Brian Plays Max in "Lend Me a Tenor"

 | PIONEER PRESS | By CATEY SULLIVAN |  A Farce with a heart.. midway through the first act something utterly unexpected and wholly wonderful happens: a gorgeous duet between two tenors. For a few long, lovely bars,  Brian D. Simmons and Brian McCartney deliver a love song that transcends the escalating silliness. It's one of several moments when Simmons' superior pipes help make “Lend Me a Tenor” greater than the sum of its preposterous parts. Those who saw the actor's inspired turn in the title role of “Jerry Springer: The Opera”  know he's no slouch in the vocal department. With “Lend Me a Tenor,” he goes to the opposite end of the character spectrum to portray an anti-Springer: Max is a sweet, stammering romantic... He is also the rock-solid emotional center of the piece, and an unlikely hero you start rooting for as soon as he makes his first beleaguered entrance. Minus Max, the show is simply slamming doors and sexual hijinx.   Full Review

Daily Herald | By Barbara Vitello | Comedy may not cure our economic infirmities, but it sure can alleviate some of the symptoms. "Lend Me a Tenor" is the tonic for today. A right combination of slapstick and silliness in this well-timed, well-rehearsed romp. Noteworthy performance from Brian D. Simmons as an aspiring opera singer. The immediately likable Simmons  plays Max  a mousy young man with a marvelous voice....   Full Review

Steadstyle Chicago |by Joe Stead |  Brian D. Simmons and Brian McCartney both raise their voices as dueling tenors in a genuine burst of Italian opera. Full Review

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Brian Plays Renfield in "The Passion of Dracula" 

Theater Reviews and Features of Chicago: Chicago Stage Review   By Venus Zarr.   A wonderfully atmospheric Halloween treat with particularly fine performance delivered by Brian Simmons as the insanely eccentric Renfield. . Brian lights up the stage with every scene, adding clever and funny madness to the tortured, straightjacket wearing, insect eating lackey to the Count.  Full Review

  By Kerry Reid | SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE   A smart, well-balanced ensemble keeps the story on track...Brian Simmons' Renfield keeps the bug-eating antics in the realm of pathos... Full Review  

 Brian Plays Michael In Dancing at Lughnasa 

by Tom Williams.  Highly Recommended.  A wonderful play that is presented in a flawless production. Brian Simmons is particularly excellent. An outstanding cast all of whom reach deep into their characters to exude their truths.  A powerful script, an excellent cast with fine-tuned performances.   Each of the five sisters, and Michael, the boy, have their moments in this marvelous play.    full review

WBEZ 91.5 by  Dueling Critics Jonathan Abarbanel and Kelly Kleiman.  An Extraordinary and Truly Wonderful Production with A fine Ensemble  Cast... Didn't know how really good a play this was until I saw this production!    full review

  by Caty Sullivan.  A powerful force.  As Michael Brian Simmons is congenial and wistful, displaying subtleties.     full review

by Betty Mohr. Recommended. A world of emotions is on spectacular display. A powerful ensemble of performers.  full review

by Jonathan Abarbanel.  This production has everything it needs, and then some.. a company both earthy and elegant including Brian Simmons.. as moving, passionate and true as anything I've ever seen onstage. This production is that good!  full review

by Kerry Reid. Dancing' opens up at Oak Park with many rewarding moments.  There is much to admire about Bremner and her earthy and generous ensemble  full review

by Doug Deuchler. Absorbing 'Lughnasa' kicks up its heels...is presented here with passion and poignancy... as Bremner culls top-notch performances from her actors... this work is perfectly suited to Festival's talented ensemble.   full review

  by Ed Vincent of Suburban Journals of Chicago.  A home run. Wonderful show.  The acting is superb..    full review

by Justin Hayford.  A smart, accomplished production which the adept cast handles convincingly.   full review

Brian Plays Dogberry in "Much Ado About Nothing"

CHICAGOCRITIC.COM  (Tom Williams) Recommended  ... A fine cast includes Brian Simmons, as Dogberry, who is a hoot as a master of malapropisms. An eloquent cast of classical actors who both understand and respect Shakespeare. .  

Suburban Journals of Chicago ( Ed Vincent) Highly Recommended... A Wonderful Production... even the insects were laughing. 

