Fiddler on the Roof review:
“Fiddler at Footlite, a True Delight”…..
“…Tevye’s wife, Golde, is superbly portrayed by Lori Ecker, her rich voice – certainly one of the best in this show – attesting to her many musical theater and operatic performances around Indiana, the Midwest and East Coast.” “
…Katz scores a shiny kopek with If I Were a Rich Man, his inflection perfect, his fingers skittering in the air with ‘a stairway that goes nowhere just for show’.....(his 30-year) absence from the stage did not affect the performance he gave on November 17th – perhaps it even infused his fervor.” “
…Brenda Upchurch shines as the very recognizable, spouty Yente. She is also the set designer and the tech director, and has won several awards for her work on and off the stage.”
“…Director Camilla Upchurch and choreographer Linda Rees must be complimented for making a cast of up to 50 people all singing and moving on stage simultaneously, look easy….”
“…From Tradition to Sunrise Sunset to the dirge-like Anatevka at the end, this was a superbly rendered staging of a very endearing musical that mixes mazel with gevalt.
Matthew J. Silver, The Indiana Jewish Post & Opinion
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Oklahoma! reviews:
“Monomoy opens with a breezy ‘Oklahoma!’…”
“…the cast sparkles with infectious Midwestern friendliness and enthusiasm. The production is as breezy as the wind sweeping down the plains. It re-creates the colorful prairie days at the turn-of-the-century…”
“…From the first bars he sings of ‘Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’,’ Christopher Roberts lassoes the role of the boastful young cowboy Curly, who is feeling his wild oats and his attraction for a pretty farm girl, Laurey. Roberts has a fine, clear voice and charming manner. Lori Ecker is a lovely Laurey, a young woman who is full of yearnings. She’s blessed with a pretty soprano voice.”
“The two actors make a believable romantic couple even in their non-singing moments. They depict the shyness and awkwardness of two people who are just discovering they are in love, but are afraid to admit their true feelings. Their version of ‘People Will Say We’re In Love’ is sweet.”
Johanna Crosby, Cape Cod Times
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“A bright, new, fresh production of ‘Oklahoma!’ opened at the Monomoy Theatre in Chatham... “
…this first play of the season is a winner. Christopher Roberts, who plays Curley, has a strong pleasant voice and sets the tone of the evening as he sings ‘Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin,’….his duets with Lori Ecker are truly moving. Their voices blend together well and their diction is letter perfect.”
Marjorie Weidig, The Cape Codder
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A Little Night Music reviews:
“In the second act, the song we all awaited, ‘Send In the Clowns,’ came and went before the best solo of the night, ‘The Miller’s Son.’ Honors there to Lori Ecker.”
Greg Crawford, the Perry Township Weekly
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“In the second act, Lori Ecker delivered a charming version of ‘The Miller’s Son’.”
Dick Cady, the Indianapolis Star
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“A vocal highlight is ‘The Miller’s Son,’ matter-of-factly sung by Lori Ecker. She gives proper feel to the less-than-virginal maid Petra.”
Peter Marbach, the Indianapolis News
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“Contributing to the thickened plot of the musical was Lori Ecker as the Egerman’s maid, Petra. Although Ecker’s scenes are brief, she commits to the moment and doesn’t back off. And her solo number ‘The Miller’s Son’ lets us hear Ms. Ecker’s strong singing voice with a very good range. Lori’s number was a treat that came late in the show.”
Doyle Hoggatt, Indianapolis Now!
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Bells Are Ringing reviews:
“Lori Ecker is a delightful Ella Peterson, a role originally written for the incomparable Judy Holliday. She handles the role with a deft comedic touch, and she possesses a wonderful singing voice. She moves gracefully on stage…”
Joan Moreillon, Indy Today Newspapers
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“With a bright, winning performance, Miss Ecker romps through the many scene changes. Her musical interpretation of the satiric plea for happiness ‘Is It a Crime?’ is amusing, and she shines in the clever ‘Drop That Name’.”
Peter Marbach, the Indianapolis News
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“Ecker, who plays Ella, has a pretty, sharp voice…”
Marc D. Allan, the Indianapolis Star
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Sweeney Todd reviews:
“….Johanna, given a bright ingénue portrayal with a comic flair by Lori Ecker.”
Jay Harvey, the Indianapolis Star
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“Tim Spradlin & Lori Ecker make a lovely pair as the hapless young lovers Anthony & Johanna. Ecker excels in “Green Finch and Linnit Bird,” while Spradlin tells of his love in the moving “Johanna.”
