Superior Donuts Show Poster

Superior Donuts Critics’ Reviews

Set in Chicago, Superior Donuts centers on the unlikely friendship between an ex-hippie donut-shop owner named Arthur Przybyszewski and his brash young African-American employee, Franco Wicks, who wants to change the decrepit shop for the better.

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About Superior Donuts

Arthur Przybyszewski runs a shabby donut shop he inherited from his immigrant father in a historic but rundown Chicago neighborhood. At the beginning of the play, a vandal has broken the shop window, but Arthur is too depressed to care. His ex-wife recently died, and he's haunted by his decision to flee to Canada during the Vietnam War. Enter Franco Wicks, a livewire 21-year-old African-American who applies for a job and immediately envisions ways to spruce up the shop—and help his boss attract the attention of a lady cop. As folks from the neighborhood come and go and secrets are revealed about Arthur and Franco, the two men find their lives changing in unexpected ways.

Reviews

critics reviews Critics’ Reviews (5)
A collection of our favorite reviews from professional news sources.
The New York Times

""A warm bath of a play that will leave Broadway audiences with satisfied smiles. Tracy Letts has a finely honed sense of comic rhythms, as he displayed in August. Jon Michael Hill is making a confident Broadway debut, playing Franco with boundless, buoyant charm. Michael McKean gives a moving performance.""

The New York Times

Charles Isherwood

New York Post

""Tender and honest, Superior Donuts is beautifully written, acted and directed. A timely reminder of the heady pleasure ace actors and ace storytelling can bring. Tracy Letts gets a deluxe production from Tina Landau and a cast in a state of grace. Jon Michael Hill transcends.""

New York Post

Elisabeth Vincentelli

New York Daily News

""Tasty, warm and fulfilling! Tracy Letts creates vivid characters and always has surprises up his sleeve. Director Tina Landau has blended the play's ingredients into a fast-paced and finely designed concoction.""

New York Daily News

Joe Dziemianowicz

Bloomberg

""Four stars. These Donuts cast their jocund spell. A well-written comedy with uniformly solid performances. What is impressive about Tracy Letts is his scope. The lovably understated Michael McKean is perfectly balanced by the lively Jon Michael Hill. Tina Landau has directed with her usual insight and aplomb.""

Bloomberg

John Simon

Associated Press

""Sometimes donuts can have nutritional value -- at least dramatically. Such is the cast with Superior Donuts. It's got heart and more than a few laughs, a recipe that makes for an evening of fine entertainment. All nine actors, under the direction of Tina Landau, are superb.""

Associated Press

Michael Kuchwara

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