Wednesday Journal (Doug Deuchler) Worth a view... Buffoonish Dogberry (Brian Simmons), a comic watchman, and his inept deputies, somehow manage to save the day. 

Brian Plays "JERRY Springer" 

JEFF AWARD FOR BEST MUSICAL

  by Steven Oxman.   Jerry Springer - The Opera's  American debut infuses raw, youthful energy with a far more gentle, life-sized take on Jerry's fans and guests. That extends even to Jerry himself, played by a baby-faced Brian Simmons with a sympathetic sense of the very human ability for denial. Full review

By Chris Jones.  Brian Simmons deftly captures Springer’s ironic detachment! Attendees will be blown away by the size and quality of the cast.    Full Review

by Mary Houlihan.  This is the perfect show!

by Hedy Weiss.  Recommended. this musical extravaganza finally received its U.S. premiere. Brian Simmons is an ideally vanilla-veneered Jerry!

By Kimberly Patterson. Brian Simmons recreation of Jerry's mannerisms, gestures, and speech patterns — downcast, thoughtful looks, emphatic pauses— were spot on.  It's a performance with a broad emotional range, from smarmy to desperate to truly sorry. I very quickly believed he was Jerry Springer.  Full Review

Chicagocrtic.com (Tom Williams) Highly Recommended. Brian Simmons looks and has Jerry Springer’s persona down pat in a captivating performance that Jerry himself would appreciate. Outrageous, funny and lewd... a coup for Bailiwick... it is a master work. The show will quickly reach cult status.   Full Review

by Jonathan Abarbanel.  Steady, sardonic Brian Simmons anchors it all...a whopping theatrical bang for the buck. Full Review

by Colin Douglas.  Standout performances include Brian Simmons' dead-on impersonation of Springer... Full Review

  by Jonathon Abarnel. An astonishing achievement... Jerry (played by the sardonic Brian Simmons)... Full Review

After Dark (Emily Lee) Brian Simmons is brilliant as Springer, seemingly made for the part!

 The Daily Herald (Barbara Vitello) gives Jerry three out of four stars. There’s no disputing this fine production, which stars Brian Simmons as Jerry.  Brian gives a, grounded, candid performance as the savvy showman. He has Springer’s crossed arms, furrowed brow and affected concern down to a T! 

Brian Plays Sam in "Marrying Terry"

  Broadway World (Paul W. Thompson)  The performers are delightful, seasoned and attractive with outstanding romantic character work by Debbie Laumand-Blanc, Mary Mulligan, Paul Perroni, and Brian David Simmons. The reputation of the Victory Gardens Greenhouse as in incubator of first-rate new American plays was enhanced as the world professional premiere of the comedy Marrying Terry,

Chicago.ismyhome.com  (Adam Fendelman)  Strong supporting characters, including Brian Simmons, round out the feel-good production. 

  Chicago Free Press  (Lawrence Bommer) As a second couple Debbie Laumand-Blanc and Brian Simmons are contagiously colorful.

Daily Herald  (Scott C. Morgan)  The professional cast gives solid performances.

Brian Plays King Kaiser in "My Favorite Year"

JEFF RECOMMENDED

Talkin Broadway  (John Olson) As the star of "King Kaiser Comedy Cavalcade," Brian Simmons' droopy demeanor and perpetually exasperated look easily recalls the era's TV stars like Milton Berle or Sid Caesar.

by Colin Douglas.  A wonderfully energetic and talented ensemble of actors including Brian Simmons as King Kaiser.

By Chris Jones.  Recommended  ".....a sweet and genial pair of retro hour

  Epoch Times by Al Bresloff . Recommended   "...a dynamite cast. Standouts include Brian Simmons as King Kaiser...

Jack Helbig.  Highly Recommended   "...With casting as strong as it is in this energetic production....

Meet Me in St. Louis

   RECOMMENDED!  

Daily Herald   ....splendid, wonderfully staged. the cast sounded glorious."

Chicago Free Press   "Deliciously detailed...scrumptious...period gems"

   " exuberant from start to finish"

* Review comments are paraphrased. Where possible links to the full reviews are included. We apologize if the links listed have been taken down by the owners.