SHOUT! The MOD Musical
"The dance number for “Goldfinger” alone is worth the price of admission. He gets fine performances from the talented, exuberant cast. (The whole rainbow appears to be having fun.)"
"At the end, the musical felt like a music hall. The audience was clapping and singing along to “Downtown.”"
-The Observer
"The dance number for “Goldfinger” alone is worth the price of admission. He gets fine performances from the talented, exuberant cast. (The whole rainbow appears to be having fun.)"
"At the end, the musical felt like a music hall. The audience was clapping and singing along to “Downtown.”"
-The Observer
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
"Heisey holds her own in what is essentially a long, extended monologue with brief interruptions from Brick. She has the right attitude and allure..."
-The Herald-Tribune
"The relationship between Big Daddy’s son Brick and his wife Maggie has undertones of sexual frustration, dysfunction, alcoholism, and homosexuality that may be tame by today’s standards, but the main message that ‘blood isn’t always thicker than water’ still and always will ring true. The entire cast deserves kudos but the two stand-outs were Maggie (Amanda Heisey) and Brick (Patrick Tancey) who dominated the stage with their smoldering performances, convincing the audience they were a fly on a wall listening in on a couple’s marital failings."
-Our Town Sarasota
"Heisey holds her own in what is essentially a long, extended monologue with brief interruptions from Brick. She has the right attitude and allure..."
-The Herald-Tribune
"The relationship between Big Daddy’s son Brick and his wife Maggie has undertones of sexual frustration, dysfunction, alcoholism, and homosexuality that may be tame by today’s standards, but the main message that ‘blood isn’t always thicker than water’ still and always will ring true. The entire cast deserves kudos but the two stand-outs were Maggie (Amanda Heisey) and Brick (Patrick Tancey) who dominated the stage with their smoldering performances, convincing the audience they were a fly on a wall listening in on a couple’s marital failings."
-Our Town Sarasota
Silence! the Musical
"As Dream Clarice, Amanda Heisey moves from the frying pan into the fire of Lecter’s disturbing musings, maintaining a grace and beauty in the face of all things lewd."
-The Herald-Tribune
"Amanda Heisey shows excellent dance skills, something I had noticed about her in the past, even though she is always a charmer when on stage."
-Talkin' Broadway
"As Dream Clarice, Amanda Heisey moves from the frying pan into the fire of Lecter’s disturbing musings, maintaining a grace and beauty in the face of all things lewd."
-The Herald-Tribune
"Amanda Heisey shows excellent dance skills, something I had noticed about her in the past, even though she is always a charmer when on stage."
-Talkin' Broadway
Bullets Over Broadway
"Heisey’s a barrel of laughs as the oversexed, bleach-blonde chorine. Olive’s grating voice can cut glass and she’s got the short-term memory of an Etch-a-Sketch."
-The Observer
"Leading the chorus cuties and as Nick's girl Olive is Amanda Heisey. It's a showy part and Ms. Heisey wastes no time stealing every scene she is in."
-Talkin' Broadway
"Amanda Heisey wins laughs as the stereotypical blonde chorus girl who can barely read and wants to add some jokes to all those pesky dramatic moments. Trying (but failing) to impress David with her credentials, she sings the suggestive “I Want a Hotdog For My Roll,” complete with chorus members dressed as dancing frankfurters."
-The Sarasota Herald-Tribune
"Heisey’s a barrel of laughs as the oversexed, bleach-blonde chorine. Olive’s grating voice can cut glass and she’s got the short-term memory of an Etch-a-Sketch."
-The Observer
"Leading the chorus cuties and as Nick's girl Olive is Amanda Heisey. It's a showy part and Ms. Heisey wastes no time stealing every scene she is in."
-Talkin' Broadway
"Amanda Heisey wins laughs as the stereotypical blonde chorus girl who can barely read and wants to add some jokes to all those pesky dramatic moments. Trying (but failing) to impress David with her credentials, she sings the suggestive “I Want a Hotdog For My Roll,” complete with chorus members dressed as dancing frankfurters."
-The Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Blood Brothers
"Amanda Heisey also conveys some flirty charm as Linda, the girl (and later young woman) who falls for both of them."
-The Herald-Tribune
"Amanda Heisey also conveys some flirty charm as Linda, the girl (and later young woman) who falls for both of them."
-The Herald-Tribune
Sweet Charity
"Amanda Heisey and Jessie Tasetano are winning as two of Charity’s exploited co-workers. Great performances from the rest of the ensemble cast, as well."