Peter Marbach, the Indianapolis News
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“The Summer Knows” (Jimmy’s Cabaret) review:
“Showing versatility, plus a dazzling presence, Ecker’s song list varies…Top-forty pop to Broadway…Featuring so much talent, Lori Ecker and company are going to be hot; each has ample stage experience to justify a blind recommendation. Account for all the preceding….and we’ve got a winner on our hands.”
Greg Crawford, the Perry Township Weekly
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“An Evening with Tim Spradlin” (Jimmy’s Cabaret) review:
“In his first duet of the show, Spradlin teams with Ecker to perform…Ecker and Spradlin look good together. Their songs have simple affection and honesty. In quick order, Ms. E performs…It’s the 40s all over again, and this lady’s controlled power needs no mic…just a remake of The Maltese Falcon or Strangers on a Train. Where did all the matinee singers go?”
Greg Crawford, the Perry Township Weekly
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Sweet Charity review:
“Lori Ecker is always a joy to see, this time winning ‘Screamer of the Year’ as the temperamental girlfriend Ursula.”
Peter Marbach, the Indianapolis News
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The Passion of Dracula reviews:
“The show also benefits from Lori Ecker’s performance as Wilhelmina Murray, the object of Dracula’s passion…When the two characters meet in a small pool of light, the music softens through the dialogue and then builds to a natural crescendo when Dracula offers his blood to Wilhelmina. Cable and Ecker play the scene beautifully, and enhanced by the lights and sound, it encompasses all of the passion and gothic horror that have made “Dracula” a classic.
Michael Aldrich, Daily Journal
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“Ecker, a beautiful lady with long, flowing blond hair, was perfectly cast. Held in the arms of Jon Cable (Dracula) against his black-as-night cape with a blood red lining, Ecker was the epitome of a damsel in distress…
Greg Crawford, the Perry Township Weekly
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Angel Street reviews:
“Angel Street is devilishly good…..and also nicely acted…..Ecker doesn’t miss a beat as she delicately skirts full-blown hysteria.”
Alicia Blaisell-Bannon, Cape Cod Times
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“Lori Ecker takes Mrs. Manningham from a brooding, insecure woman on the brink of insanity to an avenger of darkness.”
Joan Tacke Aucoin, The Cape Codder
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Noises Off reviews:
“Those who deplore the dumb blonde stereotype may wince, but Lori Ecker’s portrayal of Brooke Ashton was a démodé classic at the preview.”
Jay Harvey, the Indianapolis Star
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“…and Lori Ecker, in appearance and manner the epitome of the classic dumb blonde.”
Peter Marbach, the Indianapolis News
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The Rainmaker review:
“…Ecker’s swings from downcast to exalted are matched by those of Lampson. It all adds up to an unqualified recommendation. Enjoy.”
Greg Crawford, the Perry Township Weekly
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As You Like It review:
“The cast is adeptly led by Lori Ecker as Rosalind. This is a difficult and essentially solo part, with little chance for real interaction with other characters. Ecker demonstrates quick, vibrant moments of emotion and an interpretation and appearance that surely are the ideal of romantic girlhood.”
Peter Marbach, the Indianapolis News
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Children of a Lesser God reviews:
“You’d be hard pressed to find a more satisfying and fulfilling evening of theater than Mark Medoff’s Children of a Lesser God…Noel Outland and Lori Ecker are the stand-outs here, as James Leeds and Sarah Norman, a teacher of the deaf and his student… Complicating things for Outland is the fact that he must know his lines AND Ecker’s, since their characters communicate exclusively through signing, the manual speech of the deaf. I don’t know if they knew sign language before they tackled this play, and the reason I don’t know is that they’re incredibly convincing at it, since neither they, nor anyone else in the cast, is deaf. …The interplay here is strong, and the scenes featuring Outland and Ecker are affecting, often to the point of emotional exhaustion. …It is difficult to imagine any reason why you would miss this opportunity to see a rugged, tenacious-yet-moving production of a play that will stay with you forever.”
Rodney Richey, the Muncie Star
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“Ecker’s performance compels the audience to enter Sarah’s domain of silence. Sarah’s hatred for hearing people is apparent from the beginning when she locks the door of communication with smug satisfaction. When she hates, her vengeance draws blood – when she loves, her warmth fills the room. Ecker creates a believable Sarah, using sign language with the ease of one born without being able to hear. Her character doesn’t demand pity, like many stereotypical portrayals of the hearing impaired. She asks only for the right to be a person with respect and understanding. Without speaking, Ecker screams the truth many hearing people refuse to hear.”
Dana Corbit, Ball State Daily News
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The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds review:
“Even minor contributions, such as Lori Ecker’s appearance as a dippy student competing with Tillie for the science fair prize, ring true and raise the value of the play as a whole.”
Rodney Richey, the Muncie Star