It’s been 50 years since the Vietnam War ended with the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975. Marking that historic anniversary is the NYC premiere of Rolling Thunder by Australian writer/journalist Bryce Hallett (from a concept by Scott Barton), now playing a limited Off-Broadway engagement at New World Stages following the acclaimed 2014 debut of the Australian-based original, Rolling Thunder Vietnam, in Brisbane (approximately 60,000 Australians served in Vietnam between 1962-72, 521 died, and more than 3,000 were wounded) and tours across the continent in 2016 and 2023. Directed by Kenneth Ferrone, the revised American version offers a powerful mix of jukebox musical, socio-political documentary, and personal storytelling, chronicling the devastating toll the divisive war took on our country, the widespread protests it engendered, and the emotional impact it had on our people, both individually and as a nation, based on Hallett’s extensive research, interviews he conducted with the veterans and their families, and the revealing extant letters they wrote.
A transporting artistic design perfectly melds the distinct components of the show both visually and aurally. The set (by Wilson Chin) evokes the stage of a rock concert, with the powerhouse five-piece band (conductor, music director and supervisor Sonny Paladino on keys, Aurelien Budynek and Sherrod Barnes on guitar, Yuka Tadano on bass, and Grant Braddock on drums) elevated on platforms above and around the back of the stage, and recreates the key events of the period with video screens and vintage TVs that show newspaper headlines, news footage of the war, addresses from then presidents LBJ and Nixon, coverage of the rampant antiwar protests, and the popular shows, stars, and music of the time (video design by Caite Hevner).
The shifting scenes, from the rock songs to the battlefield to the protest marches, are accentuated by thunderous sound (by Mike Tracey) and extreme lighting (by Jake DeGroot) that heighten the intensity of the iconic music and circumstances, then soften the tone and shine spotlights on the characters recounting their intimate stories, interactions, traumatic experiences, and changing perceptions of the war, in costumes (by Andrea Lauer) that contrast the drab khaki and camouflage uniforms of the armed forces with the bright colors, leather, and fringe worn by the hippies and activists.
Bringing it all to life is a stellar cast of six, actively moving around the stage and delivering the thoughts, feelings, and personalities of the composite real-life figures and the blockbuster vocals and flawless harmonies of the potent rock hits that defined the era and addressed its issues, with masterful arrangements and orchestrations by Chong Lim and Paladino. Among the well-chosen set list of eighteen songs – each and every one featuring a standout performance and providing a soundtrack of the ‘60s and ‘70s that captures the essence of the war and its effect on the people who lived through it or died in it – are “Eve of Destruction,” “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall,” “Nowhere to Run,” “We Gotta Get Out of this Place,” and, of course, “War,” which raises, and answers, the crucial question, “What is it good for? Absolutely nothing.”
In addition to their knockout singing, the outstanding cast also presents profoundly affecting direct-address recitations of the succinctly expressive contents of the letters written and exchanged by their characters and vignettes that encompass everything from enlistment and the draft, training and combat, dissent and the civil rights movement, and glimpses into their backgrounds and the relationships they have with each other and their loved ones. Together they bring psychological depth and a resonating humanity to them, giving voice to their pride and courage, loss and fears, and the hopes they have for their return home and the future, which do not always come to fruition as a result of the horrific costs of war.
Appearing in the roles of the young, enlisted soldiers and high-school friends are Drew Becker as Johnny and Justin Matthew Sargent as Tommy, the former dedicated to seeking adventure, the latter to continuing the proud legacy of his military father, and both leaving their girlfriends behind for their year of service; Daniel Yearwood as Andy, who was reluctantly drafted and befriends the local children in Vietnam; and Deon’te Goodman as Mike, who avoids being sent to battle and warns Andy to stay vigilant among the other US soldiers and to keep his gun with him at all times. They are given fine support by Courtnee Carter as Andy’s Mother, who is deeply concerned about him going to war and becomes an active advocate for peace, and as Nurse Kelly, who is there to care for the wounded soldiers but sees too many who don’t survive; and Erin Ramirez as Johnny’s devoted girlfriend Linda (filling in for Cassadee Pope at the performance I attended), who keeps track of the number of days till his homecoming and their marriage, then receives the news that no one wants to hear. All embody the different types, motivations, and emotions of their characters, and the harrowing wartime experiences they shared.
Along with the individual stories and resounding songs, Rolling Thunder contains staggering data projections across the full stage, numbering the Americans who served in Vietnam at over 2.7 million and listing the names of the more than 58,000 who died there. It’s a painful period in our history that should never be forgotten and from which we should learn, and an important production that remains relevant in the present, with the raging wars in the Ukraine and Gaza.
Running Time: Approximately two hours, including an intermission.
Rolling Thunder plays through Sunday, September 7, 2025, at New World Stages, 340 W 50th Street, NYC. For tickets (priced at $48-140, including fees), call (212) 239-6200, go online, or find discount tickets at TodayTix.
