Shear Madness

I have seen the hilarious show 4 times and every show has some different jokes based on recent events in the news. The acting is first rate and at times the actors break each other up. I brought 2 friends to the show and they had a great time. Try to get there early for the pre show. The audience was totally into the show today and the replies from the actors were so impressive. The end changes based on the audiences vote. Get there and see this show. You can get 2 for 1 tickets for off Bway week from ²⁄₁. To ²⁄₁₄.

Excellent, excellent, excellent show! Can not emphasize how surprised and how much I enjoyed this show. I really thought it was gonna be bad when I saw the set but I was wrong… it is a well organized, well acted, hilariously entertaining story. All of the actors were excellent and had us laughing constantly with up to date comedy. Whitcomb stole the show, the police offers were funny and female characters were intriguing and beautiful. I recommend the show to anyone who wants to laugh. And the fact that waiter comes to your seat with your drinks and snack is even better.

My boyfriend and I went this last minute with not knowing what to do. We both heard a lot about this show so we thought we would give it a shot. Had to say is fun, fast, energetic, and some parts had me cracking up!!! The audience interaction but the best part of the whole show is when the actors go all improv. The show itself is «okay» and the acting is «good». But what stole me and everyone else is how funny these actors are. It was airplane humor, you couldn’t laugh too much or you would miss the next joke.

Not funny. Tony’s performance is over done. Has the potential to be funny but is not. Do not recommend.

Interactive! Great execution by seasoned artists!

Our particular performance at the New World Stages on 12÷28÷15 was really enjoyable, with a great performance lead-​up before audience participation and a satisfying ending. Savvy concept that explains its longevity, and execution that kept this theater-​phobe engaged throughout.

This is my 2^nd review in my life. It’s usually not something I am motivated to do. If you are looking for an entertaining evening out (only 2 hours) you really should consider Shear Madness. I took, my husband, my 3 kids (11,9,7) and we all had a ball. There are jokes for everyone. It’s a clever whodunit with
audience interaction. I saw families with 3 generations attending and they were all laughing. Great night out.

The longest-​running play of the USA has finally gone from Boston to New York last year. It is about a murder that happens above a beauty salon where the staff are better at gossiping than cutting hair. There is no bloody body on stage at all. Every clue is given by each actor and a detective will direct the audience how to investigate.
This is an interactive whodunit, which means in the middle of the play, the audience gets to ask questions and choose the murderer. As an audience, you become an element of the play. To make sure everyone can interact with the cast, Shear Madness remains an Off-​Broadway, which is a Broadway play with a smaller number of audience. It has a lot of jokes about current events and the geography of the city as the script is tailored depends on the location and the year of the play. PG-​13 rating due to some vulgarity, but in NY everyone swears.
I watched it at New World Stages, and the crowd on weekend was not large, only 40+ people. I had the discounted tickets from TKTS and sat on the right side 2^nd row. There were so many empty seats in the front orchestra because the price is higher, so the staff invited me to the front row at the center! The view at the very center wasn’t good because the salon shampoo bowl obstructed my view, but a couple of seats away would be perfect.
Even during the break, the cast stays in their character to answer your investigating question. Jordan Ahnquist who played Tony was such a lovely actor. He gave out Kiss chocolates to anyone from the audience. He even handwrote my friend a reminder from the so-​called Shear Madness hair salon.

So the basic premise of this play revolves around a murder that takes place in a hair salon.
Two undercover detectives were tipped off by the neighbor upstairs, that she suspected someone was out to murder her. Midway through the play the neighbor was murdered and we, as the audience, were asked who was responsible.
Right before the intermission, we engaged in a q and a with the cast members, armed with the ability to ask the cast members questions directly, about their actions or anything we picked up during the play that would help with the investigation.
Two things I wanted to mention, was that watching the play closely helps during the questioning and audience participation can change the outcome. The play can have numerous endings.
There was a good amount of improv and humor throughout the play. I laughed alot.
Thanks Ruggy and Unilocal for the tickets. It was a very entertaining and funny play.

Shear Madness=Sheer Awesomeness
To say I am a fan of the show is an understatement. I have seen the show in Boston 3 times. It’s the longest running play and has been running since the 80’s. I jumped up and down when I found out it came to NYC. A comedian friend saw it in previews here, and said nothing but good things about it. I put it on the top of my list of shows to see within the next few months. However, I signed up to see it through Unilocal,and as luck would have it, got to see this show for free with my mom the day before Thanksgiving! We almost didn’t get to see the show because my mom cut herself badly earlier that day during Thanksgiving prep and we had to rush to urgent care to get her stitched up. The doc cleared her to go to the show that night, so they bandaged her up, and we got to the theater just in time for the show. What a trooper.
This is a Whodunit murder mystery that takes places in a hair salon, Shear Madness. The concert pianist upstairs is murdered, and someone in the shop did it. The best part is that the audience gets to help solve the murder, so pay attention. I am always impressed that the show keeps up on current events so the show continues to evolve while keeping the same backbone.
The whole cast was phenomenal. They have to learn the ins and outs of these well-​written characters to make it work. I had seen Jordan Ahnquist (Tony) play Mike in the Boston cast, so it was nice seeing him in a different role. He was terrific as Tony! I am fascinated how quickly Barbara paints her nails. Mrs. Schubert, you klepto, love you!
Tips:
Make sure you get there early, the show starts, before it starts.
This theater seems to have a great view from all seats. Comfortable, yet intimate.
Drink before you come. We paid $ 20 for sangria and a can of beer :(The good news is that a server comes to you.

