Broadway-bound '42 BALLOONS'
- May 2
- 1 min read
Updated: May 8
Daniel Assetta recently starred in the North American premiere of "42 Balloons," an uplifting and high-flying new musical that took flight at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater in the summer of 2025. Staged in The Yard, the production tells the incredible true story of truck driver Larry Walters, who in 1982 used a lawn chair and 42 helium weather balloons to soar 16,000 feet above Los Angeles. In this thrilling '80s pop-inspired production,
Daniel delivered a "comedic standout" performance (Epoch Times) as The ATC (Air Traffic Controller). while anchoring a "universally superb" ensemble. Critics praised the cast as a "triple threat," noting their strong voices and "amazing dance ability" that ensured the show's status as a "Broadway-worthy production".
"The cast is universally superb... every one with a strong voice, amazing dance ability and story telling skills that indeed insure the entire cast is a triple threat." — Around the Town Chicago
The production was a massive creative undertaking led by writer Jack Godfrey and director Ellie Coote. The creative team featured Alexzandra Sarmiento’s "spectacular" choreography and Joe Beighton’s "exciting" orchestrations, which captured the neon energy of the 1980s. Daniel shared the stage with a powerhouse cast including Charlie McCullagh as Larry, Evelyn Hoskins as Carol, and Lisa Howard as Margaret Van Deusen. Co-produced by the legendary team behind SIX—including Kevin McCollum, Andy and Wendy Barnes, and Sonia Friedman Productions—the musical was celebrated as a "marvelous musical metaphor" and the must-see "feel-good musical of summer".
