Theatre Director - REVIEWS
karesa.mcelheny@gmail.com
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REVIEWS
About Cyrano de Bergerac ~
Transporting a romantic epic to a 99-seat theatre . . . seems almost impossible. But the undertaking proves noble thanks to director Karesa McElheny’s winning adaptation . . . and McElheny’s direction is marvelous; she manages to convey all the romance of the balcony scene with almost no balcony. We can hardly wait for her to take on, say, a 99 seat Les Miserables.
Zach Udko, BACK STAGE WEST
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. . . Karesa McElheny’s judicious adaptation for Pasadena’s Knightsbridge Theatre fares quite well.
Philip Brandes, LOS ANGELES TIMES
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Life, or theatre, anyway – imitates art in director Karesa McElheny’s adaptation of Edmond Rostand’s classic . . . through McElheny’s wise and lively direction and a fine cast . . . we are drawn far into Rostand’s world of passion and trickery.
PICK OF THE WEEK Constance Monaghan, L.A. WEEKLY
About Shadowlands ~
William Nicholson’s haunting meditation on love and faith is skillfully and tenderly presented here by director Karesa McElheny . . . under McElheny’s deft direction . . . her talented cast manage to convey the airy haunts of Oxford with precision and flair.
Hoyt Hilsman, BACK STAGE WEST / DRAMALOGUE
…a virtually flawless cast brings the tale to life with subtlety, profundity, and that indefinable ability to touch the heart. It makes for a deeply satisfying, powerful evening. Director Karesa McElheny’s sure hand is visible throughout. She has a feel for the play, which radiates from everyone in the ensemble in equal measure . . . McElheny has the entire production humming like a top.
Frances Baum Nicholson, PASADENA STAR NEWS
About The Postulant ~
Evening A’s best effort is “The Postulant” . . . superbly directed by Karesa McElheny.
Les Spindle, FRONTIERS MAGAZINE
About The Lion in Winter ~
He (playwright James Goldman) and director Karesa McElheny have developed an extremely accessible piece of theatre in which present day audiences hear medieval characters utter very contemporary phrases. The result is electrifying and sometimes extremely humorous.
Amy Schaumberg, DRAMALOGUE
Firmly grounded . . and well paced by director Karesa McElheny, this lion leaps off the stage. PICK OF THE WEEK Jim Crogan, L.A. WEEKLY
About The Rivals ~
Sheridan has populated this piece with plenty of buffoons who, under the direction of McElheny, are all played with exquisite timing and wit.
Jana J. Monji, LOS ANGELES TIMES
Director Karesa McElheny succeeds in this topnotch revival of Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s The Rivals in bringing the piece set in 1775 Bath, England, to vibrant life.
Terry Morgan, L.A. WEEKLY
. . . highly proficient acting and tight, knowledgeable direction combine to bring back to life this witty bit of theatrical history. McElheny has a real feel for the flow and style this play must have. It shows in the crisp, witty, and audience-connected style of her direction, and in the confident delivery of Mrs. Malaprop’s outrageous lines.
Frances Baum Nicholson, PASADENA STAR NEWS
About Engaged ~
Engaging, sprightly performances highlight this production of W.S. Gilbert’s hilarious, albeit infrequently produced romantic roundelay. Director Karesa McElheny keeps the farce percolating at optimum speed and reaps the benefit of a talented cast.
Terry Morgan, L.A. WEEKLY
About Romeo and Juliet ~
. . . a prime specimen of bawdy humor and derring-do . . . McElheny is particularly adept at illuminating the earthy puns and innuendoes that run rampant through the sometimes opaque verse.
Philip Brandes, LOS ANGELES TIMES
About Amadeus ~
Director Karesa McElheny makes terrific use of her space.
Anne Louise Bannon, BACK STAGE WEST / DRAMALOGUE
Director Karesa McElheny manages a persuasive staging of Peter Shaffer’s modern classic . . . this production works well . . .
