REVIEWS

“The doctor’s own quest against his lesser half would not be nearly as engaging if it were not for his fiancé Emma Carew. Though Shelby Young makes her LTA debut in her portrayal as the innocent Carew, her experience as a performer at notable venues such as Sydney Opera House and Carnegie Hall makes her a perfect fit. As her character vies for her fiancé’s focus and displays her fear for his own wellbeing in song, LTA patrons are entranced by the raw emotion of her voice.” — Thompson Eskew

“Complementing McGovern is Shelby Young as Emma, Jekyll’s fiancée. Emma is the perfect counterpoint to Jekyll’s descent into madness in her charm, beauty and grace. With her gorgeous soprano voice, Young fulfills this role to perfection[…] You will thrill to Emma’s heart-wrenching number, “Once Upon a Dream”, Jekyll’s “I Need to Know”, “This is the Moment” and “Alive” as well as Lucy’s poignant “A New Life” and her duet with Hyde in a danse macabre “Dangerous Game”.” — Jordan Wright

“Shelby Young as Emma Carew was another standout performance. Her Emma was terribly tragic as she attempted to piece her fiancé back together. Young’s Emma is somehow strong and delicate, and her duet with McGovern, “Take Me As I Am,” was lovely.” — Fosse Thornton

““You never promised me the journey would be easy, only that we would take it together,” Emma says after Jekyll finds her in the laboratory reading his journal. The classically trained soprano then wows the audience with “Once Upon a Dream” as she attempts to settle the obviously troubled doctor. Young as Emma joins Mellott as Lucy seeking Jekyll’s attention in a duet, “In His Eyes,” as they fantasize love, safety, and the future. “Everything worth living for is there within his eyes,” they sing. The audience loved a counterpoint featuring Jekyll’s fiancée Emma Carew (Shelby Young), her father Sir Danvers Carew (Brian Ash), Gabriel John Utterson (Matt Yinger), and Jekyll at the conclusion of “His Work and Nothing More.” The technique brought four voices singing different lines in harmony at the same time. The crowd went crazy.” — Andy Arnold

The dances are engaging and executable, and everyone shines in them[...] The versatile ensemble […] pop in and out of many costumes, gliding elegantly through large dance numbers[...] The enthusiasm and talent exhibited by the cast is unquestionable, and they’re absolutely charming as wait staff.” — Cybele Pomeroy

‘In Ludwig’s adaptation, the final suspect also comes to Poirot’s aid by combining the married Countess Andrenyi with the doctor who can examine the murder victim[…]This plot twist adds a little pep to Poirot’s step, as the detective is momentarily smitten by the young and attractive countess. Of course, it also adds a complication. Shelby Young effortlessly portrays the Countess, and her scenes with Padilla’s Poirot add an unrequited romantic twist to the mysterious journey.” — Jeffrey Walker

“There is also the upper-class Lady Caroline (Shelby Young), who is eloping to the United States with middle-class husband Charles Clarke (Cristian Bustillos). The two performers duet beautifully and powerfully in the romantic “I Give You My Hand.”’ — Mark Dreisonstock

“It is through the women that the class distinctions are brought most vividly to life[...][Another] fine soprano, Shelby Young’s Lady Caroline Neville is in second class, leaving her more affluent background in the UK to marry her lover.” — Bob Ashby

“Shelby Young is deliciously evil as both the Wicked Witch of the West and Miss Gulch. Her puns and insults against the others are wonderfully funny. Her screams are perfect, when she sees her sister crushed under Dorothy’s house, and at her death scene.” — Charles Green

“As Anne, Shelby Young has the pure, high soprano sound needed for her ingénue role, first on display in “Soon.” Young handles well Anne’s second act awakening to the fact that she has real feelings to act upon, beyond the frivolousness she has used to keep them at bay.” — Bob Ashby

“The background screen of the Austrian Alps and the beauty and grace of soprano Shelby Young singing “The Sound of Music” were delightful.” — Linda Kinney

“Shelby Young (Rosa Bud/Miss Deirdre) is not your average ingénue. Not only is she a classically trained soprano with a breathtakingly chilling voice that soars over the ensemble in just the right places, but she also possesses serious acting chops. Gumina and Young’s balanced harmonies blend gorgeously in their duet “Perfect Strangers.”” —Matré Grant

“Betrothed to Drood was Rosa Bud, portrayed by Shelby Young. Young was an operatic songbird with a crown of curls, her quivering vibrato engulfing the room, hitting every note with precision and delicacy. Together, [Gumina and Young] meshed wonderfully in “Perfect Strangers,” a giddy song about the realization that you feel the same way about a situation.” —Helen Ganley

“Shelby Young has the perfect soprano voice for Johanna. Her “Green Finch and Linnet Bird” is lovely, and she fortunately plays the character as less ditzy than many actors have done[…][Young and August] capably manage the difficult timing of “Kiss Me.”” —Bob Ashby