Upon entering the Booth Theater for a performance of Freestyle Love Supreme I overheard a passerby ask an employee what the show was about. The answer, or lack thereof, is one of the main draws of this new and original Broadway show. Freestyle Love Supreme is an improvised hip-hop show, meaning that every performance is completely different.
It’s all dependent on the audience. You could witness anything happen and come back again to a totally unique show.
FLS began well over a decade ago while Lin-Manuel Miranda was composing his first musical, In The Heights, as a way to cut loose in between development. It has since ballooned into a troupe that has an academy and now a Broadway marquis. The current iteration stars a handful of players you may never have heard of, but also includes occasional cameos from some bigger names.
At any given performance, Lin-Manuel himself may stop in and steal the show. So may former and current Hamilton stars Chris Jackson, Daveed Diggs, James Monroe Iglehart, and Wayne Brady. This is actually the blessing and the curse of the Broadway production. Many may buy tickets hoping to see at least one big name, but they may be disappointed that no celebrities show up. At our performance, none of the aforementioned stars arrived, and while it is a slight letdown, Freestyle Love Supreme stands on its own as a true delight.
Our 90-minute performance at 10pm on a Saturday night was an excellent way to wrap up the night. The production does a great job making the vibe feel like a mix between a comedy show and a concert, with lively music and lights on your way in. The opening and closing are always the same, but every line in between is completely made up. The cast has the audience shout out certain words ranging from something they hate to something they can’t live without. They then pick from the bunch and make up raps off the top of their heads. In other segments, they pick an audience member to recount their day and then the cast completely acts it out from start to finish. Some parts of the show work better than others, which largely comes down to how interesting the material is that they get to work with. But for the full 90 minutes, you’re thoroughly entertained.
While there aren’t easily recognizable names in the everyday cast, the troupe (that has mostly been together for years) is terrific. The master of ceremonies is Anthony Veneziale, a Philadelphia native who acts as a phenomenal ringleader. He’s quick on his feet and charming to boot. Utkarsh Ambudkar has a full skillset and had a great moment earnestly rapping about his appreciation for his grandmother in India. New to the group is Aneesa Folds who matches all the men in freestyle rapping, but obliterates them in the singing department. She even sang a hilarious quip about being forced as the black woman of the cast to belt the high notes. Chris Sullivan has been the longtime beatboxer for FLS and can manipulate just about any sound using just his mouth.
When attending Freestyle Love Supreme, you’re playing the lottery in a sense. You may get the chance to see Lin-Manuel Miranda live and in person or you may walk away with simply the main cast. The good news is you can’t lose. The everyday troupe is excellent and they put on a hilarious and entertaining show. You’re virtually guaranteed to have a smile on your face for 90 minutes, and worst case, you can come back another performance for a completely different show.