P R E S S
Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo, dir. Tom Guthrie
The [Princeton University Chamber] Choir’s presentation of Spann’s work had the atmosphere of a jazz club, with Spann singing the soprano solo accompanied by the expert jazz piano accompaniment of Cherry Ge and Phillip Taylor…Spann reache(s) effectively into her upper register with a scatt singing effect, soaring above smooth homophonic chords sung by the Chamber Choir. An octet singing from the front of the stage showed Spann’s skill at writing music for close harmonies, with tricky dissonances well-handled and all singers conveying Spann’s wish to “pave the way for hope through rest, generosity, and compassion.”
-Town Topics’ Nancy Plum, on Before the Light is Gone, 2022
“Spann’s way with a lyric is so intelligent, and her range so smooth and effortless, it is a gift every time she sings.”
“Watching Spann is like watching a Tennessee Williams heroine. [She] wins with her freewheeling approach to Daisy, one that conveys whimsy while also revealing Daisy’s depth, doubts, and confusion.”
-U.S. 1, on Simon Levy’s The Great Gatsby, PST
“Lydia Watt as Karen, and Allison Spann as Martha, contrast this with performances that are more reserved, letting subtle body language express a variety of emotions. These actors are deliberate in their choices early in the play, which gives them room to crescendo and give the final act the emotional power it requires.”
—Town Topics, on Lillian Hellman’s The Children’s Hour, PST
“[Aldarondo] and Spann, who displayed a command of time and an engaging presence on ‘Quiet Dawn’ as well as ‘Steam,’ were the most promising of the young players.”
-Jazz Times, on an evening with Archie Shepp and the Princeton CLE
“Spann sang with a solid lyrical sound…self-assured and confident in [her] role.”
-Town Topics, on PUGC, PUO with Gustavo Dudamel
“Uncommon Women and Others includes much humor — especially from Spann’s Rita, who makes spontaneous rebellions sparkle.”
“You will have your favorites — mine included…Allison Spann as the fiery and eccentric Rita.”
-U.S.1, on Wendy Wasserstein’s Uncommon Women and Others, PST
“Allison Spann is outstanding as Antigone. She is equally adept at using her voice, to portray the character’s steely tenacity in her conversations with Ismene and Kreon; and her eyes, with which she is able to give heightened tenderness to the wordless scenes Antigone shares with her brothers and Haimon.
— Town Topics, on Anne Carson’s Antigonick, Theater Intime
“Allison Spann as Susan sing[s] with wonderful clarity and intelligence, move[s] with extraordinary grace, and communicate[s] with the audience with great ease.”
“Spann is a sprightly dancer; she and Piecuch bring an animated sensuality to their initial duet.”
“With a powerful belting voice, Spann makes Karessa’s number, “Come To Your Senses,” the vocal tour de force it needs to be.”
-Town Topics, on Jonathan Larson’s Tick, Tick…Boom!, PST
A R T I C L E S + I N T E R V I E W S
Conductor Gustavo Dudamel Named Princeton Artist-in-Residence
— The Daily Prince
Tiger Confessions Fantastic Evolution Towards Live Performance
— The Daily Prince
Announcing 2019-2020 Concerto Competition Winners
— Princeton University Department of Music