Reviews
Photo by Joan Marcus
Photo by Matthew Murphy for Murphymade
"Somehow all of these shortcomings are not enough to keep Valli from making an impression. The granddaughter of Frankie Valli, she’s an appealingly buoyant presence, with a gift for comedy and for creating an air of spontaneity in even the most predictable scenes." - Don Aucoin, Boston Globe
"The cast is led by relative newcomer Olivia Valli as Vivian. This show is her first leading role having been an ensemble player in various companies over the last few years. I cannot overstate how perfect Valli is in the role. Vocally she's stunning, but what makes this combination of performer and role such a match made in heaven is the fact that Valli brings an unmatched level of charm, wit, spunk, and grit to the role. Those qualities are what bring Vivian to life, and Valli embodies them all with her own delightful brand of flair and attitude." Taylor Clemmons, Broadway World
Olivia Valli was a charming Elphaba. Of course, you won’t get cast as Elphaba without the voice to match, and there was no exception here. Valli delivered humor and depth in equal measure to show us why Elphaba is the unexpected heroine we need. I appreciate the subtle ways she made Elphaba her own. There was no sense of “copying” the original that made it stale. Her delivery undoubtedly moved the audience, especially in the iconic number “Defying Gravity” where she makes the brave decision to stand on her own. I noticed more than one audience member in tears as we went into intermission. - The Marriage Matinee, Broadway World
This Joseph story is told with the help of a modern Narrator, in this case Olivia Valli. Her vocals are impeccably nuanced and controlled, particularly in the wonderfully upbeat “Joseph’s Coat.” - Courtney Symes, Broadway World
"Olivia Valli (who played her own grandmother in the off-Broadway production of the JERSEY BOYS) - is the perfect combination of beauty, grit and smarts for this role. Remember that red dress scene made famous by Julia Roberts in the movie? She was perfect for this role, and her voice was fantastic in songs like "Anywhere But Here" and "I Can't Go Back." - Jay Pateakos, Broadway World
"Given a sadder backstory, the Vivian here is stronger and more vulnerable than her onscreen counterpart. She's also more charming and awkward than overtly sexy. The role requires a big voice and a bigger personality. Valli, who performs songs such as "Anywhere But Here" and "I Can't Go Back" with the fervor of an '80s pop star, delivers." Joey Morona, Cleveland.com
"Valli's Vivian has pipes for days and is incredibly feisty. She also brings a fittingly calculated artifice to her physical vocabulary as Vivian and Ed negotiate the terms of their deal. Tellingly, her body language changes along with her character as the plot progresses." - Catey Sullivan, Chicago Sun-Times
Olivia Valli (Mary Magdalene) delivers a grounded and vocally stunning performance, bringing a necessary tenderness to the production’s more reflective moments and the pipes to belt to the rafters when needed. Carolan Trbovich - Broadway World
"Valli’s Elphaba commands the stage with a sort of endearing awkwardness, a vibrant awareness and a powerhouse voice that sent chills down my spine and rooted me to my seat in awe. She’s funny and raw; it’s guttural and delicate in ways everyone can appreciate." - Chloe McGowan, Indianapolis Recorder
Olivia Valli (Mary Magdalene) is a musical theater virtuoso, having carved out a major career as a leading lady. Olivia recently completed a long, celebrated run as Elphaba in the National Tour of Wicked, a role that demands incredible vocal stamina. She also played Mary Delgado in the Off-Broadway production of Jersey Boys, and originated the role of Vivian Ward in the first national tour of Pretty Woman: The Musical. Her vocals in "Everything's Alright," where Mary attempts to create a peaceful space for Jesus, as she sees him buckling under the weight of the world. Valli plays this with an intentional, soothing maternal grounding, physically and vocally acting as a counterweight to the frantic, angular energy of Mykal Kilgore's Judas and the mounting existential exhaustion of Adam Pascal’s Jesus. You could tell the audience was waiting for her version of “I Don’t Know How to Love Him” as you could have heard a pin drop, as ears and eyes leaned in to hear every emotional note. Carolan Trbovich - Broadway World
Without question, Olivia Valli’s Narrator was the standout of the entire production for me. She absolutely stole every scene she was in. Her Vocals were an absolute knockout, effortlessly carrying the show from brginning to end. While her comedic timing had me laughing throughout, especially during “The Brothers Come To Egyot” with the Turkey leg. It felt like she was born to play this role. - Booked and Scene
Valli is simply stellar as the shows Narrator, a role that not only showcases her talent as a “vocal powerhouse” but as a dynamic vocalist with incredible range....Valli is also allowed more than a few moments to react to events on stage, which heightens the comedic nature by adding a new dimension to the Narrator’s involvement beyond that of casual observer and storyteller- Metrmag