| CHICAGO, Syracuse Post Standard
"The 12 seasons director-choreographer Brett Smock has spent with Auburn's Merry-Go-Round Playhouse have been years of constant growth. Each summer he gets more ambitious, more confident, more his own man. He seems to prefer projects with a Brechtian darkness. Like Evita or Cabaret, and his athletic-erotic stagings evoke the prime of young Bob Fosse. If his direction of John Kander and Fred Ebb's Chicago is not the pinnacle of his work here, the most thorough and most polished he can deliver, then at the least he's never done anything better in these parts." THE SANDSTORM, Blogcritics.org
"These are haunting accounts that are delivered by actors clearly moved by the material and I found myself buried in their emotional turmoil. Sean Huze's play superbly directed by Brett Smock does not preach or promote any agenda. I highly recommend Sand Storm."
Curtainup.com
"Director Brett Smock has crafted a smoothly paced production that highlights the talents of the playwright and the cast members"
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| Metrostage, Alexandria, VA |
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| The Sandstorm |
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| click the pic for a feature article... |
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| Becoming George, Metro Stage, Alexandria, VA |
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BECOMING GEORGE dctheatrereviews.com
Instead of getting lost in a shuffle, the assorted cast of characters all contribute to the story. Each represents a cause or an issue, aided by Brett Smock’s skillful director’s touches to humanize them, that we care about them as authentic people rather than caricatures.
The Washington Post
"It's an impressive roster of talent, and hats off to Metrostage and to the creative team for daring to peg a new musical...to this subject."
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There is more than enough in the performances, direction and technical expertise in “Miss Saigon” to recommend you see this show. Superb vocal work and orchestrations, impeccable staging and enormously entertaining choreography by Brett Smock, and stunning effects and settings make the production well worth your time.
Smock has been the director for a slew of MGR's best productions over the last few years and here he enhances an already polished reputation. Everything about the production has a crispness and edge to it. The movements of the cast, the production numbers, even the small, quiet moments between the lovers, are all marked by an urgency and immediacy not always found in musical theater. The chorus numbers, “American Dream” and “Morning of the Dragon,” are superb.
MISS SAIGON; AUBURN CITIZEN, Tom Woods
Brett Smock, in a return to MGR, again demonstrates he is a master of musical theater, figuring out a way to put the larger aspects of the tale on the stage, as well as the intimate moments. His casting eye is canny, and he also choreographs the militant numbers to precision perfection.
MISS SAIGON; THE POST STANDARD, Joan E. Vadeboncoer
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| Cabaret |
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CABARET, Syracuse New Times
"Director and choreographer Brett Smock has put together a smart, sexy, visually spectacular production of Kander and Ebb's award winning musical..."
"Smock's production nicely balances the humor and seriousness of the play..."
"The ensemble work of the Kit Kat Girls and Kit Kat Boys deserves top billing. Their dancing and singing was flawless, and they seemed to effortlessly meet the challenge of Smock's creatively demanding choreography..."
CABARET, (press unknown)
"Smock has put together and absolute marvel of a play, everything snaps and sizzles and everyone of his ideas gels....Every choice he makes informs the play. As good as his direction is, his choreography is even better--inventive, powerful and precise."
SIDE SHOW, The St. Petersburg Times
"Brett Smock's direction of Bill Russell's book and Henry Krieger's music, and his choreography use every inch of space to good effect..."
SIDE SHOW, The Tampa Tribune
"Brett Smock's kinetic staging is a real strength, though: By sending his actors virtually into the audience, Smock makes the small Gorilla space seem unusually capacious."
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| The Last Five Years |
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| The Gorilla Theatre, Tampa, FL |
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THE LAST FIVE YEARS, The Weekly Planet "And not least there are the performances of Meegan Midkiff and Tommy Foster, easily among the best I've seen in months. Both have terrific voices and notable acting chops." THE MUSIC MAN, The Post Standard "Smock's dance numbers are all visual delights--fun, funny, athletic, and playful" WEST SIDE STORY, Papermill Theatre, NH "Smock's choregraphy has all the balletic elements of Robbins' original work. The entire corps of dancers is well-practiced, and they deliver on Smock's creative juxtaposition of elongation and elegance, punctuated by powerful staccato movement..." KISS ME KATE, Ithaca Times "...but the true stars of the show are choeographer Brett Smock and the lithe and lusty boys and girls of the chorus--talented, capable, and bursting with youthful energy..."
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| Evita, Merry Go Round Playhouse; Auburn, NY |
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EVITA, Auburn Citizen
"This Evita is a dance show as much as it is a showcase for its stars. Smock's choreographed numbers are eye-catching even as they swell dramatic tension..."
WEST SIDE STORY, Papermill Theatre, NH
"Smock's choregraphy has all the balletic elements of Robbins' original work. The entire corps of dancers is well-practiced, and they deliver on Smock's creative juxtaposition of elongation and elegance, punctuated by powerful staccato movement..."
DAMES AT SEA, Emelin Theatre, The Journal News
"Just go and enjoy. The Emelin production, directed by Brett Smock, features a fine cast of pros who serve it all up with a wink and a nod and talent to burn. There's plenty of first-rate physical comedy, more slapping than you might expect, and some great tapping.
KISS ME KATE, Ithaca Times
"...but the true stars of the show are choeographer Brett Smock and the lithe and lusty boys and girls of the chorus--talented, capable, and bursting with youthful energy..."
FOOTLOOSE, Providence Journal
"In the end, live theatre trumps the movies once again. Under Smock's freewheeling staging of the dance numbers, Footloose makes for more compelling viewing than celluloid pictures of the same thing--even when it's Kevin Bacon."
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| Footloose, Papermill Theatre, NH |
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| Chicago, Theatre By the Sea, RI |
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CHICAGO, The Auburn Citizen "Smock is at the top of his game with this production. The choreography is stunning, powerful, graceful, and precise..." PIPPIN, The Journal News "The excellent revival at the Emelin Theatre...rediscovers the original spirit without a wisp of nostalgia..." "(The nine cast members) are the players who rhythmically move in and out of scenes. They are an attractive, talented ensemble, obviously having a good time under the wise direction and choreography of Brett Smock." THE PAJAMA GAME, press unknown "Every one of Smock's big production numbers likewise delivers the goods--and they build to a crescendo at the end of the second act...but the smaller numbers display a subtler inventiveness..."
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| 42nd Street |
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42nd STREET, Forestburgh Playhouse
"Director/choreographer Brett Smock has an obvious affinity for this material. Everything about this production shows affection: and without ever showing affectation. From the energetic opening to the powerful finale, there are no false notes struck in the concept or the unity of the show. Everything--the acting, the singing, the dancing, is fluid and seemless. Bringing all that together is the work of a fine artist. His choreography is polished without any sacrifice of power. It is a masterful job."
ON THE TOWN, offoffline.com
Director Brett Smock's choreography is extremely sharp, with some brilliant tap sequences, most notably during Chip and Hildy's whirlwind sightseeing tour ...
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| On The Town |
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| Inside Broadway, NY |
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