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Newark Star-Ledger- Peter Filichia

“Great Scott!  Great Zelda! Great potential, too, for "Waiting for the Moon," the Jazz Age musical about F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, in its world premiere at the Lenape Regional Performing Arts Center...”

“The agreeable and atmospheric music is by Frank Wildhorn, whose Broadway credits range from the long-running "Jekyll & Hyde" to last season's "Dracula." Here, he's on a pleasant hiatus from the pop-operatic music he composed for those shows. Wildhorn's provided some peppy pastiches of Charlestons and jazz, and some pretty, swirling waltzes. Bookwriter Jack Murphy has done a deft job of bringing to life the former Zelda Sayre, a Southern belle who knew how to roar long before the Roaring...”

“Lauren Kennedy (Nellie in the recent "South Pacific" in London) gives a star-making performance as Zelda. Her singing rings out as clear as a fingernail- flick on a crystal champagne glass. She is intoxicating in her range.  Throughout the evening, she throws herself indefatigably into the role, with the fervor she has when she first throws herself into Fitzgerald's arms. F. Scott is played with terrific style by Jarrod Emick, a Tony winner for the 1994 Broadway production of Damn Yankees...”

“Lenape producing artistic director Vincent Marini belies his youth -- he's 30 -- by directing the show with precision, confidence and speed. There's no question that he knows how to stage a show written in the tradition of the Golden Age of musicals...”

“Lenape is only 4 years old, and considering that it's only mounted concerts and musical warhorses, this first foray into presenting a new musical is an amazing achievement. The production values are excellent, with plentiful and stunning costumes by Janine McCabe, atmospheric lighting by Howell Binkley, and sparse but classy sets of salons & hotel rooms by Rob Odorisio...”

BroadwayWorld.com- Pati Buehler

“...Wildhorn’s score is polished and pleasant to the ear as are the stellar voices and perfect chemistry of Lauren Kennedy and Jarrod Emick (Zelda & Scott) who are magnetic towards one another, as well as towards the audience. Kennedy delivers a star performance. She is a convincing Southern vixen who charms her "gallant prince." Emick plays the amorous, ambitious Fitzgerald with solid vocals and raises the roof with "I’ve Got Things To Say," a number that sums up his frustration with writer’s block and rejection. Artistic director Vincent Marini does a admirable job with this fast paced story that flows nicely with non-stop action as well as clever use of film backdrops. No scene is left to chance...Jack Murphy makes a bold attempt to balance his story of the fated pair with historical facts and emotions...”


BACKSTAGE/THEATERMANIA/PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY- J.Cooper Robb

“Before Philadelphia became a hotbed of regional theater, it was a Broadway tryout town. Some productions intended for the Great White Way never survived past their productions here, but many arrived in New York vastly improved by their time spent on a Philadelphia stage. Unfortunately, this doesn't generally apply to the area's regional theaters, which have only rarely spawned Broadway productions. That may change with the Lenape Regional Performing Arts Center's production of Frank Wildhorn's new musical Waiting for the Moon.”

“Lenape producing artistic director Vincent Marini's production is masterfully polished and impressively fluid...”

“Wildhorn and Murphy capture these heady days of the early '20s with an effusive score that effectively combines clever lyrics and infectious jazz rhythms, packing the Fitzgeralds' roller- coaster ride of fame, fortune and decline into a magical and giddily paced first act. The music is some of Wildhorn's best work to date, and his rousing ode to decadence "Money to Burn" joyously evokes a nation drunk on optimism.”

“Waiting for the Moon has a lot going for it, and with some retooling it should have a future on Broadway.”

“These exhilarating times are captured in an effusive, infectiously jazzy score that combines some of Wildhorn's best music with Murphy's clever lyrics. "Money to Burn," a rousing ode to decadence, blissfully evokes a nation drunk on optimism.”

“Rob Odorisio's scenic design, Kim Scharnberg's orchestrations, Ron Melrose's music direction, and Janine McCabe's costumes are all first-rate, while Andy Blankenbuehler's choreography and Howell Binkley's lighting are nothing short of superb.”

TALKIN’ BROADWAY - Bob Rendell

“The discovery of the evening (although Burlington County theatergoers may be ahead of us here) is director Vincent Marini. The flawless professionalism  of his staging is invigorating. Marini has coordinated the work of his artistic staff into a seamless whole. His stage pictures alone make this production worthy of our attention. This is not primarily a dancing show, but Andy Blankenbuehler’s choreography is fluid and entertaining, and perfectly fulfills its intended function as a scene setter. The distinctive work of set designer Rob Odorisio will likely change the way in which much of our theatre will be designed in the future. I do not have the technical knowledge or the vocabulary to adequately describe his magic. Odorisio, who worked similar magic on a smaller scale for Paper Mill’s Harold and Maude, with the incalculable assistance of Lighting Designer Howell Binkley and Projection Designer Michael Clark, has combined the use of sliding panels with various digital projection techniques, film, and complex lighting effects to create mood, cinematic movement, detail, brightness, and sheer beauty. Forty years ago, when the musical Golden Boy primitively, in comparison with today’s technology, employed projections on Broadway, it seemed that they could one day become a dominant element in scenic design. Well, that day is here with a bang. Of course, as with any such technology, is only as good as the imagination and taste of the artists who employ it. The result here is breathtaking. Costume Designer Janine McCabe’s lovely, flattering costumes complete the visual design elements. Orchestrator Kim Scharnberg and Conductor-Arranger Ron Melrose, and Sound Designer Nick Kourtides have managed to make an eight piece orchestra sound full in a very large auditorium without heavy and distinctive synthesizer tones.”

“...thanks to the solid staging skills of Lenape Artistic Director Vincent Marini, ably abetted by the stunning set design of Rob Odorisio, the choreography of Andy Blankenbeuhler and a superb design team, the Lenape production of Waiting for the Moon plays, looks and moves like a spanking new Broadway musical...”


THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER- Desmond Ryan

Wildhorn is a seasoned pro and his score is mainstream and polished. The high points are a snappily choreographed production number, "Money To Burn," and Zelda's wistful "What About Me?" Marini contributes fluent direction, and his use of film as a backdrop is an imaginative touch....

THE COURIER POST- Robert Baxter

“Waiting For The Moon scatters magic through the air as soon as Frank Wildhorn and Jack Murphy’s new musical begins...”

“Radiating charisma and physical beauty, Jarrod Emick and Lauren Kennedy blend their voices in Wildhorn’s soaring vocal lines...”

“Adding to the heart-stopping effect is Rob Odorisio’s magical evocation of a Southern night, filled with floating tree branches and radiant moonlight.”


-Watch The Video


Take a look at a short promotional video summary of the Lenape production. We are currently looking for the right theater to work with us on the pre-Broadway production. If interested, please contact us at info@betheatrical.com

 

Critical Reviews

ZELDA

Produced by ROY MILLER

Music by FRANK WILDHORN Book and Lyrics by JACK MURPHY

Story by JACK MURPHY and VINCENT MARINI


                                                                      Music Director Vocal / Dance Arrangements          Orchestrations

                                                                                              RON MELROSE                          KIM SCHARNBERG

                             Scenic Design               Lighting Design               Costume Design                Sound Design               Projection Design

                          ROB ODORISIO       HOWELL BINKLEY       JANINE McCABE       NICK KOURTIDES       MICHAEL CLARK

                                                                                       Casting by DAVE CLEMMONS CASTING

                                                                                                          Choreographed by

                                                                                                 ANDY BLANKENBUEHLER

                                                                                                                Directed By

                                                                                                         VINCENT MARINI