Homeless Romantic

Tony is a natural performer who has us in the palm of his hand for the whole show.... full review

Tony is great and very funny. You live Tony's life while you are watching him. You see that he is very funny in detailing his life and you will not stop laughing. You see Tony as a survivor and you see both Tony's humor and spirit as a person. This is a show you must see. You will enjoy it and laugh your head off. I would have written this review earlier, but I was having a Kidney Stone attack and did not pass the stone until today. (This is in fact true, no joke.) ... full review

Passionate, authentic, funny and sad, Tony Bartolone presents his life story in Homeless Romantic. His comic chops combined with his willingness to share his personal struggles force us to see and process the most harrowing details. This is a view of LA most look away from. But there's no looking away from a fatherless boy grown into a homeless man. And the one with the most unflinching eye is Tony himself.... full review

The show was a poignant, hilarious, and beautiful exploration of the depths of human experience. I laughed, I cried, I felt more connected to humanity. What more could you want? ... full review

A heartfelt personal journey filled with laughs.... full review

This show is a must see! I was blown away by Tony’s creative storytelling through witty humor and vulnerable stories from his journey in life. His triumphant story is insightful and endearing. ... full review

In the parking lot around the corner from the Thymele Arts venue, there's a little corner decorated with portraits, crucifixes, flowers, and other evidence of a soul taking up space for itself. Somebody lives there in the lot, just beyond the staircase. This is the image I took in with me to Homeless Romantic, Tony Bartolone's culmination of a decade of performing standup on the fringe between polite society and its outcasts. From my seat in the rear of the theater, I saw a disheveled, wild-looking man I might’ve tried to ignore if I saw him on the street. He was sharing a belly-laugh inducing story about encountering someone on the street and accidentally giving more than he bargained for. He then reassured his audience with a brief FAQ se... full review

One of the best shows I’ve ever seen as it balances the personal journey of being homeless in LA with broader examinations of how we as a people interact with those in need on a daily basis. It’s hard to not get emotional many times throughout, but there’s also a healthy amount of truly funny/more traditional stand up bits integrated throughout. A must watch and everyone involved should be proud. ... full review

This was a beautiful exploration of the history and trauma of a comic’s life as a homeless man in Los Angeles. We moved through the story with peppered stand up bits, watching Tony develop through his comedic techniques. A beautiful, funny, moving, ride. ... full review

Don’t expect impersonal generic social commentary on homelessness, this show couldn’t be farther form that! Tony addresses his audience with a familiarity of speaking to a close friend he can totally joke around with about his unusual, sometimes dangerous, and very personal experiences. Whether he’s talking about occasionally sleeping on the street, living in a small shack on the lot of a factory, or even his love life, he doesn’t shy away from laying it all out for all to see. A very enjoyable and even uplifting show, the Human Spirit prevails!... full review