Held Momentarily

for a previous production "The musical's upbeat, witty take on everyday annoyances and disappointments is reminiscent of 'Avenue Q,' and the ensemble cast has a similar charm. Within the economical hour-long time slot, the characters' back stories are kept fairly simple, which sometimes encourages cliches. Still, they feel reasonably developed, and the performers provide emotional sincerity and realness...The show as a whole still has room to continue to develop, but 'Held Momentarily' offers a promising premise with ... Full Review

for a previous production "This show was an emotional ride through what it’s like to be an up-and-coming adult in the city, full of insider jokes and unique relationships. The characters are deceptively simple tropes at first but demonstrate their individuality well. Some of the plot points are a bit unbelievable, and a birth in a subway seems like a forced way to create a climax; this musical could have worked better with an untraditional narrative." Full Review

for a previous production "A cute little treat in the Off Broadway theater world...'Held Momentarily' was a fun adventure and a great 'I love New York' moment. The actors possessed excellent on stage presence and singing abilities. Their enthusiasm and energy was contagious and kept the stories moving fluidly. They truly appeared to have a lot of fun performing. There was chemistry and camaraderie in the performances that made the show a delightfully entertaining event." Full Review

for a previous production "'Held Momentarily' brought the audience to its feet after a fantastic performance...Amidst the comedy, the singing, and the hilarious 'subway-shuffle' choreography, 'Held Momentarily' makes a powerfully thought-provoking statement for any New Yorker who has ever ridden the train... It’s no wonder the audience fell a little bit in love with this production and I’m sure that none of us will ever look at a simple train ride the same way ever again." Full Review

for a previous production "The music is upbeat and catchy. Hunter Bird’s direction is smooth and balanced, the sound and lighting are unobtrusive and work very well to set the pace for the back and forth of present story and flashbacks...But the most appealing thing about 'Held Momentarily' is the well-observed inside jokes, which include jabs at the MTA, the mayor, the social consciousness and Internet dating." Full Review

for a previous production "The New Yorkers in this subway-set musical first appear as flat, ordinary types—yet happily, there is depth and promise after all... Strangely, there’s a conspicuous lack of earbuds and smartphones, the devices we use to disconnect ourselves: A stronger digital presence would have been useful and more believable. Also, Hunter Bird’s direction can’t quite strike a balance between youthful, energetic singing and dancing and intense, sometimes overwrought dialogue." Full Review

for a previous production "The cast is a true ensemble. They work with an energy and joy with one purpose in mind -- to give the playgoer a great big smile. A special kudos goes to the unnamed set designer(s). The many, oversized subway signs captured the subway’s frenetic being. I especially appreciated those ugly, orange seats. They were very subwayesque. Go see it. You’ll like it." Full Review