Reviews
Grease Reviews:
"The Creamery hired a top-notch group of young actors with enough energy to light up a village and the vocal chops to make audiences swoon. Toss in the hilarious antics of director Sean McCall and company favorite Marquetta Senters, and everything goes together like shoobop sha wadda wadda yippity boom de boom." — Diana Nollen with the Cedar Rapids Gazette. To read the entire review click HERE.
"From the first really important song, “Summer Nights,” to the final number, a reprise of “We Go Together,” the level of enthusiasm never lets up .... this is a show you will wholeheartedly enjoy." —Gerry Roe with the Iowa Theatre Blog. To read the entire review click HERE.
Shear Madness Review:
"[Shear Madness] is beautifully acted and directed, and it is very, very funny." —Gerry Roe with the Iowa Theatre Blog. To read the entire review click HERE.
Buyer and Cellar Reviews:
"Seeing Patrick Du Laney [in Buyer and Cellar] create all the characters, Streisand included, is well worth the price of admission, but given that this is an intelligently-written play with a piercingly sharp focus on one slightly nutty and very funny fan-star relationship, and you have a winner." —Emilie Hoppe with the Amana Bulletin
"[Patrick]Du Laney and his director, Christopher Okiishi, have created an intelligent and engrossing performance of this play, [Buyer and Cellar]." —Gerry Roe with the Iowa Theatre Blog. To read the entire review click HERE.
I'll Eat You Last: A Chat With Sue Mengers Review:
"As she always does, [Marquetta] Senters uses her formidable talent to give us an indelible portrait of the character....This production is a delight." —Gerry Roe with the Iowa Theatre Blog. To read the entire review click HERE.
Million Dollar Quartet Reviews:
"The outstanding feature of the show is, of course, the quartet. Each man has the opportunity to demonstrate his singing as well as his formidable instrumental talent." —Gerry Roe with the Iowa Theatre Blog. To read the entire feature article click HERE.
"As long as the Old Creamery has been here in Amana, there have been many, many good shows, quite a few great shows and several shows that simply knock you over.Million Dollar Quartet is one such show.... The audience didn’t want to leave." —Emilie Hoppe with the Amana Bulletin
Steeple People Reviews:
"The quartet consists of singing actors Sean Riley, Howard Meadows, Sean McCall, and Clark Skaggs, each possessed of a remarkable singing voice but together they manage to convince us that the quartet has been singing as a group for a long time." —Gerry Roe with the Iowa Theatre Blog. To read his entire review, click HERE.
"You will recognize many of these tunes and appreciate the new arrangements and new lyrics that weave them together in a seamless whole that serves the story and the up-tempo message of faith, forgiveness and cooperation. Steeple People is sincerely sweet, and a toe-tapper to be sure." —Emilie Hoppe with the Amana Bulletin
Completely Hollywood Abridged Reviews:
"Three actors, Nate Curlott, Andrew Stachurski, and Old Creamery’s Artistic Director Sean McCall, generate all the merriment required for a laugh-filled live theatrical tribute to American film. As Old Creamery audiences know, Sean McCall’s comic acting is a gift to the audience whenever he appears in a show. Curlott and Stachurski both display fine comic skills and great appeal." —Gerry Roe with the Iowa Theatre Blog. To read the entire review click HERE.
"Completely Hollywood is a well-crafted production, extremely funny, absolutely crammed with in-jokes, movie quotes, rapid-fire exchanges and wonderfully contemporary political satire. " —K. Michael Moore with Little Village. To read the entire review click HERE.
"Completely Hollywood Abridged plays up a lot of film elements that Hollywood buffs and casual movie fans alike will find funny and interesting....The play is really fun, and viewers with any knowledge of film will enjoy it, but of course the more you catch the more fun you’ll have. " —Emily Weber with The Corridor Review. To read the entire review click HERE.
"Each [actor] plays about 33 characters, scaling cliffs, jumping out of airplanes, gunning down villains, whipping in and out of scenes and costumes quicker than you can say, “Oscar winning performance.” They do it all with gusto, embracing the silliness and the mayhem as they parody our very favorite movies." —Emilie Hoppe with the Amana Bulletin.
Nuncrackers Review:
"In the Nunsense tradition, the show is sometimes corny, sometimes hilarious, sometimes touching. Make this show a part of your holiday experience—no matter how many incarnations of the Little Sisters of Hoboken you may have seen." —Gerry Roe with the Iowa Theatre Blog. To read his entire review, click HERE.
