REVIEWS (scroll down to view) _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
ASSASSINS
"...but the best of the lot are Philip D'Amore as wacky Garfield killer Charles Guiteau..."
~~LA TIMES
"...manic Charles Guiteau's (Philip D'Amore) shooting
of James Garfield...D'Amore has a challenge with the wild Guiteau, but he manages to play the mentally unstable killer for plenty of laughs without becoming a cartoon."
~~BACKSTAGE WEST (LA)
"At least President Garfield assassin Charles Guiteau (a charismatic turn by Philip D'Amore) has the decency to acknowledge his own insanity ("The Ballad of Guiteau")."
~~VARIETY
Interviewed by Ventura County Star:
"Sondheim is challenging, but we've come so far as a company. We knew it would require great actors who can sing and that's exactly what we have."
One of these performers is Philip D'Amore who has been in "Assassins" twice before.
"This is my second time as Charles Guiteau," D'Amore said. "He is my favorite character, and yet, if you asked people on the street, probably eight out of ten would have no idea who he was."
For those that don't know, Guiteau on July 2, 1881, shot James Garfield, the 20th U.S. President, who died two month later. Guiteau was hanged in 1882 for his crime.
"Guiteau was megalomaniacal. He thought everyone would understand why he did it," D'Amore explained. "He even hired a car to wait for him and take him to jail after he killed the President because he thought it would just be a temporary thing. Guiteau also kick-started the whole idea of the insanity plea. He's so much fun to play."
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THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO
"D'Amore gives Fernand an almost psychotic personality, making the character wonderfully awful. The remaining performances aren't memorable, a fault that lies with the overall hurried pace."
~~BACKSTAGE WEST (LA)
"...Philip D'Amore, excellent as the evil Fernand..."
~~LA STAGE SCENE
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PARADISE HOTEL
"D'Amore and Simpson carry off the focal roles with consummate skill, making the genre's far-fetched conventions seem almost logical."
~~BACKSTAGE WEST (LA)
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AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS
"...Spivey and D'Amore are clear veterans of extreme comic effect, brilliant at portraying characters via physical stance, accent and humor...
Passepartout played by Philip D'Amore, who careens on breezy flair. D'Amore is zany, Chaplin-esque and the comedic glue that holds the ensemble together. On one hand, he is the silly balance to the punctilious Fogg. On the other, he is a foil to the bumbling, arrogant, and ultimately stupid Detective Fix (Jonathan Spivey). Some of the best scenes involve Spivey and D'Amore sparring over Fogg's innocence."
~~THE UNION DEMOCRAT
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IDOLS OF THE KING
"...much of the play is carried by the two supporting actors, Philip D'Amore and Jessica Drizd, who are a hoot as everyone from a crazed ham radio operator to a forlorn piano teacher."
~~THE UNION DEMOCRAT
INTERVIEW:
"Meanwhile, the Elvis fan base will come alive in the able hands of two veteran actors: SRT favorite Philip D'Amore and Jessica Drizd. Philip is leaving 'Annie' early to join 'Idols of the King' cast and will be replaced by artistic director Scott Viets. 'I'm really honored that Scott wanted me for the part and was willing to step in and make it possible,' Philip said. 'It's giving me a chance to bring out my 'Sybil' qualities (for the nine different characters he'll play)."
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ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
"Indeed, when Philip D'Amore, a strutting, pint-size, order issuing hunk of theatrical ego, strolls in halfway through the play as rival producer Max Jacobs, we are given more than a hint of what Oscar Jaffe might have been under more felicitous circumstances."
~~MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL
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CAESAR AND CLEOPATRA
"A number of supporting roles created by Shaw have a lot more potential than actors in this production realize, but Philip D'Amore is perfect as Cleopatra's babyish king-brother Ptolemy."
~~SHEPHERD EXPRESS (Milwaukee)
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
"Philip A. D'Amore almost steals the show as Audrey's insane, nitrous oxide-snorting dentist boyfriend and several smaller roles. Shorter than some of the actresses, he exudes a demented Joe Pesci-type toughness and is equally charismatic and hilarious."
~~MODESTO BEE
"When we meet her beau, we see that she is in over her head. The boyfriend is a deliriously demented dentist named Orin, played by Philip D'Amore. D'Amore delights in taking huge hits of nitrous oxide from a canister he carries on a chain that hangs from his leather slacks. (The audience on opening night roared after every puff he took!.)"
