NEW YORK THEATRE REVIEW
"Poison may not be an approved tool of feminist advancement prescribed by Sheryl Sandberg’s “Lean In.” However, it can lead to some bloody fun at the theatre, as evidenced by Kaela Mei-Shing Garvin’s Ambition: The Female American Serial Killer Musical, a murderously engaging production...
...Director Lauren Zeftel does a marvelous job at driving the play’s action and keeping the musical and narrative elements buzzing along. Even if some of the exact plot points are a bit dizzying to follow, the action on stage is never less than captivating...
The female struggle for power theme is also underscored in the production’s design. In Anastasia Romantsova’s set, a collection of red-toned silky fabrics suggests a boudoir, dripping blood, tearing flesh, and even vaginal folds. The bloodshed is at once menacing and also supremely mysterious, comforting and inviting. Barbara K. Begley’s costumes the killers in funereal black dresses styled to suit their respective milieus, with elegant pops of red to suit their bloody purposes."
THEATER IS EASY
"Director Lauren Zeftel keeps the cast moving smoothly and efficiently through their many changes of scene and tone. Ultimately, Ambition is sometimes intriguing, sometimes clumsy, and consistently keeping with its title."
REVIEW FIX
"...we must commend Ms. Garvin and the director, Lauren Zeftel, for making such a gloomy topic fun. In a number of times, the viewers laugh out loud, and, while the three actresses sing “I Kill for Money,” they tease the audience with fake $100 bills... music and humor definitely save the day. After all, weaving good songs into a coherent story is no easy task."
book, music, & lyrics
Kaela Mei-Shing Garvin
development and direction
Lauren Zeftel
additional scoring & musical direction
Cameron Toy
presenters
Ars Nova Ant Fest 2016
& Planet Connections Theatre Festivity 2016
producers
Rebecca Russell Productions
& Undiscovered Countries
featuring
Kaela Mei-Shing Garvin
Kineta Kunutu
Patricia Sabulis
musical accompaniment
Gandor Chorale
set design
Anastasia Romantsova
costume design
Barbara Begley
lighting design
Eric Mercado
stage management & asst. direction
Jaye Hunt
graphic design
Rebecca Russell
production photography
Marielle Solan at Ars Nova's Ant Fest