Barnum Reviews:
"Here's a line of truth: "Barnum" is one of the most wholly satisfying musicals the Old Creamery Theatre has produced. . . . Wrapped in a sparkling score full of depth and wonder by Cy Coleman and Michael Stewart, this winner of three 1980 Tony Awards will make you want to follow the band right over to Amana, to join the circus before it moves on." — Diana Nollen with the Cedar Rapids Gazette's Hoopla. To read the entire review, click HERE.
"For a relatively small stage and with a small company of actors, Barnum is a BIG show and it evokes BIG responses from the audience. There are, of course, a lot of laughs, and in the hands of this talented company the laughs are well earned." —Gerry Roe with the Iowa Theatre Blog. To read the entire review, click HERE.
"Using the circus as a story telling device, Barnum’s life is depicted as a series of highly entertaining circus acts with dancers, jugglers, magicians, clowns and surprising aerial stunts. The music is very good as these are top flight singers and the show has an excellent score with tuneful melodies and interesting lyrics." —Emilie Hoppe with the Amana Bulletin
Waiting for the Parade Reviews:
"Following the Thursday matinee performance of the Old Creamery Theatre’s “Waiting for the Parade” at the Studio Theatre, I wanted to stand up and cheer. Indeed I did, as did the rest of the audience, for this is absolutely one of the very best plays I have seen on any stage, any where, bar none." —Emilie Hoppe with the Amana Bulletin
"For fine acting, for skilled direction, for economy of presentation to convincing effect (even the stage hands are in military uniform), this is a Parade you won’t want to miss." —Gerry Roe with the Iowa Theatre Blog. To read the entire review, click HERE.
Shear Madness Reviews:
"The premise is perfect for the Old Creamery's elite cast. The imaginary "fourth wall" separating the audience from the actors is flimsy at best, and gets demolished entirely when viewers are asked to sift through clues and unravel a murder they never saw happen.The beauty of this convention is that it lets the Amana troupe display improv at its best - and funniest. And because the audience actively participates in the second half, the action and outcome will be different for every performance." —Diana Nollen with the Cedar Rapid's Gazette. To read the entire review click HERE.
"As the action unfolds, audience members question the actors as if they were a modern Sherlock Holmes trying to solve a rather hairy murder....Based on audience input, the murdered can be a different character each night." —Zach Berg with the Press Citizen. To read the entire feature article click HERE.
"Shear Madness has several unique qualities — two of the most obvious being that the show takes place locally, and it calls for an audience that is willing to play an additional role. In fact, part of the original structure of the play requires it take place in the town it is being performed — hence why Shear Madness is set in Cedar Rapids. As a consequence, the show is loaded with local references." —Victoria Vaughn with the Daily Iowan. To read the entire feature article click HERE.
The Andrews Brothers Reviews:
"Gaffney, Irving, and Steele’s harmonies were tight and their energy was infectious. Steele and Foley had just the right amount of chemistry for a light romance. The boogie woogie dancing on the part of all four cast members was so much toe-tapping fun." —Sharon Falduto with the Iowa Theatre Blog. To read the entire review click HERE.
"The cast of the Creameryʼs new show, The Andrews Brothers is so talented they could sing the menu from the Lucky Six Bowling Alley and we would be enchanted. . . . Every single song was a winner with this group of very talented singers and musicians. It was flawless start to finish and what a finish with “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” and a sparkling shower of big Andrews Sisters hits topping off this star spangled finale." –Emilie Hoppe, ASI Bulletin
The Matchmaker Reviews:
"Senters is, indeed, an excellent choice to play Dolly Levi ("The Matchmaker" is the source material for the musical "Hello, Dolly!"), a busybody meddling in everyone's romantic lives. She delivers her witty dialogue with flawless timing, and her gift for the perfect gesture or facial expression adds much to her performance. David Q. Combs is her ideal foil as Horace Vandergelder, a curmudgeonly man in a marrying mood. Combs storms imperiously through the play until a certain woman domesticates him." —Rob Cline with The Cedar Rapids Gazette. To read the entire review click HERE.
"The considerable strength of this play lies in the characters rather than the plot. Under the crisp, careful direction of Sean McCall, the Old Creamery company vividly maneuvers through the complications and adventures encountered on a day in New York. . . . Dolly Gallagher is one of the great roles in American theatre, and Marquetta Senters is more than capable of meeting any challenge this role presents. Senters is a wonderful clown as Creamery audiences know, but she is equally adept at presenting the deepest emotion; the intelligence driving her performances is formidable." —Gerry Roe with the Iowa Theatre Blog. To read the entire review click HERE.
