Pilgrims Musa and Sheri in the New World, Mosaic Theater Company of DC
"A handsomely acted production from Mosaic Theater Company... the characters are never mere markers of ethnic diversity or social niche... they are idiosyncratic individuals richly endowed with quirks... The most richly drawn character is Sheri (the vibrant Rachel Felstein), an endearing, emotionally scarred neurotic who appreciates Musa’s heritage and enjoys talking about God... “Pilgrims Musa & Sheri” is bracingly specific. We’re not the ones who get drenched with caffeine when the lovers quarrel, but watching these keenly individualized characters, we get an energizing jolt."-- The Washington Post
"Marvelously performed by the cast of five actors, led by Ahmad Kamal and Rachel Felstein. He’s a semi-practicing Muslim and she’s a handful of neurotic quirks and a salty mouth… the heart of the play is the central lovers… American muse Sheri embodied expertly by Rachel Felstein, is a mess of independence with no filter... Felstein and Kamal handle the sensuality of two grown-ups in love with tasteful restraint but with very believable chemistry, making their story even more powerful."-- MDTheatreGuide.com
"As the lovers, Kamal and Felstein have a dynamic rapport that allows one to lose oneself in their flirtations and inevitable and hilarious first fight. Felstein in particular delivers her speech with dancing syncopated rhythms... a particularly entertaining entry in the tradition of the American immigrant story."-- WashingtonCityPaper.com
"There are some dazzling performances in Pilgrims, all executed with perfect timing… Sheri (an ebullient Rachel Felstein)… Felstein’s performance of Sheri was excellent… More rapturous, but just as comic, are the scenes between Sheri and Musa... as they circle around each other in a kind of antic foreplay, and ultimately fight in what may be the sexiest lovers’ quarrel in history."-- DCMetroTheaterArts.com
"Rachel Felstein is loony but also lovely as Sheri. She takes what could become a stereotype -- of a woman who jumps into bed with men, then demands commitment -- and turns her into a believable, sexy, and charming woman you root for."-- BroadwayWorld.com
"As the seemingly more cynical city girl, Rachel Felstein captures Sheri’s boldness, the loud brass she employs to fill up space and overcome whatever trepidation she feels as she and Musa take steps towards intimacy."-- MetroWeekly.com
"The endearing fumblings of this odd couple recall classic meet-cutes between Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, or Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts. Felstein bubbles with dizzy energy... and excellent comic timing".-- DCTheatreScene.com
Right to be Forgotten, Arena Stage
"Rothstein's witty and insightful text is brought to life by a stellar cast... Annie (Rachel Felstein)… has earned a reputation as Big Tech's secret weapon. Oozing confidence, Felstein's Annie struts around the stage in the perfect image of a sleazy lobbyist, but slowly shows the audience a more nuanced, thoughtful woman. Annie is a confident women who's good at her job, but the vulnerability that she reveals makes it clear she's also principled... Arena Stage's production is a smart, solid, and charming show with a strong cast and production team." --BroadwayWorld.com
"A signal success of Rothstein’s writing, and the actors’ characterizations is that none that of these people come off as a hero or a villain… they live in a world of uncomfortable nuances… Butiu and Felstein have some crackling sharp confrontations, often attacking with a smile... It is no easy job for the director and actors, in a play of ideas like Right to be Forgotten, to create characters who… come across as credible individuals, whose changing relationships are clear to the audience. The team’s success in doing so is a credit to the production." -- DCMetroTheaterArts.com
Antigonick, Taffety Punk
"The Chorus interludes—often ponderous and awkward in modern times—are here handled with engaging verve. As the ensemble, Cackley, Davis, and Spencer are joined by Esther Williamson and Rachel Felstein... Felstein—a standout in the Chorus—also has a fascinating turn as the blind seer Teiresias." --DCMetroTheaterArts.com
Fun Home, Virginia Stage Company:
"The performance of Rachel Felstein, who plays Joan, Alison’s liberal and edgy girlfriend, is worth noting, as she portrayed the difference between confident Joan and awkward Alison exceptionally. I applaud each member of the cast, as I left the theatre feeling the lasting effects of this beautiful piece.” --AltDaily.com
"Rachel Felstein as Alison’s college girlfriend is exactly the kind of gay friend any person struggling with coming out needs: empathetic, gentle, and supportive.” --OutWire757.com
Summerland, Washington Stage Guild:
