The Improbable Fall, Rise, & Fall of John Law (a new play about money) by Matt Herzfeld directed by Brad Raimondo
The IRT Theatre, March 2016:
"“In this Dreamscape Theatre production, written by Matt Herzfeld and directed by Brad Raimondo, Law and his era are depicted with light-hearted aplomb… The ensemble switch roles, accents and genders with heady enthusiasm, a collective skill for comedy and carefully placed pathos… Despite the play’s length, the pace runs around itself in a dizzying farce that borrows from sexually precocious Restoration Comedy and TV’s Monty Python and Blackadder.”
“A witty comedic romp… Features a wonderfully diverse and multi-talented cast…The Improbable Fall, Rise, & Fall of John Law is an epic comedy. Tackling it and bringing cohesion to the stage is no easy feat but director Brad Raimondo did an exquisite job… every choice that Raimondo and his team made was strong and supported.”
“A rip-roaring entertaining yarnabout the invention of paper money in the early 18th century… Lucky for us Matt Herzfeld has dramatized this slice of history for us and Dreamscape Theatre has assembled a crackerjack ensemble of nimble actors under Brad Raimondo’s adroit directionand a clever collection of Designers who have turned the tiny IRT stage into England and France and Scotland.”
In Fields Where They Lay by Ricardo Pérez González developed and directed by Brad Raimondo
The New Ohio Theatre, December 5th - 27th, 2014:
"An incredible new play by Ricardo Pérez González... Director Brad Raimondo directs the performance with cinematic fluidity... he not only emulates the trenches of WWI, but evokes a high-stakes world on the edge of destruction. For most of the play, we are on the edge of our seats, fearful that the world could come to an end at any second."
"What makes In Fields Where They Lay stand out is its unsentimental and stark approach to its subject matter. The play could have easily been an educational recitation of that legendary Christmas Eve, but by focusing on the characters and their relationships, it becomes a powerful and realistic exploration of racism, prejudice, and the human bonds we all share."
The Hudson Guild Theatre, December 2009 - January 2011:
"Moving... Gripping drama... Smart and effective direction... a first rate cast gives a fine example of ensemble acting. All the performances are strong. Carl Hendrick Louis is especially good as Private Osbourne and Pete Forester is a study in suppressed andger as Private Dietrich. Jared Sampson as Private Pfeiffer and Michael Swartz as Private Jones also give notable turns."
“Brad Raimondo’s direction of this work serves as a showcase for these actors as well as his directing style… This is a tight group who respect the style in which they are performing… as if they are part of an acting squadron rather than a cast. It’s clear that this is a show that had an amazing vision.”
WHALE SONG or: Learning to Live With Mobyphobia by Claire Kiechel directed by Brad Raimondo
FringeNYC, August, 2011
“A moving and artful look at coping with the loss of a loved one… The direction of this play by Brad Raimondo is truly beautiful and pointed. Whale Song or: Learning to Live with Mobyphobia is the perfect meeting of script (by Claire Kiechel) and direction… Raimondo consistently uses simple objects and staging to create scenarios that many directors would think they needed a higher budget to create.”
"Witherspoon delivers and amazing performance... fluctuating between manic, sad, and dryly funny in a blink of an eye. She's an incredibly talented performer who holds... this piece together with grace and care."
–Mateo Moreno, Big Vision Empty Wallet
“Surreal and cleverly absurd, Whale Song is nonetheless drawn to the darker questions of death, loss, and sanity… director Brad Raimondo’s staging echoes the isolating quality of Maya’s grief... Christopher Heilman's set made clever use of cardboard boxes to modify the space – at times they were a wall, a projector screen, a dock, a casket.”
"The Dreamscape Theatre has just landed on the 'it-list' for notable companies… a phenomenal tour-de-force of young actors who know how to strike a chord with the audience."
"The project is a profound exploration of the human experience… from the mix of serious self-examination and comedic representations of serious issues... Brilliance emerges on stage, yet laughter ensues."
-Megan Nesbeth of High-5's Teen Reviewer's Program on THE BURNING CITIES PROJECT
"There's good direction here... This is a very good production and one I would recommend to any fans of Shepard or those new to his work."
-Lisa Ferber of NYTheatre.com on TRUE WEST (2006)
"Zack Calhoon presents a dimension to Lee that other actors often gloss over."
-Aaron Riccio of New Theater Corps on TRUE WEST (2006)
"Sweet and balanced Julie Alexandria... Is very touching as the title character"
-Saviana Stanescu of NYTheatre.com on MARISOL (2006)
"Boasts clear, smart direction by Ross Williams and a nine-person cast who bring even the most minor characters to vivid life... In the marathon title role, Zack Calhoon gives a fine, brave, intelligent performance."
