Back Stage West Critics Pick

Los Angeles Times Best Bet

6 Ovation Awards
Deborah LaVine Best Director of a Play
Sam Anderson Best Lead Actor in a Play
Suanne Spoke Best Lead Actress in a Play
Marci Hill Best Costume Design
(Intimate Theatre)
Dave Marling Best Sound Design
(Intimate Theatre)
Desma Murphy Best Set Design
(Intimate Theatre)

2 Ovation Nominations
Best Production of a Play
(Intimate Theatre)
Robert L. Smith Best Lighting Design
(Intimate Theatre)

3 ADA Awards
Marci Hill Best Costume Design
Desma Murphy Best Set Design
Robert L. Smith Best Lighting Design

1 Drama Critics Circle Award
Napoli Milionaria Best Production of a Play

4 Back Stage West Garland Awards
Honorable Mention
Napoli Mionaria Production
Desma Murphy Set Design
Robert L. Smith Lighting Design
David Marling of Wav Magic Sound Design

"PICK OF THE WEEK
Eduardo de Filippo has crafted a lively play [director] LaVine gets fine performances from a large cast and the production benefits from Desma Murphy’s evocative set Spoke [delivers] a fierce portrayal wherein the dreams of a poor woman become the greed of a rich one. Anderson is a local theater veteran and this is the best and most assured performance hes given to date. -L.A. WEEKLY

"CRITICS PICK a richly rewarding experience, glistening with ravishing production values The Road serves up gourmet theatre a robust production bubbling over with zesty ethnic flavor and seasoned performances Director LaVine elicits the most superb ensemble effort within memory, letter perfect in dialect and pitch perfect in characterization. -BACK STAGE WEST

"BEST BET
a lavish staging by Deborah LaVine for the Road Theatre Company breathtaking detail skillful performances by Sam Anderson and Suanne Spoke bring timeless resonance to deFilippo's fascination with the best and the worst in human nature an old-fashion morality tale, to be sure, but one that connects through hard-hitting performances. -LOS ANGELES TIMES

"DON'T MISS IT
a highly rewarding must see play loaded with history, passion, humor and exquisite performances throughout under the breathtakingly focused direction of Deborah LaVine this is a beautiful production a compelling, touching, powerful view of this period, through the eyes of the Jovine Family .the entire well-cast ensemble was flawless.
-THE TOLUCAN TIMES

THREE AND HALF STARS(out of 4)
beautifully constructed cautionary tale of greed and redemption remarkable attention to detail the 16-member ensemble evokes the well-worn familiarity of a tight-knit community that is thoroughly dependent on one another for survival Anderson creates a memorable portrait of a life-whipped nonentity whose innate integrity blossoms Spoke is riveting as a woman who is forced to become the practical head of her family. -DAILY NEWS

FIVE STARS!!!
Deborah LaVine adds another brilliant production to her list of credits playing Amalia and Gennaro are the superlative Suanne Spoke and Sam Anderson. Andersons recognition of traditional values provides the core of truth for the play and is emotionally shattering the atmosphere is perfecto! -NOHO-L.A.

Sam Anderson
Scot Burklin
Michele de Cuir
Alex Douglas
Jody Fasanella
Rick Fitzgerald
Joe Hart
K.C. Marsh
Donne McRae
Tyson Pursley
Steve Reisberg
Michael Scheer
Heather Sher
Suanne Spoke
Kelly Lynn Warren
Paul Witten
Bettina Zacar