The Potential for ROOFLESS is Mind-Blowing
Stephen Schwartz, “Wicked”
A Whole New Way of Exciting
Dean Pitchford, “Footloose”
The Future of the Musical
Share Stallings, DREAMWORKS
Speaks with a New Voice
Marc Jacobs, BROADWAY by the BAY
A Totally New Direction
Kevin Bannerman, FOX
A New Universe
David Lee, NBC, Creator of “Fraiser”
A Roiling Mass of Eye Candy
Lawson Taite, DALLAS MORNING NEWS
Blows the Roof off the Joint
Michael Smith, WORLD ENTERTAINMENT
Nothing Short of Fantastic
TULSA WORLD
Groundbreaking
Stuart Ross, HBO
Play RIGHT!
“Production of the year”
TULSA WORLD
A Must-See
Michael Kerker, ASCAP
Enormous Talent
Stephen Schwartz, “Wicked!”
Incredible Potential
Stuart Ross, “Forever Plaid”
Smokin’
TULSA WORLD
Breathtaking
Tom Sime, DALLAS MORNING NEWS
Dynamic
Terry Martin, WATERTOWER THEATRE
Innovative
BEST of BIG D Magazine
A Knock Out
Kevin Bannerman, FOX
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WHAT THE SELECTION
JURY of the NEW YORK MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL HAD TO SAY ABOUT “ROOFLESS” (2010)
JURY MEMBERS:
DONNA LYNNE CHAMPLIN (OBIE Award winning performer, "Hollywood Arms," "Sweeny Todd," "Billy Elliot")
KEN DAVENPORT (Producer, Broadway & Off Broadway. "Altar Boys," "Oleanna," etc.)
KIMBERLY GRIGSBY (Music Director & Vocal arranger for multiple Tony winning Broadway Shows, including "Caroline, or Change," "Spring Awakening," and "Spiderman.")
BEVERLY MACKEEN (Executive Director, New World Stages)
THOMAS MEEHAN (Tony winning bookwriter of "Annie," "The Producers," "Hairspray" "Young Frankenstein," "Crybaby," "Elf," etc.)
JACK VIERTEL (Producer, Artistic & Creative Director, Dramaturg. Shepherded many hit shows to Broadway including "Doubt," "Spring Awakening," "Fela," "American Idiot," "The Book of Mormon," "How to Succeed in Business," "Hair," "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever." etc.)
SCOTT WITTMAN (Director, Lyricist of "Hairspray," "Catch Me If You Can," etc.)
“There’s a freshness in the writing, an interesting urban poetry.
Characters are smart – even when they feel like they’re about to turn into the
usual stereotypes (abusive gangsta, soulful underprivileged urban artist),
something surprising or playful is revealed.”
“The music ranges from R&B to Hip-Hop, Beat Box to Musical
Theater - it's brilliant and just when you think there are no more surprises,
the music flips to another genre. People may find it disjointed - but I loved
every second of it.”
“This is real hip hop, with a strong grasp of the wide range of
rapping styles within the genre. Instead of the crappy singsong beat that
frequently tries to pass for rap in musicals, these writers understand hip hop
flow, playing with inverting rhythms and mixing up the beat so that 4/4
monotony never sets in. They also throw in proper melodies, frequently
employing tight a cappella harmonies to underscore the “real songs,” which
range from R&B to gospel to theatre pop.”
“Reminds me a lot of what Lil Wayne does which is intelligent,
thought-provoking and fitting hip-hop lyrics. It's genius.”
“'Roofless' is a very well done piece and deserves a chance. The
songs are well placed and each one has a purpose and a reason for being there.
The narrative structure is interesting and the story is enough to engage you
the whole time… Overall, a very strong piece that I'd highly recommend. It's
something I haven't seen before - a hip-hop musical? Could work, right? As for
the songs, Lil Wayne should watch his back, he's not the only rap artist
packing heat.”
“Score is wonderful— it’s got a really great overall tone and the
tunes suit the moments and the characters….and forwards the plot. Really smart,
brave tunes.”
“I think some of these grooves are really fantastic. And the
characters and dialogue are very engaging and keep me interested. I love the
unapologetic nature of the language, the story and these people. It’s unique.”
Tulsa Premiere &
Dallas Productions – 2002 / 2003
“A work of choreography that
is nothing short of fantastic.”
- The Tulsa World
“It takes off from ‘Stomp!’
and ‘Bring in Da’ Noise, Bring in Da’ Funk,’ but there’s a simplicity and
emotional directness those larger-scaled shows lack.”
- The Dallas Morning News
“Creates something strong
and hopeful from the darkest moments of the African-American experience.”
- Lawson Taitte, Dallas Morning News
“…bold, loud, challenging
and scattershot; a beautifully unstructured collection of musical blasts and
amazing dance performances that make ”Roofless” a visually stunning work of
art.”
- The Tulsa World
“This highly stylized work
features so much energy, goodwill and passion that it may surprise even some of
those who saw the production that the overriding theme of the show is suicide.”
- The Tulsa World
“A remarkably apt title
considering how close the creators and their young cast came to figuratively
blowing the roof off the joint.”
-Michael
Smith, World Entertainment Critic
