"Surprisingly fierce little musical...Ginsburg's lush orchestrations for piano, cello, and woodwinds give the music a sentimental air ideal for a story about the dredging of feelings long thought drowned. At the same time, the lyrics are honest and playful...Pappas juggles the overlapping plot lines with grace and precision. We're always aware of where we are...Brimming with warmth and clandestine power, this is one of those musicals that stows away in your heart without you even noticing."
Read more

"There's a lot to like about this show, but it isn't wholly successful for a variety of reasons. First of all, in my opinion, 90-minute musicals rarely work. It's a tall order to develop characters, as well as relationships...While partially due to the short duration of the show, part of that is also due to the writers' decision to include some of the dialogue within the songs like recitative...That said, the actors hold the musical together nicely."
Read more

"This is an old-fashioned laughter-and-tears exercise that combines wheezy gags with weepy revelations and the tasteless exploitation of certain world-historical events...The dialogue sounds like something thrown together in the writers' room of a mediocre television sitcom...Under Pappas' direction, the cast performs in a variety of styles...Filled to the brim with good will, but tries much too hard, overreaching in a way that comes across as unpleasantly calculating."
Read more

"Mixed-bag of a musical...The plot and characters are potentially quite moving. Unfortunately, the material is undercut by a bland and generic score...The performances are better than the material...Some of the early scenes move along a bit sluggishly, but director Pappas creates some effective stage images...Fall short of its musical ambitions, but the show does conclude with a sense of reconciliation, understanding, and, of course, hope."
Read more

"Directed by Pappas from present to past and back again, the characters gradually unveil their secrets and come to appreciate the love, humor, hope and traditions of their lives...Newman's dialogue is overly generous with Yiddish colloquialisms...If not a timeless American musical, 'A Letter to Harvey Milk' offers an honest truth in a time that needs it."
Read more

"The musical really takes off in its second half...Overall 'A Letter to Harvey Milk' is impressive and quite enjoyable, but could use further revision...While some of the numbers have lyrics that are quite poetic and beautiful, others are a bit on the nose. If it weren’t for the unexpectedly poignant turn the production takes in the second half, 'A Letter To Harvey Milk' might be somewhat forgettable."
Read more

"The play is at its best in its funny moments...The serious scenes are earnest but come off trite or corny. One exception to this is Harry’s telling of a tender moment he experienced in a concentration camp...There are 16 musical numbers in the play and they are the best element of 'A Letter To Harvey Milk'...All of the actors have lovely Broadway voices and can sell a song."
Read more

"In the current political climate, a musical like 'A Letter to Harvey Milk' can remind each of us of the importance of tolerance and understanding...Successful due to a range of musical numbers that run the gamut of funny to moving...Evan Pappas’ direction is thoughtful and precise with quick scene transitions for a breezy 90-minute show...The musical is shy in conflict and drama, opting for characters who are so likable that it’s hard to discern how each one grows."
Read more