“LaVergne is both stunner and showstopper”

As Reno Sweeney, the brassy, flirty nightclub singer who is ready and willing for romance, particularly when the lights are low and a handsome man is standing right beside her, Amanda Lea LaVergne is both stunner and showstopper. It's a part that she plays with sass, brass, spunk, spirit and wickedly orchestrated heat and sensuality. It is also one she invests with the power and stamina of a Broadway leading lady who not only enjoys being center stage under the spotlight, but one whose undeniable spirit, electricity and love of performance could probably blow the roof off of Sharon Playhouse on any given night.
 

"Song-and-dance force"

At the Sharon Playhouse, the song-and-dance force Amanda Lea LaVergne creates her own Reno, with impressive vocal range and astonishing dance athleticism, that recalls the pluck of a feisty Debbie Reynolds and the savvy spunk of Ginger Rogers.

LaVergne belting out “Blow Gabriel Blow” backed-up with an exuberant tap-dancing ensemble pounding the wooden boards in the old Sharon barn is worth the ticket price alone.

“If you want to see a star...see this girl perform.”

   It's been played by many actresses since, but never as convincingly as it is here by Amanda Lea LaVergne. If you want to see a star, get down to Sharon and see this girl perform. 

   She does the Merman bit of singing her choruses and tripping the light fantastic offstage to let the chorus dance their feet off and hearts out, then returns to sing the final chorus, do a buck and wing, and bring down the house. Unlike the Merm she also dances wonderfully well and makes the romance of the show comic and the comedy romantic. Merman depended on her overwhelming personality and her incredible vocal strengths to hold the stage but LaVergne is a more complete package. She can act, do comedy, sing and dance and take on the romantic clichés as though they were newly wrought.

"Simply lit up the stage"

In the great role of Reno Sweeney was Equity member Amanda Lea LaVergne (ANNIE, GREASE on Broadway.) This lovely triple threat simply lit up the stage with great comic timing, a fabulous singing voice and excellent dancing. I looked forward to every minute of her performance and appreciated those frequent costume changes.