“This is downtown theater at its best.”
PLAYOFF-BROADWAYCLOSED
In Honor of Jean-Michel Basquiat
New York Theatre Workshop · 1h
Opened Sep 15, 2026 · Closed Oct 4, 2026 · Ran for 1 month
6 Rave
5 Positive
3 Mixed
Critics' Take
Roger Guenveur Smith delivers a poetic, jazz-inflected tribute to his late friend Basquiat that critics find deeply personal and moving, though some note its impressionistic style prioritizes words over theatrical spectacle.
This show has closed. Tickets are no longer available.
Critic Scorecard
14 reviews6 Rave
5 Positive
3 Mixed
Sort:
“In Honor of Jean-Michel Basquiat engulfed and overwhelmed me in its sincerity, its poetry, and its outcry.”
“Guenveur-Smith's profound, personal work about Basquiat and his legacy has once more connected with audiences.”
“Roger Guenveur Smith’s homage to his late friend is moving and evocative, delivered in a singular style that streams snippets of nonstop memories into a revealing retrospective of their times, their time together, and their impact on one another and the world.”
“Other dualities—between distance and intimacy, life and death, art and commerce—pervade Smith’s quietly shattering piece of remembrance and reclamation.”
Audience Scorecard
23 audience reviews
B
Shrugging
Frequently Asked Questions
What do critics say about In Honor of Jean-Michel Basquiat?
Roger Guenveur Smith delivers a poetic, jazz-inflected tribute to his late friend Basquiat that critics find deeply personal and moving, though some note its impressionistic style prioritizes words over theatrical spectacle. (CriticScore 79/100 from 14 reviews.)
Is In Honor of Jean-Michel Basquiat worth seeing?
Yes. In Honor of Jean-Michel Basquiat earns strong reviews from critics (79/100 from 14 reviews). Most theatergoers will have a great time.
What is the CriticScore for In Honor of Jean-Michel Basquiat?
In Honor of Jean-Michel Basquiat has a CriticScore of 79/100 based on 14 professional reviews. This is a "Recommended" show.
Is In Honor of Jean-Michel Basquiat still running Off-Broadway?
No, In Honor of Jean-Michel Basquiat has closed. It played at New York Theatre Workshop and closed on October 4, 2026.
How long is In Honor of Jean-Michel Basquiat?
In Honor of Jean-Michel Basquiat has a runtime of 1 hour with no intermission.
Creative Team
- Roger Guenveur SmithDirector
- Roger Guenveur SmithPlaywright
Quick Facts
- CriticScore
- 79/100 (14 reviews)
- Status
- Closed
- Opened
- Sep 15, 2026
- Closed
- Oct 4, 2026
- Run Length
- 1 month
- Runtime
- 1h
- Theater
- New York Theatre Workshop
- Synopsis
- Obie Award-winning actor, playwright, and director Roger Guenveur Smith presents an intimate one-man show honoring his friend and collaborator Jean-Michel Basquiat. Weaving personal stories and historical anecdotes with his improvisational performance style, Guenveur Smith explores the legacy of one of the most defining artists of the 20th century and his enduring impact.
- Data Last Updated
- October 5, 2026
