ELLA - Theater Works, Hartford Opening: June 24, 2005
Hartford Courant by Pat Seremet;
June 28, 2005
“Fabrique brought Ella Fitzgerald to life.”
“It would have been tough to have just gone home to bed after Tina Fabrique flew us to the moon and let us sing among the stars.”
Hartford Courant by Malcolm Johnson;
June 28, 2005
“If Tina Fabrique is not the reincarnation of jazz diva Ella Fitzgerald, she comes thrillingly close in ʻEllaʼ…”
“Musically, the evening sings with the joy, deep feeling and eloquence of a truly original America idiom at the peak of its powers…”
“Not only are the musical direction and arrangements by Danny Holgate superb, both familiar and fresh, but Ruggiero has drawn finely varied characterizations from the actor-musicians.”
“Fabrique can phrase like Ella, and she bends notes with style and skill. At the stentorian top of her voice and the velvety bottom, she makes every flight supersonic. She also displays great range, from the romantic ʻTenderlyʼ to the witty ʻYouʼll Have To Swing It (Mr. Paganini).ʼ Her scat work breathes with Promethean fire, igniting the night and the music.”
Variety,
Frank Rizzo;
June 27, 2005
“…Fabrique shows how it donʼt mean a thing if it ainʼt got that swing – or scat.”
“Fabrique masters Fitzgerald’s caressing glides, the girlish flourishes, the voice that is comfort soul food for the ears.”
“Must-see performance”
"
Wondrously echoes rather than mimics Fitzgerald’s phenomenal ability to scat sing, letting the language take playful flight when mere words fail.”
The Republican,
Fred Sokol;
July 9, 2005
“She [Tina Fabrique] locates Ellaʼs persona early and fuses it with her own impressive musicality. Fabrique, alone, is worth the price of admission.”
“Fabrique is a consummate scat singer. She improvises, invents melodies, and finds musical phrases which sound like horn playing. Fitzgerald mastered the form and Fabrique is most adept with the technique.”
“By now the Theater Works audience, swept up and away through Fabriqueʼs expressive, enthusiastic embodiment of Fitzgerald, is on its feet.”
The Sound,
Bob and Karen Isaacs;
July 7, 2005
“Is it the real Ella Fitzgerald or Tina Fabrique?”
The Middletown Press,
Bonnie Goldberg,
June 30, 2005
“Tina Fabrique is fabulous as Ella”
“Fabrique is outstanding in brining Fitzgerald to life. Her singing evokes a strong emotional response in the viewer, and her portrayal of Ella Fitzgerald the person is right on target. The band is exception and their rapport with Fabrique and each other is evident in both the script and the songs.”
ELLA - Arizona Theater Company - Dec. 2006
Arizona Daily Star,
Kathleen Allen,
December 3, 2006
“Tina Fabrique is scatolicious.”
“That woman did Fitzgerald proud. This production does, for that matter.”
“She [Fabrique] captures the purity that made Fitzgeraldʼs voice so powerful.”
Tuscan Citizen,
Chuck Graham,
December 7, 2006
“Thinking about jazzing up your life a little? A great place to start would be the Arizona Theatre Company tribute to singer Ella Fitzgerald, simply titled “Ella.”
Arizona Informant,
December 13, 2006
“Broadway great Tina Fabrique stunningly recreates the First Lady of Song in the rousing musical “ELLA.””
“What Rob Ruggiero, Jeff Hatcher and Danny Holgate have achieved in their new musical ʻEllaʼ is to somehow fuse all the thrilling excitement of an Ella concert with a compelling story of challenge, humor, heartbreak and success.”
ELLA - Asolo Reopening: May 2007
Sarasota Magazine,
Kay Kipling,
May 14, 2007
“by the end of the evening you really do feel that youʼve seen – and heard – Ella herself perform.”
Sarasota Herald-Tribune,
Jay handelman,
May 15, 2007
“ʼEllaʼ is a musical with ʻscattitude.ʼ”
“And when Tina Fabrique lets loose in the showʼs opening minutes on ʻIt Donʼt Mean a Thing (If It Ainʼt Got That Swing)ʼ, nothing else seems to matter.”
“It would be nearly impossible not to get a kick out of the two dozen songs Fabrique sings with the help of a four-member band.”