Deborah Klugman, L.A. WEEKLY
About ASSASSINS ~
Director Karesa McElheny has utilized the Knightsbridge Theatre's tiny stage with remarkable skill and draws nuanced performances from her capable cast.
Laura Hitchcock, CURTAIN UP
Tackling it in a period of surging patriotism is a particularly gutsy gamble, but Karesa McElheny’s accomplished staging for the Knightsbridge Theatre overcomes resource limitations to redeem the show’s problematic reputation…… a simultaneously hilarious and chilling evening….
Philip Brandes, LOS ANGELES TIMES
Full of tongue-in-cheek through stomach-in-throat humor, this Karesa McElheny directed production captures the gritty underbelly of “Assassins”....This is one must see play destined to receive nominations.
John Esther, PASADENA WEEKLY
Director Karesa McElheny and musical director Bill Newlin have assembled some of the finest talent the Knightsbridge Theatre has ever shown on its stage.
PICK OF THE WEEK Tom Provenzano, LA WEEKLY
Nominated for BEST MUSICAL OF THE YEAR
About A Little Night Music ~
Not being an unconditional devotee of Steven Sondheim's work, a production of one of his plays would really have to have strengths in areas other than music and lyrics to get my attention and critical kudos. The folks at the Knightsbridge Theatre are presenting just such a strong offering of a Sondheim classic, A Little Night Music. Benefiting much from the inventive staging of director Karesa McElheny, the thirty-year-old musical has a wonderful freshness.
Dave DePino, SHOWMAG.COM
Director Karesa McElheny helms an imaginatively staged and melodic rendition that surpasses the typical Knightsbridge production standards. McElheny’s crisp staging is at its best in the dinner scene, in which deliciously bitchy repartee is played with the actors; backs mostly in view, as they shift positions at various times to gain an upper hand.
Les Spindel, FRONTIERS MAGAZINE
About Dancing at Lughnasa ~
The Attic Theatre Ensemble does full justice to the material in a classy and engrossing rendition. Director Karesa McElheny elicits a magnificent ensemble effort, with beautifully textured performances that create a striking sense of realism and evoke sadness and robust humor in life-size proportions.
Les Spindel, BACKSTAGE WEST
….a wholly excellent ensemble, handily directed by Karesa McElheny.
Recommended Amy Nicholson, LA WEEKLY
About Desdemona, A Play about a Handkerchief ~
The production, directed by Karesa McElheny, is as funny as it is provocative.
Daryl H. Miller, LOS ANGELES TIMES
Under Karesa McElheny’s direction, a well-oiled production underscores Vogel’s biting perspective, with lighting and set design by John Szura and Dana Moran Williams respectively, furnishing an apt atmosphere for the women’s clandestine collisions.
Recommended Deborah Klugman, LA WEEKLY
About Julius Caesar ~
The Knightsbridge Theatre's production of "Julius Caesar" directed by Karesa McElheny, is like none you have seen before. When eight or ten soldiers march onto stage you believe they are a battalion; when a crowd forms, they sound and seem like thousands. Even if you don't like Shakespeare, you must see "Julius Caesar" at the Knightsbridge Theatre. It will be a production you won't forget, for the superb acting and the uniqueness of the gender-reversal. Jackie Houchin, VALLEYNEWS.COM
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About How to Catch a Man ~
James’ comedy about “Beaus, woes, and libidos” provides an evening of laughter, reflection and fun under the direction of Karesa McElheny. J. McCart, DRAMALOGUE
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About Trumpet to the Morn ~
…an excellent cast. Director Karesa McElheny keeps the pace going at a nice clip and uses the space wonderfully. In fact, there is little about this production that did not work well.
Anne Louise Bannon, BACKSTAGE WEST
Director Karesa McElheny keeps things moving along nicely, and has shrewd instincts about which actors have the right chemistry together. And the production design, by McElheny and Bonnie MacBird, is also spot on, not overly detailed, but just right to transport us back to its period.
Quentin Dunne, AFTER DARK