"D'Amore also appears in several other bit parts during the show because as Seymour's story hits the papers, tv producers, magazine photographers and greasy talent scouts come calling-and D'Amore plays them all! Each slime ball has a different shtick and D'Amore's wicked grin serves each character well."
~~THE UNION DEMOCRAT
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BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
"Generating abundant laughs at considerable physical expense, Philip D'Amore is hilariously resilient as LeFou, Gaston's witless sidekick, who endures knocks to the head and pratfalls galore."
~~THE UNION DEMOCRAT
"...and manhandles his sidekick, LeFou. Philip D'Amore once again charms the audience with his self deprecating comedic genius as he takes all that is dished out as Gaston's dimwitted comrade."
~~CALAVARAS ENTERPRISE
"...while Philip D'Amore keeps the children in the audience giggling with his pratfalls and grimaces as Gaston's bumbling sidekick, LeFou.
~~MODESTO BEE
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SHIPWRECKED
"Bruno and our storyteller are marooned on an island and it's here that Philip D'Amore nearly steals the show as Bruno.
Die hard Sierra Rep fans will remember his antics as the dentist in "Little Shop of Horrors" and recall his abilities with physical comedy from several other shows.
As Bruno, D'Amore sets the standard for playing animals onstage; this could easily become dopey or overly sentimental, but D'Amore keeps all of the pup's wild actions right on the spot. (Watch for him fishing, it's adorable!)"
~~SIERRA LODESTAR
"D'Amore nearly steals the show with his portrayal of de Rougemont's faithful dog. He gets tons of laughs with his panting, barking and tail-wagging.
~~MODESTO BEE
"...with Philip D'Amore as player No. 2, also in multiple roles. Both are superb, with D'Amore nearly stealing the show as the captain's dog Bruno."
~~THE UNION DEMOCRAT
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CINDERELLA
"More comedy comes from Philip D'Amore reprising his role as Bertrum, the Prince's hyper servant and town crier."
~~MODESTO BEE
"Finally, don't take your eyes off Bertrum, played with a Jim Carrey-like face by Philip D'Amore. He takes every opportunity to mug a little bit to the audience and it's always worth a laugh or two."
~~THE UNION DEMOCRAT
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THE SOUND OF MUSIC
"Philip D'Amore, known for his skill at comic roles in Sierra Rep productions, offers yet another humorous performance as Captain Von Trapp's fun loving friend Max Detweiler."
~~MODESTO BEE
"...and last, Philip D'Amore plays a perfectly convincing Max Detweiller."
~~THE WEEKENDER
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ASSASSINS
"I was particularly impressed with the strong stage presence, convincing portrayals, and fine singing voices of both the Booth and Guiteau characters (Joel Kopischke and Philip D'Amore respectively)."
~~THE WISCONSIN LIGHT
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SEASON'S GREETINGS
"Almost all of the few chuckles came from watching D'Amore in the role of Uncle Harvey. His expressions, actions and vocal punctuation expertly add to each scene."
~~THE HERALD (Milwaukee)
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NARNIA
"...Philip D'Amore as Fenris Ulf (suave, haute, devilish)."
~~VALLEY NEWS (LA)
"...not (set in) a low budget forest, but a highly polished 1940 radio broadcast studio for the BBC...(all are playing British actors broadcasting "Narnia" from a wartime fallout shelter)...and Philip D'Amore's slippery, self-absorbed BBC character actor provides as much entertainment as "himself" as he does when he slips into his radio part. (D'Amore) gives a solid performance as the sneeringly villainous Fenris Ulf..."
~~STAR NEWS REVIEW (LA)
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MACHINAL
"Philip D'Amore's portrait of her husband is wonderfully slick, funny and sinister."
~~MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL
"...and Philip D'Amore, as her boss, and later her husband brilliantly avoids the obvious choices by making George an amiable fool rather than a nasty brute."
~~SHEPHERD EXPRESS (Milwaukee)
"Finally, D'Amore's portrayal of the oblivious, self-centered husband, is perfect. He is truly the enemy through his representation of society as the unfeeling worker."
~~MU TRIBUNE
