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The Performance

Play trailer Poster for The Performance 2025,  1h 52m,  Drama/ History Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 70% 10 Reviews Tomatometer - - Popcornmeter
70% Tomatometer 10 Reviews Popcornmeter
Based on a short story by Arthur Miller, The Performance is set in 1937 as the fascist atmosphere in Germany is nearing its brutal pinnacle. Harold May (Jeremy Piven) is an American Jew and gifted tap dancer. Though he is nearly past his prime, he still longs for the success and status that have eluded him. While on tour in Europe, Harold, his old flame Carol, and the rest of his troupe are scouted by Damian Fugler, a German attaché. Not Knowing the blond-haired May is a Jew; Fugler offers them a huge sum to perform one show in Berlin. Once in Germany, the troupe discovers that the show is an exclusive performance for Hitler himself. As Fugler, Harold, and the troupe's lives become intertwined, Harold is faced with a choice: either keep his Jewishness a secret for the sake of his dreams or, ironically, own up to who he really is in order to escape.

Critics Reviews

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Nell Minow RogerEbert.com Jan 24, 2025
3.5/4
The Pivens, who literally grew up together and made this as a passion project, have a shared vision, and a level of comfort and communication that brings sincerity and authenticity to the performances at every level. Go to Full Review
Peter Travers ABC News Jan 24, 2025
Jeremy Piven tap dances for Hitler and turns playwright Arthur Miller’s cautionary short story about art’s accommodation to power into a well-meaning family project (his sister directed) that stumbles when it most needs to soar Go to Full Review
Joe Leydon Variety Jan 9, 2025
Director Shira Piven’s impressive adaptation and expansion of a 2002 Arthur Miller short story offers timely observations about manipulating masses. Go to Full Review
Ryne Clos Spectrum Culture Jan 29, 2025
As a work of historical fiction, The Performance is confused; as a literary portrayal of the Nazis, it is uninteresting and inconsistent. Go to Full Review
Sarah Vincent Sarah G Vincent Views Jan 27, 2025
The Piven siblings convey the conflicting emotion of internal self-flagellation of Harold selling his soul and the jubilation over finally making it. Go to Full Review
Dustin Chase Texas Art & Film Jan 24, 2025
C+
What a film about Jeremy Piven tap dancing for Hitler has to say about Carrie Underwood singing at the inauguration. Go to Full Review
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Cast & Crew

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Shira Piven

Director

Jeremy Piven

Harold May

Adam Garcia

Benny Worth

Isaac Gryn

Paul Garner

Lara Wolf

Sira

Maimie McCoy

Carol Conway

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The Performance

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Movie Info

Synopsis Based on a short story by Arthur Miller, The Performance is set in 1937 as the fascist atmosphere in Germany is nearing its brutal pinnacle. Harold May (Jeremy Piven) is an American Jew and gifted tap dancer. Though he is nearly past his prime, he still longs for the success and status that have eluded him. While on tour in Europe, Harold, his old flame Carol, and the rest of his troupe are scouted by Damian Fugler, a German attaché. Not Knowing the blond-haired May is a Jew; Fugler offers them a huge sum to perform one show in Berlin. Once in Germany, the troupe discovers that the show is an exclusive performance for Hitler himself. As Fugler, Harold, and the troupe's lives become intertwined, Harold is faced with a choice: either keep his Jewishness a secret for the sake of his dreams or, ironically, own up to who he really is in order to escape.
Director
Shira Piven
Producer
Daniel Finkelman, Chaya Amor, Jeremy Piven, Jenny Shakeshaft, Geno Taylor
Screenwriter
Shira Piven, Josh Salzberg
Distributor
GVN Releasing
Production Co
Daniel Finkelman Films, Sparks Go
Genre
Drama, History
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 24, 2025, Limited
Runtime
1h 52m
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