janet yates vogt  & mark friedman

HOW I BECAME A PIRATE

"Your ears will enjoy fair sailing if your family decides to drop anchor at the Rose Theater to see "How I Became a Pirate." This musical theater production has an upbeat Disney movie quality to it, in the tradition of "The Little Mermaid" and "The Lion King." It's fun for kids and packed with musical sophistication and clever lines to keep older children and adults entertained. There are plenty of laughs about pirate vocabulary, green teeth, eye patches and the secret pirate spit-handshake. Timing, acting, singing, costuming, choreography and staging have the quality of a touring Broadway production. The show's clever lyrics and strong singing voices move the story along beautifully. Parents should be pleased that there are no repetitive choruses or story elements. There is plenty on stage to keep all ages entertained throughout the show. The script, lyrics and score by Janet Yates Vogt and Mark Friedman closely follow the book.There are at least 11 fine songs in styles ranging from ballads and danceable Latin styles to Rodgers and Hart. As the pirates work through a storm at sea they mightily sing "Batten Down the Hatches" to the tune of "What Do You Do with a Drunken Sailor?" In the rousing finale "Pirates Dot Arrrgh" the pirate crew bids farewell to Jeremy at his home, gives him a black Jolly Roger flag and tells him it will be easy for him to get in touch: Just wave the flag, go to "pirates.arrrgh" or "Google" them."

JANE PALMER / Omaha World-Herald

GREEN GABLES

".... GREEN GABLES may be the highlight of the Barter Theatre 2006-07 season. And, given how great this year has been so far, that's saying quite a lot."
Robert McKinney / reviewer for Bristol Herald Courier

“You don’t have to have Anne Shirley’s vivid imagination to envision GREEN GABLES quickly
becoming a musical theatre classic. Composers & Playwrights Janet Vogt and Mark Friedman  wrote this charming new musical that captivated crowds at the Human Race Theatre. Bring  this one back…a terrific and heartwarming family show.”
Meredith Moss / The Dayton Daily News

“…really lovely musical scoring. The music in GREEN GABLES has a precision and beauty,  
which makes for very engaging and moving songs.”
Ed Stern, TONY winning Producing Artistic Director, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park

“…a brilliant musical!  It is hopeful to hear that our new composers are writing music – real music.  In GREEN GABLES, Vogt and Friedman have captured the poignant humor and the beguiling charm of the classic book – standing room only crowds!”
Burt Saidel / Columbus Oakwood Register

"Set in Canada in the 19th century, this musical production of GREEN GABLES reminds even  
the most jaded of 21st-century audiences that no matter how old or how different we are, each of  us needs to love and be loved."
Carole E. Barrowman / Theatre Critic Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

“This adaptation, lovingly crafted by Janet Yates Vogt and Mark Friedman, remains faithful
to the original story while adding a lovely musical score and a series of clever, entirely
satisfactory songs which emerge seamlessly from the fabric of character and plot.”
Gary Aday / Washington County News, VA

“This is one of those rare ensemble pieces of theatre that can transport the audience with
words and music and doesn’t need all the trappings of the current ‘spectacle’ theatre.  This
it what excites me as a director – it challenges me. "
Kevin Moore / Managing Director, The Human Race Theatre, Dayton, Ohio

"… a gentle musical version of a classic – a delight throughout.  GREEN GABLES expertly sets the time and atmosphere and the music follows suit. This is a gem, a piece that is sweet and leisurely, taking the time to develop its characters and washing us with a  peaceful warmth."
Dennis Thompson / Suburban News Theater Critic, Columbus, Ohio

“…a fine work by Janet Yates Vogt and Mark Friedman. GREEN GABLES is filled with pleasant melodies and evocative tunes from its opening number to the embracing reassurance of the finale.”
Rick Pender / Arts Editor, City Beat, Cincinnati

“highly effective; quite tuneful and lovely; a charming score!”
Bob White / The Oxford Press

“a delightful new musical. It captures the joys and sorrows of Lucy Montgomery’s beloved book. The music evokes that of Gilbert and Sullivan with a hint of THE SECRET GARDEN mixed in.”
William Goldsmith / Producing Artistic Director, Columbus Children’s Theatre

“The book, music and lyrics, all penned by Vogt and Friedman, do both literally and figuratively sing on stage from the first notes of “Have you ever seen such red hair?”Adeptly directed by John Maclay, it moves quickly and smoothly. First Stage’s Green Gables is an evening of dreams come true. A perfect way to remember the Anne of Green Gables from childhood.

Peggy Sue Dunigant, Theatre Critic, Vital Source Magazine, Milwaukee

“…an excellent play! The community warmly received GREEN GABLES and it is my strong
belief that the show has a very bright future ahead of it.”
D. Lynn Meyers / Producing Artistic Director, Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati

“GREEN GABLES delights in telling Anne’s story – and as Anne spelled with an “e” tells
Matthew early on: “Dreams don’t often come true, do they? Wouldn’t it be nice if they did?”
With Green Gables, they most certainly do. And that’s spelled with an emphatic “y-e-s.”
Harry Cherkinian / Milwaukee Theatre Magazine

SLEEPY HOLLOW: A MUSICAL TALE

"Washington Irving's spooky characters come to life in this brand new musical adaptation of "Sleepy Hollow." The 14 musical numbers represent different styles. Songs with a modern pop feel to hits of the 1950s to the sounds of the Charleston from the 1920s are included in the show. Seeing colonial people dance in ways you wouldn't see in that time period is just plain fun!The story has the characters interject modern things into the colonial world - the kids bring some comedy to the show when they talk about pop culture references to the colonial characters - 'Star Wars' and 'Harry Potter' are mentioned.But at the same time, they discover they are not that different from each other. Kids are kids, and have the same kinds of problems no matter what time period they are in."

NICKI POER / Director of Education, Outreach and Youth Programs, Kalamazoo Civic Theatre