New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu



 

REVIEW: Long Gone Daddy


By Adam F. Cohen

originally published: 07/20/2016


Remember that moment your spouse said he or she wanted a baby?  Maybe you were at a Springsteen concert in amazing acquired seats.  Perhaps the thought of parenthood sent you scrambling, reflecting on your own childhood and father.  Joseph Gallo’s, Long Gone Daddy, is a one-man journey that balances parenthood, marriage and the Boss at Hoboken’s jewel of a theater – Mile Square Theater.

Gallo (playwright in residence and author of a previous monologue about an Italian family – My Italy Story) recounts his journey in a strong, moving, assured production directed by Chris O’Connor.

Everyone can relate to this winning story and production – backed by first-rate projections by Joey Moro – Gallo enacts a tale of fear of parenthood while sketching moments with his own adoptive father.  The scenes shift quickly from Hoboken, the city, and childhood – each captured in photographic projects and a Hoboken sign.  Gallo recounts piercingly acute relatable moments: a gift drum set as a means to momentarily open conversation between father and son and guy friend’s saying you’ll know when you’ve earned the dad stripes.  His delivery is straightforward, compelling, and honest.  It’s a bit like sitting with a new friend and instantly feeling that lifelong connection that comes with brute honesty.

Gallo – instantly relatable - strides the stage confidently, telling his story, occasionally acting as his wife and friend.  His engaging manner weaves a powerful tale of coming to terms with suddenly being a single income family and stay at home dad; the newness and endless repetition that comes with new borns (50% love fest, 40% back breaking, 10% boring) through toddlerhood.  Along the way, he loses a home, strives to bond with fellow dads, and seeks the “Zeus energy” of an older dad’s acknowledgement of the younger one’s effort and claim to dadness.  There are plenty of pointed, humorous, and beautifully captured moments of a life well told in this polished evening of theater.

The production runs through August 7th and is well worth your time to spend an hour or so with Gallo and family.  You can see the production at Hoboken’s jewel of a theater – Mile Square Theatre.  More information is available at milesquaretheatre.org 

PHOTOS BY JOE EPSTEIN





Promote your shows at New Jersey Stage! Click here for info





FEATURED EVENTS

ART | COMEDY | DANCE | FILM | MUSIC | THEATRE | COMMUNITY

To narrow results by date range, categories,
or region of New Jersey
click here for our advanced search.


Vivid

Vivid Summer Solos: Where is Everybody?

Wednesday, July 09, 2025 @ 6:30pm
Visual Arts Center of New Jersey
68 Elm Street, Summit, NJ 07901
category: theatre

Click here for full event listing

 

A

A Broadway Tour of America

Thursday, July 10, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Grunin Center - Black Box Theater
1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754
category: theatre

Click here for full event listing

 

The

The MAC players at the Middletown Arts Center present "Hairspray"

Friday, July 11, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Middletown Arts Center
36 Church Street, Middletown, NJ 07748
category: theatre

Click here for full event listing

 

A

A Broadway Tour of America

Friday, July 11, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Grunin Center - Black Box Theater
1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754
category: theatre

Click here for full event listing

 

The

The Wizard of Oz

Saturday, July 12, 2025 @ 2:00pm
Algonquin Arts Theatre
60 Abe Voorhees, Manasquan, NJ 08736
category: theatre

Click here for full event listing

 

More events

Event Listings are available for $10 and included with our banner ad packages




 

EVENT PREVIEWS

The

The Summit Playhouse presents "Legally Blonde, The Musical"

(SUMMIT, NJ) -- The Summit Playhouse presents Legally Blonde, The Musical across two weekends from July 11-20, 2025. This is a fabulously fun award-winning musical based on the adored movie, the musical, follows the transformation of Elle Woods as she tackles stereotypes and scandal in pursuit of her dreams.



Heartwarming,

Heartwarming, Classic Musical "Meet Me in St. Louis" Comes to MCCC's Kelsey Theatre

(WEST WINDSOR, NJ) -- Celebrate a year of romance, opportunity, humor and heartbreak with the Smith family, culminating with a milestone, historic event when the Yardley Players present Meet Me in St. Louis, July 11-20, 2025 at Mercer County Community College’s Kelsey Theatre.



"RIFT"

"RIFT" Returns To Luna For Two Nights Only Before International Debut At Edinburgh's Traverse Theatre

(WEST ORANGE, NJ) -- Luna Stage's commissioned World Premiere play RIFT is headed to the Edinburgh Fringe for a four-week run at Traverse Theatre this August. On July 18-19, 2025 at 8:00pm each night, the powerful and timely new play returns to Luna for two benefit performances to support the company's travel to Scotland.



Music

Music Mountain Theatre presents the Broadway hit "The SpongeBob Musical"

(LAMBERTVILLE, NJ) -- Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? SpongeBob SquarePants of course! Now he's riding the wave to Music Mountain Theatre in this hilarious original musical, based on the TV series by Stephen Hillenburg. When the citizens of Bikini Bottom discover that a volcano will soon erupt and destroy their humble town, SpongeBob and his friends unite to save their undersea world. Plunge into this stunning show and discover how the power of optimism really can save the world!



A

A New Musical, "Rocky Bumps," to Have Staged Reading in Haddonfield

(HADDONFIELD, NJ) -- An original musical, Rocky Bumps, will hold a staged reading on Sunday, July 13, 2025 at the Haddonfield Theater Arts Center Studio. The musical is a coming-of-age tale steeped in romance, risk, and retro charm. The reading begins at at 2:00pm.