HERE LIES HENRY
by Daniel MacIvor
Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended!
"Suspenders, jitters, throwback mustache and all, Sawa delivers a bravura performance as either the worst inspirational comic of all time; a soul in purgatory who keeps blurting out unsavory disclosures involving past awkwardness and possible murder; a pathological liar; or some fiercely winning jumble of all three."
- Max Maller
Chicago Theatre Review - Recommended!
"Scott Sawa as the titular Henry is great in the part. He has to hold the audience’s attention and there’s not really any point to reset if the rhythm gets thrown off, and even at a comparatively short 75 minute run time, that’s still a long time to be the only person on stage. I saw him recently in Cowardly Scarecrow’s production of Cabaret as Cliff, and he was great there, too. Sawa brings a similar wearing disdain for everything, most of all himself, and whatever my other questions about the script, that shone through easily and was at several points quite moving."
"Sawa’s performance is worth your time."
- Kevin Curran
Chicago On Stage - Recommended!
"what [MacIvor] wants to do is to take us all on a mind journey, not just into Henry’s life, but into our own as well. Sawa and Elyce do a fine job of fulfilling this goal, making Here Lies Henry into probably the most fascinatingly metaphysical play ever punctuated sporadically by dance breaks."
- Karen Topham
And we were Jeff Recommended!
"Suspenders, jitters, throwback mustache and all, Sawa delivers a bravura performance as either the worst inspirational comic of all time; a soul in purgatory who keeps blurting out unsavory disclosures involving past awkwardness and possible murder; a pathological liar; or some fiercely winning jumble of all three."
- Max Maller
Chicago Theatre Review - Recommended!
"Scott Sawa as the titular Henry is great in the part. He has to hold the audience’s attention and there’s not really any point to reset if the rhythm gets thrown off, and even at a comparatively short 75 minute run time, that’s still a long time to be the only person on stage. I saw him recently in Cowardly Scarecrow’s production of Cabaret as Cliff, and he was great there, too. Sawa brings a similar wearing disdain for everything, most of all himself, and whatever my other questions about the script, that shone through easily and was at several points quite moving."
"Sawa’s performance is worth your time."
- Kevin Curran
Chicago On Stage - Recommended!
"what [MacIvor] wants to do is to take us all on a mind journey, not just into Henry’s life, but into our own as well. Sawa and Elyce do a fine job of fulfilling this goal, making Here Lies Henry into probably the most fascinatingly metaphysical play ever punctuated sporadically by dance breaks."
- Karen Topham
And we were Jeff Recommended!
The art above was only possible because of the collaboration with these artists:
director Elana Elyce
stage manager Shawn Galligan
understudy Josh Kemper
costume designer LaVisa Williams
sound designer Tim McNulty
lighting designer Michelle Benda
production manager Richie Vavrina
Photos by Emily Schwartz, unless otherwise stated.
director Elana Elyce
stage manager Shawn Galligan
understudy Josh Kemper
costume designer LaVisa Williams
sound designer Tim McNulty
lighting designer Michelle Benda
production manager Richie Vavrina
Photos by Emily Schwartz, unless otherwise stated.
C A B A R E T
by Masteroff, Kander, and Ebb
“[T]his show genuinely smashes expectations across the board. The naive protagonist Cliff, usually rendered as a bland collegiate soul, is given life and personality by Scott Sawa’s engaging portrayal here. He even gives this frequently colorless figure a sense of soft humor, allowing the show’s devastating ending to reflect not only the murderous intent of Hitler and his minions, but the loss of personal innocence, as well.”
Brian Kirst, Big Gay Horror Fan
“The cast up and down the line is excellent.”
“More than anything, the highest hurdle for a show like this is finding a way to make it its own. ….This production manages to clear that hurdle. The talent on stage alone would make this worth the trip, and happily that talent is being deployed in service of a great show.”
Kevin Curran, Chicago Theatre Review
Brian Kirst, Big Gay Horror Fan
“The cast up and down the line is excellent.”
“More than anything, the highest hurdle for a show like this is finding a way to make it its own. ….This production manages to clear that hurdle. The talent on stage alone would make this worth the trip, and happily that talent is being deployed in service of a great show.”
Kevin Curran, Chicago Theatre Review
Ten Dollar House
by Rick Kinnebrew and Martha Meyer
"The real star of Ten Dollar House is Sawa, whose comic timing and aloofness mingled with vulnerability imbues the entire production with warmth and heart." -- Chicago Theater Beat
"Scott Sawa is a most commanding force as Bob Neal. Mr. Sawa manages to capture both Neal’s eccentricity and artistic side, while still finding Neal’s vulnerability and quieter moments." -- Chicago Theater Review
"Scott Sawa is a most commanding force as Bob Neal. Mr. Sawa manages to capture both Neal’s eccentricity and artistic side, while still finding Neal’s vulnerability and quieter moments." -- Chicago Theater Review