The Book That I'm Going to Write, By Judy Garland

Truly lovely! This play gives us such a unique view of Judy Garland that I don't think anyone in the audience is expecting. Right from the start, as Powell takes the stage, you get an idea of what you're about to see. The fact that Jason Powell doesn't dress in drag or try to impersonate Garland is the true beauty of this play! He embodies her so well that you become immediately tuned in to her dialogue and feel so much for her. Powell has put together one of the best solo shows I've seen in awhile and I can't wait to see how this piece evolves and what he does next!... full review

How are you? ... full review

The book... full review

Amazing ... full review

A very impressive show. First of all I found it to be an interesting and original concept, as a play based on spoken word recordings. Even more impressive was how well it was executed. It's not easy to play a character, let alone an iconic celebrity. Jason is a fantastic actor. He became the character, moving effortlessly around the stage and speaking monologues as if they were his own internal thoughts. Hats off to you for this performance!... full review

Jason Powell gives a tour de force performance in this well-paced, well-directed one-man (woman) show. The emotional range he embodies—from wry humor and aching hope to bitterness and searing anger—make for a thrilling viewing experience. You don't have to be familiar with Garland's tapes or even know much about Garland's life to enjoy the show. While the show is often laugh-out-loud funny, it also brings to life the frustration and heartbreak of Garland's later years. Perhaps more than anything, it's a touching tribute to Garland's incredible resilience. By the end, you can't help but admire Garland and Powell alike.... full review

What a smart, novel way to handle a highly specialized solo show! Instead of diving into Imitation, always a compromise, drag or not, black-clad Jason Powell simply steps on-stage and recites the text of the tapes Judy Garland contributed to a foredoomed attempt at autobiography, adding a range of inflections that bring her back to life, successfully. Though Gifted, Judy was a vengeful, uneducated child as her life rapidly came undone, and the overall effect is pathetic---though part of the audience found it (unaccountably) hilarious. ... full review

This was a great idea: making an unknown recording of Judy Garland into a stage performance. The performance was very good. Clearly, this actor has had technical training and was able to hold an audience. ... full review

I was very disappointed in that Jason Powell chose to take on this iconic character without hiding the fact he is a man. It made the whole show seem a bit off to me, even though he certainly must have been representing Garland as her true self during the hardest years of her life. Just not what I expected, especially on her birthday.... full review