Sub-Total
2024 Audience Reviews
Member Reviews
The following reviews were submitted by Fringe Member: Sarah Kuhlmann
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Company: Ken Takata
Show: Musical Settings for Shakespeare
Venue: Theatre in the Round
Professional and interesting!
A huge breadth of musical output from Ken Takata is on display in this refined and sometimes jazzy offering from high caliber musicians. The music is all settings of Shakespearean song texts, which provides cohesion to a wide array of musical styles which all pay homage to the feeling of the plays themselves. It is, at times, jazzy, Celtic, classical, pop-y, and more! Sarah Callahan gave a successful and Herculean performance with a great deal of repertoire. Nearly the full hour of singing quite a lot of vocally demanding music! Brava! I never got tired of hearing her rich, amber voice and colorful musical interpretation. Her voice could lend itself equally to the darker, witchier, Celtic texts from Macbeth as well as the brighter, victorious, and even celebratory moments which brought out the shine and brightness of her voice beautifully. Sarah Zuber’s voice has a bit more steel in it than Blossom Dearie’s did, but she was reminiscent of that incredible artist in nearly every other way! She gave a fun and sunny performance with delicate and springy vocal quality. The members of the band were extremely talented, with thoughtful and sensitive percussive elements being a particular standout. Overall, this show was professional, interesting, and full of a huge amount of content. Ken’s music is not to be missed!
Company: Emily Boyajian
Show: Transition: A Story of Two Trans People Becoming Themselves
Venue: Mixed Blood Theatre
Honest and empowering!
This production is not to be missed! The material was funny, heart-warming, honest, bold, vulnerable, and empowering to witness. Emily put her heart into this piece, and I could see how it really touched the audience members--whether they knew her personally or not. The orchestration was clever and fun with lots of flourishes and gestures that commented on both the obvious action on stage and the underlying emotional arcs of the characters. The deftly constructed acting from both Kymani and Gillian delivered the text thoughtfully and with clear expertise. Both singers' voices were clear and beautiful. The overall story is victorious and empowering without putting the realities of a trans person's journey into a rose-colored lens--keeping the show from falling into a day-dreamy or unrealistic stereotype. No "afterschool specials" here! Importantly, Emily tackles both the beauty and the hardship of this intimate personal journey. Anyone who is seeking to become more educated about the overarching themes of a trans person's journey should watch this show! It is honest and well-done. Brava, Emily! Well done to the entire cast, orchestra, and creative team.