Billy Bishop Goes To War Review:
"This production featuring Irving’s powerful acting and Crowe’s amazing music and narration creates an indelible impression of Canada’s flying ace. Directed by Sean McCall with the taste and skill I have come to expect from his work, and beautifully executed period costumes by Marquetta Senters, this production is nothing short of a magnificent theatrical experience." —Gerry Roe with the Iowa Theatre Blog. To read the entire review click HERE.
"You would have to travel to Chicago or Minneapolis to see this level of play writing, acting, and production." — Emilie Hoppe with the The Amana Society Bulletin.
The Spy Who Killed Me Reviews:
"What Daab’s script does well is create a charming and puntastical farce of the “spy flick” genre. Every James Bond movie in the universe gets mocked in this show, and for a fan, especially, it’s a treat, in an environment that not only accommodates the atmosphere, but celebrates it, and invites audience participation. It is also very, very modern, with references to recent celebrity happenings, from gluten intolerance to pop music, and many local or tabloid oriented jokes." —K. Michael Moore with the Iowa Theatre Blog. To read the entire review click HERE.
"The way the food was served, by having short intermissions, balanced perfectly in breaking the show up into sections. Each part of the meal was good and varied. Overall, the show was a treat to see that had me laughing at many of the jokes, all while enjoying a good meal at the same time." Lilliane Lippold with the Coe Cosmos Newspaper
A 1940s Radio Christmas Carol Review:
"[The actors] create a transfixing play within a play – you are as interested in their telling of “The Christmas Carol” as you are in how they tell it. . . . one fascinating element was the way they create the sound effects for the broadcast. Michael Sheridan deserves a special plug for the sound effects especially after St. Clair discovers how much fun it is to try and stump him." — Emilie Hoppe with the The Amana Society Bulletin.
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike Reviews:
"The play is laced with Chekhov references and jokes, and is chock-full of themes and ideas from his work, but it reads and plays very well to someone not versed in his work as well. It plays with those themes and turns them around. It’s a very funny, touching production, which I strongly encourage you to see." —K. Michael Moore with the Iowa Theatre Blog. To read the entire review click HERE.
"Right from the get-go, comedy is front and center with the play. . . . there is plenty of hysterical physical humor that happens onstage. This ranges from cups being thrown, to Spike parading around in nothing but his underpants. " Lilliane Lippold with the Coe Cosmos Newspaper
"At one point, Vanya is fed up with Spike’s disrespect and releases every bit of hostility toward the younger generation’s addiction to technology. The result is an eloquent, strong and heartfelt rant that could come from anyone not raised on computers. Du Laney nailed it. My skin was goose bumped as Vanya begged Spike to explain how a generation could be so ignorant to the world around them. It was the highlight of the show."Amanda Mayotte with the Mount Mercy Times. To read the entire review click HERE.
"There is an unexpected beauty in the unique stage: The level of intimacy is unmatched. With only six rows of chairs, the audience is forced to pay attention to every single word and movement." Amanda Mayotte with the Mount Mercy Times. To read the entire review click HERE.
Cash on Delivery Review:
" The Old Creamery Theatre has yet another slam-bang, slap-happy farce on its boards with "Cash on Delivery." . . . . [Sean] McCall is a master of his craft, and his comic handiwork with Mike Long is blissfully silly. They are terrific together." —Wallace Chappell with The Cedar Rapids Gazette's Hoopla. To read the entire review click HERE.
"The play was excellent with its fast-pace humor and energetic plot that snowballed into a complex catastrophe!" Lilliane Lippold with the Coe Cosmos Newspaper
Tuna Does Vegas Review:
"This two-man, tour de force reunites Schwans and McCall who pull out all the stops. The versatile, well-matched pair of pros whip through about 80 costume changes playing every oddball character in that little town we love so much Tuna, Texas." — Emilie Hoppe & Barbara Hoehnle with the The Amana Society Bulletin.
"Hats off to all of the production staff on and off stage, who made this all possible. It is an impressive, high-powered theatrical feat that will hold every audience member in rapture." —Ashley Promisel with City Revealed Magazine. To read the entire review click HERE.
Snoopy!!! The Musical Review:
"Director Sean McCall's hilarious hand is all over this production. A master of physical comedy, he infuses the choreography and punctuates the action with little bits of brilliance that elicited giggle fits from the young and young at hear.... Classic costumes, a giant red doghouse center-stage and a trio of piano, bass and drums add plenty of pow to this big bowwow." -Diana Nollen with The Cedar Rapids Gazette's Hoopla. To read the entire review click HERE.
The Sunshine Boys Reviews:
"Playwright Neil Simon loves his odd couples, and audiences will love David Q. Combs and Richard W. Cox as The Sunshine Boys.... Temperatures rise, blood pressures boil and plenty of hatchets get buried in Lewis and Clark's heads in this old-fashioned comedy that adds plenty of gristle to its bite." —Diana Nollen with The Cedar Rapid Gazette's Hoopla. To read the entire review click HERE.
