Reviews
El Huracán at Yale Repertory
"Adriana Sevan is heartbreaking...alternatively full of girlish life and untethered from reality. From her perfectly executed mannerisms to the far-away glint in her eyes when she performs a long-forgotten slight-of-hand trick. The whole cast is uniformly splendid, but it's Sevan's performance that carries El Huracán and will stick with me long after the show’s 140-minute running time."
by Noah Golden | OnstageBlog.com
“El Hurácan centers around the damage wrought by two hurricanes: Hurricane Andrew in August 1992 and the fictitious Hurricane Penelope of 2019. An elderly woman (neatly embodied by the twinkly eyed Adriana Sevan) experiences memory loss and limited mobility, so she escapes to memories of her youth, when she was a magician."
By Christopher Arnott | Hartford Courant
"Adriana Sevan (Adriana Sevahn Nichols), who plays Valeria, the materfamilias and one-time queen of nightclub entertainment with her snazzy magic act, indeed proves a convincing sorcerer in flashbacks to her heyday. The production starts with the aged Valeria (Sevan) alone on stage, as if in her own universe. The cruel ravages of time are poetically and poignantly evident as she watches Irene Sofia Lucio, as her younger self, she basks in the glow of her youthful invincibility. For Valeria, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, these bygone images supply nearly all of her lucid moments and soulful comfort."
By E. Kyle inor | New Haven Register
"Adriana Sevan is heartbreaking...alternatively full of girlish life and untethered from reality. From her perfectly executed mannerisms to the far-away glint in her eyes when she performs a long-forgotten slight-of-hand trick. The whole cast is uniformly splendid, but it's Sevan's performance that carries El Huracán and will stick with me long after the show’s 140-minute running time."
by Noah Golden | OnstageBlog.com
“El Hurácan centers around the damage wrought by two hurricanes: Hurricane Andrew in August 1992 and the fictitious Hurricane Penelope of 2019. An elderly woman (neatly embodied by the twinkly eyed Adriana Sevan) experiences memory loss and limited mobility, so she escapes to memories of her youth, when she was a magician."
By Christopher Arnott | Hartford Courant
"Adriana Sevan (Adriana Sevahn Nichols), who plays Valeria, the materfamilias and one-time queen of nightclub entertainment with her snazzy magic act, indeed proves a convincing sorcerer in flashbacks to her heyday. The production starts with the aged Valeria (Sevan) alone on stage, as if in her own universe. The cruel ravages of time are poetically and poignantly evident as she watches Irene Sofia Lucio, as her younger self, she basks in the glow of her youthful invincibility. For Valeria, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, these bygone images supply nearly all of her lucid moments and soulful comfort."
By E. Kyle inor | New Haven Register
Anna in the Tropics at South Coast Repertory
"Sevan is electric as a woman stewing with sexual longing after years of humiliation; when interest is finally paid to her, she’s enraptured."
by Jonas Schwartz | Theatermania.com
"Sevan is magnificent as Conchita, a plain, repressed and ignored wife who blooms sexually while listening to Juan Julian read "Anna Karenina's" riveting romantic passages. She excels in an almost unbearably intimate scene, frankly describing specific details of her illicit lovemaking to her husband. New Jersey's McCarter Theater is set for a Nov. 16 Broadway opening, but SCR's version has portrayals by Adriana Sevan, Jonathan Nichols and Tony Plana that would be tough to top.…"
By Joel Hirschhorn | Variety
"Sevan is electric as a woman stewing with sexual longing after years of humiliation; when interest is finally paid to her, she’s enraptured."
by Jonas Schwartz | Theatermania.com
"Sevan is magnificent as Conchita, a plain, repressed and ignored wife who blooms sexually while listening to Juan Julian read "Anna Karenina's" riveting romantic passages. She excels in an almost unbearably intimate scene, frankly describing specific details of her illicit lovemaking to her husband. New Jersey's McCarter Theater is set for a Nov. 16 Broadway opening, but SCR's version has portrayals by Adriana Sevan, Jonathan Nichols and Tony Plana that would be tough to top.…"
By Joel Hirschhorn | Variety
Anna In The Tropics at The Coconut Grove Playhouse directed by Pulitzer Prize winner Nilo Cruz
"Adriana Sevan and Carlos Orizondo are compelling as husband and wife, with a longingly tormented chemistry together like that of Maggie and Brick in Cat On A Hot Tin Roof."
