THEATRE REVIEWS || ACTING
THE REALIZATION OF EMILY LINDER by Richard Strand
NEW JERSEY REPERTORY COMPANY,
DIR. SUZANNE BARABAS
"…smart, richly satisfying entertainment. Dana Benningfield perfectly captures the frailty and debilitating lack of self-confidence which has been seared into her... It is painful, as it should be, to see her appear to literally shrink before our eyes beneath their onslaught.”
Talkin’ Broadway, Bob Rendell
“Dana Benningfield as the easily wounded Margaret, also struggles to contain emotions, hers being anxiety and concern. Her reading of the eulogy’s second draft and its tearful aftermath are the play’s most heartfelt sections and are perfectly delivered.
The New York Times, Ken Jaworowski
…a play that you will think about long after you leave the theatre… Dana Benningfield shines as Margaret, a sensitive thoughtful individual who tries tirelessly to please her family.
Broadway World, Marina Kennedy
SONG OF GRENDELYN by Russell Davis
PLAYWRIGHTS THEATER
DIR. JOHN PIETROWSKI
"Dana Benningfield is an actress of such skill and charm... [she] creates a strong sense of intimacy almost before a word is spoken."
New York Times, Naomi Segal
"Benningfield's calm, sensitive delivery begs sympathy, while [Carol] Todd's rebel yelling dares you to knock the chip off her shoulder. The characters are and the performances are rich in contrast, but they are equally well crafted.”
The Daily Record
WINTERIZING THE SUMMER HOUSE by Gino DiIorio
NEW JERSEY REPERTORY COMPANY
DIR. JACKIE BERGER
"...compelling performances by the actors... well-paced, sexually charged..."
New York Times, Naomi Segel
"Benningfield is a sublime actor. She does more while listening than most do speaking, and more with a glance than most with a flourish."
Two River Times, Phil Dorian
ANGELS AND MINISTERS OF GRACE by Elaine Smith
NEW JERSEY REPERTORY COMPANY
DIR. MARC GELLER
“The interaction of the characters in Angels and Ministers of Grace is remarkable and the cast captures their respective roles perfectly. It is a piece of theater you will reflect upon again and again.”
BroadwayWorld.com, Marina Kennedy
“Ms. Benningfield delivers a taut, on the verge of snapping performance culminating in a powerful final scene.”
Stage Buddy, Navida Stein
“…the payoff is a climactic, cathartic second-act scene between Benningfield and Silliman that’s well acted,
and worth the wait.”
Asbury Park Press, Tom Chesek
“Dana Benningfield especially shines at showing Miriam’s shell of strength hiding her core of fragility.”
The Link News, Madeline Schulman
PICTURE OURSELVES IN LATVIA by Ross Howard
NEW LIGHT THEATRE PROJECT
DIR. SARAH NORRIS
Martin (a sweetly appealing Christopher Daftsios) may have a crush on his fellow patient Anna (Dana Benningfield, charmingly shy), who is from Latvia. …the characterizations are rich…"
New York Times, Anita Gates
Anna grows from a shy young woman who is nearly unable to speak into a compassionate woman capable of expressing herself. It is not a simple transformation, but Benningfield accomplishes it beautifully.
Woman About Town, Patricia Norris
Benningfield in particular has an angular physicality and a soulful quality that really fills the space.
L Magazine, Dan Callahan
LEMONADE by Mike Folie
PRODUCED BY NEW JERSEY REPERTORY COMPANY DIR. EVAN BERGMAN
"Ben Masur as Jim and Dana Benningfield as Jane are especially appealing and generate a surprising amount of chemistry. Benningfield is an ideal Jane… "
Talkin’ Broadway, Bob Rendell
" The four actors are brilliant… Benningfield, as the "Lemonade" wife-in-jeopardy, gets it just right as the spurned but ultimately triumphant wife."
The Coaster
"Benningfield comes off most like a real person; warm and caring and generous at heart, but also prickly and not averse to using the aforementioned pram as a deadly weapon."
Asbury Park Press, Tom Chesak
THE BEAUTIFUL DARK by Erik Gernand
PREMIERE STAGES
DIR. JOHN WOOTEN
In “…an affecting, thought-provoking current production… director John Wooten... has guided his actors with panache.”
New York Times, Anita Gates
“In a tough and complexly defined role, Benningfield gives a stunning performance.”
CurtainUp, Simon Saltzman
“Dana Benningfield, making her Premiere debut, is perfect as the sympathetic mother who has to deal with choices that no mother should have to make.”
New Jersey Examiner, Rick Busciglio
IN SEARCH OF RED RIVER DOG by Sandra Perlman
PRODUCED BY NEW JERSEY REPERTORY COMPANY
DIR. SUZANNE BARABAS
"There is a reason to see In Search of Red River Dog now playing at The New Jersey Repertory Company. It is the surprisingly good performance of Dana Benningfield... Benningfield finds every nuance in the unhappy Paulette."
Two River Times, Phil Dorian
"The sense of loss is made more acute because Dana Benningfield and Jeff Farkash have a wonderful chemistry. Benningfield gets to be even more commendable in the way she displays great devotion to her father."
Star-Ledger, Peter Filichia
"Benningfield turns in a finely wrought performance..."
Asbury Park Press, Gretchen C. VanBenthuysen
NORTH FORK (renamed CABIN FEVER for Sam French pub.)by Mark Dunn
PRODUCED BY NEW JERSEY REPERTORY COMPANY
DIR. SUZANNE BARABAS
"Dana Benningfield as Pidge... is the other winner. Ms. Benningfield's intelligence and delicacy are affecting and real."
Alvin Klein, New York Times
"...a particularly good performance from Dana Benningfield. It's one of the more beguiling performances of the season."
Peter Filichia,Star-Ledger
"Ms. Benningfield is the kind of actress you cannot keep your eyes off. Not because she is pulling focus, but because her portrayal is so richly drawn and so truthfully played that you want to know her every reaction to the whirlwind going on about her."
Nick Montesano, tri-City News
QUESTA by Victor Bumbalo
WINGS THEATRE,
DIR. JEFFREY CORRICK
The cast is terrific... Maestas and Benningfield are spectacula and their scenes together are especially powerful."
Broadway World.com, Duncan Pflaster
"Benningfield is curiously magnetic as a grieving mom..."
Edge Magazine, Ellen Wernecke
"I'd go so far as to call this one of the major new plays of the season."
nytheatre.com Reviewer’s Pick, Martin Denton