THEATRE DIRECTING - SELECT REVIEWS (excerpts)
Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 ―Brea Theatre League Director Nikki Hevesy knows what (playwright) Bishop is doing every moment and takes advantage of an excellent involved set .to keep the action moving swiftly, without too many pauses for the audience to catch its breath. This sort of foolishness needs a traffic cop - Hevesy handles that aspect well- but it also requires a sense of timing, which the director certainly has‖ -Musical Comedy Murders, Los Angeles Times ―Nikki Hevesy‘s direction is both bright and breezy suiting both the occasion (the launch of a new musical comedy amid real-world madness) and its spoof nature …… Plays like an amusement park funhouse‖ -Musical Comedy Murders, Orange County Register Imposters ―Nikki Hevesy directs with a sure hand ― -Impostors, Neal Weaver, LA Weekly I was so impressed with the choice of material, casting and direction. It an evening of thought provoking theatre! Count me in as a new fan of Moving Arts!! - C. Raul Espinoza, (Theatre LA) Impostors ― In the throes of the play's constant and often very funny banter the actors seem to have a ball, and the feeling is contagious to the audience. Imposters is a dark, comedy about one family's domestic dysfunction. The actors whirl through their rapid-fire barbs as shrewdly as they move props and furniture during act breaks…‖ -- Impostors, Los Angeles Downtown News - Critics “Recommended” list by LA Weekly Cupid’s Beau ―Sparks fly through the detailed direction of Nikki Hevesy‖ -Cupid’s Beau , Backstage West --Critic’s Pick, Backstage West Genome Games "...director Nikki Hevesy Impressively staged the text three different ways, maintaining a consistent pace with the three different action sequences"------"creative, non-realistic staging choices, which made this performance enjoyable and compelling" --Genome Games, Backstage West ―Nikki Hevesy skillfully directs Suzanne Cogan‘s Genome Games, a delightful bit of farce that finds Carolyn Hennesy, Tim Woodward, Kimberly Glann and Mark Stephenson portraying people at a gathering for drinks, hors d‘oeuvres and chin-wagging in a cycle of entrances and exits — all with variations. The performers are excellent, and Cogan and Hevesy wring a lot of laughs from this simple scenario.‖ --Genome Games, LA Weekly --Critics “Recommended” list by LA Weekly
Love Falls ―The ingenious stunner of the night, ‗Love Falls‘. Humanely written by Chris DiGiovanni and breathtakingly directed by Nikki Hevesy (with) performances that were flawless/ --Pat Taylor, Tolucan Times --Critics ‘Recommended” list by LA Weekly Absurd Person Singular ―In (this) entertaining and quirky kitchen farce Directed (and cast) by Nikki Hevesy, the strong cast of six people share the comedic spotlight‖. -Absurd Person Singular, Palisadian Post
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Pirates of Penzance ―Pirates of Penzance‖, a century old Gilbert and Sullivan classic, now an absurd and hilarious satire is directed and choreographed by Nikki Hevesy, who has turned it into a joyous contemporary musical comedy…...'Pirates of Penzance' is an exhilirating evening..." -Peggy O'Hare, Orange County Register
COMMENTS FROM WRITERS PRODUCERS ON NEXT PAGE
COMMENTS FROM WRITERS, PRODUCERS , (and others)
NOTES SENT FROM KEN LEVINE ON PLAY OF HIS I DIRECTED ―You're very good at it, (directing comedy) have a real feel, and should be doing more...........Everything is getting done beautifully‖. -----------―You've done a spectacular job and you've done so with grace and good cheer ... you' have earned the utmost respect from me and your cast. I was delighted! You should be thrilled with the work you've done/‖ - Ken Levine, Upfronts and Personal, (Emmy award winning comedy writer/producer, Cheers, Frazier, Mash, Simpsons... "Nikki is the kind of director who puts her heart and soul into whatever she does‖ Trey Nichols, Literary Manager, Moving Arts. ―Nikki- You‘re a playwright‘s dream director. Not only do you ‗get‘ my play -- it‘s comedy as well as its undercurrents – but also you have helped unearth some of the potential that even I didn‘t see. Thank you for working on this…‖ Kelly Younger, (award winning) Playwright and writing faculty at Loyola [Epiphany Cake (play) and DINKS (sitcom pilot)] ―I was hoping to give NIkki a directing opportunity on Two of a Kind had the show continued. I think Ms. Hevesy integrates into new situations easily and quickly, is focused and intuitive.‖ Michael Warren, Writer, Showrunner, EP - Two of a Kind, Family Matters, Step by Step ―I felt so lucky to have had you direct my piece. You were so generous with your time, worked hard and are so talented. The angle you chose – really enriched my play and conveyed a sense of the world I was trying to create even better than I could have imagined.‖ Irina Bragin, Playwright (The Headmaster & The Manuscript)
“Your integrity regarding my vision, plus the incredible creativity, plus technical skills you brought ‗to the table‘ added so much. I‘ve been telling everyone how pleased I was with the production, the actors…all of it. …. I trust your instincts bigtime!‖ Suzanne Cogin, Playwright (Genome Games) ―I got to know Nikki when she observed with me on episodes of Suddenly Susan and I found her to be likable, attentive and witty - - a talented theatre director who is astute in her observation of how to translate those skill to television directing.‖ Shelley Jensen, Sitcom Director (Hannah Montana, Drew Carey, According to Jim, Jamie Foxx Show)