by John Lariviere
"Adriana Sevan and Carlos Orizondo are compelling as husband and wife, with a longingly tormented chemistry together like that of Maggie and Brick in Cat On A Hot Tin Roof."
by John Lariviere
The Clean House at South Coast Repertory
"Dressed in casual, mournful black, yet played with pelvic-pumping gusto by Adriana Sevan…Here, as in SCR's production of Nilo Cruz's "Anna in the Tropics," Sevan radiates the warmth of a youthful life force.
By Anne Marie Welsh | The San Diego Tribune
"Dressed in casual, mournful black, yet played with pelvic-pumping gusto by Adriana Sevan…Here, as in SCR's production of Nilo Cruz's "Anna in the Tropics," Sevan radiates the warmth of a youthful life force.
By Anne Marie Welsh | The San Diego Tribune
Two Sisters and a Piano at South Coast Repertory
"Adriana Sevan leads the tremendously skilled cast. As the conflicted protagonist, her glacially expressive face speaks volumes. Brilliantly negotiating with her captor, she shows us only what a steely noblewoman under fire would."
By Michael Jordan | Showmag.com
Critic's Pick
"Adriana Sevan leads the tremendously skilled cast. As the conflicted protagonist, her glacially expressive face speaks volumes. Brilliantly negotiating with her captor, she shows us only what a steely noblewoman under fire would."
By Michael Jordan | Showmag.com
Critic's Pick
Two Sisters and a Piano at The Public Theater
“Ms. Sevan is fascinating as Maria Celia. She projects an air of composure that seems to hover lightly over deep passions. She also has a warm sonorous voice that adds lushness to Mr. Cruz’s words”
By Amy Gamerman | Wall Street Journal
“Sevan… is magnetically self-possessed…”
by Ben Brantley | New York Times
“Adriana Sevan, the controlled and controlling Maria Celia, holds herself high, with elegant restraint, till emotion sweeps over her like wind bending a sapling.”
by Michael Feingold | The Village Voice
“the luminously sensual and elegant Adriana Sevan…”
By Linda Winer | NEWSDAY
“Ms. Sevan is fascinating as Maria Celia. She projects an air of composure that seems to hover lightly over deep passions. She also has a warm sonorous voice that adds lushness to Mr. Cruz’s words”
By Amy Gamerman | Wall Street Journal
“Sevan… is magnetically self-possessed…”
by Ben Brantley | New York Times
“Adriana Sevan, the controlled and controlling Maria Celia, holds herself high, with elegant restraint, till emotion sweeps over her like wind bending a sapling.”
by Michael Feingold | The Village Voice
“the luminously sensual and elegant Adriana Sevan…”
By Linda Winer | NEWSDAY
Taking Flight
“The best dramatic monologists conjure not just people, but worlds with their well chosen words. Sevan joins the ranks of the best with her harrowing, humorous, and openhearted, TAKING FLIGHT.”
Anne Marie Welsh | SD Union Tribune
“Sevan is funny, pensive, poignant, brave, and utterly captivating in a piece that speaks to everyone who’s ever had a friend or been one.”
Jean Lowerison | GL Times
"Brave Lady. Brave Tale. Brave Performance."
Evan Henderson | Daily News
"....enthralling play....Sevan is a remarkable actor and storyteller. She flows seamlessly between portraying herself and the other character....Her strong charisma and her ability to keep the pace fast without feeling rushed are impressive. The tightly written script is honest and unafraid to jump radically from dark moments to humorous ones. The play is ultimately about not giving up....a celebration of life....and an example of how good a one person show can be. Kirk Douglas came onstage and praised her talent and her bravery. He was right on both accounts."
