-Gregory Fletcher, Stage and Cinema
"This is one of those rare musicals that makes you laugh, cry, and reflect on your own choices all in one evening.”
-Suzanna Bowling, Times Square Chronicles
"Charming comedy"
"Dolly and Kevin sing their way through a journey of sadness to joy. The pair are splendid together as Dolly pulls Kevin by his imaginary boot straps and suspenders to become the man he wants and needs to be.Gabriel Barre directs and choreographs this charming comedy, on a marvelous set by Anna Louizos, with sequined costumes by Bobby Pearce.”
-Bonnie Goldberg, Connecticut Critics Circle
"The ultimate feel very, very good small musical"
"Thematically, Here You Come Again is designed to lift spirits with Dolly's "hang in there" philosophy through song ringing truly and clearly. Kevin was waiting tables in New York City, hoping for an opportunity to shine as a comedian, when he was placed on furlough. He's despondent and dealing with meals his mother sends literally up to him via a dumbwaiter. Bruce Vilanch, Gabriel Barre, and Tricia Paoluccio collectively authored this touring play. Barre both directs and choreographs, and Eugene Gwozdz provides musical direction and orchestrations. Three unseen instrumentalists are significant contributors as well.”
-Fred Sokol, Talkin’ Broadway
"Inventive and thoroughly charming script"
"This makes it less of a musical miracle and more of the outgrowth of a fan’s imagining at a desperate time. But that’s OK. It’s only then that we begin to take an emotional journey with Kevin as Dolly’s music — as well as her famously upbeat, empathetic, positive-thinklng, straight-talking, no-nonsense attitude — brings him out of his funk, lifts him up, offers him a real-world perspective, and gives him the new-found confidence to start anew.
Doesn’t that sound a little, well, corny?: It could be in lesser hands but as staged by Gabriel Barre and performed by these two extraordinary actors, it works.”
-Frank Rizzo, Showriz
"HOORAY FOR GOIN’ HOLLYWOOD!"
"…director Gabriel Barre deserves a good deal of credit for making that tension ultra-tense. Barre, whose direction of Andrew Lippa’s THE WILD PARTY still remains a vivid memory nearly a quarter-century later, once again provides a fast-moving and compelling production. In maneuvering a cast of 17 (which is more than some Broadway musicals have), Barre beautifully blocked his performers so to yield many handsome stage pictures.”
-Peter Filichia, Broadway Select
"Superb"
"Gabriel Barre’s direction amazed me. He has to juggle a huge cast, countless scene changes, and make everything smooth and coherent in this almost constantly moving time traveling saga and he does so masterfully."
-DFW Center Stage
"Thrilled guests"
"...a showcase of the cruise line’s new direction into original, bespoke live shipboard entertainment, on the Crown Princess, docked at the Port of Los Angeles, thrilled guests with its combination of beloved songs from Schwartz’s catalog and its stagecraft, including lots and lots of real magic — such as the duo taking the song “Defying Gravity” quite literally, above — performed by the multitalented cast of high-energy singers and dancers."
-Carole Horst, Variety
"Absolutely riveting"
"Who would have thought that a musical based on the life of John Newton, a British slave trader turned clergyman, abolitionist, and hymn writer (yes, he wrote "Amazing Grace") would turn out to be such a ripping yarn? True, Arthur Giron and Christopher Smith (who's also behind the music and lyrics) embellish his story, fashioning a carefully crafted plot out of a chaotic if fascinating life. But who cares? This is theater, after all, not a classroom. And this "pre-Broadway" Equity production packed with fine songs, stirring adventure, and amazing stage effects—not to mention an ensemble's worth of terrific performances—is absolutely riveting. From the moment charismatic Josh Young enters as Newton, we want to know the story of this gifted young man, who told no lie when he called himself a wretch."
-Jack Helbig, Chicago Reader
"Handsome"
"This is par for the course in Gabriel Barre’s production, which is handsome."
-New York Post
"Adeptly handled"
"Things get more lively at the halfway point, after Thomas helps John survive a shipwreck off the coast of Africa (it’s a swell bit of staging, adeptly handled by director Gabriel Barre)."
-NBC New York
"A visual coup"
"The workmanlike production (directed by Gabriel Barre) pulls off a visual coup at the end of act one, using a flying effect to show Newton on the verge of sinking."
-AM New York
"Vividly and chillingly staged"
"These grim scenes are vividly — and chillingly — staged by helmer Gabriel Barre"
-Variety
"Above anything you’ve experienced"
"…head and shoulders above anything you’ve experienced on a cruise ship before."
-Examiner.com
"Ups entertainment ante"
"Princess ups entertainment ante with a Broadway alliance"
-Los Angeles Times
"Raised the bar"
"What a great Broadway show! Magic to Do exceeded all expectations - amazing! The visual interpretations of so many familiar songs coupled with magic...wow! Princess has really delivered something unique at sea and has raised the bar for entertainment."
-Eric Maryanov, Signature Travel Network
"Crisp, laconic work"
“The marvelous four-member cast, directed by Gabriel Barre, does crisp, laconic work that’s as impressive for its consistency as for its range.”
– Rob Kendt, Broadway.com
"Meticulous detail"
"From the moment you take your seat at Tom Jones: The Musical, it’s clear that this show belongs to Gabriel Barre… Every visual element in this musical is clever and thought out in meticulous detail."
-Terry Byrne, Boston Herald
"Continues to show a deft touch"
"Director Gabriel Barre continues to show a deft touch with the NSMT space."
-Rich Fahey, The Daily Item
"Vividly directed"
"Vividly directed in the round by Gabriel Barre, with finely spirited performances by the large youthful, lively and resonant cast."
-PMPNetwork.com