Los Angeles Times - Recommended
"..."Dogfight," which won the 2013 Lucille Lortel Award for outstanding musical, is so consummately rendered in this L.A. production that, though not perfect, it nonetheless dazzles with unexpected sweetness."
LA Weekly - Highly Recommended
"...The skillful musicians (musical direction by bass player Elmo Zapp) give it their best shot throughout. But the wigs (hair design by Ariana Castiglia) are hokey, unnatural and unattractive, while costumer Julius Bronola seems to have shopped for the squeaky-clean hippie garb women wear at the end of the play (when it's 1969) in some Beverly Hills boutique."
Broadway World - Highly Recommended
"...Nicci Claspell steals the entire show as Rose, the naive, sheltered waitress who's instantly smitten by Eddie Birdlace, one of the three deploying Marines. Claspell's powerful, yet angelic voice simply soars, from her plaintive notes in the opening number to her first solo "Nothing Short of Wonderful." Claspell effortlessly reveals the multi-layers of Rose's totally charming, undeniable vulnerability. Claspell nails her other two solos "Pretty Funny" and "Before BWW Review: A Winning Nicci Claspell Dominates This DOGFIGHTIt's Over," as well. She wonderfully duets with Emily Morris, as Marcy the hired ugly girl of the night in "Dogfight." Wonderful to hear these two women's well-matched vocal prowess in Marcy's schooling of Rose on the indelicacies of what exactly a dogfight is."
LA Splash - Highly Recommended
"...Elmo Zapp's musical direction is superb and blends perfectly with Jennifer Oundjian's choreography as the principals sing and dance their way through the production. Particularly effective is a Vietnam battle scene which was beautifully choreographed. Co-directors Oundjian and Jennifer Stratten imbue DOGFIGHT with compassion and concern, and the actors respond with skill. This professional cast offers up some fine melodies, great pipes, and awesome dance moves which will delight every audience. Especially during the second act, each character manages to exhibit pathos appropriate to his role, with Payson Lewis deserving special kudos. Did I mention that there is a six-piece band backing up those lilting voices?"
Stage Scene LA - Highly Recommended
"...It's taken five years for Dogfight, the Louise Lortel Award-winning Outstanding Musical of 2012, to finally make it to Los Angeles proper, and praise be the gods of L.A. musical theater, Dogfight's Hudson Mainstage debut is (to quote from one of the show's best songs) "Nothing Short Of Wonderful.""
Santa Monica Daily Press - Highly Recommended
"...The musicians, led by music director Elmo Zapp, who plays Bass, include Austin Farmer on drums, Megan Knapp on cello, Morgan Paros on violin, Steven Rader on keys, and Max Wagner on guitar. They play beautifully innovative background music as well as the 15 songs that move the plot forward."
Stage Raw - Somewhat Recommended
"...The show offers some lively numbers, athletic choreography, and an engaging cast, but it suffers from a serious structural problem. The romantic plot, involving Birdlace and Rose, is essentially wrapped up in Act I, and what comes after seems like a different show, which ends in a perfunctory reunion that offers little emotional payoff."
On Stage and Screen - Somewhat Recommended
"...hat being said, Claspell and Lewis are giving two of the strongest, loveliest performances I have seen in local musical theatre in recent memory. Claspell has a beautiful voice and embodied Rose's quiet charms and wide-eyed optimism perfectly, and Lewis, who has a powerhouse voice of his own and boyish charm for days, tried valiantly to make a thankless character relatable. This is ultimately a bit of a large show for a 99-seat theater-the cast of 15 often made the stage feel crowded, although Jennifer Stratten and Jennifer Oundjian's direction tried to maximize the use of the space as best as possible."
