“Directed by the Tony winner Anna D. Shapiro (“August: Osage County”) with minimal fuss and sharp focus, it makes for an incisive and captivating evening.”
Off-BwayPlayRevival
OFF-BROADWAYPLAYREVIVALNOW PLAYING
Are You Now or Have You Ever Been?
New York City Center · 1h 35m · Opened Jun 10, 2026 · Closes Sep 11, 2026
Critics' Take
Bentley's 1972 HUAC docudrama earns praise for its chilling relevance and riveting performances, though some critics note it requires historical knowledge to fully appreciate. The verbatim testimony format proves powerful but occasionally dry.
Critic Scorecard
11 reviewsSort:
“There is great power to this alarming revival, which serves as a warning to all of us who love our country and what it has stood for.”
Theater Pizzazz StaffFull Review
“It is a slow burn of a show, worthy of your attention.”
“Are You Now or Have You Ever Been remains a powerful distillation of an historical record of a shameful time in American history.”
“The beautifully rendered off-Broadway revival of Eric Bentley’s Are You Now or Have You Ever Been could reinforce that notion, seducing you to conclude that star chambers and guilt-by-association are relics of the gorgeously costumed past.”
Audience Scorecard
97 audience reviews
B
Shrugging
Frequently Asked Questions
What do critics say about Are You Now or Have You Ever Been??
Bentley's 1972 HUAC docudrama earns praise for its chilling relevance and riveting performances, though some critics note it requires historical knowledge to fully appreciate. The verbatim testimony format proves powerful but occasionally dry. (CriticScore 77/100 from 11 reviews.)
Is Are You Now or Have You Ever Been? worth seeing?
Yes. Are You Now or Have You Ever Been? earns strong reviews from critics (77/100 from 11 reviews). Most theatergoers will have a great time.
What is the CriticScore for Are You Now or Have You Ever Been??
Are You Now or Have You Ever Been? has a CriticScore of 77/100 based on 11 professional reviews. This is a "Recommended" show.
Is Are You Now or Have You Ever Been? still running Off-Broadway?
Yes, Are You Now or Have You Ever Been? is currently playing at New York City Center Off-Broadway. It is scheduled to close on September 11, 2026.
Where is Are You Now or Have You Ever Been? playing Off-Broadway?
Are You Now or Have You Ever Been? is playing at New York City Center.
How long is Are You Now or Have You Ever Been??
Are You Now or Have You Ever Been? has a runtime of 1 hour and 35 minutes with no intermission.
Is Are You Now or Have You Ever Been? appropriate for children?
Are You Now or Have You Ever Been? is recommended for Ages 12+.
Cast
Cast information is not yet available for this production.
Creative Team
- Eric BentleyPlaywright
Quick Facts
- CriticScore
- 77/100 (11 reviews)
- Status
- Now Playing
- Opened
- Jun 10, 2026
- Closes
- Sep 11, 2026
- Running
- 2 months Off-Broadway
- Runtime
- 1h 35m
- Age
- Ages 12+
- Theater
- New York City Center
- Synopsis
- This summer, in a strictly limited engagement, a rotating all-star cast comes together for a timely and important revival of Eric Bentley's ARE YOU KNOW OR HAVE YOU EVER BEEN. This electrifying docudrama drops you into the tense world of the 1940s House Committee on Un-American Activities hearings, where fame offered no protection and political pressure could end a career.
- Data Last Updated
- August 8, 2026
