Review: ‘Tammy Faye’ musical on Broadway pokes fun of some all too easy targets

Broadway’s ‘Tammy Faye’ musical is a campy, over-the-top bio-musical that aims to be a darkly comic satire about televangelism and the rise of the religious right.

The story follows Tammy Faye Bakker (Katrina Lenk), a woman who rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most famous televangelists in the world. Along the way, she faced personal and professional struggles, including her husband Jim Bakker’s (Gabriel Ebert) infidelities and legal troubles. Despite these challenges, Tammy Faye remained a devout Christian and a symbol of faith and hope for her millions of followers.

The musical features a book by Bekah Brunstetter and music and lyrics by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. The show is directed by Michael Mayer and choreographed by Camille A. Brown.

The musical has been praised for its performances, especially Lenk’s, and its clever lyrics. However, some critics have found the show to be too campy and over-the-top.

In a review for The New York Times, Ben Brantley wrote, “The result is a musical that’s as cheerfully vulgar as its subject, a gaudy, good-natured satire that suggests that the only thing more ridiculous than televangelism is a musical about televangelism.”

In a review for The Washington Post, Peter Marks wrote, “‘Tammy Faye’ is a musical that’s so eager to please that it ends up being not nearly as trenchant or insightful as it thinks it is.”

Despite the mixed reviews, ‘Tammy Faye’ has been a commercial success. The show has grossed over $10 million since it opened in October 2021.

The musical is playing at the Broadway Theatre in New York City.