Variety,
Jay Handelman,
May 18, 2007
“Fabrique, who has been with the ʻEllaʼ since the beginning, captures the essence of Fitzgerald. She deftly uses her voice to recreate the singerʼs style, yet still makes the song her own.”
“When she starts to let loose on such favorite as ʻMr. Paganini,ʼʻA Tisket a Tasketʼ and ʻBlue Skies,ʼ Fabrique is a performer in tune with her instrument.”
Longboat Observer,
Marty Fugate,
May 17, 2007
“ʼEllaʼ succeeds as both play and revue. Jeffery Hatcherʼs original script and Danny Holgateʼs song selections are equally superb.”
“Fabrique wins the audience over with bravura singing, sheer talent and an honest vulnerability.”
“Unless you go in with earplugs, youʼll come out of this performance with a smile on your face.”
ELLA - San Jose Repertory Theater Opening: July 2007
Piedmont Post,
Robert Lee Hall;
July 11, 2007
“Ella Fitzgerald is, of course, about as worthy a subject as I can think of, so I’m glad to report that, on that good/bad scale, Ella is… but let Cole Porter put it into words: “…sʼwonderful, sʼmarvelous, sʼwhat I long to see.””
“In my own words I’d call it a “don’t miss” show.”
“It’s a simple device, but as Hatcher scripts it, with honesty tempered by tact, it works well, offering a portrait not just of an artist but of a woman who has her share of failures along with triumphs.”
“Cannily directed by Rob Ruggiero, Ella plays out on a simple but elegant set by Michael Schweikardt, expertly lit by John Lasiter, with costumes by Alejo Vietti.”
“The adroit script and the supporting artists add to Ella’s luster, but what he makes it really happen is Tina Fabrique in the title role.”
“She sounds so much like Ella that you’d swear you were in the presence of the real thing.”
Media news,
Karen DʼSouza;
July 10, 2007
“Listening as she [Fabrique] (and her hot backup band) launch into the classics of the great American songbook is like floating back in time to a sweeter era when sophistication was king.”
“Fabrique exudes the live-wire vibe that gives jazz its zip.”
“The richness of this concert-like evening is in the songs, and in that kingdom. Fabrique reigns supreme.”
ELLA - San Diego Repertory Theater Opening: Sept, 2006
San Diego Downtown News,
Charlene Baldridge;
October 2006
“Fabrique is fabulous and indefatigable. She works the microphone and the audience, totally winning over all who listen.”
“She is gracious, natural and utterly easeful, singing nearly two-dozen songs over the course of a blissful evening.”
City Beat, By Martin Jones Westlin
“Ella is several levels beyond most bio plays.”
“Ella invites. Ella celebrates. Ella, bless it, embraces history as a vital tool, savoring Fitzgerald’s magnificent, orchestral voice and the path to the worldwide fame she never sought – and maybe never really wanted.”
“The beauty of this Jeffery Hatcher script is that those stories come from such deeply private places.”
“Ella is an expert Rep season premiere, a well-conceived street-level look at a stellar performer whose single gift to millions shrouded the veil of tears behind it.”
Curtain Calls,
Pat Launer;
September 22, 2006
“Tina Fabrique has a marvelously supple voice, which she wisely uses to suggest rather than emulate Ms. Fitz. Her scat singing is terrific, and is the highlight of her performance.
“You’ll ooh, you’ll ahhh, you’ll swing, you’ll sway, you’ll lose yourself in the music. And you’ll fall in with Ella all over again.”
San Diego Union Tribune,
James Herbert;
September 18, 2006
“Tell Mr. Ellington there’s no doubt about it: This show called “Ella” has positively got that swing.”
“In the spoken sections where she holds forth as Fitzgerald’s, she gives a sense of speaking from her subject’s soul rather than simply reciting scenes from her life.”
Star Beacon,
Roger Smith,
April 6, 2007
“Fabrique was so convincing in her role that when she began to sing well known songs, the audience broke into pre-performance applause as appreciation for who they saw as Ella Fitzgerald on the stage. Fabrique not only excels as a vocalist, but her portrayal of Ella, the woman, was excellent.”
ELLA - Cleveland Playhouse Opening: March 16, 2007
Cleveland Jewish News,
Fran Heller,
March 16, 2007
“Fabrique delivers the goods”
Cleveland Free Times,
James Damico,
April 4, 2007
“The Fabulous Fabrique Is No Mere Mimic.”
