REVIEWS

Patti Issues

“A tight hourlong monologue that pairs a well-honed script with an engagingly spontaneous delivery and a nose for sharp, observational comedy, Mr. Rimalower’s funny, tender reminiscence rides an infectious rainbow high.” - The New York Times
 "Endearing, drolly written and performed with heaps of charisma." - The New Yorker
"Meticulously scripted and executed, poignant punch lines that deliver laughs, emotion and insight." - Time Out New York
 “Heartfelt and cleverly constructed” - The Boston Globe
"Spellbinding. One of the best (and now longestrunning) offerings of the year." - Village Voice
"Hilarious and touching all at the same time, with lots of heart, tons of zingers, and a lot of balls." - Glam Adelaide

Bad with Money

"Rimalower is light, funny and unashamed when he entertainingly (and excruciatingly) itemizes his monetary sins. His choice to do that is a brave one, and—in a time when many people are suffering in silence—a vital one.” - Time Out NY
"Utterly extraordinary! Superb!" - The Stage (UK)
"Masterful raconteur. Courageously honest, keenly specific, and emotionally naked." - The Advocate
"With several amusing and quietly sensational anecdotes about drugs and prostitution, we’re taken through an incredibly brave look at not just his addictions and the effects it had on those around them, but our response we have as a society to these struggles. It’s unnervingly surprising to have someone be so frank about spending addiction, and humbly lambasting us and asking us why its something not talked about like other addictions, such as alcoholism and drug abuse. The biggest kicker of them all in Bad With Money though, is the fact that Rimalower admits that this is still an ongoing issue with them. To have all this incredibly insightful documentation of one person’s struggle being revealed as still unresolved adds a tremendous currency and gravity to the show that makes it stay with you." - Grumpy Gay Critic
"A brutally personal, creative performance skillfully intertwining personal anecdotes. relatable and charismatic, Ben is the kinda guy you hope to have sitting next to you." - Gayletter
"It’s a powerful and shocking message—and also one that is frequently and surprisingly funny—delivered by an adventurous and fascinating performer." - Show Business Weekly

 

The Witches of East Village

(Gramercy theatre, with Miss Coco Peru, Chad Michaels and Peaches Christ)

“Ben Rimalower is all laughs in his Jack Nicholson inspired role of the short nelly Jew that the bewitching queens conjured up. He served some classic Nicholson crazy wrapped in a flamboyantly gay package.” - Out Magazine

Joy 

(Actor's Playhouse, Out Magazine “Best in Theatre 2005”)

“Director Ben Rimalower's staging is positively giddy in its imaginative flourishes.” - New York Post
“Director Ben Rimalower shows a subtle touch. There are several scenes that have the cast sing Cole Porter, talk to the audience and show up in drag. Any of them could sail over the top, but Rimalower keeps his actors still. There are no directorial "stamps" like busy blocking or overdone physical comedy. Instead, the focus stays on the writing, allowing the audience simply to experience each moment. Ultimately, "Joy" has found a production that embraces it for what it is. And thank heaven. Harmless entertainment works best when done with style.” - Variety
“Director Ben Rimalower orchestrates it all with agreeable gusto.” - Newsday
“There are few faults in this lean, tight production, which has been directed with an impish comic sense and almost perfect pacing by Ben Rimalower.” - talkinbroadway.com

Leslie Kritzer is Patti LuPone at Les Mouches

(Time Out New York Special "TONY" Award)

“Strange but wonderful.” - Charles Isherwood, New York Times
“Leslie Kritzer doesn’t just shine in her talk-of-the-town new show – she explodes like a supernova… Kritzer is channeling a super-sized performance by Patti LuPone, whose status as our era’s top musical theater diva is cemented by this irreverent homage. Kritzer re-creates this legendary nightclub act with a riveting mix of worship, parody and sheer nerve… breathtaking renditions of LuPone standards go well beyond kitsch. This is no mere star reproduction, but a star-making performance all its own.” - Adam Feldman, Time Out New York
“Ben Rimalower’s deliriously manic direction keeps the energy at a breathless pace, and makes sure that, regardless of one’s opinion of ’80’s camp or LuPone herself, the show is pure and simple fun.” - Jena Tesse Fox, Cabaret Scenes

SNOOPY! The Musical

(Symphony Space, with Christian Borle, Jen Cody, Hunter Foster, Sutton Foster, Ann Harada, Deven May)

“A joyful evening of terrific performances, featuring simple and effective direction by up-n-comer Ben Rimalower I was particularly touched by director Rimalower's staging of the opening and closing sequences, which featured members of the Pied Piper Children's Theatre joining the actors onstage.” - Playbill