Reviews: Critics Sound Off on Nine at the Kennedy Center | Playbill

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The Verdict Reviews: Critics Sound Off on Nine at the Kennedy Center

Steven Pasquale, Shereen Ahmed, Carolee Carmello, and more lead the Andy Blankenbuehler-helmed revival.

Steven Pasquale Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman

Hamilton Tony winner Andy Blankenbuehler has directed and choreographed a new revival of Maury Yeston and Arthur Kopit's Nine at Washington, D.C.'s Kennedy Center, and the reviews are rolling in. See what critics are saying about the production below.

Performances began in the venue's Eisenhower Theater August 2, and continue through August 11. Opening night was August 4.

Steven Pasquale (Here We Are, Teeth) leads the company as film director Guido Contini, joined by Shereen Ahmed (My Fair Lady) as Claudia, Carolee Carmello (1776, Parade) as Liliane La Fleur, Sasha Hutchings (Oklahoma!) as Our Lady of the Spa, Lesli Margherita (Matilda) as Saraghina, Oscar and Tony nominee Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio (Man of La Mancha) as Guido’s Mother, Jen Sese (Hamilton) as Stephanie Necrophorus, Tony nominee Elizabeth Stanley (Jagged Little Pill) as Luisa Contini, Michelle Veintimilla (The Visit) as Carla Albanese, and Charlie Firlik as Young Guido.

READ: Carolee Carmello Thought She Was Going to Retire. The Theatre Had Other Plans

Read the reviews below:

TheaterMania (Keith Loria)

The Washington Post (Thomas Floyd)*

*This review may require creating a free account or a paid subscription.

Playbill will continue to update this list as reviews come in.

The company also includes Allison Blackwell, Dylis Croman, Haley Fish, Paloma Garcia-Lee, Lucia Giannetta, Morgan Marcell, Yani Marin, Georgina Pazcoguin, Marina Pires, and Kamille Upshaw.

Based on the Oscar–winning Federico Fellini film 8 1/2, Nine features a score by Yeston and a book by Kopit, from an Italian translation by Mario Fratti. The story follows a Fellini-esque Italian film writer-director with a bad case of writer's block and a shooting deadline fast approaching. The line between reality and cinematic fantasy is blurred as he descends into his own mind and the large orbit of women in his life, from his wife to various mistresses past and present. The original production, directed and choreographed by Tommy Tune, won five 1982 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Yeston's score includes such favorites as "Unusual Way," "My Husband Makes Movies," "A Call From the Vatican," and more.

WATCH: Carolee Carmello, Elizabeth Stanley, Shereen Ahmed, More Perform the Songs of Nine

Blankenbuehler's creative team includes musical director Lily Ling, scenic designer Derek McLane, lighting designer Cory Pattak, costume designer Alejo Vietti, projection designer Paul Tate dePoo III, sound designer Haley Parcher, and wig designer Tom Watson. Matthew Lacey is production stage manager, and casting is by Geoff Josselson.

Visit Kennedy-Center.org for tickets.

Photos: Steven Pasquale, Shereen Ahmed, Carolee Carmello, More in Kennedy Center Nine

 
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