Thank you Unilocal for letting me watch this awesome performance last Wednesday. I wasn’t disappointed at all.
This comedy of a performance is the longest running play for a reason. It captivates the audience by allowing them to be part of the show and the writers are truly up-​to-​date with its cultural references and jokes.
The characters are all individually unique so no characters with similar personality nonsense. I loved how they stayed in character and interacted with the audience during intermission.
I don’t want to ruin the storyline so won’t talk about the plot, but let’s just say ending can be always different.

Awesome play… fresh to the theater district, funny, interactive, engaging, has updated NY reference jokes and lots of quick enjoyable improvisation that keeps it lively the entire duration of the show.
I have been to a murder mystery dinner show before and I am expecting how they generally end the show of this kind but the performing actors were so amazing that they outwit each other and the audience.
1. They were all funny and quick in doing improvisation (amazing how fast they think in response to audience reaction is such a talent!). Can you imagine that each night they are twisted to end the play basing on audience judgement? It just meant how good actors all of them are.
2. Audience participation makes them hyper active… the more audience is engaged, the better to enjoy each character. Be involved, join the fun when you get to see the show.
3. They interacted with the audience during the 15 min intermission while still playing their respective roles. A unique way of engaging with the audience.
4. This kind of play is fits New Yorkers .
It was an awesome Thanksgiving Eve — glad the production company entrusted Unilocalers to be a part of its preview week. Wondering what took them so long to come to the Big Apple?
HIghly recommended to see.

What an awesome play. It’s so funny and fun. The show is a Whodunit and there are four suspicious characters who might’ve done the murder. There is a lot of audience participation in this show.
These actors are smart and funny. They play off the comments from the audience and have to come up with jokes and comebacks super quick. There is a lot of improv in the show.
I really enjoyed the jokes about current events. On the show’s website it says that the show is different every time you see it and with the jokes they make about the news I know that must be true.
All the actors were great but Tony was my favorite. I thought he had excellent comedic timing and was so playful.
If you’re looking for a fun night or afternoon I highly recommend Shear Madness.

You do not become the longest running play in the USA if you aren’t doing something right and by all indications this Boston export is nailing it! This is a hilarious and engaging show that has been running in one form or another since 1980! Unbelievable this was my introduction to the show.
A big part of the show is up to date cultural references and jokes. The show would be stale if it was still doing 80s jokes about Ronald Reagan and the Cold War luckily the structure of the show allows for constant reinvention. There is a script and plot of one of the crazy characters murdering an unseen landlord pianist, but the top notch improvisation makes this show original and different every single night!
All the actors are incredibly funny, but they also know how to ramp up the drama to keep the audience engage in this murder mystery. Jordan Ahnquist as Tony Whitcomb (haha get it!) is a total scene-​stealer with his sharp delivery, slapstick actions and expressive face.
This is an audience participation show so a couple of tips: Be sure to play close attention to the action in the beginning of the play because the audience will be asked for the input in recreating the crime scene — what happened? who’s lying? where were they? You are encouraged to give your input and even ask questions of these suspects! Don’t be shy! Join the action!
I am so happy I made time for this to kick of my Thanksgiving weekend — it put me in a great mood. Surprisingly I woke up the day after having deep thoughts about the concept of this play and how it is similar to the ‘Zeno effect’ a physics phenomenon where the mere act of observation can completely change the outcome of an event! So be sharp, be involved and enjoy the ride!

Whodunit?!
I won’t tell but I will tell you to run and get a ticket to see this very funny play.
So much drama and fun at a hair salon! The jokes are flying fast so don’t blink.
The fun part of this play the the interaction between the cast and the audience.
The bring up the house light and ask us to help with the Whodunit.
Even during intermission the cast stay in character and chats with us.
Their jokes are fresh by adding current news into their scripts.
Don’t ask me for the ending cause I won’t tell.
I had a fun, fun, fun time!

So basically the lady upstairs got murdered and you’re trying to figure out WHODONIT. These guys are hilarious and they are very interactive with the audience! I love how they incorporate current events and turn them into jokes on the show. Personally, my favorite characters were Eddie Lawrence (the antique guy) and Tony Whitcomb (hair dresser). They both really lived up to the role of their characters. I found all the characters’ improv acting were highly impressive regarding to how fast they were able to react to the audience’s response. We had a lot of fun at the show and we’d recommend it to everyone. I also love how the ending can change depending on the audience that are there that night.

Shear Madness is a comedy– style of whodunit where the audience gets to help solve the crime! I love this stuff. My aunt and uncle who saw it in Boston, were recommending Shear Madness to me. I had to see it especially now that’s it’s in NYC. I love whodunits that don’t take themselves too seriously, so a comedy whodunit, is perfect for me. The play takes place in a hair salon. You will need to pay attention because you’ll have to recall events. The ending has potential to be different because it all depends on the audience interaction and participation. I had a really fun night at Shear Madness. I want to watch it again to see a different ending!