Reviews

THE NEW YORK TIMES -
A deeply satisfying new musical, with much on its mind about history, humanity, man and God and the American Dream is beckoning to theatergoers with a taste for rich characters in a tale that touches the heart, glows with humor and soothes the ear.

NEWSDAY -
Real and compelling... emotionally genuine.

AISLE SAY.COM
A turning point and breakthrough for what the small musical can do, for the subject matter it explores, and for its authors.

DENVER POST -
The Denver Center Theatre Company's heroic world premiere of The Immigrant is a journey as emotionally moving for the audience as its lead character's move from Belarus to Texas... a sweeping adaptation of Mark Harelik's acclaimed 1985 play about his grandparents' immigration to America in 1909... a buoyant, heartbreaking achievement...
This is Haskell's story, but it is all of our stories... The Immigrant speaks to what it means to become an American, and how we are treated by those whose only real claim to superiority comes from having gotten here first.
When the musical ended, I could have used a few more seconds before the lights went up. You'd have to be rootless and ruthless not to give in to it.

DENVER WESTWORD -
There's something so beguiling about this production, so luminous and heartfelt, that you leave the theater feeling grateful and touched.

KUVO / COLORADODRAMA.COM -
[P]laywright Mark Harelik builds a bridge founded on respect and tolerance between two very different cultures.
One of the features that sets musicals apart from straight theatre is the inner life of the characters that is revealed through their songs, and [the] new version of The Immigrant benefits immensely from this addition. Steven M. Alper's klezmer flavored score is decidedly impressionistic, with Sarah Knapp's... lyrics reflecting these musical portraits. The four actors, Adam Heller as Haskell, Jacqueline Antaramian as Leah, Walter Charles as Milton, and Cass Morgan as Ima, bring unique and profound insights to both their vocal style and characterizations, adding to the emotional gravity of their interactions.

FORT LAUDERDALE SUN-SENTINEL -
The musical is a companion edition... with melodies that add shimmer and delicacy. Harelik's true story of his grandfather's emigration from Russia to Texas in the early 1900s is rendered more touching at key moments by lyricist Sarah Knapp's refrains, set to husband Steven M. Alper's fluttering score.

MIAMI HERALD -
Retains both the neat simplicity and emotional heft of its predecessor.... The repeated song Stars is a beautiful anthem of hope and faith. Against the painterly Western backdrop of Ralph Funicello's simple set, with a sky that changes from red-gold sunset to star-dappled night thanks to Don Darnutzer's lighting, director Randal Myler has his talented cast play to the story's archetypes.

THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR -
Some songs... are beautiful enough to make an audience catch its breath.... The new musical is less personal, more universal, and strangely enough, more poignant..... [T]he best of all the songs is "The Stars"... It falls on the ear like a hymn, yet it suits the theatrical moment - strong, handsome, and bright as diamonds.

click photo for larger view

Adam Heller as Haskell	Adam Heller as Haskell, Walter Charles as Milton	Jacqueline Antaramian as Leah
Adam Heller as Haskell	Adam Heller as Haskell	Jacqueline Antaramian as Leah
Cass Morgan as Ima, Jacqueline Antaramian as Leah

Photos by Terry Shapiro
Courtesy Denver Center Theatre Company