Stairway to Stardom

"The brilliance of this piece of dance-theatre is that the dignity of each of the participants of the original 'Stairway to Stardom' is lovingly maintained, all while the deadpan delivery of the text is flawlessly executed...It reminds us of the absurdity of the superstars we live with. That these celebrities do not resonate with us, but that Amanda Szeglowski’s stories do, provides a compelling counterpoint that allows the work to succeed on many, many levels." Full Review

“A unique experience of self-discovery and the pursuit of one’s dreams in life…This is a theater experience that breaks the mold, in all the best ways…Fractions of conversations pair beautifully with dance breaks that pay homage to classic shows about fame...Hilarious story lines are amplified by the lack of emotion on the faces and in the voices of the cast as the script delves into the turmoils of pursuing one’s dream.” Full Review

"Absorbing and suggestive, this droll dance-theater piece is less campy and more disciplined than one might expect, using echoes and shadows of the TV show as background for a more general inquiry into showbiz aspiration and mundanity...The piece weds sharp synchronized choreography, partly inspired by moves from the series, to equally tight deadpan delivery of modern, interview-based textual fragments." Full Review

“In no way does Szeglowski feed into the ironic attitude that has led to the show’s cult following on the internet, but she does use the premise as a tool to discuss the ongoing temptation of stardom…Szeglowski’s cast members, for their part, are nothing but talented, and are capable of getting into the minds of their audience with bitterly truthful life stories. Even better, they make you laugh along the way.” Full Review

"The monotonous deadpan delivery, syncopated by robotic stuttering, makes changes in syntax incredibly potent in denoting a new individual answering, as the content itself is strictly maintained from its original verbal answer, including mistakes in grammar, stalling words, and candid political incorrectness...In accompaniment to the text, postures and facings change on operative words without imposing subtext, while functionally generating a pulse that facilitates crystalline delivery." Full Review

"Although inspired by a TV show, 'Stairway to Stardom' gives us more than the standard fare of selling one’s soul for stardom. While the robotic execution can feel monotonous, the cast’s commitment is admirable, their talent evident. Entertaining and funny, Szeglowski gives us a space to laugh at the classic catastrophe of being an artist, perhaps, to keep from crying." Full Review

"The hourlong piece certainly looks striking...The plotless evening tends to meander, especially since Ms. Szeglowski’s choreography gets repetitive after a while, leaving the idle mind free to ponder: What is the show trying to say?...What’s missing from the show is what made its TV inspiration so endearing: un-self-conscious hope." Full Review

“The five women strut about, mostly in unison, striking sexy poses and performing movements that even the Rockettes would consider clichéd. While moving they singly or in unison recite histories in first person, all the while slinking into sexy poses or high stepping about. The stories are so universally dreary that whatever wit and humor existed in the text is dissipated into the whiteness of the set.” Full Review