PATCHWORK PATRIOTISM,
POWERED BY A KILLER SETLIST

With a book credited to Bryce Hallett, one may expect Rolling Thunder to be a new Off-Broadway musical. Despite the presence of a librettist, however, the show—now playing at New World Stages—functions far more as a rock concert than a traditional book musical. Of its 2-hour runtime, only a small percentage is devoted to spoken text; the rest is an electrifying setlist of 1960s and ’70s classics.

Daniel Yearwood

The story—such as it is—unfolds through narration and the reading of letters to and from soldiers in Vietnam. These brief segments link the 18-plus songs, but the effect feels closer to a themed exhibit at a fair or theme park than to a fully realized drama. The upside? It never takes long to reach the next number, and the concert element is undeniably first-rate. And consider the hitmakers: Paul Simon, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Roberta Flack, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, Gladys Knight, Curtis Mayfield, and more.

The Cast

Cassadee Pope and Drew Becker

The six-member cast could rival any American Idol finale. (Fittingly, Cassadee Pope—who usually plays a soldier’s girlfriend—was the first female winner on The Voice. At the performance I attended, her understudy Erin Ramirez stepped in and delivered a performance that could have earned the same title.) Each cast member brings a distinct musical strength: Drew Becker and Justin Matthew Sargent channel the earnestness of two white soldiers who enlist out of youthful patriotism, while Daniel Yearwood and Deon’te Goodman lend soul and urgency to the roles of two Black draftees. Courtnee Carter rounds out the dynamic ensemble, which blends emotional texture with sheer vocal firepower.

Cassadee Pope

Courtnee Carter

The narrative arc moves from patriotism to disillusionment, chronicling a harrowing tour in a foreign land, the ever-growing protests back home, and the alienation soldiers faced upon returning. With an earnest tribute to the fallen and wounded, the book admirably ends with a memorial gesture that feels heartfelt and meaningful. Director Kenneth Ferrone provides smooth transitions, guiding all the collaborative elements into one cohesive and emotionally charged experience—and even lands a few tender moments amidst the amps and adrenaline.

Deon’te Goodman

Justin Matthew Sargent

Wilson Chin’s set evokes a concert music venue, with five musician platforms stretching the width of the stage. Behind each is a screen where Caite Hevner’s projections flash crystal-clear skies, jungles, vintage television broadcasts, and finally a sobering scroll of names and war statistics. Andrea Lauer’s costumes hit the expected notes — fatigues, protestwear, and late-’60s silhouettes — while Jake DeGroot’s lighting design delivers a stunningly dynamic show with hundreds of precisely timed cues, meticulously called by production stage manager Jen Ash. Mike Tracey’s sound design is thunderous and immersive—earplugs might not be a bad idea.

Cassadee Pope, Drew Becker, Daniel Yearwood,
Justin Matthew Sargent, Courtnee Carter, Deon’te Goodman

Deon’te Goodman, Drew Becker, Justin Matthew Sargent

The visible passion of the stellar band fuels the production’s momentum: guitarists Aurelien Budynek and Sherrod Barnes, bassist Yuka Tadano, drummer Grant Braddock, and keyboardist/conductor Julianne B. Merrill vigorously execute the arrangements and orchestration by Chong Lim AM and Sonny Paladino, the latter serving as music director and supervisor.

Cassadee Pope, Deon’te Goodman, Daniel Yearwood, Courtnee Carter

Courtnee Carter and the Cast

With 2025 marking the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, the curtain call concludes with a touching acknowledgment of veterans and their families in the audience — an undeniably touching gesture. Still, you may leave wondering how much more resonant it all could’ve been with fully drawn characters and a stronger dramatic spine. But as a nostalgia-driven tribute to the songs that defined an era, this production doesn’t miss a beat.

photos by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade

Rolling Thunder
New World Stages, Stage 1, 340 West 50th St.
for tickets, visit Telecharge and Rolling Thunder.

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Gregory Fletcher is an author, a theater professor, a playwright, director, and stage manager. His publishing credits include a craft book on playwriting entitled Shorts and Briefs, as well as a collection entitled A Playwright’s Dozen: 13 short plays. Other publishing includes two YA novels (Other People’s Crazy, and Other People’s Drama), 2 novellas in the series Inclusive Bedtime Stories, 2 short stories in The Night Bazaar series, and five essays. Website, Facebook, Instagram.