night side of life." The line between the night side and the other side is thin and tenuous. One minute you're perfectlly healthy, the next you're fighting for your life trying to stave off a potentially fatal illness you never knew you had. 

This idea is explored through one woman's experience. Yasmine is stirringly played by Brooke Ishibashi, who particularly shines in the character's darker moments. Her fellow cast members, most of whom play several characters, are also quite talented and equally skillful in their roles. 

Upon description the show seems very dark and depressing. Although it definitely isn't by an means light and happy, it's not about wallowing in sadness and grief either. It focuses more on the way illness makes people come together and be there for each other. 

In that spirit, the audience is very much a part of the proceedings. At the beginning of the show every member of the audience is given a song book so they can sing along. That is nowhere near as terrifying as it may sound. Not every song is a sing along song.  Plus, any line the audience is expected to sing is  first sung by cast members so the audience can learn the tune. If despite these things, you still have no interest in singing along, you don't have to. It's not a requirement for attending the show.

The songs are like poetry but not the light and fun kind  rather the dark and serious kind. This does not mean that the songs are all like funeral dirges. There are more up tempo songs but there are no frivolous songs. They are all meaningful and some are quite relatable. One particulalry relatable song is about how we are always looking for a reason why bad things happen to people as if there's is an answer that will not only make sense but will keep the bad things from happening to us. 

The show obviously may be triggering for anyone dealing with serious illness, whose loved one is dealing with serious illness, or who lost a loved one to serious illness. However, anyone interested in exploring the healing power of song and human connection may enjoy it. 

And that's our view. For more about Night Side Songs are to purchase tickets, visit www.lct.org/shows/night-side-songs.

Tune in Saturday for Still More Theater Saturday. 

Photo credits:

All Night Side Songs 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.