Read All About It, Internet!
The reviews are in for my latest project, “Thrill Me”. I played Richard Loeb opposite Joe Bigelow’s Nathan Leopold in Stephen Dolginoff’s two-man musical at Luna Stage in West Orange, NJ. Here’s what the press had to say:
“Both Linnard and Bigelow are expertly subtle, betraying just enough to make their characters’ emotions clear without losing their composure.”
Patrick Maley, The Star Ledger
“Linnard has a burning intensity, with the thrum of high tension wires lurking just below human hearing … When Leopold sings his love songs, and he and Loeb harmonize, it’s sheer delight … Bigelow and Linnard provide a very real-feeling potential history.”
Sherri Rase, Q Onstage
“Director Cheryl Katz guides the two talented young actors, Joe Bigelow as Leopold and Dean Linnard as Loeb, through moment-to-moment truthful performances.”
“Joe Bigelow … and Dean Linnard … take us on a rollercoaster ride of wild emotion, unrelieved yearning and mind boggling thrill-seeking over the course of 90 intermissionless minutes … Both sing beautifully; their close harmonizing reminds us of their relationship (obsession) and reinforces the play’s idea that evil sometimes lurks in beauty … Linnard’s Loeb has a maniacal glint in his eye; his calculated charm, smirks and overt narcissism are malevolent, but Dolginoff’s lyrics give him some room for dark humor, which he delivers with understatement.”
Ruth Ross, NJ Arts Maven
“[T]he most exciting, gripping and intensely entertaining production of the season.”
The Bergan County Record Newspaper
Our production of “Thrill Me” was also named as one of The 7 Best New Jersey Theater Productions in 2015 by the Star Ledger, and one of The Best Shows of the 2015 NJ Theater Season by New Jersey Footlights.