“What Fabrique does marvelously well is to capture Fitzgerald’s honeyed, melodic sound that seamlessly flowed from note to note and phrase to phrase, across the full expanse of the lyrical scale, like a blessedly cooling breeze on a warm night.”
ELLA - Northlight Theater Opening: December 2007
Chicago Sun Times,
Hedy Weiss,
December 7, 2007
“Conceived by director Rob Ruggiero and Dyke Harrison, "Ella" comes with a book by Jeffrey Hatcher that efficiently connects the dots and songs. More crucially, the placement and pacing of the show's two dozen numbers is ideal, beautifully tracking Ella's complicated, life and career through songs that tap precisely the right emotion for the moment.”
ELLA - Arena Stage Opening: January 2008
The Washington Post,
Peter Marks,
January 7, 2008
“Fitzgerald Bio-Play Truly Soars When Its Star Burst into Song”
“If you have a hankering for the master tunesmiths of the ʻ30s and ʻ40s– or a desire to be transported by the liquid notes of an entertainer at the height of her skills – you’re likely to find this be-bopping actress mighty scat-isfying.”
Pentagram,
Dennis Ryan,
January 11, 2008
“Tina Fabrique in the title role certainly has the swing.”
“The play hits all the right notes when its start is belting out some of the best standards in the American songbook.”
The Washington Informer,
Jarrin Davis,
January 10, 2008
“Itʼs rare to go to the theater and be part of a show where everything works. This is one of those rare productions. First is the smokinʼ-hot four piece band playing masterful interpretations of Ella’s classic songs in musical arrangements by Danny Holgate. Equally effective are the unbelievable scenic designs by Michael Schweikardt and lighting designs by John Lasiter. Both envelope you in the jazz area of yesterday in director Rob Ruggieroʼs beautifully directed production that sparkles from beginning to end.”
“Not only does she inhabit the beloved singer infusing her with richness and depth, Fabrique is also able to make the material her own.”
“With a ʻscatʼ that rivals the original songstress, Fabrique infuses such artistry into each musical number that it becomes impossible to choose a standout. Each one glistens with brilliance.”
The Examiner,
Doug Krentzlin,
January 23, 2008
“Fabrique isn’t just the star of the show; she is the show.”
Washington Afro-American,
Edith Billups,
January 26, 2008
“On ʻYouʼll Have to Swing It (Mr. Paganini),ʼ Fabrique gives a lush, touching, spirited performance that is one of the most memorable moments of the night.”
“You’ll leave humming to the music that captured an era and which made a shy girl from Virginia an internationally known star.”
Arlington Weekly News TV,
Channel 69
Rich Massabny
January 10, 2008 - 6pm
“Well, if I can’t have Ella, Iʼll take Tina Fabriqueʼs treatment anytime! She captures the spirit and look of Ella, having created to role three years ago. This lady can belt out a song and ingratiate herself with the audience with personal Ella patter.”
DC Theater Scene,
Debbie Minter Jackson,
January 7, 2008
“Ms. Fabrique has a unique ability to understand the core of her character and deliver a trusted and honest portrayal.”
“Fabrique delivers a stunning portrayal of a person who surpassed insurmountable odds to achieve fame, fortune and stardom, balancing the glamour with her gritty behind the scenes reality and the devastating effects of the price she paid along the way.”
“Fabrique is a deliberate force of nature, not in a mega-loud, belt-out sort of way. Yes she’s got the soul-stirring gospel volume, but she’s also a virtuoso able to play with the sounds, hitting notes with crystal clarity over two octaves. Fabrique has a rich, resonating timbre in the lower registers, with crest and undulating waves of emotion which she balances with perfectly pitched high “scat” notes.
ELLA - Dallas Theater Center Opening: January 29, 2008
Oak Cliff Tribune,
February 7, 2008
“Dallas Theater Center’s dazzling production of “Ella” featuring the little known story and the music made famous by Americas first lady of song, Miss Ella Fitzgerald has been extended through February 24. That may not be long enough for everyone to see this fabulous show.”
Edge Dallas,
Christopher Soden,
February 7, 2008
“ʼEllaʼ is an engaging, captivating, poignant and exhilarating experience”
Dallas Voice,
Arnold Wayne Jones,
February 1, 2008
“When I glanced around the audience during a preview performance, most every visible foot was tapping way more than at a cockroach convention. “Ella” has that effect on you – it makes you want to swing.”
