Stereophonic Reviews

MetroWeekly- Highly Recommended

"...The dynamic drama of a '70s rock band recording an album, Stereophonic - "the most Tony-nominated play of all time," as its posters proudly trumpet - is conveniently set in a single location, the expensive-looking recording studio where the unnamed group spends an inordinate amount of time holed up on top of each other."

MD Theatre Guide- Highly Recommended

"...“Stereophonic” has landed at The National Theatre in DC, giving DMV theatre lovers the opportunity to experience for themselves the most Tony-nominated play in history. Written by Tony Award-winner, David Adjmi, with original songs by Grammy Award-winner, Arcade Fire’s Will Butler, “Stereophonic” won five Tonys in 2024, including Best Featured Actor in a Play, Best Direction of a Play, and Best Play."

Theatre Bloom- Highly Recommended

"...Music isn’t supposed to be perfect. It’s supposed to be about making something together. Theatre too. And that’s what makes Stereophonic so perfect. It’s no wonder it took home five Tony Awards, including best play, in 2024. The imperfections. The rawness. The realness. The ugly, gritty truth of desperation seeking to be perfection guised as making music— that is theatrical perfection incarnate. Stereophonic is a transformative theatrical experience— a true rare bird amidst the era of “Oprah Musicals” (you get a musical, you get a musical, everybody gets a musical!)— it’s a play with music."

Morris Theatre DC- Recommended

"...Stereophonic is still an excellent play with razor-sharp characters and incredible songs, make no mistake; but touring it was certainly a choice, one I am not sure will pay dividends due to shaky cuts and an inconsistent ensemble."

The Georgetown Dish- Recommended

"...Stereophonic mines the agony and the ecstasy of creation as it zooms in on a music studio in 1976. Here, an up-and-coming rock band recording a new album finds itself suddenly on the cusp of superstardom. The ensuing pressures could spark their breakup—or their breakthrough."

BroadwayWorld- Highly Recommended

"...Director Daniel Aukin captures the intimacy and intersections that these musicians/characters must feel as they navigate several songs that surge throughout this play. Mr. Aukin successfully synergizes the tension between the stylistic and content components of the play (occasionally, when I thought the play was bordering on pretension, I realized that the very human characters in the play were often meant to be pretentious and aggravating-- so this may have been part of the organic vison of the play)."

K Street Magazine- Highly Recommended

"...Written by David Adjmi and directed by Daniel Aukin, the play mines the agony and the ecstasy of artistic creation. It’s not a glamorized greatest-hits gallop through an era of bell-bottoms and backstage brawls. It’s something far more fascinating."

DC Theater Arts- Highly Recommended

"...Not quite a musical, not quite a concert, nor even a traditionally staged play — it’s the music that makes Stereophonic a genre-blending triumph. Interspersed with quick-paced dialog and cut-throat conflict, songbreaks are necessary and deeply welcomed."