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"Spamalot is so deliciously charming that whether an audience member is seeing it for the first time or the fifth, it still feels fresh and enchanting. The audience seemed completely captivated by its wit, charisma and professional spin. The show keeps an audience’s rapt attention to every nuance, every silly, bawdy, juvenile and cliché’d event that moves the storyline along. There are simply so many things to appreciate in this production that make it sinfully delicious.” Mercury News by Joanne Engelhardt |
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"Spamalot is the result of a wild and woolly evening of laugh-out-loud comedy smacking of slapstick, vaudeville, TV sitcom, and just downright silliness on a stage of full-voiced, high-stepping actors who clearly are all having the time of their lives. Nothing short of a ridiculously good time.” San Jose/Silicon Valley News by Eddie Reynolds
"Grease" the Musical at Sunnyvale Community Players Wows Audiences! Director Bill Starr, hits a grand slam, creating a big league production in the cozy venue. The performance is top notch! Santa Clara Times by Robt. Haugh
"Sister Act" - Saratoga - 2018 "Bill Starr has designed the show such that he doesn't waste a second of the audience's time with the many scene changes and he even uses the audience to make entrances and exits so the show never loses its energy or flow". Saratoga Express by C. Michael Traw
“Sister Act” is filled with laughter! If laughter is your thing, then this is for you. As directed by Bill Starr, their performances stand out. It is a polished, thoroughly enjoyable show guaranteed to make you laugh. Talking Broadway by Eddie Reynolds "Hillbarn is almost assured of a nightly packed congregation full of revival-meeting fervor for the run of its Sister Act. Pulling the entire production together with a pace snappy and a bent toward sneaking in laughs even when quickly changing sets is director Bill Starr." Mercury News by Joanne Engelhardt Pass the praise: ‘Sister Act’ gets a well-deserved standing O. Terrific cast rocks the house. 'It's Good to be a Nun' in Hillbarn's 'Sister Act' By Tony Lacy-Thompson Excellent dancing, singing and acting got the audience out of their pews and made this offering a near-religious experience with mass appeal. So sit/stand up/kneel down, take up a collection and go see it. "Mame....this is a well done show" by Judy Richter for Forallevents"Mame is undeniably a family show and worth seeing" by Joanne Engelhardt for Contra Costa Times The Producers at Hillbarn Theater: Jeffrey Smith, San Francisco Bay Area Theater Critics Award Committee “Bill Starr has crafted Mel Brooks' zany comedy into a major riot” “The Producers will make you chortle with delight” by Charles Kruger, San Francisco Bay Area Theater Critics Circle “The Producers is a magic show and just what the doctor ordered” by Artsalot “The Producers is a WINNER with direction by the inimitable Bill Starr” by Gregory Alonzo “The Producers is a HOT TICKET” by Kedar Adour “The Producers features nonstop laughter and is that perfect comedy that will make audiences laugh hard enough to hurt” MUSICAL THEATER REVIEW: Lyric Theater's "Carousel is a vigorous production of an old masterpiece” By Mort Levine A range of dances choreographed by the versatile director Bill Starr. It is Starr's debut as a Lyric director but he is a veteran of many successful Bay Area productions. Well directed and beautifully staged. Lyric Theatre’s ‘Carousel’: Fine production of flawed masterpiece By Gregory M. Alonzo The “Opening Number” is an impressive and complicated piece of staging, and it’s performed with impeccable timing and zeal by the entire ensemble. Expressive moves during an exquisitely choreographed ballet sequence. Bravo! GYPSY - INSTANT CLASSIC SHINES AT HILLBARN by Lee Hartgrave� May 14� 2010 This production is slick as ice. Having seen many productions of the show � this one is right up there with the best. Theater Review: ‘Gypsy’ at Hillbarn The busy “opening number” was hard to pull off on such a small stage, and this was perfectly blocked. If this production is an indication what they do, I know I’ll be back for more. By Cy Ashley Webb A play worthy of a rave “How To Succeed” By Keith Kreitman Whenever, I review an outstanding staging like this, I ask myself, can this be done better by anyone else, anywhere else? One would be hard put to find any. But with direction and catchy choreography by Bill Starr this one still really swings. THE DROWSY CHAPERONE “Lights up the Stage with the Glitz and Glamour of the 20’s” By Kerry Smith The show is full of humor and physical comedy. And I know you will agree that going to Hillbarn to see "The Drowsy Chaperone" makes for a fun evening out. 'Drowsy' Hillbarn production a hit By Joanne Engelhardt It's one big delicious party -- and you get to be a part of it. It's all very entertaining, but it wouldn't make sense were it not for the captivating cast corralled by director Bill Starr, who has a habit of coming up with winning musical productions for Hillbarn. 'Oliver!': Consider this one a hit By Keith Kreitman 'Oliver!' it is now up there with the best of the music theatres in the Bay Area. It was a slam-dunk for director Bill Starr to pull an award-worthy show together. You need to hurry over to see this sparkling production. 6th Annual Silicon Valley Small Venue Theatre Awards � The 2011 Honorees under Outstanding Musical Productions “Drowsy Chaperone”, Bill Starr Director and Choreographer Bay Area Theatre Critic’s Circle Award Bill Starr, recipient, “Irving Berlin, In Review” San Jose Stage Announces “2010 Top Honor Awards” Nomination Bill Starr, Director 'Lucky Stiff' - Wilcox High School |