"If you've never seen this show live, run don't walk to get your tickets. Starring Richard Cox, David Combs, and Sean McCall, the Creamery's production of this Neil Simon hit is just too much fun." —Emilie Hoppe with The Willkommen, Vol. 33 No. 3
The Price Reviews:
"I would encourage you to catch this show as well as the rest of the Old Creamery’s Studio Series. They are generally not as well attended as the main stage shows, but are often more gripping and thought provoking. The intimate theatre provides a more intense experience and you won’t regret checking out The Price, which runs through June 15." —Matthew Falduto with the Iowa Theatre Blog. To read the entire review click HERE.
"Being close enough to see the actors’ tear, clenched fists, and popping veins made seeing The Price feel less like theatre and more like bearing witness to a family’s final unraveling.... Decades after its Broadway debut, the Old Creamery Theatre gives The Price an honorable valuation." —Mark Hilton with City Revealed Magazine. To read the entire review click HERE.
“The appraiser, Solomon, says ‘With used furniture, you can’t get emotional,’ yet the audience gets to be, essentially, voyeurs of a real-time excavation of raw emotion and tangled family dynamics,” [Angie Toomsen, Director] said. “And the intimacy of the Studio space makes the tension palpable.” —Aly Brown with The Press Citizen. To read the entire feature click HERE.
"The Price by Arthur Miller, [is] a sharp, thought-provoking drama." —Emilie Hoppe with The Willkommen, Vol. 33 No. 3
Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash Reviews:
"This is a guaranteed toe-tapping, hand-clapping trip down Memory Lane, going all the way to Memphis." —Diana Nollen with The Cedar Rapid Gazette's Hoopla. To read the entire review click HERE.
"The cast are not just talented musicians, but talented actors as well, and they use those dramatic skills to bring life to the lyrics of Cash’s songs. Yes, Ring of Fire includes all the Cash hits you know and love, but the lesser-known songs more than earn their place alongside classics like “I Walk the Line” and “Man in Black.” This is a credit to the cast, which plays through each song as if it’s the most important one on the set-list." —Mark Hilton with City Revealed Magazine. To read the entire review click HERE.
"The Old Creamery’s production pulls four actors and two actresses into the fold, all at one point or another portraying some aspect of Mr. Cash. This... fuses all six actors into a single role in a surprisingly effective manner."—Andrew Juhl with The Iowa Theatre Blog. To read the entire review click HERE.
Private Lives Reviews:
"[Jim] Van Valen and [Saffron] Henke match each other’s energy with every change of affection, mirroring all of the anger, panic and awkwardness necessary to portray British comedy’s ultimate “It’s Complicated” couple. Their talent for physical comedy is a highlight of the play, bringing the loudest audience laughs with a bout of passive-aggressive dancing and what can only be described as the world’s angriest pillow fight." — Jorie Slodski with Little Village Magazine. To read the entire review click HERE.
"Old Creamery’s current production of Noel Coward's Private Lives explores the idea of that someone - not with a scalpel but with a typically Coward-esque battering ram. The show is a flippant, indirect series of jabs that keeps the audience cringing and laughing throughout." —K. Michael Moore with The Iowa Theatre Blog. To read the entire review click HERE.
"I was most impressed when I realized that the entire cast except for Elyot, were first time performers at the OTC. This is a not-to-be-missed show, especially for those of you who love to laugh!" —Jodi Harris with City Revealed Magazine. To read the entire review click HERE.
Past Reviews:
Away in the Basement: A Church Basement Ladies Christmas, November 2013.
"This show is delightful from beginning to end, sporting kicky tunes and choreography with '50s flair, costumes just made for sight gags and scenery straight out of my grandma's Lutheran church basement. Everything about it feels yummy and warm, spicy and sweet -- just right for Christmas fun, with a pinch of nutmeg nostalgia in the Pastor's lovely lament to his late wife." —Diana Nollen with The Cedar Rapid Gazette's Hoopla. To read the entire review click HERE.
Lumberjacks in Love, August 2013.
"These are all seasoned pros, who handle the physical comedy, music and clever choreography with equal aplomb." —Diana Nollen with The Cedar Rapid Gazette's Hoopla. To read the entire review click HERE.
Cookin' with Gus, June 2013.
"McCall's stirring direction does a wonderful job of combining all the ingredients in Gus into a comic stew that leaves one wanting more. If you're hungry for farce, head to Old Creamery!" —James E. Trainor III with The Iowa Theatre Blog. To read the entire review click HERE.