Star-Studded 'Other Desert Cities' Revival Opens to Mixed Reviews and Strong Box Office
Jon Robin Baitz’s 2010 play 'Other Desert Cities' returns to the Hudson Theatre with a star cast led by Julia Louis-Dreyfus in her Broadway debut. While the production is a box-office success, critics are sharply divided: some praise the performances, while others criticize the dated material and uneven direction.
Key points
- The revival opened on October 18, 2026, at the Hudson Theatre, following previews that began on September 29.
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus makes her Broadway debut as Polly Wyeth, opposite Ed Harris as Lyman Wyeth.
- Allison Janney, Joe Keery, and Lily Rabe round out the lead cast, with John Benjamin Hickey directing.
- The production has already joined the $2 Million Club in its first full week of previews.
- The play, set in 2004, centers on a family conflict over a memoir exposing a long-held secret.
Background
Jon Robin Baitz’s 'Other Desert Cities' originally premiered Off-Broadway in 2011 before transferring to Broadway that same year. It was a finalist for the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The current revival is a limited engagement running through January 17, 2027.
How outlets are covering it
The New York Times and The Guardian praise the production, highlighting Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s 'smashing' debut and the cast’s chemistry. The Guardian notes the play’s renewed relevance to current political divides. In contrast, Vulture criticizes the material as dated and the direction as uneven, arguing the play relies on celebrity power rather than strong writing. The Hollywood Reporter, cited in our archive, also notes uneven direction and lack of dramatic weight in the lead performances. Joe Keery receives universal acclaim for his role as Trip.
Why it matters
The revival demonstrates the continued power of star-driven productions on Broadway, even when critical reception is mixed. It also highlights how older plays can be reinterpreted in light of current political and social climates, though critics debate whether the material holds up to modern standards.
What to watch
The production will continue at the Hudson Theatre through January 17, 2027. Critics will continue to weigh in as the run progresses, and box office performance will be a key indicator of the revival’s success.
- Reviews: What Do the Critics Think of Other Desert Cities on Broadway? Playbill
- ‘Other Desert Cities’ Review: Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s Smashing Debut The New York Times
- Other Desert Cities review – Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Ed Harris shine in timely Broadway revival The Guardian
- Other Desert Cities Has Dried Up and Blown Away Vulture
- Other Desert Cities: Star Power in Action New York Stage Review
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