For Faerie Tales (2013):
Nominated: 2013 IRNE (Independent Reviewers of New England) for Best New Play (Act 2: “The Rag Doll”)
Book by Silvia Graziano
Music and Lyrics by David Reiffel
Based on the Grimm’s fairy tale “The Goose Girl at the Well”
For Once on This Island (2010):
Winner: BroadwayWorld.com Boston 2010 Fan Voting awards for Best Lighting Design, Best Music Direction, Best Costumes, and Best Musical
Winner: 2011 IRNE (Independent Reviewers of New England) awards for Best Director, Best Music Director
IRNE Nominations for Best Choreography, Best Costumes, Best Supporting Actress, Most Promising Young Actor, Best Musical
“Directors Jesse Strachman and Jennifer Condon manage to capture pure air in their light, breezy production and Condon’s hip, syncopated choreography amuses with every turn. Dan Rodriguez’s combo infuses the music with sweet island spirit — What a cast Blue Spruce has assembled! Each and every performer brings a sense of joy and wonderment to the piece — and first rate vocals as well.”
— Beverly Creasey, Boston Arts Review
“The cast has captured a cohesion and atmosphere that is captivating.”
— Sheila Barth, Theater Mirror
“The contagious energy and music, along with Lindsay Hurley’s colorful costumes and Emily Lamkin’s exotic makeup, give this version of ONCE ON THIS ISLAND a hip and edgy feel. This surreal and otherworldly vibe makes you think Tim Burton had a hand in the production.”
— Janine de Souza, Theater Mirror
“As Ti Moune, Kira Cowan virtually explodes across the floor, leaping and twirling with tremendous body control in a joyous display of her love of her family and life on the Jewel of the Antilles.”
— Nancy Grossman, BroadwayWorld.com
For Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2009):
“We know we’re in for more than a mere multimedia experience or experiment in theatrical hybrid from the first moments, when Hedwig strides on stage, a towering vision in fishnet full-length gloves, hugely proportioned hair, and lethal-looking red high-heeled boots”
— Kilian Melloy, EDGE Boston (read entire review here)
“Hedwig, played with inspiration by Danny Bryck, and Yitzhak, played with beautiful, painful tenderness by A. Tully — The Hot Protestants had everything I was looking for when it comes to Hedwig’s band- they looked great, their playing was impeccable and fearless, and they had a good sense of humor.”
— Shannon Rosa, Boston Theatre Review (read entire review here)
For Portraits: The Last Leaf / Still Life (2008):
“Strachman’s approach to the two one-act plays [The Last Leaf and Still Life] is to assume that they both take place in the same Greenwich Village apartment, though one hundred years apart. This is an inspired choice: the contrast allows for an appreciation of two modes of storytelling, the meticulous plotting and twist ending of the O. Henry tale standing out against the modern, character-driven Giering and Javerbaum opus.”
— Kilian Melloy, EDGE Boston (read entire review here)
“Thank heaven for companies like BLUE SPRUCE THEATRE. Where would we see vibrant chamber musicals like their current PORTRAITS, if they weren’t carving out a niche for them? — You won’t find a better ensemble anywhere. See PORTRAITS for the music. See if for the stories — but see it.“
— Beverly Creasey, Theater Mirror (read entire review here)
For The Last 5 Years (2007):
“BLUE SPRUCE THEATRE puts down some strong roots with its very first production, the bittersweet chamber musical, THE LAST FIVE YEARS — Van De Giesen [excels] in the humorous “Ohio” song and Prescott [wins] us over with the “Schmuel” fable.”
— Beverly Creasey, The Theater Mirror (read entire review here)
“Splendidly sung by Jeffrey Prescott as Jamie and Alyson Van De Giesen as Cathy, under Jesse Strachman’s well focused direction, with fine orchestral accompaniment (two keyboards, guitar, violin and cello) as conducted by Michael Kreutz.”
— Norm Gross, PMP Network (read entire review here)