“Jesa both honors tradition and liberates it — charting a bold, bracing, and deeply human path for theater.” By Thom Geier, Mar 20
Rated5/5 stars
PLAYOFF-BROADWAYCLOSED
Jesa
The Public Theater · 1h 30m
Opened Mar 20, 2026 · Closed Apr 12, 2026 · Ran for 1 month
1 Rave
5 Positive
4 Mixed
1 Negative
Critics' Take
Yi's debut brings cultural specificity to the familiar family drama, with critics praising its fresh Korean American perspective but divided on execution—some call it a masterpiece, while others find the stakes too low to sustain the tension.
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Critic Scorecard
11 reviews1 Rave
5 Positive
4 Mixed
1 Negative
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Weighted by outlet tier · Counts
- Tier 1: 100%
- Tier 2: 75%
- Tier 3: 40%
- Tier 4: 20%
“Grounded in realism with supernatural touches, and supported by a quartet of appealing performances, Jesa uses emotional and cultural specificity to share a universal story of loss and love.” By Elise Nussbaum, Mar 20
“Anyone with families they love and fight with will find resonance in this equally funny and emotional play.” By Christian Lewis, Mar 21
“The four perfectly cast actresses feel lived in with their relationships, with old and new secrets used as weapons against each other that could have felt formulaic is surprisingly fresh.” By Cary Wong
“Yi’s lessons in Korean culture, her vivid characters, and the cast’s chemistry make it an enjoyable production.” By Adrienne Onofri, Mar 18
