Collins

"Dark, stark and enticingly seductive, the current Secret Theatre production of Andrew Lippa's "The Wild Party" is a daring, highly conceptualized staging and features a cast of young but seasoned performers who overflow with talent. No one paying a visit to this ever-burgeoning troupe's latest undertaking will remain untouched." (Wild Party)

   

"Director Taryn Turney utilizes every square inch of space in the postage stamp-size facility, as actors play not only on stage but around and about the spectators. While this means part of the action is lost from certain perspectives, it serves to totally immerse the audience, along with the performers, in the world of the piece. The action is continuous and unrelenting." (Wild Party)

 

"I can't compare the Secret Theatre Musicals' new bare-bones production, directed by Taryn Turney, to some extravagantly staged version. Fortunately, with its excellent story, compelling music, and a crack cast, the show doesn't need big-budget trappings. This is a superior evening of musical theater, no caveats required." (Parade)

 

"The trial scene that ends Act I showcases the director's broad vision and technical skill; the dance scene at its finale is creepily effective. Scenes change swiftly and smoothly, with just a few pieces of furniture and props representing homes, prison cells, courtroom, and more. " (Parade)

 

"See it for the story, compelling and important. See it for the music, very accessible with modernistic touches, occasionally reminiscent of 1776; and for the book and lyrics, unusually literate for a modern full-length musical. And see it for the performances. It scores on all points. "(Parade)

 

"Taryn Turney keeps the majority of the cast onstage most of the time, creating bits of character development among the secondary guests (an attempted seduction here, whispered nothings there, some gay kisses in between) through pantomime in darkness during primary scenes performed by the leads." (Wild Party)

 

"As a critic and a person who eats, breathes and sleeps musicals in her working life and personal enjoyment, Urinetown is awesome. The show is equal parts meticulously crafted musical comedy and a send-off of that very genre." (Urinetown)

 

"In The Secret Theatre's revival, the performances and direction (by Taryn Turney) are all sublime. But this particular ensemble really understands the nature of the show, and each one of them has their own unique, distinct flavor. It's a superb ensemble, and I am very hard to please when it comes to ensembles. There were so many jokes happening in the background I sometimes found myself not paying attention to the leads and instead trying to catch all the background interaction. In another show with another director, I might find fault with that, but not here. Everywhere I looked, things were deliciously hilarious. " (Urinetown)

 

"Director Taryn Turney offers a cast of bizarre characters who interpret their roles to the extreme. The result is a very funny mixture of broad comic book mannerisms and very clever caricatures." (Urinetown)

 

"While the plot of The Hurricane lends itself to camp, director Taryn Turney refreshingly resists going fully in this style; yes, there are moments of leather daddy jokes, a glittering top hat and cane makes an appearance and Miranda, Madam Sparrow’s ward, operatically sings of wanting to lose her virginity, but many other moments are handled with surprising seriousness." (The Hurricane)

 

"Director Taryn Turney made some strong and unique choices, the most daring of which was having the actors remain and sit in stage. " (The Hurricane)