Entertainment · Books & Arts · 1 hr ago
Todrick Hall’s ‘Midnight’ musical draws backlash over its portrayal of slavery
Todrick Hall’s musical “Midnight” is drawing criticism at New York’s Daryl Roth Theatre.
Set in the 19th-century American South, it follows Rail, an enslaved man played by Hall, who falls in love with Richard, a white plantation owner.
Critics have accused the show of revising the history of slavery and making its horrors seem fantastical, while some have called its interracial queer love story unrealistic.
Hall says he wanted to start with slavery because he sees divisions rooted in that period as still present today.
He developed the idea during the pandemic while following the Black Lives Matter movement.
Hall has defended the show against criticism, saying he wants it to be heard and does not want it reduced to a single category.
He says people from different backgrounds are attending, and the show has been extended through Jan.
3, 2027.
Todrick Hall’s off-Broadway musical “Midnight” is drawing backlash over its portrayal of slavery and an interracial queer love story.
Hall says he is grateful the show has prompted conversation and argues that it deserves to be heard.
Critics accuse the musical of revising slavery’s history, exploiting Black trauma and making slavery’s dangers seem fantastical.
The musical is set in the 19th-century American South and follows Rail, an enslaved man who falls in love with Richard, a white plantation owner.
The production at New York’s Daryl Roth Theatre has been extended through Jan. 3, 2027.
- Who
- Todrick Hall, who wrote, directed, created and stars in the musical, and critics who have challenged it.
- What
- Midnight” is facing backlash over its portrayal of slavery and its interracial queer love story.
- When
- The story was published on Nov. 3, 2026. The show has been extended through Jan. 3, 2027.
- Where
- The musical is playing at New York’s Daryl Roth Theatre.
- Why
- Critics accuse the show of revising slavery’s history, exploiting Black trauma and making slavery’s dangers seem fantastical. Hall says he wanted to start the story in the context of slavery and is grateful for the conversation.
Todrick Hall
Critics of “Midnight
Historical portrayal
Todrick Hall
Hall says the story needed to begin in the context of slavery to explore the roots of divisions that continue today.
Critics of “Midnight
Critics accuse the show of revising slavery’s history and making its perils seem fantastical.
Story and representation
Todrick Hall
Hall says the show deserves to be heard and should not be put in a box.
Critics of “Midnight
Critics have challenged its interracial queer love story as fantastical and accused it of exploiting Black trauma.
Hall says the idea for “Midnight” came to him while he was paying attention to the Black Lives Matter movement.
Page Six published an interview with Hall about the musical and the backlash.
The musical’s run has been extended at the Daryl Roth Theatre.
- Creator and star
- Todrick Hall
- Setting
- 19th-century American South
- Venue
- Daryl Roth Theatre, New York
- Central characters
- Rail, an enslaved man, and Richard, a white plantation owner
- Extended through
- Jan. 3, 2027
What people are saying
I’m grateful that it has sparked any conversation.
I think this show deserves to be heard
I don’t want it to be put into a box