N o e l a n i N e a l
AEA
Reviews
On Into the Woods:
"Everybody in the large cast deserves praise, but musically, two standouts are Noelani Neal, handling Rapunzel's impossible tessitura effortlessly..." - Janos Gereben, San Francisco Classical Voice
"There is an inviting, airy individuality to the performances...Note should be made of... Noelani Neal who brings unsettling madness to Rapunzel..." -Richard Dodds, The Bay Area Reporter
"Noelani Neal’s Rapunzel has a gorgeous tone, which she shows off during a tongue-in-cheek reoccurring vocalise that could easily have been shrill. Sadly, she fades into the woodwork a bit as the play goes on. When she’s on stage, however, she owns it, and I’m sure she will be in lead roles at the Playhouse and elsewhere before long." -David Kurlander, San Francisco Bay Guardian
"[A] delightful soprano, with a subtle comic touch, is Noelani Neal as Rapunzel. In her tower she looks like the epitome of a Disney princess." -Bonnie Weiss, www.mtlu.org
"The company has pulled out all the stops to make this a first class production. There are no weak performances; each actor has great theatrical presence with marvelous vocal chops... Noelani Neal gives an appealing performance as Rapunzel." - Richard Connema, www.talkinbroadway.com
"What really makes this work so well is an excellent cast. Hafen, Adams, Corinne Proctor as Little Red Riding Hood, and Noelani Neal as Rapunzel deliver terrific vocal performances on top of their comedic skills." -John Marcher, abeastinajungle.com
"Noelani Neal is a stronger and more grounded Rapunzel than is usually seen."- Robert Sokol, The San Francisco Examiner
"The actors...strike the right notes of wit and whimsy, longing and loneliness... The cast illuminates the transitions in fierce, funny performances...Noelani Neal sings prettily as Rapunzel" - Georgia Rowe, San Jose Mercury News
"To mention all 16 members of the cast would make a long review. Be assured they all perform admirably with enthusiasm, zany humor, flair and they all have fun. You will too. "-Kedar K. Adour, MD, ForAllEvents.info
On Cabaret:
"Noelani Neal is as beautiful of body and face as is humanly possible, and also adds a fine touch with some bits of humor as the woman who entertains sailors...It is absolutely amazing to see so many powerful performers in such roles. They all know their roles and act them out in every moment." - John Orr, Regarding Arts
"Just as the Emcee forebodingly appears watching scenes develop under and around him, so does Fräulein Kost... who peers with ever darker stares at the growing romance of her landlady and the Jewish fruit seller. Noelani Neal sent shudders down my spine with her piercing stares and steely smirks as her tall, slender silhouette hid in the all-seeing shadows." -Eddie Reynolds, Talkin' Broadway
"[Noelani Neal is] Extremely lithe... as Fritzie...Though they’re all sensational, two young women...stand out...[including] Noelani Neal who does double duty as a Kit Kat girl and as the promiscuous Fraulein Kost...Neal has a high, clear voice which she uses to advantage in “Married” and the afore-mentioned Nazi theme song ['Tomorrow Belongs to Me']... Those Kit Kat girls deserve high fives for their acrobatics, their Rockette-style kicks and their down-and-dirty looks and actions. ." -Joanne Engelhardt, The Mercury News
On The Wild Party:
"Some standouts include...Noelani Neal, who has a wonderful stand out dance sequence towards the end of the second act. My ballet loving companion gives her high marks as well" -Kevin M. Thomas, Progressive Pulse
" The solo...Jackie’s Last Dance” ...played by the sizzling Noelani Neal, is spectacular and as elegant as any dark moment at this Party"- Vince Mediaa, VMEDIA.com
[Regarding Jackie's Last Dance] "I'm not ever a fan of a dream ballet, and while this production maybe has more of an opiate-laced dance interlude, it was one of the more perfect moments of the show" -artsalot.com
On Legally Blonde:
"Whipped Into Shape has the best choreography of the musical...A number of... actors stand out in this production, notably doll-like Noelani Neal as fitness queen Brooke" - Joanne Engelhardt, Daily News
"Noelani Neal not only has the body for her fitness instructor role of Brooke Wyndham, she is sassy and fun to watch on stage. " - Vince Mediaa
"After the entr’acte the show gets even better with the introduction new characters that include physical fitness Guru Brooke Wyndem played by gorgeous Noelani Neal who is on trial after being framed by her step daughter for the murder of her rich husband. While in jail she puts the staff into a great dance sequence with “Whipped into Shape.” - Kedar Adour
On Where's Charley?:
"Deliciously quaint... A trio singing “The Gossips” provides yet another great comic turn: Rosamund (Noelani Neal), Doretta (Katherine Leyva) and Violet (Marie Mikheyenko)...female voices are exceptional."-Woody Weingarten, Ross Valley Reporter
"...and an impossibly leggy Noelani Neal create a wonderfully complementary visual and vocal ensemble in a frothy and romantic production that offers a nice balance of love and laughter." -Robert Sokol
On A Chorus Line:
"Noelani Neal radiates poise and presence in the centerpiece role of Cassie... She's a fine dancer" -Lisa Jensen, Good Times
"Cabrillo Stage delivers a vivid, heartfelt 'Chorus Line'" -Lisa Jensen, Good Times
"Highlights [:].... In "The Music and the Mirror" Cassie (Noelani Neal) begs Zach (Bill Olsen) the Director to just let her dance so she can reenter the world she most feels part of-- the world of dance." The Cabrillo Stage production of "A Chorus Line" triumphs." - Noel Smith, Capitola Soquel Times
On Chicago:
"[Noelani] Neal graced us with her exceptional talents. She is a beautiful dancer, and her Hungarian monologue was quite convincing."- Paul Janes Brown, Maui TV Weekly