"Sensational"

"Went to The Wild Party at the Manhattan Theatre Club. As I entered the lobby, I saw a sign that said, ‘Herbal cigarettes are used in this production.’ As it turned out, so are style, wit, melody, excitement, mood, not to mention lighting, performances, direction, and choreography that are just sensational. 

Anyway, after seeing 14 seconds of the show, I knew I wanted to see it again and again. And again. I know I’m not alone. This version deserves a Broadway run, and it will seem wonderful there."

-Peter Filichia, Theatre.com

"Riveting direction"

"... with book, music and lyrics by a barely known major talent named Andrew Lippa, riveting direction by former actor Gabriel Barre, and smart, Fosse-inspired down and dirty choreography by a rising star of downtown dance, Mark Dendy..."

-Linda Werner, Newsday

"One hell of an imaginative party"

"You never see the seams between Gabriel Barre’s deft direction and the choreography by the brilliant Mark Dendy, a newcomer to showbiz. This great ensemble, along with the inventive settings of David Gallo, the stylish, yet campy costumes by Martin Pakledinaz, plus the consistently dramatic lighting of Kenneth Posner, all conspire together with Lippa, Barre and Dendy to give this Wild Party the mule-like kick of bathroom hooch. Here is one hell of an imaginative party you won’t want to miss."

-Clive Barnes, The New York Post

"Aggressive direction"

"…significantly aided by Gabriel Barre’s aggressive direction, as well as Mark Dendy’s Fosse-inspired yet airless choreography has gone full throttle in the opposite direction???"

-Sam Whitehead, Time Out

"Intelligent direction"

"Under Gabriel Barre’s intelligent direction, the ensemble work is solid and the four principals realize their less-than-ample opportunities."

-John Simon, New York Magazine

"Lavish"

"The MTC production is, in fact, an explosion of youthful talent that captures the work’s libidinous lyricism, like F. Scott Fitzgerald on Spanish fly. This is as lavish as Off-Broadway gets, with David Gallo’s cubistic set, Mark Dendy’s hot-blooded choreography and a terrific band led by Stephen Oremus, all marshaled by Barre into a crescendo of debauchery and death."

-Jack Kroll, Newsweek

"Brilliantly Conceived"

“Lippa’s show (he wrote the music, lyrics and book) almost totally adheres to this outline, generally focusing on the four principals while the rest of the 20 member cast eddies around them in sometimes individualistic, sometimes-blocky movement brilliantly conceived by director Gabriel Barre and choreographer Mark Dendy.”

–Clifford A. Ridley, The Philadelphia Inquirer