"Luckily, a dark lady barges in to keep us guessing which way the story is going to lean, and the second act belongs to her. This is Mrs. Mumler, referred to as a spider and played with poise and menace by Rachel Felstein, whose voice has a deep luster to match her character’s slate silk dress. Part black widow, part Civil War spy, the flamboyant, seemingly shameless Mrs. Mumler plays the seductress and the savvy debater with Tooker.” --The Washington Post
“The lift-off point is when Rachel Felstein makes her appearance as Mrs. Mumler… Things become more tangled and vibrant. Summerland takes on a new, ringing life in which male fear of the female comes openly on to the stage… The power of a wife over her husband and the power of the same woman over another man comes full force... A hand gesture, a calculating pat on the loveseat.. is all it takes to discombobulate the two men into a kind of submission. Felstein… by her mere presence, left me to drink in dialogue that might perhaps have been hidden away… Felstein brings out Jones’ script with line delivery and subtle visual depictions.” — DCMetroTheaterArts.com
"Mrs. Mumler… plays him as adroitly as a cat idling with a mouse. Who knew that a flash of calf and ankle from beneath a prim white cotton nightdress could reduce a man to stammering? Felstein’s Mrs. Mumler has the intellect of a chess master and the resolve to carry through her plans, whatever they may be. She is the most mysterious character of the three… the most vulnerable... she too is shadowed by pain… This is an intelligent, resolute work... and these actors bring us fully into that world.” --MarylandTheatreGuide.com
"While Rachel Felstein, playing Mrs. Mumler, does not appear until the final moment of the first act, her grandiose and theatrical entrance sparks interest in how her character fits into the bigger picture. Saucy and strangely fiery, as if lit with embers from an otherworldly presence, Felstein approaches the character with certainty, grounding her place in… the narrative with tremendous fortitude. In her unyielding tension-strung exchange with Tooker, there is an unsettling vivacity with which she pursues various matters which arise. Her expressions and overall attitude are channeled through not only her vocal delivery but her physicality with striking sincerity." --TheatreBloom.com
The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Shakespeare Theatre of NJ:
"The oddball collection of Shakespeare's characters that command our attention have other things on their minds to help fill their days; such as finding a suitable husband for the marriageable Anne Page (a disarming performance by Rachel Felstein)." - CurtainUp.com
"...A contender for the affections of the scarcely 17-year-old Anne, sweetly played by Rachel Felstein." - Examiner.com
"Rachel Felstein is a lovely Anne Page, about to traded like a horse by a mother and father to different candidates, when all she wants is to marry the noble Fenton." - NJArtsMaven.com
"Anne Page (Rachel Felstein)… is a prime catch. She’s being pursued by a mob of suitors, but Anne’s heart belongs to Fenton (James Costello), and their true love provides a poignant counterweight to the comic sexual maneuvering going on around them." - DailyRecord.com
"Director Monte gets fine performances from Macdonald as Falstaff, Jonathan Finnegan as Abraham Slender, Rachel Felstein as Anne Page, Caralyn Kozlowski as Alice Ford and others in a large cast." - HistoryNewsNetwork.org
The Marvelous Wonderettes, Allenberry Playhouse
"Betty Jean, who kazoos her way into audience hearts during "Allegheny Moon" in the first act, is played by Rachel Felstein. Betty Jean's "It's My Party" is a terrific performance that also advances the plot notably. Betty also knocks out an "I Only Want to be With You" that's even more upbeat than Dusty Springfield's, while she wears the hippest Sixties wig of the team." - BroadwayWorld.com
"This effervescent, two-act musical comedy, powered by lots of familiar pop songs from the 1950s and 1960, features an endearing and talented cast of young women who seem to have no problem channeling their inner schoolgirls. The giggly Wonderettes -- Betty Jean (Rachel Felstein), Cindy Lou (Beth Miller), Missy (Greta Kleckner) and Suzy (Katie Sexton) have little difficulty tearing through a nostalgic song list. The performances by Allenberry's young cast are first-rate." - PennLive.com
Man of La Mancha, National Tour
"Rachel Felstein is great as Antonia, Quijana's niece. She's got a beautiful singing voice and her number, "I'm Only Thinking Of Him," is a high point of the show. That's in part because of the two other performers in that number with her. It's almost a shame that the three of them aren't featured even more in the show, since they have three of the best voices and are also among the most talented actors." - BroadwayWorld.com
