Hold on to Your Butts
Created by Recent Cutbacks; Directed by Kristin McCarthy Parker
SoHo Playhouse | 15 Vandam St., New York, NY 10013
February 7, 2026 - March 15, 2026
Photo credit: JT Anderson
Hold On To Your Butts, created by Recent Cutbacks, is a show bursting with energy, raw comedic talent, and jaw-dropping theatrical mechanics. As part of the 2026 Fringe International Encore Series, this hold-to-the-seat-of-your-pants show makes its way to the SoHo Playhouse to awe adults and children alike in wonder and splendor.
Hold On To Your Butts, the show that keeps on giving by keeping you on your toes at every nook and cranny. Set in the premise of Jurassic Park, we follow three very talented performers wearing numerous hats. Off-center stage is the foley performer as she watches for every single bit of minutia of a cue for the two lead actors, who are playing several characters from the film, sometimes at the very same time! You cannot help but wonder: does she ever get tired making so many sounds? The answer is absolutely not, she is completely in the zone. The show has its own touch of magic since we as the audience get to see the behind-the-scenes moments as part of the main scene taking place.
It is heart-warming to hear all the children in the crowd roaring with laughter and following all the quirks and one-liners the actors perform. After the show, I overheard one of the children discussing with his parent how he plans on working on his own play the very same day! The enthusiasm of the performers just radiates onto the audience, and it is quite inspiring. There is a team camaraderie that is truly beautiful to watch; the energy is so dynamic and synchronized that it would be no surprise if they are all longtime friends. In a world of fierce competition, nothing says relief like seeing some genuine love of the craft in an extremely non-judgmental or competitive way.
The show has a knack for bringing out the kid in you. For anyone that is a millennial, it is music to your ears when it comes to conjuring feelings of being a ’90s kid again, peppered with hints of Saturday morning cereal and cartoons. There is something particularly nostalgic about remembering our first interaction watching Jurassic Park, and while watching Hold On To Your Butts, you somehow go back in time to the same feelings and emotions you may have felt when watching the movie. Certain moments, like particular one-liners and clever usage of puppetry elements, jog your core memory in unforgettable ways. A particular favorite moment of mine is the usage of cardboard and blinking lights to portray jeep scenes. The fourth wall is even broken to ride through the aisle, bringing the audience along for the ride.
From the continuous musical tracks heard by the great John Williams, to the moments of distress watching the dinosaurs prey on innocent animals, to how all the actors in the movie are caricatures of the actors playing them on stage, never a beat is missed. Lights, sounds, and props like picture frames to zoom in on critical moments all contribute to the theater magic inspired by film.
Very little is there to be said regarding room for improvement, but something to consider is how having more actors can help to navigate theatrical elements with further clarity. There are moments where it seems as if a lot is being crammed in with just two actors playing various roles. Adding another actor to the mix may help carry the piece along further without compromising pace. As a result, by having each actor play fewer roles, they can then fully embody the characters without it appearing overly campy and less caricature-driven.
The particular moments where the actors may wink a certain way or say a particular word just somehow click with the audience, and they seem to know exactly at what point in the movie the actor is referencing. It is truly astounding to see how the actors all seem to be on perfect timing, narrowing down each role regardless of how many characters they play at the same time. From miming certain characters, to something as simple as the use of a red backpack, to the vast amount of props used, we knew the exact character and moment in the film they were trying to portray.
Hold On To Your Butts is a love letter to cinema, nostalgia, and adventure seekers, thrilling in movie magic unfolding in live theater. This is a wonderful way to spend an evening of theater bonding with your children while reminiscing about your own childhood along with them. Dinosaurs never get old, no matter how old you are.
Click HERE for tickets.
Review by Bianca Lopez.
Published by Theatre Beyond Broadway on February 17th, 2026. All rights reserved.