Jeff Favre | BackStage Critics Pick
"Adriana Sevan....is an energetic, endearing, enthusiastic, intriguing writer and performer. She craftily mixes comedy with tragedy....using the art and power of the spoken word. Out of it comes a message for mourners as well as survivors."
Ed Kaufman | Hollywood Reporter
"An inviting character study with a cinematic air....has all the earmarks of a Hollywood chic pic, but pays dividends in the theatre through rich description and exacting language. This work has a healthy life ahead of it.”
Phil Gallo | Variety
".....spinning a thought-provoking tale out of diverse autobiographical threads....TAKING FLIGHT bears witness to the way personal struggle connects to larger public conflict.”
Charles McNulty | LA Times
“TAKING FLIGHT soars from take-off Moment 1 to landing Moment 80! I pondered between which elements… Sevan’s writing of the script or acting out of the numerous wonderful characters, which was the more brilliant? This play was a moment (80 of them) of tremendous theatre satisfaction!”
Rob Appel | SD Theatre Scene
“Sevan was incredible….with an amazing story to tell…and she tells it stunningly! The humor, the emotion, and the joy of discovery are palpable in this story of healers, shamans, and women who care. A real celebration of life!”
Jeff Dowler | Coastal San Diego
“Sevan is a magnificent performer…she’s warm, funny, intense, multi-lingual, physically agile, spiritually centered and graceful. Her story of healing and help, of the limits and boundaries of friendship and love is told through a pitch perfect performance, under the direction of Giovanna Sardelli. It’s a marvelous way to spend a brief, enlightening, life-affirming evening.”
Pat Launer | SD Theatre Scene
“The best dramatic monologists conjure not just people, but worlds with their well chosen words. Sevan joins the ranks of the best with her harrowing, humorous, and openhearted, TAKING FLIGHT.”
Anne Marie Welsh | SD Union Tribune
“Sevan is funny, pensive, poignant, brave, and utterly captivating in a piece that speaks to everyone who’s ever had a friend or been one.”
Jean Lowerison | GL Times
"Brave Lady. Brave Tale. Brave Performance."
Evan Henderson | Daily News
"....enthralling play....Sevan is a remarkable actor and storyteller. She flows seamlessly between portraying herself and the other character....Her strong charisma and her ability to keep the pace fast without feeling rushed are impressive. The tightly written script is honest and unafraid to jump radically from dark moments to humorous ones. The play is ultimately about not giving up....a celebration of life....and an example of how good a one person show can be. Kirk Douglas came onstage and praised her talent and her bravery. He was right on both accounts."
Jeff Favre | BackStage Critics Pick
"Adriana Sevan....is an energetic, endearing, enthusiastic, intriguing writer and performer. She craftily mixes comedy with tragedy....using the art and power of the spoken word. Out of it comes a message for mourners as well as survivors."
Ed Kaufman | Hollywood Reporter
"An inviting character study with a cinematic air....has all the earmarks of a Hollywood chic pic, but pays dividends in the theatre through rich description and exacting language. This work has a healthy life ahead of it.”
Phil Gallo | Variety
".....spinning a thought-provoking tale out of diverse autobiographical threads....TAKING FLIGHT bears witness to the way personal struggle connects to larger public conflict.”
Charles McNulty | LA Times
“TAKING FLIGHT soars from take-off Moment 1 to landing Moment 80! I pondered between which elements… Sevan’s writing of the script or acting out of the numerous wonderful characters, which was the more brilliant? This play was a moment (80 of them) of tremendous theatre satisfaction!”
Rob Appel | SD Theatre Scene
“Sevan was incredible….with an amazing story to tell…and she tells it stunningly! The humor, the emotion, and the joy of discovery are palpable in this story of healers, shamans, and women who care. A real celebration of life!”
Jeff Dowler | Coastal San Diego
“Sevan is a magnificent performer…she’s warm, funny, intense, multi-lingual, physically agile, spiritually centered and graceful. Her story of healing and help, of the limits and boundaries of friendship and love is told through a pitch perfect performance, under the direction of Giovanna Sardelli. It’s a marvelous way to spend a brief, enlightening, life-affirming evening.”
Pat Launer | SD Theatre Scene