50 Years after Vietnam – Rolling Thunder Rock-documentary

Aug 22, 2025 by Two Sues On the Aisle

By Two Sues on the Aisle, Susie Rosenbluth and Sue Weston

Rolling Thunder is a rock ‘documentary’ at the New World Stages that frames the lives of four young men sent to Vietnam, underscoring their discontent and disconnection. Some were encouraged to enlist by marketing campaigns, promising adventure, travel, and patriotism. But this war was distinctly different from what their parents’ generation experienced. It involved guerrilla warfare in an inhospitable climate, for a cause that they didn’t understand, as they counted the days until they would return home.

Rolling Thunder speaks to the generation of lost souls traumatized by Vietnam. They would be in their 70s now. The Vietnam War defined their youth, their music, and their memories. We spoke with some of these attendees, and they thoroughly enjoyed the show; many danced to the music at the end of the performance.

For other audience members, Rolling Thunder seemed unfocused; some of the music was familiar, but not all the songs resonated. The plot was loose; as four boys, Johnny (Drew Becker), Mike (Deon’te Goodman), Andy (Daniel Yearwood), and Thomas (Justin Matthew Sargent), are shipped off to Vietnam. They leave behind two women, Jonny’s girlfriend (Cassadee Pope), and Courtnee Carter, who plays several roles.

All six are talented performers, with almost limitless energy, who sang their hearts out, but the plot failed to connect on the stage. Their lives overlap, connected and then torn apart by the war. Rolling Thunder was a heartfelt reminder of the atrocities of war, the lost childhoods, politics, and government promoting its own issues. While mothers advocate for peace, pleading for their sons to return home safely.

The show was more of a quasi-rock concert with a five-piece band on stage for the entire performance, consisting of Sonny Paladino, conductor/keys, guitars Aurelien Budynek & Sherrod Barnes, bass, Yuka Tadano, with Grant Braddock on the drums. They performed over 20 rock classics, including “All Along the Watchtower,” “Born to be Wild,” “People Get Ready,” “Black Magic Woman,” “Gimme Shelter,” “Help Me Make it Through the Night,” “Eve of Destruction,” “Killing Me Softly with His Song,” “We’ve Gotta Get Out of This Place,” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”

The Vietnam War

The United States’ involvement in the Vietnam War spanned over 20 years, with the intent of preventing the spread of communism. The American death toll in the Vietnam War was 58,000, with over 1,200 Americans still unaccounted for. Approximately 3.8 million Vietnamese perished.

The war ended 50 years ago, with the collapse of South Vietnam.

Missed Opportunity

Other than the unnecessary loss of lives during the Vietnam War, Rolling Thunder fails to make a salient statement. It raises issues, including the marketing used to attract young men to enlist, the failure of the military organizations to protect these soldiers, the discomfort of serving in integrated units, and their overall sense of isolation, waiting for letters from home, seeking female company to get through the nights. Yet, there is little effort to develop these ideas before moving on to the next point.

The soldiers describe the horrors of war, including children hacked to death. They are always on edge, fearing booby-traps, snipers, bombs, dealing with the oppressive heat, relentless rain, and water on fire. Vietnam was a nightmarish experience that only other veterans could appreciate. A nurse describes the constant stream of death, young soldiers, and the frustration that she is unable to do anything.

All of this is heartbreaking, but nothing new.

While at home, life went on as normal. Jonny’s girlfriend started college. Initially, she was attracted by Anti-War protesters, until they were confronted by the police, and she saw the fear in their eyes. Families learned about the war from TV broadcasts, only to be notified of loss from an impersonal letter. We hear several Presidential statements, stating the importance of the US involvement, the importance of not giving in to the minority of anti-war protestors.

Any of these topics could have provided context, creating a cohesive plot to capture the audience, yet it was not fully developed. Instead, they relied on the music to carry the show.

It Could Have Been So Much More

The set design was simple and efficient, creating a concert look, situating the band on the sides, with a scattering of old box TVs, showing vintage television programs spaced around the stage. The lighting worked well, especially during helicopter scenes, when it felt like they were descending on us.

While using music to set the tone was effective and created a visceral connection, it did not tie into the plot as much as it should have. The performers were outstanding, turning the stage into a rock concert, bringing the music of the Vietnam generation to an off-Broadway stage.

Rolling Thunder, a rock-documentary, will be at New World Stages through September 7.

Running time: 2 Hours, including a 15-minute intermission