In Life of Pi, sixteen-year-old Pi and his family set off to emigrate from India, but after their ship sinks in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Pi is left stranded on a lifeboat with just four other survivors: a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan, and a Royal Bengal tiger. Time is against them, and nature is harsh-who will survive? This highly imaginative theatrical adaptation brings one of the most beloved works of fiction to the stage to tell its epic story of endurance and hope. Written by Lolita Chakrabarti based on the best-selling novel by Yann Martell, Life of Pi is directed by Max Webster.
Beautiful as the staging is, there are some bald bits of dialogue, including some obvious exposition in the opening scene; Father’s portentous observation that “man is the most dangerous animal in this zoo”; and a line that could be interpreted as making leaden parallels to contemporary issues: “This government show us bad behavior has no consequences. People are looting, fighting, vandalizing property and no one is held accountable.” Hmm.
With dazzling imagination and sublime control, the show’s cast and crew conjure a delirious, dynamic, highly pettable world. And oh, is it a wonder. Though the play is ostensibly about one boy’s fraught survival after a disaster, that story is somewhat thin. “Life of Pi” instead succeeds as a broader tribute to human ingenuity and animal grace.
General Rush
Price: $40
Where: Schoenfeld Theatre box office
When: The box office opens at 10 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon on Sunday.
Limit: Two per customer
Information: Determined at the discretion of the box office. Subject to daily availability.
Digital Lottery
Price: $45
Where: greyhouselottery.com
When: The lottery is open for entries between midnight and 3 p.m. the day before each performance. Winners are drawn at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., and they have five hours to claim and purchase their tickets for the next day's performance.
Limit: Two per customer
Information: Subject to availability.
2021 | West End |
Original West End Production West End |
2023 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
2024 | US Tour |
North American Tour US Tour |
Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
---|---|---|---|
2023 | BroadwayWorld Awards | Best Ensemble | Life of Pi |
2023 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Direction of a Play | Max Webster |
2023 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play | Hiran Abeysekera |
2023 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Projection and Video Design | Andrzej Goulding |
2023 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Puppetry | Nick Barnes |
2023 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Scenic Design of a Play | Tim Hatley |
2023 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance Award | Hiran Abeysekera |
2023 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Production of a Play | Life of Pi |
2023 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Director of a Play | Max Webster |
2023 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Play | Hiran Abeysekera |
2023 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Lighting Design (Play or Musical) | Tim Lutkin |
2023 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding New Broadway Play | Life of Pi |
2023 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Video or Projection Design (Play or Musical) | Andrzej Goulding |
2023 | Theatre World Awards | Theatre World Awards | Hiran Abeysekera |
2023 | Tony Awards | Best Costume Design of a Play | Tim Hatley |
2023 | Tony Awards | Best Direction of a Play | Max Webster |
2023 | Tony Awards | Best Lighting Design of a Play | Tim Lutkin |
2023 | Tony Awards | Best Scenic Design of a Play | Tim Hatley |
2023 | Tony Awards | Best Sound Design of a Play | Carolyn Downing |
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