California
Berkeley: Aurora Theatre Company
Trouble in Mind
by Alice Childress
“In the full-bodied performances of Robin Stanton’s taut staging, it’s funny, thought-provoking and moving in a manner that catches you by surprise.”
Robert Hurwitt, San Francisco Chronicle
“Brilliantly directed by Robin Stanton. This play has everything – humor, pathos, excitement and intense acting – and certainly deserved the standing ovation at last nights opening performance. This is really a must-see.”
Jerry Friedman, KGO Radio
Permanent Collection
by Thomas Gibbons
“What makes all this work and have such an impact is the tight and economical direction of Robin Stanton, and incredibly strong acting by the entire cast, particularly Callender, Kniffin and Aldridge.”
Pat Craig, Contra Costa Times
“Compellingly staged by Robin Stanton, and vividly performed by a strong cast, “Collection” is passionate about ideas and knotty issues and the people caught up in them.”
Robert Hurwitt, San Francisco Chronicle
“In director Robin Stanton’s beautifully modulated season closer at Aurora Theatre Company, the issues slowly but inevitably rise to the fore, playing out in the hands of a strong and impassioned ensemble.”
“…Stanton’s sensitive direction, this is an enormously engrossing production.”
Jean Schiffman, Backstage.com
Betrayed
by George Packer
“…as Robin Stanton’s staging gathers steam, fueled by the ominously spare percussion of Chris Houston’s score, the terrible circumstances of these Iraqis- and our shared responsibility for it – generates inescapable dramatic force.”
Robert Hurwitt, San Francisco Chronicle
“Director Robin Stanton certainly drills down into the emotional quick of the script, which hits us all the harder because it’s based on real people, steeped in truth.”
Karen D’Souza, San Jose Mercury News
The Busy World Is Hushed
by Keith Bunin
“By wrapping his story in a conventional romance (albeit between two men) and a tale of family dysfunction (mental illness, suicide, missing father), Bunin and director Robin Stanton are able to go fairly deep into the personal waters of faith and belief.”
Chad Jones, S.F. Theatre Examiner
Speech & Debate
by Stephen Karam
“Thanks to crisp direction by Robin Stanton, it all goes by in less than two hours (without intermission). LOL”
Culture Vulture
“It takes great direction for a play like this to work. And work it does.”
Lee Hartgrave, Beyond Chron
SAN FRANCISCO: PLAYGROUND
Art
by Yasmina Reza
“Director Robin Stanton’s painterly blocking adds the final touch to this sublimely composed canvas.”
Chloe Veltman, San Francisco Weekly
WALNUT CREEK: CENTER REPERTORY COMPANY
Tuesdays With Morrie
by Jeffrey Hatcher & Mitch Albom
“This is a wonderful, inspired evening of theater and these two actors deliver what I can only describe as brilliant portrayals that will be remembered for a very long time. Director Robin Stanton skillfully directs these fine actors and gives you a pinnacle performance.”
Charles Jarrett, Lifestyle Choices
“Director Robin Stanton stages the show with a sort of heightened realism, which quickly brings both of the characters into sharp focus. She does this by highlighting certain personality characteristics that define them well.”
Pat Craig, Oakland Tribune
OAKLAND: THEATREFIRST
Love Play
by Moira Buffini
“Loveplay, as directed by Robin Stanton and performed by a fantastic cast, is like sketch comedy with substance. Some of the pieces are quick hits, while others unfold at more length and end up being so compelling you want more.”
Chad Jones, Inside Bay Area
FAIRFIELD: SOLANO COLLEGE THEATRE
Intimate Apparel
[Guest Artist]
by Lynn Nottage
“I’ve always wanted to give one of those one-word-all-caps-with-an-exclamation-point-at-the-end reviews like BLILLIANT! — Tony Wade, Daily Republic. I finally have my chance…” In fact, any one of the following adjectives are apropos: MESMERIZING!,” TRIUMPHANT!,” “ILLUMINATING,” and “EXQUISITE!”
Tony Wade, Daily Republic
The Wizard of Oz
[Youth Theatre]
by L. Frank Baum
With Music and Lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg
Bye Bye Birdie
[Youth Theatre]
Book by Michael Stewart
Music by Charles Strouse / Lyrics by Lee Adams
Hairspray
[Youth Theatre]
Book by Thomas Meehan, Mark O’Donnell
Music by Marc Shaiman / Lyrics by Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman
Annie
[Youth Theatre]
Book by Thomas Meehan
Music by Charles Strouse / Lyrics by Martin Charnin
Illinois
FOREST PARK: CIRCLE THEATRE
The Glory of Living
by Rebecca Gilman
“When writing of this quality is combined with a beautifully crafted Circle Theatre production (superbly directed by Robin Stanton), the result is a compelling piece of theatre that should not be missed by anyone able to stomach a devastating indictment of the way America raises its children.
Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune
Stanton’s production is flawlessly cast…Stanton knows how to craft powerful stage pictures and provocative transitions.””
CHICAGO: STEPPENWOLF THEATRE COMPANY
Detail of a Larger Work
by Lisa Dillman
In a small Mexican village, an elderly American painter and his wife befriend a young couple visiting from the U.S. When the young man, a photographer, asks to make the older artist his subject, the visit takes a complex turn. In DETAIL OF A LARGER WORK, Chicago playwright Lisa Dillman explores the intricate relationships of four people bound together by art, friendships and the secrets they keep.
Lucia Mauro, TheatreMania.com
“…visionary director, Robin Stanton”
CHICAGO DRAMATISTS
The Angels of Lemnos
by Jim Henry
“…Stanton’s excellent ensemble-driven production. Ably and fluidly directed and featuring a truly exceptional performance from Chaney Kley Minnis in the lead role of Nathan Spandrel, Stanton’s enjoyable show uses its talented ensemble to excellent effect.”
Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune
“And, as typical in her outstanding directing work, Stanton uses a small space to create any number of interesting visual pictures.”
Ballad Hunter
by Jenny Laird
“In a season notable for its large number of exceptional new plays (“The Infidel,” “Orson’s Shadow” and “Knock Me a Kiss”), Jenny Laird’s “Ballad Hunter” belongs close to the top of the list. A deeply lyrical, emotionally varied and continually surprising work, it is now receiving its world premiere in an impeccably acted production at Chicago Dramatists—the theatre devoted to new plays and playwrights.”
Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times
“Robin Stanton’s meticulous and insightful direction is a perfect match for Laird’s luminous writing.”
CHICAGO: SEANACHAI THEATRE COMPANY
And Neither Have I Wings to Fly
by Ann Noble
“…directed with a winning mox of fire, magic and lyrical realism by Robin Stanton, who has assembled a marvelous ensemble…”
Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times
“Under the sensitive, mature direction of Robin Stanton, this engaging production preserves its pure simplicity. There are no high flying theatrics or overwrought scenes – only blissful storytelling that triggers one’s innermost longings at the turn of a wise phrase or the rising of an eyebrow.”
New City, Chicago
CHICAGO: STAGE LEFT
The Waiting Room
by Lisa Loomer
“In its Chicago premiere, “The Waiting Room” has been given a tidy, well-staged production by director Robin Stanton…. The play’s many scene changes are deftly handled…”
Chicago Tribune
CHICAGO: COBALT THEATRE ENSEMBLE
I Am Yours
by Judith Thompsom
“Happily, Robin Stanton’s Cobalt Ensemble production of “I Am Yours” is an especially worthwhile endeavor and the best production here of a Thompson work in several years. Thanks to the sure-footed and uncompromising direction that we have come to expect from Stanton, and a blistering lead performance from Jenny McKnight, this is a powerful and gripping two hours of theatre.”
Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune
“Stanton has forged the kind of intensely passionate and gutsy production that works so well with Thompson’s plays.”
Texas
DALLAS: THEATRE THREE
Top Girls
by Carol Churchill
“Perfectly marvelous…a fascinating play, directed with great zest and performed with warmth, wit, and fervor by seven top girls who together play 16 parts.”
Judy Kelly, Dallas Observer
“An exciting chance to see some of Dallas’ finest actresses strut their stuff on stage…superbly staged.”
Jerome Weeks, Dallas Morning News
Washington
SPOKANE INTERPLAYERS
Three Days of Rain
by Richard Greenberg
“Stanton’s production of Three Days of Rain is about as good as live theatre onstage gets…”
Michael Bowen, Pacific Inlander
Watch on the Rhine
by Lillian Hellman
“…director Robin Stanton’s production of Lillian Hellman’s 1940 drama did the things that serious, live, intimate, character-driven theatre does best.”
Michael Bowen, Pacific Inlander
Dinner With Friends
by Donald Margulies
“The Interplayers production, directed by Robin Stanton, conveys these powerful themes with little sugarcoating. Stanton’s direction conveys nuances subtly, especially in two-tension-filled bedroom scenes, in which body language – turned backs, pillows fluffed a bit too violently–conveyed what words could not.”
Jim Kershner, Spokesman Review
Anton in Show Business
by Jane Martin
“Robin Stanton directs all of this broadly enough so that we know Martin isn’t serious. Martin doesn’t despise the art form as much as her characters sometimes do. But Stanton gives it an edge – we in the audience have to think about what theatre is, and why we attend.”
Jim Kershner, The Spokesman-Review