-The Observer
"Amanda Heisey and Jessie Tasetano are winning as two of Charity’s exploited co-workers. Great performances from the rest of the ensemble cast, as well."
-The Observer
Bell, Book and Candle
"Heisey’s Gillian sizzles with charisma. She gets to be the bad girl in the first act and the good girl in the second... Magic is fun; magic is sexy; magic excludes true love—Gillian decides that’s too high a price to pay. Heisey deftly conveys the evolution of her character."
-The Observer
"Heisey certainly grew into her role as Gillian, beginning over-the-top sultry but toning it down just enough to capture Gillian’s powerful charm."
"I was surprised by the poignancy of certain interactions between Gillian and Shep. Overall, it’s an enjoyable watch that offers a nostalgic fondness and with just a dash of fresh perspective to its spell."
-The Herald-Tribune
"Heisey’s Gillian sizzles with charisma. She gets to be the bad girl in the first act and the good girl in the second... Magic is fun; magic is sexy; magic excludes true love—Gillian decides that’s too high a price to pay. Heisey deftly conveys the evolution of her character."
-The Observer
"Heisey certainly grew into her role as Gillian, beginning over-the-top sultry but toning it down just enough to capture Gillian’s powerful charm."
"I was surprised by the poignancy of certain interactions between Gillian and Shep. Overall, it’s an enjoyable watch that offers a nostalgic fondness and with just a dash of fresh perspective to its spell."
-The Herald-Tribune
The Drowsy Chaperone
"Amanda Heisey is very funny as Kitty, the dim bulb blonde who wants to step into [Janet's] shoes."
"Great performances based on stereotypes and violations of logic."
-The Observer
"Amanda Heisey is very funny as Kitty, the dim bulb blonde who wants to step into [Janet's] shoes."
"Great performances based on stereotypes and violations of logic."
-The Observer
Hair
"Before the opening of his “reimagined” production of the 1960s musical “Hair” at Venice Theatre, director Ben Vereen talked about wanting it to be more than something to watch. He wanted it to be an experience. The cast of "Hair" at Venice Theatre, directed by Tony Award-winner Ben Vereen.
It certainly is that for the talented, hard-working cast who perform with such joy and enthusiasm, as if they’re on some otherworldly plane celebrating the late 1960s and messages of peace and love and against all war.
The cast has clearly become a wonderfully cohesive unit, free of inhibitions and open to whatever pleasures they enjoy, whether it’s a hug, a grope, burning a draft card, smoking a joint, or singing one of the show’s many now-familiar songs."
-The Herald-Tribune
"Before the opening of his “reimagined” production of the 1960s musical “Hair” at Venice Theatre, director Ben Vereen talked about wanting it to be more than something to watch. He wanted it to be an experience. The cast of "Hair" at Venice Theatre, directed by Tony Award-winner Ben Vereen.
It certainly is that for the talented, hard-working cast who perform with such joy and enthusiasm, as if they’re on some otherworldly plane celebrating the late 1960s and messages of peace and love and against all war.
The cast has clearly become a wonderfully cohesive unit, free of inhibitions and open to whatever pleasures they enjoy, whether it’s a hug, a grope, burning a draft card, smoking a joint, or singing one of the show’s many now-familiar songs."
-The Herald-Tribune
Lend Me a Tenor
"Amanda Heisey, one of the new cast members, is sweet and charming as Maggie, who is in love with Max but flirts shamelessly with Tito."
-The Sarasota Herald Tribune
"Amanda Heisey (as Maggie, Harry’s daughter and Max’s fiancée, who’s always in the moment, and sells her giddy, star-struck adoration of Tito with mercurial physicalization: eyes rolls, hesitations, etc.)"
"The actors know what they’re doing. Thanks to Turoff’s skill, they come together as a true ensemble. No easy task. As Edmund Keane once said, “Dying is easy. Comedy is hard.” And farce is the hardest of all."
-The Sarasota Observer
"The manager’s daughter Maggie (Amanda Heisey) dates Saunders’ assistant Max (Jeffery Kin) but may not be as totally committed to that relationship as Max. She is enthralled with the tenor, literally swooning when she even hears his voice on the radio."
"The one-hour first act flies by with one hilarious comedy bit after another by this top-notch cast of comedians, directed by Kyle Turoff, yet another area master of stage comedy. Double takes both physical and facial, incredible body language and more serve to wring every nuance of humor from an already funny premise."
-Venice Gondolier Sun
"Comedy, especially farce, is very difficult to play well, so a production as good as this one—and it is very good—is a treat."
"Amanda Heisey is love interest Maggie Saunders, sweet and spicy at the same time."
