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WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

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Tight Five

Thinking Theater - "Kirkland potently embodies the struggle between Melissa's strong principles and self-respect and the strength of her love for Syd."

Aigner&CO

The Cotillion

Ebony - "The music-infused drama follows 6 young women who have been primped and prepped for a year under the watchful eye of Madame President, who will allow for nothing less than perfection on their coming out day. But we quickly learn that this glittery world masks a host of personal demons and trauma. The play becomes an interrogation of social hierarchy, racism and sexuality issues. "

Aigner&CO

The Cotillion

Vulture- "The play gets the cruelty of the event, the disconcerting feeling of being thrust on display, and the allure of that display. The classy veneer of the event falls by the wayside as the play progresses, but Robert gives depth to Madam President and allows that one or two of the girls might get the appeal of her perspective. There’s something irresistible in being, you know, seen. "

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The Cotillion

Daily Beast- "'The Cotillion' is not simply about a glamorous night out, but instead sketches the intricate dichotomy of being a Black woman—possessing Black pride and a sense of self while battling branches of white supremacy and self-hate"

Aigner&CO

The Cotillion

TheaterMania- "In this rich new work (presented jointly by New Georges and the Movement Theatre Company), writer and director Colette Robert digs into the mess of hypocrisies and contradictions baked into this corner of Black culture. She also brings along the lively, fun, and flamboyant ambience that makes debutante events so ripe for the theatrical picking."

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Crying on Television

DC Theater Arts - "‘Crying on Television’ at Everyman Theatre is damn good and funny!"

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Crying on Television

MD Theatre Guide - "The play opens with Mackenzie (the vibrant and stellar Starr Kirkland) alone on an elevator in an upscale apartment building, simultaneously crying and laughing."

WITFEST-#GirlPowerHour. Photo by Photo by Julianna Austin

Hybrid 2-Handers – Project Y Theatre Company’s Women in Theatre Festival

Thinking Theater NYC - "The characters in Kaaron Briscoe's standout #GirlPowerHour are also habituated to performing for audiences... What follows evolves via a pair of excellent performances by Kirkland and Nankervis and culminates in memorably resonant imagery."

WITFEST- Blackbox. Photo by Julianna Austin

Hybrid 2-Handers – Project Y Theatre Company’s Women in Theatre Festival

Thinking Theater NYC - "Blackbox, by Amina Henry, focuses on a pair of stage actors (Starr Kirkland and Timiki Salinas), who have broken into a pandemic-shuttered theater space, in order to consider, in the context of having lost the outlet of live performance, what it is like to experience something by acting it for an audience; to create illusions using primarily one's body; and, fundamentally, to play–as well as to ask whether playing is enough. The interplay throughout Blackbox between Salinas's unflaggingly enthusiastic actor and the mingled joy and doubt of Kirkland's proves a very effective dynamic."

SONS OF THE PROPHET

"This is one of the rare cases where we are given a cast that has a true sense of ensemble without a weak link in site...The piece is then rounded out by the Ensemble played by Karen M. Hoffman, Starr Kirkland and Samantha Smart all of whom have stand-out moments in the piece as they take on multiple roles and give specificity to each one."

ROMEO + JULIET

"Starr Kirkland as Benvolio captured each scene she was in: a jubilant soul watching her world fall apart.  Nowhere was this more apparent than in her speech after Tybalt and Mercutio's death.  Kirkland's ability to find the emotional truth of each scene continues to stun."

ROMEO + JULIET

"...And upon her mortal clash with Tybalt, it is Benvolio's heart-wrenching reaction that leaves you feeling gutted. Neither would the two events hold any sway had the performances of each of the actors not been so adeptly portrayed."

HOTTENTOTTED

"Just saw this on Thursday night and am still thinking about it through the weekend. Thank you to these women and The Tank for putting their voices out there so that we could bear witness. Definitely go check it out and support!" 
 Yaya Yuan, audience member

HOTTENTOTTED

"I live for the theatre of radical humanity and empathy—plays where we tell the stories of our lives and address the corresponding wounds and pain that those experiences have left.  Hottentotted, currently receiving its first full production at The Tank with a fantastic ensemble of actors, is one such play. See it."
Josh Boerman, audience member

HOTENTOTTED

"Hottentotted was *AHMAYZING*!!!!!!!! I cried my eyes out! I'm thrilled that great art is being born despite these dark political days."
Cassiope Sydoriak, audience member

TJ LOVES SALLY 4 EVER

New York Times Critic's Pick- 'TJ Loves Sally 4 Ever' Review:  It's No Valentine

"On Friday night at JACK, in Brooklyn, the audience was at a loss. At the end of James Ijames’s whip-smart satire “TJ Loves Sally 4 Ever” (which you would be wise to race to see), we in the audience waited for what felt like minutes. But there was no bow from the actors, who had already left the stage."

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BLACK FEMINIST VIDEO GAME

Los Angeles Times- A Biracial Teen with Autism, His ‘Black Feminist Video Game’ and the Power of Play

"The play raises questions about reality versus escapism, seeking to explore how the connections we forge with digital content can be just as powerful as those cemented in real life, in part because of the sense of agency we have while engaging with it."

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BLACK FEMINIST VIDEO GAME

The Reviews Hub- Black Feminist Video Game – Online via The Civilians, New York, NY

"While New York City is slowly reopening, most theatre is still online. The Civilians’ latest offering, Black Feminist Video Game, takes full advantage of its online platform, inviting audiences on to the Twitch stream of teen gamer Jonas Jones, who plays the titular Black feminist video game in hopes of winning back the girl of his dreams. Along the way, he learns a thing or two about feminism, allyship, dating on the autism spectrum, and Audre Lorde."

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ZOETROPE

New York Times Critic's Pick- ‘Zoetrope’ Review: And You Thought Your Apartment Was Small?  "Angel...comes off as real and familiar, caught between fury and exhaustion at a throwaway comment or phrase from Bae, her face suddenly tight and guarded."

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