Nobody Loves You
Second Stage production:
"...this agreeably snarky musical...hurls darts at its soft target with impressive aim, nimbly spoofing a subject you’d think would be spoof-proof — thus defeating odds tougher than your chances of landing a spot on “The Amazing Race.”"
New York Times Critics Pick
"...[this] high-torque pop musical about the triumphant vulgarity of TV love competitions is…genuinely funny, thanks to abundant wit from book-writer-and-lyricist Itamar Moses… crisp direction from Michelle Tattenbaum (whom we'll be seeing more of around town, I predict), and an airtight ensemble of regulars, up-and-comers and lesser-knowns, all of them united in a common goal: To surprise and delight in the here and now, not just frack dry wells for residual amusement."
New York Magazine
"Michelle Tattenbaum...wraps the show up in spare but gleaming style."
New York Daily News
"...the wonderful new pop musical “Nobody Loves You” takes on that most ridiculous of genres in a way that’s both silly and smart...Energetically directed by Michelle Tattenbaum…the show is an upbeat funfest."
New York Post
"...cheeky and highly crushable..."
Critics Pick, 4 stars
TimeOut New York
"...a bright, clued-in, quick-witted amusement...thanks to the sly book and lyrics by Itamar Moses, the music and lyrics by Gaby Alter and a knowing cast directed with just the right appreciation of the absurd by Michelle Tattenbaum."
New York Newsday
"...one of the smartest accounts of love among the post-grad set...Michelle Tattenbaum’s production (with calisthenic choreography by Mandy Moore) is lively, congenially put across by a very game cast..."
Bloomberg
"...the smartest new musical comedy to come along since "The Drowsy Chaperone."...Michelle Tattenbaum's staging plugs into the characters' feelings without bogging down in sentiment. The eight-person cast contains nary a weak link...a pithy, intimate romp..."Nobody Loves You" deserves to run and run and run."
The Wall Street Journal
Old Globe production:
"Best New Musical: This one's an easy call: "Nobody Loves You," a concise, compact reality-TV spoof by Gaby Alter and Itamar Moses that's part open-hearted rom-com, part dead-on satire. By all rights it should have gone straight from San Diego's Old Globe to an off-Broadway theater. The sooner "Nobody Loves You" gets here, the better."
The Wall Street Journal
""Nobody Loves You,” a delightful chamber musical having its premiere here at the Old Globe Theater, confounds expectations with its verve and ingenuity in poking silly fun at the absurdities of the crass, malice-riddled and embarrassingly addictive shows in which common folk are given a chance to grab the fleeting celebrity spotlight and win love, money or, best of all, a spinoff...Under the peppy direction of Michelle Tattenbaum, the cast embodies the pop stereotypes they are asked to portray with winning gusto."
The New York Times
"The Old Globe's smart, tuneful "Nobody Loves You" skewers a crackpot TV dating competition without losing sight of the genuinely yearning, burning hearts on either side of the small screen. Delighted audiences in San Diego, and surely elsewhere for years to come, will eagerly hand everyone involved a rose...The flawless ensemble...demonstrates boundless charm within helmer Michelle Tattenbaum's droll, understated style."
Variety
""Nobody Loves You," in which a geeky philosophy major (Adam Kantor) auditions for a "Survivor"-style reality TV show to make his ex jealous, could transfer to New York pretty much intact…the production, directed by Michelle Tattenbaum and choreographed by Mandy Moore, is as crisp and smart as the show itself. Everyone in the cast is immensely likable and impeccably accomplished… it has the smell of a hit."
Wall Street Journal
ms. estrada
"…this lively production…a knowing response to the current movement with a decidedly millennial spin…Michelle Tattenbaum's direction does make for a fast-paced, rainbow-bright exercise in camp…Playful but crude, flirting with irreverence, ms. estrada promises smart sex for the 21st century…"
The New York Times
"Often provocative yet always irreverent, ms. estrada lends a whole new beat to this story of sexual deprivation as a form of protest…Director Michelle Tattenbaum matches the Brothers' cheekiness with her animated, high-energy staging: Just try to keep a straight face as the frat bros struggle through a yoga class that involves the use of giant blue balls…"
TheaterMania
White Guy on the Bus
“Swiftly structured by the playwright in slightly overlapping scenes, the drama receives a production that is fluidly staged by Michelle Tattenbaum, the director…Everyone who sees White Guy on the Bus will probably recognize the hard truths about racism that drive this story — and, sadly, so much of American life today.”