"A handsomely acted production from Mosaic Theater Company... the characters are never mere markers of ethnic diversity or social niche... they are idiosyncratic individuals richly endowed with quirks... The most richly drawn character is Sheri (the vibrant Rachel Felstein), an endearing, emotionally scarred neurotic who appreciates Musa’s heritage and enjoys talking about God... “Pilgrims Musa & Sheri” is bracingly specific. We’re not the ones who get drenched with caffeine when the lovers quarrel, but watching these keenly individualized characters, we get an energizing jolt."-- The Washington Post
"Marvelously performed by the cast of five actors, led by Ahmad Kamal and Rachel Felstein. He’s a semi-practicing Muslim and she’s a handful of neurotic quirks and a salty mouth… the heart of the play is the central lovers… American muse Sheri embodied expertly by Rachel Felstein, is a mess of independence with no filter... Felstein and Kamal handle the sensuality of two grown-ups in love with tasteful restraint but with very believable chemistry, making their story even more powerful."-- MDTheatreGuide.com
"As the lovers, Kamal and Felstein have a dynamic rapport that allows one to lose oneself in their flirtations and inevitable and hilarious first fight. Felstein in particular delivers her speech with dancing syncopated rhythms... a particularly entertaining entry in the tradition of the American immigrant story."-- WashingtonCityPaper.com
"There are some dazzling performances in Pilgrims, all executed with perfect timing… Sheri (an ebullient Rachel Felstein)… Felstein’s performance of Sheri was excellent… More rapturous, but just as comic, are the scenes between Sheri and Musa... as they circle around each other in a kind of antic foreplay, and ultimately fight in what may be the sexiest lovers’ quarrel in history."-- DCMetroTheaterArts.com
"Rachel Felstein is loony but also lovely as Sheri. She takes what could become a stereotype -- of a woman who jumps into bed with men, then demands commitment -- and turns her into a believable, sexy, and charming woman you root for."-- BroadwayWorld.com
"As the seemingly more cynical city girl, Rachel Felstein captures Sheri’s boldness, the loud brass she employs to fill up space and overcome whatever trepidation she feels as she and Musa take steps towards intimacy."-- MetroWeekly.com
"The endearing fumblings of this odd couple recall classic meet-cutes between Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, or Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts. Felstein bubbles with dizzy energy... and excellent comic timing".-- DCTheatreScene.com
Right to be Forgotten, Arena Stage
"Rothstein's witty and insightful text is brought to life by a stellar cast... Annie (Rachel Felstein)… has earned a reputation as Big Tech's secret weapon. Oozing confidence, Felstein's Annie struts around the stage in the perfect image of a sleazy lobbyist, but slowly shows the audience a more nuanced, thoughtful woman. Annie is a confident women who's good at her job, but the vulnerability that she reveals makes it clear she's also principled... Arena Stage's production is a smart, solid, and charming show with a strong cast and production team." --BroadwayWorld.com
"A signal success of Rothstein’s writing, and the actors’ characterizations is that none that of these people come off as a hero or a villain… they live in a world of uncomfortable nuances… Butiu and Felstein have some crackling sharp confrontations, often attacking with a smile... It is no easy job for the director and actors, in a play of ideas like Right to be Forgotten, to create characters who… come across as credible individuals, whose changing relationships are clear to the audience. The team’s success in doing so is a credit to the production." -- DCMetroTheaterArts.com
Antigonick, Taffety Punk
"The Chorus interludes—often ponderous and awkward in modern times—are here handled with engaging verve. As the ensemble, Cackley, Davis, and Spencer are joined by Esther Williamson and Rachel Felstein... Felstein—a standout in the Chorus—also has a fascinating turn as the blind seer Teiresias." --DCMetroTheaterArts.com
Fun Home, Virginia Stage Company:
"The performance of Rachel Felstein, who plays Joan, Alison’s liberal and edgy girlfriend, is worth noting, as she portrayed the difference between confident Joan and awkward Alison exceptionally. I applaud each member of the cast, as I left the theatre feeling the lasting effects of this beautiful piece.” --AltDaily.com
"Rachel Felstein as Alison’s college girlfriend is exactly the kind of gay friend any person struggling with coming out needs: empathetic, gentle, and supportive.” --OutWire757.com
Summerland, Washington Stage Guild:
