Broadway's Next Top Critics! Meet the 2011-2012 Broadway.com Word of Mouth Panel

We searched high and low to find a dozen sharp, opinionated Broadway fans to review all of the new shows on the Great White Way as part of our 2011-2012 Word of Mouth panel. Without futher ado, meet our real-people critics!


Tara Ann (left) is a Long Island wife, mother and Spanish teacher. She was first dazzled by the roller-skating cast of Starlight Express, once had a memorable backstage visit with Chita Rivera at Kiss of the Spider Woman and listens to the original cast recording of Next to Normal on repeat. Reading an e-mail on her Blackberry telling her that she was picked for the panel caused a near-accident in her car, but happily she’s OK and ready to review! More on Tara Ann

Marlene (center) is a lifelong New Yorker who briefly sampled retirement in Florida before happily running to her Manhattan life. She’s a mother, grandmother and “the CEO of me” who takes full advantage of her freedom as a retiree. She loves how Broadway shows transport her to another place, adding, “I vicariously become the person on stage.” But has she ever wanted to be an actress herself? “NO!” she replies emphatically. More on Marlene

Bennie (right) is a New Jersey eighth-grader who’s loved Broadway ever since she saw Beauty and the Beast when she was five. She’s also an aspiring performer who dreams of being on the boards herself someday. As the sole teen panelist, Bennie hopes to bring a fresh perspective to her reviews and to inspire kids her age to see more shows themselves. More on Bennie


Kimberly (left) is the manager of a design department at a New Jersey ad agency who loves Broadway's power to make audiences laugh, cry, think and "maybe even change." She’s been attending shows since she was a kid, thanks to her theater-loving family. Although she’s pretty laid back, she admits to dancing around her living room and yelling her head off when learning of her spot on the panel! More on Kimberly

Peter (center) is a college professor on Long Island who was first introduced to Broadway by his mother with the flop musical Destry Rides Again. He’s also acted himself, and can be seen briefly in the movie musical The Producers as an appalled “Springtime for Hitler” audience member. He feels he’s the perfect Word of Mouth panelist because he loves the magic of Broadway and also respects the hard work that goes into it. More on Peter

Carol (right) is a suburban mom and makeup artist who first got turned onto Broadway by Rosie O’Donnell when the talk show host featured the cast of The Lion King on her show. She loves to gather friends in her Pennsylvania community and plan bus trips to New York City to see shows. Some of her favorite theater experiences include The Phantom of the Opera, Jersey Boys and Memphis. More on Carol


Scott (left) is a Manhattan college administrator, book author and Sondheim scholar. He counts Company, Follies and Sweeney Todd among his Broadway favorites. He hopes to convey his “genuine love” of theater, combined with his knowledge of stage history, in his reviews. More on Scott

Kean (center) is a twenty-something businessman who likes to dance, create music and act a bit on the side. He became exposed to Broadway in his senior year of high school, when a teacher required his class to see a musical and write about the experience. Now Kean sees as much theater as he can, and has a diverse list of favorites including Urinetown, Avenue Q, Cyrano de Bergerac and A Doll’s House. More on Kean

Jill (right) is a Broadway super-fan who lives in Manhattan and works in public relations. Growing up, she was exposed to theater by her singer mom, director aunt and costume-designing grandma but only braved the stage herself once in a high school production of Little Shop of Horrors. These days, she prefers staying in the audience and loves to see her favorite shows multiple times. More on Jill


John (left) is the manager of a shoe store in New Jersey who has loved Broadway since he started acting in high school. He says his mind was blown when he caught Jonathan Larson’s Rent, his very first show and still one of his favorites. He likes to attend theater with a friend “or a cute guy” and reveals that when he found out he made the Word of Mouth panel, he “laughed, screamed, cried and peed all within an hour’s time!” More on John

Michelle (center) is a New Jersey wife and mom who prefers to think of herself as the anti-Housewife of North Jersey. She first got the theater bug when sitting in the audience of A Chorus Line with her high school boyfriend and recalls feeling thrilled by the adult-themed stories in the show. Now she loves to expose her family to Broadway and is excited to share her reviews with other fans this season. More on Michelle

Matt (right) is an advertising executive who lives in Manhattan. His mother first exposed him to theater at a performance of the blockbuster musical Les Miserables, which left him in awe of the art form as a young boy. He’s amazed at the amount of work that goes into putting up a show and is “wicked excited” to be one of Broadway.com’s real-people critics this year! More on Matt