the mommy avenger

I have to be honest with you — I walked into Harmony at Hale Center Theater not entirely sure what to expect. I knew it was a Barry Manilow musical, I knew it was based on a true story, and I knew it had made its way to Broadway. But I was not fully prepared for what this show would do to me by the time the final scene came around. And I mean that in the best, most gut-wrenching, beautiful way possible.

So let me tell you about it — because if you live in Utah and you have not bought your tickets yet, now is your chance.

What Is Harmony About?

Harmony is a musical with music by Barry Manilow and book and lyrics by Bruce Sussman, and it tells the remarkable, true story of the Comedian Harmonists — a group of six young men in 1920s Germany who rose from complete unknowns to international superstars almost overnight. Their act combined jaw-dropping vocal harmonies with physical comedy and pure theatrical joy, and audiences across Europe and beyond could not get enough of them.

But here is the thing — three of the six members were Jewish. And as the Nazi regime tightened its grip on Germany in the 1930s, the group found themselves on a direct collision course with history. What started as a story of ambition, friendship, and music became something far more complicated and heartbreaking than any of them could have imagined when they were just a bunch of young men chasing a dream.

The show weaves together the early comedy and triumph of the group’s rise with the increasingly dark political reality closing in around them. And it does it in a way that sneaks up on you — you are laughing one minute, and the next minute you are absolutely not laughing, and it all feels completely earned.

The Music is Absolutely Fantastic

Let me just lead with this: the music in this show is extraordinary. The quality of the vocal performances lived up to every single thing the title promises. This cast sang like angels — I am not being dramatic, I genuinely mean that. The harmonies were so rich and so precise. When the entire ensemble found their groove together, it was the kind of sound that settles into your chest and just stays there.

Barry Manilow’s score is genuinely beautiful, and Hale Center’s cast did it full justice. If you go for no other reason, go for the music. It alone is worth the price of the ticket.

The Story — Slow to Start, But Worth Every Minute

I will be upfront — the first act did feel like it dragged a little for me. There is a lot of ground to cover in setting up who these men are, how they came together, and what makes their bond so special. If you are the type who needs the show to hook you immediately, give it a little grace in those early scenes. It is building something — and what it is building toward is absolutely worth it.

By the end, I was completely, fully, 100% engaged. And I think a big part of what pulled me in so deeply was knowing that this actually happened. These were real people. This is a real story. There is something about the weight of true events that hits differently than pure fiction, and Harmony leans into that beautifully. It never lets you forget that you are watching history — and that makes every moment carry a different kind of significance.

The tone of the show is primarily serious and somber, which I think some audiences might not expect from a musical with comedy elements. But that contrast is actually where the show finds its emotional core — because when the comedy does land, it lands hard, and then you feel what it means that these people could find laughter in those circumstances.

Yes, There Are Funny Moments — and They Matter

This is not a heavy, humorless show. There are genuinely funny scenes woven throughout — moments where I was laughing out loud, the kind of surprised laughter that catches you off guard because you are right in the middle of feeling something serious. The Comedian Harmonists were known for their physical comedy and their irreverence, and that spirit comes through on stage in a way that feels authentic and joyful.

But the comedy serves a deeper purpose. Because by the end of the show, when the weight of what happened to these men becomes undeniable, you understand exactly what it meant that they could laugh. What it took. What it cost. And what it gave them.

As we were leaving , our son had this to say, “He reminded me that comedy and laughter can help you get through even the darkest situations — and that you can find joy and happiness even amidst the most incredible struggles and hardships.” Such a profound thing he could say. That is what this show does. It does not just entertain you — it gives you something real to think about. It reminded him of that truth, and honestly it reminded me of it too.

The Ending Will Stay With You

I am not going to spoil the ending. But I will tell you this: the final scenes of Harmony are very, very somber. This is not a show that wraps up neatly. It is a show that tells the truth — and the truth of what happened to the Comedian Harmonists, and to so many Jewish people in Germany during that era, is devastating. I left the theater quiet. Thinking. Feeling things I needed to sit with for a while.

That is not a criticism. That is a compliment of the highest order. A show that makes you feel that deeply and that honestly is doing something rare and important. Go prepared for the emotion of it — and let yourself feel it.

^{*we were invited to facilitate a feature, all opinions are our own*}