ELLA - Repertory Theater of St. Louis Opening: March, 21, 2008
St. Louis Post-Dispatch,
Judy Newmark,
March 23, 2008
“Stylish and sophisticated, "Ella" brings the 2007-08 season at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis to a close with plenty of sparkle.”
“Fabrique stars as Fitzgerald, a daunting assignment. Almost any singer would shrink from it, and should. But Fabrique, who has starred in "Ella" since it made its debut in Hartford, Conn., in 2005, was born for this role. At Friday's opening-night performance at the Rep, you could feel the house falling for her. Maybe that's because she — evidently like Fitzgerald — uninhibitedly loves her audience.”
“Fabrique deserves all the attention this show lavishes on her and her memorable performance.”
Talkinʼ Broadway,
Robert Boyd
“In short, the Rep's production of Ella is a delightful tribute to a truly memorable singer whose innovative and brilliant artistry has thrilled and inspired audiences around the world. Tina Fabrique brings Miss Fitzgerald's spirit to vivid life and more than merits the standing ovations with which her performance was greeted on opening night.”
KFUO-FM,
Steve Allen
“Ella is masterfully directed by Mr. Ruggiero.”
“This is truly a memorable evening for those who have worshiped the first lady of song over the years and is an insightful look into her sometimes rocky life. Ella is an evening of celebration and inspiration and not to be missed.”
KMOX-AM,
Harry Hamm
“At the end of the evening, you'll leave The Rep in love with Ella as well as her music. This exposition of the life and voice of one of the greatest pop and jazz singers of all time is an exceptional evening that will leave you standing and applauding in awe and appreciation.”
KDHX-FM
Chris Gibson
“The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis ends their season with a bang and brings a musical legend to life with their sizzling presentation of Ella. Backed by a swinging ensemble, Tina Fabrique delivers a performance worthy of the first lady of song herself. Filled with memorable standards, this is a must see event for any fan of the Great American Songbook.”
“Tina Fabrique is amazing as Fitzgerald.”
“Fabrique brings "scattitude" and attitude to the role and convinces to the degree that, at times I closed my eyes and became completely lost in her performance. Every number in this show is good, but some are spectacular,”
“Rob Ruggiero's direction brings his concept to fruition, with careful thought given to the presentation of each moment, musically and dramatically”
ELLA - Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park Opening: April, 2008
Cincinnati Inquirer,
Jackie Demaline,
April 25, 2008
“Is there anything better than the Ella Fitzgerald songbook? (The answer is no.) Playhouse in the Park ends its Marx Theatre season on a high note, with "Ella," a one-woman and band bio musical of Fitzgerald, with two dozen superbly arranged songs.”
“Musically, Fabrique is at her best from the first note, successfully demonstrating Fitzgerald’s evolving vocal style from big band to her growing understanding of her voice as an instrument, through her early solo career and into jazz.”
“I could listen to the band –Wilson, George Caldwell (piano), Rodney Harper (drums), and Clifton Kellem (bass) – play Danny Holgate’s sublime arrangements for a good long time.”
City Beat by Rick Pender,
April 28, 2008
“Jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald died in 1996 at the age of 79, but that's not apparent to audiences pending an evening at the Cincinnati Playhouse, where Tina Fabrique is bringing her back to vibrant, tuneful life in Ella, singing nearly two dozen numbers made famous by The First Lady of Song.”
“From start to finish, the music is what captivates. Late in life, Fitzgerald remarked, "To know that you loved me for my singing is too much for me. Forgive me if I don't have all the words. Maybe I can sing it and you'll understand." That's exactly what Fabrique does.”
Oxford Press by Bob White,
May 2, 2008
“Tina Fabrique is outstanding in her portrayal of “Ella”
ELLA - Geva Theater Opening: September 9, 2008
Democrat Chronicle by Marcia Morphy,
September 15, 2008
”Applause, applause — expect to hear it in high-fidelity surround sound as Geva's Ella pays tribute to the world's legendary "First Lady of Song."
“Right from the get-go of this musical bio drama, directed by Rob Ruggiero, Tina Fabrique shines in her portrayal of Ella Fitzgerald.”
“The finale is one for the Geva archives as Fabrique and the musicians pull out all the stops to a crowd-roaring ovation. Everyone could agree: Geva's Ella comes "scat-isfaction" guaranteed.”
