"Joanna's work, both as written and performed, makes for a well balanced evening
of theater-- touching, entertaining and thought provoking. The audiences at
Gloucester Stage loved it."
Eric C. Engel
Artistic Director, Gloucester Stage Company
Director, Memorial Hall and College Theater Venues
Office for the Arts at Harvard
"...and are still talking about it."
Eric C. Engel
“This is how theater should connect to people”
Margo Jefferson, Pulitzer Prize winning critic.
“With passion and wit, Joanna Rush lets us know the pain of being the hot girl in town. A must see lesson on sexism.”
Eduardo Machado, Playwright, Artistic Director of Intar Theatre
*** …”Vigorously fleshed out characters and a witty script, this performance should not be overlooked!”
The List, Edinburgh
“A consummate artist, Joanna Rush journeys through her life experience with tremendous insight, incredible dramatic scope and humor. So much is revealed that one has to sit and take stock of themselves … A brave work” …
Malika Lee Whitney, WBAI
“Finding the truth of one’s life in a culture of lies … a powerful piece”
BBC Radio 4
“… a personal journey through the guilt-infested world of Catholicism … a rangy piece … well acted by its author, Joanna Rush.”
- Theatre Mania
“Joanna Rush can be considered the ultimate performer/playwright. She writes, acts and dances in her one person performance … a delight … a fresh, wholesome sense of humor that is often missing Off as well as on Broadway … Asking For It … a big hit!” …
Dan Miller, WVOX, AM
So happy I finally got to see Asking for It.
That dialogue section at the dance bar where you hear your husband is cheating on you was so funny, so painful, and so well choreographed! Loved it. Like so many more moments in the play. The chorus to Shirley M., which by the way I saw in Dallas at the Music Hall--did I see you?
And so much to think about. I really left with the disturbing debate going on in my head about how much do we ask for it, in more ways than one. And looking at my own life, not with sexual abuse, but with things that come to me or not. It's all so interesting and disturbing. And yet funny! How do you create that balance? :)
Much love to you both and I hope it goes on to disturb many more people--through the laughs that is.
love,
GF
I not only enjoyed the show, I am very impressed with the writing and acting. Joanna’s abilities along with Lynne’s superb directing made for a seamless production.
Oh My G--!
Truly, this was an astounding night being at this play, Asking For It.
I made the trek and now it's 3:30am but I feel compelled to let you all know what really fine work Joanna Rush and Lynne Taylor-Corbett have done and what a remarkable, powerful, articulate, creative, alive and talented survivor this character is. What profound joy to experience her on stage in this role and to learn about Bernadette, society at large, our own journeys. I am humbled. I pray that as many of you as possible who have not made it yet can go on monday, July 24th. If not, keep a close eye out for their next shows and send good thoughts that this gets picked up by just the right people so that those who need to see this can and will.
What a terrific piece! I'm so glad I came, and I've already called a few friends this morning and told them about it
"Asking for It" was wonderful, funny and very moving. It was odd for me to have seen it on this day. Only a couple hours earlier I was working with a vocal student of mine....a young girl from South Carolina who had just moved here a few months ago. She told me how she had just recently been attacked by a well-to-do man in the corporation she had been temping at. The fears, shame and emotions were so similar to feelings and stories expressed by Joanna. I will definitely tell her to go...I hope it isn't too soon. It was a beautiful work and I hope it is able to gain a larger audience.
What a wonderful evening! If "Asking for It" isn't a hit
I don't know what is. Joanna is wonderful-funny, poignant and I thought the mix
of humor and seriousness paced just right (must have been a good
editor/director at work behind the scenes). Furthermore, it touched some very
deep places of recognition personally and it appeared to do so to other
audience members, too. I very much liked the minimal stage and its props. The
three boxes--great! The coach, the confessional, and...the trinity! Neat
symbols! Also liked the lighting effect for Central Park. This one definitely
deserves a wide exposure and let's hope someone with connections gives it a
whirl.
The show and the performance was so riveting, I wanted to let it sink in without intrusion, to be able to "take it all in" in those magical moments when the curtain goes down after something wonderful and allow the message to sink in to me personally…
It was sensational once again. It gets better each time I see it and I loved it the first time! My friend, Francine, called me today to rave on the phone. Left two messages because she ran out of time on the first one. I gave out cards to the friends I met at dinner last night and told them about it. Hope they will come.
Joanna's performance was simultaneously hilarious and heartwrenching- a very appealing combination- and what a life! It reminded me of Maya Angelou's history in some respects- all of the trauma, adventure, creativity and daring.
You surpassed every expectation I had coming to the theater. Your performance was brilliant and beautiful. Your play, like your life, has all come together as a resounding success. It was a tour de force with not a moment lagging. Congratulations and bravo!! You deserve all accolades for your tenacity and hard work.
I felt I didn't really express myself very well the other night at the showing of your piece with Joanna Rush. I wanted to say that I really liked the piece, the writing, the flow, the tone, the direction and her performance all worked together seamlessly. It was so specific, yet never felt "acted", just told - but told in wonderful characters and tight rhythms. Dug it.
I saw the show and it was so very terrific. Congrats to Joanna. Great direction too....really fun, sad and fullfilling...what a lot of work and what extraordinary joy must have been had.
I have been trying to get to my computer since Monday, I really want to thank you for inviting us to Joanna's show. It was great, what a wonderful performance. She wowed me and the audience. Glad to hear it will be shown again. (Makes me want to be an actress and dancer again).
I just wanted to tell you how wonderful your show was last night. I was sitting in the back with three of my friends and we laughed so hard because it brought us back to our respective catholic schools. You are amazingly talented. I loved the finish - Congratulations and let's visualize an HBO special
an incredibly brave and moving show.........with lots of laughs.
I just wanted to let you know, again, how astonishing, funny, sad, moving, horrifying and touching your performance and the piece was.
Oh, Joanna, what
an amazing evening!! I was stunned -- your energy and stamina alone was
remarkable; your telling of your story was engaging and never bogged down; your
bravery in being so exposed and vulnerable was inspiring; and your delightful
humor kept me giggling between the tears. Wow.
My friends
kept thanking me for inviting them; we all were deeply moved by you and your
glorious creation. I checked the newspaper on Saturday and Sunday but saw no
review, although we heard from someone in the audience on Thursday, that there
was a reviewer there. Have you gotten invitations to continue your
show? There are so many other people I want to have see it, and the world
deserves it!! Bravo. I was so proud, sitting in the audience, being with
you as you shared your soul with us.