Reviews
Harmonious 'Smoke on the Mountain'
Likable Americana musical depicts a singing family at a church event.
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Connie Ray and Alan Bailey's "Smoke on the Mountain" is one of the more likable musicals to arise from the rural Americana genre. Although the show has been around since 1988, it's only now making its Los Angeles premiere, at La Mirada Theatre.
Caldwell lets the characters breathe while extracting the maximum comic mileage.
- Don Shirley | The Los Angeles Times
RADIO GALS
Directed by David Hemsley Caldwell (who is also O.B. Abbott),and emanating from the Arkansas Repertory, is the newest show of the oldest kind. There's a novelty.
- Alvin Klein | The New York Times
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The Drowsy Chaperone - Otterbein University
Caldwell also has the right recipe - one tongue planted firmly in cheek, two parts song-and- dance shtick and a few swallows of vodka for the tipsy title character - to keep the audience from getting drowsy while adapting to the play's sly- to-silly style.
- Michael Grossberg | The Columbus Dispatch
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Violet - The Studio Theatre
David Caldwell's fluid yet precise direction builds on the show's organic structure. No one in Violet stops to sing a song. Music is an outgrowth of character, which is an outgrowth of situation. As performed in the Studio Theatre in the basement of the Loretto-Hilton Center, Violet bounces off the walls.
- Dennis Brown | St. Louis Riverfront Times
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The Fantasticks captures spirit of musical
The Fantasticks is an easy show to do but a hard show to do well. Its simplicity can easily turn to sloppiness, and its whimsy can curdle if not handled delicately. Fortunately, the season-opening OST production is elegantly playful and expertly cast. David Caldwell has returned to direct it with flair and obvious affection.
- Margaret Quamme | The Columbus Dispatch
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’TAFFETAS’ visually exciting, musically satisfying - Muhlenberg
"The Taffetas," Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre's homage to the girl groups so popular in the 1950s, is perfect seasonal fare. Guest director David Caldwell has taken what could be a slight musical revue and dressed it up with a sleek, shining set, gorgeous lighting and an endearing cast of four singers. The result is charming, beguiling and delightfully nostalgic. Caldwell has directed with attention to detail, and despite the absence of anything but the slimmest plot line, the production is visually exciting, going from one number to the next with style and grace.
- Myra Yellin Outwater | The Morning Call
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MY WAY /Sinatra - OST Summer Theatre "Sinatra would be proud!"
Under David Caldwell's smooth direction, Lucas Dixon, Tina Scariano, Elizabeth Shivener and Cory Smith sing, move and talk with enough charm, energy and talent to approach the syncopated cohesion of the Manhattan Transfer.
- Michael Grossberg | The Columbus Dispatch
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Travels With My Aunt - Totem Pole Playhouse
It was emotionally satisfying, and it was well-paced, gluing me to the stage until the end. It was well worth one evening spent in the relaxing arms of the state forest.
-Gettysburg Times, June 21, 2012
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The acting quartet interprets the award-winning play by Graham Greene with charming appeal and enthusiasm. Their ability to convert to multiple characters seamlessly and their precise interpretation of those countless personality characteristics, is indeed remarkable.
-The Public Opinion, June 21, 2012
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THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE
Show flies along with music, comedy, drama, romance - and spelling
The show flies along on the sheer pleasure of watching the actors tackle their roles and interact with each other, under the crisp direction of David Caldwell. All of the actors are vocally up to task and handle their moments in the spotlight effectively......it's a delightful reminder of an American rite of passage.
- Margaret Quamme | The Columbus Dispatch