center stage chicago 11/30/04

“As Gaston, Minarik is the perfect blend of bigot and buffoon. This Gaston so completely blind to his own ridiculousness that you can’t help laughing, “

~center stage chicago 11/30/04

chicago sun times 12/1/04

“Delight , too , in the macho mania of the Elvislike Gaston (the high -energy, wonderfully funny michael minarik) “

~chicago sun times 12/1/04

windy city times 12/15/04

“Vying with the Beast for Belle’s heart is cro-magnon he-man Gaston (Michael Minarik), a chap with more chest hair than brains. Combining the worst qualities of a frat boy and supermodel, Minarik creates a character of uproarious obnoxiousness. “

~windy city times 12/15/04

cape cod times 7/5/06

“Michael Minarik ably plays Dino, Anna‘s irresponsible, womanizing husband.”

~cape cod times 7/5/06

Theatermania 7/6/06

“Michael Minarik plays a passionate Dino”

~Theatermania 7/6/06

The Edge 7/9/06

“Michael Minarik is a stand-out as Dino, gorgeously singing some of the score’s most lyrical songs.”

~The Edge 7/9/06

cape cod today 8/7/06

Michael Minarik makes Dino (Anna’s husband and Angel’s father) into a believable dreamer, who has wanderlust in his bones. He punches out a mean song, too.”

~cape cod today 8/7/06

Peter Leavy 5/16/05

    "Jennifer Boutell, Casey Burden, Robert Koutras, Esther Stillwell First Look The Encore Michael Minarik was a college student when, as a lark, he auditioned for a touring company of The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, got the job, and switched allegiance from philosophy and finance to a life in the theater. Touring with the Webber show, and then with the national company of Urinetown, he observed many little-known actors whose voices and abilities impressed him. He believed they deserved a showcase production to parade their individual talents, and that cabaret was the place to do it. Determined to offer them that chance, he cast himself in the role of their producer.

    A charitable fellow indeed, but a cabaret neophyte. For a change, good intentions paved the road to success. Minarik’s production,First Look, which we caught on its opening night at The Encore, is a foursome of theater kids making their cabaret debut in a revue. The show is handsomely put together and the four are extraordinary for their first time out.

   Given genuine acting abilities, their theater-trained voices and their high spirits, they made First Look an effervescent and impressive hour of fun from almost the first moments, when the troupe is introduced with David Fishburn's Blizzard of Lies. Jennifer Boutell, a petite blond bubbling with energy, displays talents that justify her gigs in TV, film and an L.A. comedy group. Her musical partner and sometime foil is Esther Sitwell, another appealing female from the theater world. Their exchange, as Jennifer attempts to instruct Edith on how to engage a guy in conversation, is one of the night’s highlights.

   Esther also glows in I Can Do Better Than That, a duo with Robert Koutras, who manages in his various numbers to be poignant, vulnerable and a gifted comic, all at the same time. Casey Burden, the group’s fourth participant and the revue's director, has a touching vignette that segues effortlessly into In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning . Kudos, also, are due music director and arranger Jason Debord, whose bio claims he was in the French Foreign Legion and learned the piano in a Turkish prison. Of course, you don’t have to believe everything you read.

   This group, on its very first night out, is a worthy match to most established cabaret groups performing in New York. See them, you’ll agree.

-Peter Leavy May 16, 2005 "

The Dominion Press 9/1/02

"Giving a stellar performance as Dr. Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde is Michael Butler Minarik, who is making his debut with WVPT this summer. The role can't be an easy one, but Minarik masters it with soft eyes and a smooth voice as Jekyll, and an altogether more menacing persona as Hyde.

  During the opening scene, it is easy to wonder if Minarik's meek manner will allow him to portray the embodiment of pure evil later on. But never fear. Minarik has it in him -- big baby browns or not. As Hyde he is truly frightening, whipping around a head full of greasy hair (which is neatly tied back as Jekyll) and offering up a sinister smile and chilling laugh whenever his malevolence is challenged.

   Minarik's change into the wicked Hyde, in the song "The Transformation" is worth the price of a ticket alone, though future numbers such as 'Alive' and 'The Wedding' will prove that the purchase was altogether sound."

~The Dominion Press 9/1/02

Sacramento Bee 9/29/05

“There’s a war going on in America at the time of this play, but it goes unmentioned except as the reason the girls’ father is absent and to draw away Meg’s fiancé (Michael Minarik) in one of the play’s finest songs, the lovely duet ‘More Than I Am.’”

~Sacramento Bee 9/29/05

San Francisco Chronicle 10/14/05

“Renee’ Brna and Michael Minarik are particularly appealing in the “More Than I Am” duet.”

~San Francisco Chronicle 10/14/05

Broadwayworld.com 10/27/05

“As Laurie’s tutor and Meg’s future husband, Michael Minarik is charming in his awkward attempts to be romantic, and his voice blends beautifully with Brna’s in their duet, “More than I Am.” Minarik also doubles in one of Jo’s elaborate tales, and it’s obvious he’s having a great time as the villainous Braxton.”

~Broadwayworld.com 10/27/05

New Haven Register 11/24/05

“Michael Minarik gives a winsome performance as John Brooke”

~New Haven Register 11/24/05

chicagocritic.com 1/24/06

“Michael Minarik, as Mr. Booke and Renee Brna, as Meg nailed their duet, “More than I Am,” a romantic ringing ballad.”

~chicagocritic.com 1/24/06

Birmingham News 4/27/06

“Michael Minarik is strong as Mr. Brooke.”

~Birmingham News 4/27/06

The Hollywood Reporter 8/4/06

“Reflecting the excellence of the casting, the four male actors are strong and good. Michael Minarik’s Mr. Brooke convincingly falls in love with love (and Meg).”

~The Hollywood Reporter 8/4/06