"Luckily, a dark lady barges in to keep us guessing which way the story is going to lean, and the second act belongs to her. This is Mrs. Mumler, referred to as a spider and played with poise and menace by Rachel Felstein, whose voice has a deep luster to match her character’s slate silk dress. Part black widow, part Civil War spy, the flamboyant, seemingly shameless Mrs. Mumler plays the seductress and the savvy debater with Tooker.” --The Washington Post
“The lift-off point is when Rachel Felstein makes her appearance as Mrs. Mumler… Things become more tangled and vibrant. Summerland takes on a new, ringing life in which male fear of the female comes openly on to the stage… The power of a wife over her husband and the power of the same woman over another man comes full force... A hand gesture, a calculating pat on the loveseat.. is all it takes to discombobulate the two men into a kind of submission. Felstein… by her mere presence, left me to drink in dialogue that might perhaps have been hidden away… Felstein brings out Jones’ script with line delivery and subtle visual depictions.” — DCMetroTheaterArts.com
"Mrs. Mumler… plays him as adroitly as a cat idling with a mouse. Who knew that a flash of calf and ankle from beneath a prim white cotton nightdress could reduce a man to stammering? Felstein’s Mrs. Mumler has the intellect of a chess master and the resolve to carry through her plans, whatever they may be. She is the most mysterious character of the three… the most vulnerable... she too is shadowed by pain… This is an intelligent, resolute work... and these actors bring us fully into that world.” --MarylandTheatreGuide.com
"While Rachel Felstein, playing Mrs. Mumler, does not appear until the final moment of the first act, her grandiose and theatrical entrance sparks interest in how her character fits into the bigger picture. Saucy and strangely fiery, as if lit with embers from an otherworldly presence, Felstein approaches the character with certainty, grounding her place in… the narrative with tremendous fortitude. In her unyielding tension-strung exchange with Tooker, there is an unsettling vivacity with which she pursues various matters which arise. Her expressions and overall attitude are channeled through not only her vocal delivery but her physicality with striking sincerity." --TheatreBloom.com
The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Shakespeare Theatre of NJ:
"The oddball collection of Shakespeare's characters that command our attention have other things on their minds to help fill their days; such as finding a suitable husband for the marriageable Anne Page (a disarming performance by Rachel Felstein)." - CurtainUp.com
"...A contender for the affections of the scarcely 17-year-old Anne, sweetly played by Rachel Felstein." - Examiner.com
"Rachel Felstein is a lovely Anne Page, about to traded like a horse by a mother and father to different candidates, when all she wants is to marry the noble Fenton." - NJArtsMaven.com
"Anne Page (Rachel Felstein)… is a prime catch. She’s being pursued by a mob of suitors, but Anne’s heart belongs to Fenton (James Costello), and their true love provides a poignant counterweight to the comic sexual maneuvering going on around them." - DailyRecord.com
"Director Monte gets fine performances from Macdonald as Falstaff, Jonathan Finnegan as Abraham Slender, Rachel Felstein as Anne Page, Caralyn Kozlowski as Alice Ford and others in a large cast." - HistoryNewsNetwork.org
The Marvelous Wonderettes, Allenberry Playhouse
"Betty Jean, who kazoos her way into audience hearts during "Allegheny Moon" in the first act, is played by Rachel Felstein. Betty Jean's "It's My Party" is a terrific performance that also advances the plot notably. Betty also knocks out an "I Only Want to be With You" that's even more upbeat than Dusty Springfield's, while she wears the hippest Sixties wig of the team." - BroadwayWorld.com
"This effervescent, two-act musical comedy, powered by lots of familiar pop songs from the 1950s and 1960, features an endearing and talented cast of young women who seem to have no problem channeling their inner schoolgirls. The giggly Wonderettes -- Betty Jean (Rachel Felstein), Cindy Lou (Beth Miller), Missy (Greta Kleckner) and Suzy (Katie Sexton) have little difficulty tearing through a nostalgic song list. The performances by Allenberry's young cast are first-rate." - PennLive.com
Man of La Mancha, National Tour
"Rachel Felstein is great as Antonia, Quijana's niece. She's got a beautiful singing voice and her number, "I'm Only Thinking Of Him," is a high point of the show. That's in part because of the two other performers in that number with her. It's almost a shame that the three of them aren't featured even more in the show, since they have three of the best voices and are also among the most talented actors." - BroadwayWorld.com
