PICK - Happiness - to June 7

Photo at right by Paul Kolnik.
Happiness, at the Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center is a new musical about a disparate group of New Yorkers caught on a subway train under unusual circumstances. Director and choreographer is Susan Stroman, book is by John Weidman, and the team of Scott Frankel and Michael Korie (both of Grey Gardens) is responsible for score and lyrics.
We received an enthusiastic review from our friend Rosemarie:

“Happiness, a musical, currently in previews at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center, opens on March 30. It is staged in a stalled New York City subway car. (It reawakened memories of my own experience in a stalled subway car in the 1960's, when New York City and most of the northeast experienced a massive power outage.) There are about a dozen people on that stuck train who cannot leave it until they remember and reenact the happiest moment of their lives. The rules are set forth by a trainman played by Hunter Foster, 2004 Tony nominee for his role as Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors. He is excellent as he sings, dances and performs his wry comedic lines. Sebastian Arcelus, a lawyer involved with investment banking and driving hard for success, performs my favorite song, 'Just Not Now,' the reply to every interruption to his rush toward success. The vignettes are moving, sometimes funny, as they uncover character and history. One of my companions who knows dance observed that the choreography by Susan Stroman was unexciting. I am not sure it needs to be exciting to work well.
"We saw the show on the first night of previews and the audience reaction was enthusiastic. I believe it deserves to be a hit, and will be one."