Broadway is about to be swept up in the whirlwind of espionage, daring gambles, and irrepressible musical comedy that is “Operation Mincemeat.” Fresh from its sensational West End run—where it racked up a record-breaking 74 five-star reviews and earned the 2024 Olivier Award for Best New Musical—this delightfully outrageous show now plants its flag in New York. Critics have been unanimous: David Benedict of Variety calls it “a little show with a very big future,” while Peter Marks of The Washington Post hails it as “the year’s funniest musical.” With such accolades, Broadway audiences should prepare for a spy story unlike any other.
Set in 1943, when the Allies are desperate to gain the upper hand in World War II, “Operation Mincemeat” follows a crack team of British intelligence officers who devise a bizarre yet brilliant plan: deceive the Nazis by planting fake invasion documents on a corpse and letting the enemy discover them. This astonishing real-life operation receives a gleefully irreverent twist on stage, blending the classic glamour of Singin’ in the Rain with the taut intrigue of Strangers on a Train. In the words of Neil Norman (The Daily Mirror), the result is “a miraculous musical…part Mel Brooks, part SIX, part Hamilton with a side order of One Man, Two Guvnors.”
A standout feature of “Operation Mincemeat” is its impressively nimble cast, led by the London quintet-turned-phenomenon—David Cumming, Claire-Marie Hall, Natasha Hodgson, Jak Malone, and Zoë Roberts—reprising their transformative roles. For the Broadway run, they’re joined by a spirited ensemble, including Brandon Contreras, Sam Hartley, Jessi Kirtley, Gerianne Pérez, and Amanda Jill Robinson. Together, they conjure a bustling wartime Britain populated by bumbling officers, eccentric spies, and sympathetic secretaries, switching characters and costumes at breakneck speed. Their comedic timing and chemistry have been praised as “unstoppably hilarious” by fans and critics alike. As Neil Armstrong of The Mail on Sunday puts it, “Hilarious tale makes Mincemeat out of its rivals…I wondered why anyone would see the same show seven times. Now I know.”
Beyond the hijinks and toe-tapping numbers, the production explores deeper themes of sacrifice, loyalty, and the sometimes absurd lengths to which people will go in pursuit of victory. The wry satire on British class structure and military bureaucracy offers sly social commentary amid the belly laughs. Some London reviewers noted that the second act could benefit from tighter pacing, and a few threads of satire might be pushed further. However, these small critiques scarcely detract from the show’s overall brilliance; they simply present the creative team with an opportunity to fine-tune the production for its Broadway debut.
From its rousing ensemble numbers to its thoroughly improbable (yet historically accurate) premise, “Operation Mincemeat” promises audiences a ride that is by turns heart-pounding, side-splitting, and surprisingly poignant. Don’t miss your chance to experience what has been called “the best-reviewed show in West End history” as it makes its triumphant landing in New York. With tickets starting at just $49 and previews running through March 19, 2025, it’s time to join the caper—and see for yourself how one stolen corpse could help win a world war—and capture Broadway’s heart in the process.
Golden Theatre, 252 W 45th Street, New York, NY 10036
Previews: February 15 – March 19, 2025 | Tickets from $49 | Running time: ~2h 35m (including a 20-minute intermission)