The New York Times
“Director Michelle Tattenbaum’s fluid staging makes a potentially confusing setup crystal clear…White Guy on the Bus asks hard questions about its characters, and about society as a whole…you’re likely to spend a lot of time thinking about those questions in the days after you see this incendiary, timely and essential new play.”
DC Metro Theater Arts
“Graham’s writing and Tattenbaum’s direction guide the cast away from clichéd stereotypes or preachy platitudes, which divide people into good and evil. Instead we see multiple layers of grey in the characters, their situation and their evolution…Run, don’t walk, to catch the last few performances of White Guy on the Bus. You will not regret it.”
NewJerseyStage.com
“a powerful story about characters struggling with titanic decisions and negotiating desperately to save themselves…”
Broad Street Review
“[White Guy on the Bus] asks hard questions about race, gender and class, which all intertwine in a tangle of competing motivations and powerful emotion. Directed by Michelle Tattenbaum, the cast is simply superb at bringing these characters to life…This is a powerful play that will make you question your assumptions.”
Princeton Packet
“Graham’s straightforwardness and sincerity are matched by an excellent production by director Michelle Tattenbaum for Trenton’s Passage Theater. Tattenbaum accentuates the reality and sense of unfiltered human nature Graham packs into his story and dialogue. Each character is immediately believable, and each sequence is fraught with tension that stems from life and not theatrical contrivance…Tattenbaum’s staging makes you feel more like a fly on the wall witnessing scenes than like someone watching a play.”
U.S.1
25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
“…an utterly delightful and hilarious production…The ensemble of actors is nearly flawless, with the direction and choreography fresh and bright…A great deal of the credit goes to director Michelle Tattenbaum, whose pacing of the production is animated and sparkling, with all the jokes landing perfectly…Just about everything comes together flawlessly in this production...”
Talkin’ Broadway
“Under the direction of Michelle Tattenbaum, this show is highly entertaining…we are seeing something very special…the cast is absolutely magnificent…”
Broadway World
“Directed by Michelle Tattenbaum, the performance is a high energy, fast-paced myriad of teenage angst and dreams in a competitive setting that raises the stakes…a rollicking romp of a good time with a meaningful message of what really matters, delivered by a spectacular cast.”
The Newtown Bee
“Under the wonderful direction of Michelle Tattenbaum, clever gym set by Jack Mehler and animated choreography of Ilana Ransom Toeplitz, with a cast of top notch performers and words to spell like “weltanschauung” and “vug,” you are guaranteed a lively, animated and entertaining evening.”
CT Critics Circle, Bonnie Goldberg
“…delightful…small-scale charmer…The breezy, unobtrusive direction by Michelle Tattenbaum is most welcome…In all, it’s hard to stop smiling throughout this “Spelling Bee”. Spell it: T-E-R-R-I-F-I-C!”
CT Critics Circle, Tom Holehan
“…the production couldn’t be more perfect…Director Michelle Tattenbaum has not only pulled together a professional cast in three short weeks, but unifies the production with clever touches…This is one of the best productions of this show to come around.”
Ridgefield Press
“The key to mounting a successful production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is making the show fresh without sacrificing its fundamental elements. This is exactly what Director Michelle Tattenbaum and Choreographer Ilana Ransom Toeplitz have done…The show – tuneful and funny – has been festooned with just enough embellishments and flourishes to make it sparkle and seem new again…”
Stu on Broadway
Student Body
"provocative...involving...under Michelle Tattenbaum’s direction, there is truthfulness to the group dynamics..."
New York Times
"...compelling drama, directed by Michelle Tattenbaum... keeping the focus on the difficult ethical questions, not on teary confessions of knowledge or guilt. After all, if nailing one culprit solved much, it wouldn't make for such interesting drama."
The Village Voice
“Director Michelle Tattenbaum takes good advantage of this by never letting the play become physically stagnant…Student Body left me appropriately unsettled…it is undoubtedly successful”
Theater is Easy
“The play showcases striking writing by Winters; fine, precise direction from Michelle Tattenbaum; and a number of strong, mature performances from members of the Bats…”
CurtainUp
“Michelle Tattenbaum’s direction was simple yet effective…Tattenbaum’s game of take a side was striking. She staged the play in a way that once you discovered the rules of the debate, playing with the extremes of the space and the ability to be or not be seen, it allowed the story to come alive in a new way.”