-Talkin' Broadway
"Amanda Heisey, one of the new cast members, is sweet and charming as Maggie, who is in love with Max but flirts shamelessly with Tito."
-The Sarasota Herald Tribune
"Amanda Heisey (as Maggie, Harry’s daughter and Max’s fiancée, who’s always in the moment, and sells her giddy, star-struck adoration of Tito with mercurial physicalization: eyes rolls, hesitations, etc.)"
"The actors know what they’re doing. Thanks to Turoff’s skill, they come together as a true ensemble. No easy task. As Edmund Keane once said, “Dying is easy. Comedy is hard.” And farce is the hardest of all."
-The Sarasota Observer
"The manager’s daughter Maggie (Amanda Heisey) dates Saunders’ assistant Max (Jeffery Kin) but may not be as totally committed to that relationship as Max. She is enthralled with the tenor, literally swooning when she even hears his voice on the radio."
"The one-hour first act flies by with one hilarious comedy bit after another by this top-notch cast of comedians, directed by Kyle Turoff, yet another area master of stage comedy. Double takes both physical and facial, incredible body language and more serve to wring every nuance of humor from an already funny premise."
-Venice Gondolier Sun
"Comedy, especially farce, is very difficult to play well, so a production as good as this one—and it is very good—is a treat."
"Amanda Heisey is love interest Maggie Saunders, sweet and spicy at the same time."
-Talkin' Broadway
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
"...the six performers at the heart of the story provide both the exaggeration and subtlety called for."
"...they end up betting who can score first with a soap heiress named Christine Colgate, played delightfully by Amanda Heisey."
"Those who have seen Heisey in a couple of plays in the last two years will enjoy watching her blossom on stage in her first large musical role. She conveys a sweet innocence through much of the show, with clever variations as the story develops."
-The Sarasota Herald Tribune
"Heisey’s Colgate is multidimensional and not the good-hearted, clueless, All-American girl she first appears to be."
-The Sarasota Observer
"...the six performers at the heart of the story provide both the exaggeration and subtlety called for."
"...they end up betting who can score first with a soap heiress named Christine Colgate, played delightfully by Amanda Heisey."
"Those who have seen Heisey in a couple of plays in the last two years will enjoy watching her blossom on stage in her first large musical role. She conveys a sweet innocence through much of the show, with clever variations as the story develops."
-The Sarasota Herald Tribune
"Heisey’s Colgate is multidimensional and not the good-hearted, clueless, All-American girl she first appears to be."
-The Sarasota Observer
Steel Magnolias
"The actors in the Players production -- Amanda Heisey, Ellie Pattison, Cullen White, Leona Collesano, Patti O'Berg and Betty Robinson -- all succeed in making their characters real..."
"Harling treats the characters with dignity, and the actors here imbue them with adequate doses of charm."
-The Bradenton Herald
"Pattison has a nice relationship with the relatively new Amanda Heisey, who plays Shelby and is growing into her work as an actress. She does have personality on stage."
-The Sarasota Herald Tribune
"But of course the heart of Steel Magnolias is the relationship between young Shelby (Amanda Heisey) and her mother M’Lynn (Ellie Pattison). It’s a believable dynamic with a lot of love but also a typical fight for control, especially as Shelby faces marriage and motherhood—the latter a state rendered tricky by her health issues."
-Sarasota Magazine
"The actors in the Players production -- Amanda Heisey, Ellie Pattison, Cullen White, Leona Collesano, Patti O'Berg and Betty Robinson -- all succeed in making their characters real..."
"Harling treats the characters with dignity, and the actors here imbue them with adequate doses of charm."
-The Bradenton Herald
"Pattison has a nice relationship with the relatively new Amanda Heisey, who plays Shelby and is growing into her work as an actress. She does have personality on stage."
-The Sarasota Herald Tribune
"But of course the heart of Steel Magnolias is the relationship between young Shelby (Amanda Heisey) and her mother M’Lynn (Ellie Pattison). It’s a believable dynamic with a lot of love but also a typical fight for control, especially as Shelby faces marriage and motherhood—the latter a state rendered tricky by her health issues."
-Sarasota Magazine
Harvey
"...Nurse Kelley (Amanda Heisey, in an impressive first Players' appearance)..."
-Sarasota Herald Tribune
"(Amanda Heisey, making her debut on the Players stage with assurance)"
-Sarasota Magazine
"...Nurse Kelley (Amanda Heisey, in an impressive first Players' appearance)..."
-Sarasota Herald Tribune
"(Amanda Heisey, making her debut on the Players stage with assurance)"
-Sarasota Magazine