press: a collection of nice things people said
fiddler on the roof
(drury lane oakbrook)
“The other key here? Stakes. They feel enormous, whether they are flowing from Mark David Kaplan’s wounded Tevye (a masterfully moving performance utterly shorn of the typical avunicularity), or Abby Goldberg’s Chava or Emma Rosenthal’s Tzeitel, or Yael Eden Chanukov’s Hodel. For better or worse, this is a show fundamentally about a father and his three daughters and that quartet of performers creates a bond that flows forwards and backwards with restlessness of spirit and deep familial love…I don’t think I’ve ever seen so superbly acted and directed a “Fiddler.” Don’t even think about not bothering to go.”
— chris jones, chicago tribune
liberty: a monumental new musical (42west, off-broadway)
“…Under Evan Pappas’s direction, the rest of the cast is largely impressive, too, especially Emma Rosenthal as Emma Lazarus, whose poem “The New Colossus” helped promote the statue…”
— laurel graeber, the new york times
the fantasticks
(porchlight music theatre)
“But Porchlight’s current revival shifts the focus and confirms the star power of its leading actress, Emma Rosenthal, a lustrous voiced singer who is still a student at Northwestern University. Rosenthal (who made a strong impression in in Steppenwolf’s recent production of The Tempest), plays Luisa, the 16-year-old who falls in love with Matt and proceeds to learn more about love and life than she bargained for. She turns this ingenue role on its head in the most beguiling, memorably comic ways. It is her fresh, contemporary, wonderfully zany take that makes this production burst with life. She is delicious.”
— hedy weiss, chicago sun-times
“To his credit, director Sean Kelly has cast Matt and Luisa as nerds, rather than the usual ingenues. Emma Rosenthal, who plays Luisa, has a big head, strong jaw, and a refreshingly honest approach to the role. Rosenthal is a character actress rather than the usual ingenue, and her work is constantly fascinating and gives the show an atypically juicy and emotional center.”
— chris jones, chicago tribune
west side story (drury lane)
“…In a cast of 31, the ensemble of triple threat actor/singer/dancers is full of personality…and there are strong supporting performances from Emma Rosenthal (as Anybodys)…”
— hedy weiss, chicago sun-times
“…Emma Rosenthal’s sensitively played Anybodys stands out amidst an ensemble of talented singer-dancers… ”
— colin douglas, chicagoland theatre review
the flying lovers of vitebsk
(northlight theatre)
“All of these artists are very skilled…you’ll be impressed with what Margolius has achieved here, making use of an exceptionally strong (physically and artistically) actress in Rosenthal, who is a competitive powerlifter when not on the stage...if you’re interested in Bella Rosenfeld, particularly, this is well worth a look, especially for Rosenthal’s performance”
— chris jones, chicago tribune
“Emma Rosenthal, as Bella, is equally magnificent. Rosenthal is a Northwestern University graduate who delivers a powerful performance, embodying Bella’s strength and depth. Her singing is both haunting and heartwarming, and her dance movements feel like brushstrokes painting her love story across the stage. The chemistry between Cahill-Lemme and Rosenthal is electric, making their shared scenes genuinely captivating.”
— frank mescia, around the town chicago
“Jack Cahill-Lemme as Chagall and Emma Rosenthal as Bella are transfixing to watch, completely engrossing as lovers torn between a disappearing past and uncertain future, and certain only of their love. Rosenthal is a powerhouse of emotion, with fiery physicality that sets her apart as much more than just a spouse to a famous painter, but an accomplished artist and equal herself.”
— josh flanders, chicago reader
“Now receiving its Chicagoland premiere, Northlight Theatre’s THE FLYING LOVERS OF VITEBSK features brilliant performances and moments of exquisite stagecraft. Margolius’s ecstatic vision is brought brilliantly to life by her two leads. For her part, Rosenthal’s Bella is radiant with joy from the moment she steps onto the stage, savoring the emotion in her every turn of phrase with such delight that I found myself wondering if Bella’s own writing conveyed the same love of poetry.”
— zach thriffiley, broadwayworld
“The two leading actors in this production could not possibly be better! [Jack Cahill-Lemme] is matched by the hauntingly beautiful Emma Rosenthal as Bella. With a vocal range that would be the envy of most Lyric Opera performers, as well as dramatic talent that hits all the right marks, with special bright moments of biting comedy, Ms. Rosenthal is simply magnificent. Emma has had featured roles in Chicago productions of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, WEST SIDE STORY and (my favorite performance) PETER AND THE STARCATCHER. Both talented actors are making their Northlight Theatre debuts. One can only hope that we’ll be seeing more of these fine actor/singers again in leading roles around Chicagoland.”
— colin douglas, chicagoland theatre review
“Cahill-Lemme and Rosenthal are perfect as the lovers. Margolius’ carefully defined movements entwine them in a series of gorgeous positions. Both actors, who exude the unquestioning love of youth even later in their characters’ lives, hardly take their eyes off of each other when they are together, gazing deeply as if memorizing features…it is easy to see that they are utterly inseparable even when far apart.”
— karen topham, chicago on stage
the threepenny opera
(marvell rep; off-broadway)
“The delightful surprise here is newcomer Emma Rosenthal as Polly Peachum. Not only is her voice glorious, but her acting is beyond par. Watching her interpret Brecht’s words and lyrics is a delight, and I predict big things for this star on the rise.”
— times square circle
“Emma Rosenthal’s Polly Peachum is no shrinking violet. She brings a fearless, devil-may-care quality to the naive Polly, and her renditions of ‘Pirate Jenny’ and ‘Barbarasong’ are feats of musicality and acting, respectively. Her name should be above the title”
— the edge new york
“Emma Rosenthal as Polly Peachum, making her New York debut, is a treasure of a find with Broadway written all over her voice. She is bewitching.”
— blogcritics.org
“Insinuatingly untypical is Emma Rosenthal as Polly Peachum, who delivers the unforgettable ode ‘Pirate Jenny’”
— curtainup
peter and the starcatcher
(drury lane oakbrook)
“…Osetek and his all-Chicago cast do the rich storytelling proud…And as Molly Aster, the forceful, determined actress Emma Rosenthal has spunk, charm and just the right note of unease”
— chris jones, chicago tribune
“Molly Aster [is played by] a most winning Emma Rosenthal in a bristlingly smart and comic turn …”
— hedy weiss, chicago sun-times
“Their lives are changed by Molly Aster (a glorious performance by Emma Rosenthal, who just keeps impressing me with her talents).”
— al bresloff, around the town chicago
“Emma Rosenthal (so excellent in Drury Lane’s West Side Story) is Molly Aster. As the only girl in the cast, she plays her part with authority and confidence. The star of stars in the cast turns Molly into the most three-dimensional character in the story. Rosenthal is diminutive physically, but she dominates by sheer force of personality and injects the most realistic emotional notes into the narrative. ”
— colin douglas, chicagoland theatre review
our town
(williamstown theatre festival)
“Nicholas Martin’s 40-member cast is uniformly gifted. I cannot mention them all, though I would like to, but I can say that Emma Rosenthal as Rebecca Gibbs offers Wilder’s central message at the end of Act 1 with an intensity and strength that belie her youth.”