Theater In the Now
“This play is powerfully directed by Michelle Tattenbaum and wonderfully acted by the members of The Bats.”
Times Square Chronicles
“It’s hard to imagine a play better suited to the demography of the Bats, the Flea’s resident actors, or the space in which they play and lounge and bang to Michelle Tattenbaum’s lived-in staging…Pared down to perfection, this pressure cooker is a prudent pick for colleges looking for something edgy on a budget.”
StageBuddy
Love/Stories
"Itamar Moses…has given the cast fine material with which to showcase its abilities: some accents, a few mood swings, a little crying and lots of laugh lines that require perfect comic timing....Under Michelle Tattenbaum’s direction…deliciously understated."
The New York Times
"…the final word on the writer's five-play mini-marathon is that it's a hell of a lot of fun…this is the perfect forum for Moses' theatrical instincts, especially as realized by Michelle Tattenbaum..."
Variety
"Michelle Tattenbaum, who has staged several of Mr. Moses' plays but whose work is new to me, has done a terrific job with "Love/Stories," whose postmodern prestidigitation poses some formidable directorial challenges."
Wall Street Journal
"...skillfully and creatively directed by Michelle Tattenbaum...There's something innately relatable within these plays—starring the Flea's resident company, the Bats (Felipe Bonilla, Laurel Holland, Maren Langdon, Michael Micalizzi, and John Russo in this production, all doing bang-up work)..."
nytheatre.com
"...these thematically connected playlets showcase the expert comic talents of five of the Flea's resident acting company, the Bats…The connection between the plays is forged by Michelle Tattenbaum's polished direction…these attractive young actors easily wrest every drop of humor and meaningful subtext from their characters..."
cutainup.com
"All the actors belong to the Bats, the Flea's in-house ensemble, so they're used to keeping character in check with the audience so near. I'm always fascinated by them, and these performers are especially loose and lovely. Also nice is Tattenbaum's work, which allows the plays to breathe."
Backstage
“Under Michelle Tattenbaum's deft direction, the playlets -- all enacted by five actors – are...thought-provoking and emotionally resonant.”
Theatermania.com
"...one of the smartest comedies theatergoers will find on stage in New York this winter...a marvel of physical and verbal timing that's been expertly choreographed by director Michelle Tattenbaum."
American Theater Web
"Working with the Bats, Michelle Tattenbaum, who has previously directed at least five plays by Itamar Moses, has staged each of these one-acts as taut, engrossing theatrical teasers and obtained trenchant performances from her company of five."
TheaterScene.net
"expert direction by Michelle Tattenbaum...Tattenbaum’s attention to detail here is evident, orchestrating the actors like a Maestro, giving the skilled cast a chance to really play with each line and never allowing an unfinished thought to be empty. Not only is she specific with her direction of words, but she also creates a great flow and fluid use of the physical space. Fabricating depth out of the narrow playing space, she stages actors at a desk right up against the audience, uses every doorway, and plays every plane. With the help of great light (Joe Chapman) and set design (Jerad Schomer), she manages to isolate focus to certain areas of the stage one moment at a time, as if we the audience are flipping through the pages of a book of short stories and choose to stop at this one, or that one, because a word pops out at us."
TheatreIsEasy.com
Roan @ The GatEs
"…a tight, well-acted morality play about whistleblowing and its implications…Less is more for director Michelle Tattenbaum who gets the most from the strong acting and chemistry between Roan and Nat."
Baristanet
"The two-hander is adeptly directed by Michelle Tattenbaum…This captivating show portrays the moral, professional and personal dilemmas that a whistleblower faces. Aaliyah Habeeb as Nat and Mel House as Roan capture the drama, mystery, tension, and romance of Roan @ The Gates. The actors deftly depict a loving relationship, one that is in the throws of great stress.
Broadway World
"My cyber Valentine, sweet worldwide Valentine–Luna Stage’s latest production, the world premiere of “Roan @ The Gates,” by Christina Gorman, is going to give you chills—those deep chills that start in the center of your being and vibrate out like ripples from a pebble thrown hard into a stream…Michelle Tattenbaum’s direction makes this intense one-act-length modern tale, which has no happy ending, come home with vibrant life…a scary little jewel of a production…"
QonStage
"… full of urgency and intrigue… packs global intrigue, romantic angst, and intersectional identity politics effectively into its brief runtime… This is a play with big ideas about identity, love, and the strength of one’s moral conviction, important questions that “Roan @ The Gates” explores with conviction…"
The Star Ledger
"Director Michelle Tattenbaum keeps a tight rein on the dramatic proceedings to produce a riveting, engrossing study of a relationship about to go off the rails for the sake of national security…the actors move effortlessly though scenes that range from Alexandriia, Virginia, to a Moscow airport and to a safe house…One ingenious bit of staging has the couple sending each other emails, speaking the words as they "type."
News-Record
The Four of Us
Check out a feature article about the production and about Itamar's work in the Los Angeles Times.
"clever, surprising...scenes shift seamlessly between the past and the present...Michelle Tattenbaum's deft direction...brings out the humanity in her actors..."
LA Weekly, September 18, 2008
"The direction by Michelle Tattenbaum is taut and fast paced. More importantly she keeps the proceedings real."
StageHappenings.com, September 24, 2008
"...action is often well observed. Humorous truth can make small moments ping...blur[s] the boundary between art and life, leaving us always a little doubtful about what we're viewing. The effect is thematically ingenious..."
Los Angeles Times, September 19, 2008
"Under the assured guidance of director Michelle Tattenbaum, this quirky two-hander becomes a fine vehicle for actors Ryan Johnston and Steven Klein, who share a terrific chemistry...Tattenbaum keeps the pace crisp and the time juxtapositions crystal-clear."
Backstage, September 25, 2008
The Sublet Experiment
"The Sublet Experiment is a play that taps into the thrills of theater's psychological voyeurism..."
New York Times
New York Magazine critics' pick
"The Sublet Experiment is a total success. Youngerman and director Michelle Tattenbaum have mounted a production that is thematically and artistically satisfying, and a whole lot of fun to boot...the viewer can truly feel the change in the air."
www.nytheatre.com
"Ethan Youngerman's The Sublet Experiment is truly inventive and thrilling....Michelle Tattenbaum directed this tight ensemble in a tight space with an incredible intricate aplomb...Find out where this is playing...it's brilliant. GO-O-O!" HI! DRAMA
Manhattan Neighborhood Network
"Cleverly written and unaffectedly acted, The Sublet Experiment is modern and apropos, and manages to put a new spin on the tired, but ever-present, quest for identity. Plus, you can laugh, cry and check out real estate all at the same time."
NY Press
Mother Jones and the Children’s Crusade
"Directed by Michelle Tattenbaum and featuring stunning scenic design by Scott Tedmon-Jones, Mother Jones and the Children’s Crusade might be the one show at the festival that demands an instant Broadway transfer. Its ideas are too grand and beautiful, for them not to be seen by as many audience members as possible, its performances (from the smallest supporting parts - Robin de Jesus proves why he’s the go-to scene-stealer - to Wintersteller’s star turn) both universal and specific."
StageBuddy.com
"They are a strong and, yet, still graceful ensemble, and they handle the politics in the musical with a light hand. There are some winning moments, particularly as they organize before setting out to meet with President Teddy Roosevelt. The fine performances are directed by Michelle Tattenbaum...The music from the show explodes in march songs and bold ensemble numbers..."
Theater Pizzazz
"...thoroughly polished...a dream given form...incisive —and exhilarating..."
Talkin' Broadway
Dov and Ali
"Zeigler's undeniable talent makes the characters and their odysseys totally compelling – especially under Michelle Tattenbaum's seamless direction...Dov and Ali, CTC's radiant 20th Anniversary Season opener proves at the very least a thoughtful starting point for a real dialogue about religion, faith and individual choice, and that is all to the good."
The Jewish Advocate
"Though Dov and Ali fits the genre of discussion play, this is no wordy Shavian treatise but a tightly constructed play, Ziegler has imbued the discussion with warmth and impressive dramatic flair...Michelle Tattenbaum's visual presentation of the play's various locations...was simple and effective."
CurtainUp
"...Very well acted by the accomplished cast under Michelle Tattenbaum's well- focused direction. Commendations are most certainly due."
PMP Network
"The results of Director Michelle Tattenbaum and Set Designer Sean A. Cote partnership are exemplary. The four well-cast actors move naturally on a small stage that morphs seamlessly from venue to venue."
In The Spotlight
"Michelle Tattenbaum's sharp direction of her four performers..."
Valley Advocate