Lunch Lady:
Tater Tots of Love

Comments Received in Response to the Original Production

All comments were unsolicited. Edited for context.

* That was the most incredible, original show I have seen in years.

* The show was FANTASTIC!!! . . . WE ALL LOVED THE SHOW!!! The MUSIC was fantastic and the script....HILARIOUS!!!

* Simply amazing. [W]hat a wonderful show. [We] enjoyed it thoroughly and we will be singing "My name is Anthony..." for weeks and months to come. . . a wonderful creation full of substance and soul.

* Fantastic play-music-acting-singing-dancing-crew-set-lights-and special effects!

* Various comments from people I know (who actually are quite critical normally) included "this play has legs," "very economical dialogue—every line contributed to moving the play along, I think a lot of schools would like to stage this production", and "just the right balance of humor, reality, energy and message".

* Perhaps the most telling thing for me is that the play, which I saw once only, has been running around in my head, popping up with messages and visions of various actors in their moment, and the plaintive cry of "My Name is Anthony David". . ." or the sassy "We're Gonna Be Your Boss Someday".

* Congratulations all over the place . . . for the outstanding production last weekend of his original musical! . . .The musical resonated with so many age groups-- middle and high schoolers, parents, kitchen staff, and our own guests, who though they are not parents themselves, recognized the angst of the teen from their own memories. The buzz I heard for three days before I saw the Saturday production was incredibly excited, laudatory, and energetic, and originated from the middle school audience that saw the dress rehearsal.. . .The cast was peppered with interesting and distinct roles. . . . In addition, the real issues of being a teenager such as "being accepted by your peers and having a credible voice of your own," "being who you really are and that person who you think is totally different really is very much like you" were addressed directly and purposefully. The irony of Camilla. . . illustrates in a very subtle way that there is good in everyone.

* My. . . brother (in 8th grade) came running up the stairs and gave me a big hug and said: "that was the best show I've seen at Academy." He loved it all: the music, the dance, the story, the acting. And trust me, my brother does not usually get excited about musicals. . . . When I asked him for criticism he thought for a minute and said: "I can't think of anything."

* As a part-timer I don't get to see the "other stuff" that my students do/create. I laughed, .. I cried, ... BRILLIANT!!!!

* WOW! CONGRATULATIONS!

* School life is highly complex. It is also crazy and funny. . . .[T]o have our own students and faculty join hands to bring such a vision to life on our own stage ranks as one of the special events of my tenure here at the Academy as a faculty member.
I kept thinking, 'The stuff I have seen on Broadway reminds me of this...or perhaps, vice versa'...maybe someday... All should see it. It is very special.

* Tears were welling up the whole time. . . . The whole package. It made me glad to be a teacher . . . proud; grateful. I mean it.

* That was superb. . .!!! WOW!!

* we've been singing "chess club, astronomy club..." all day

* I echo everything said about the play. Please take the opportunity to go see this wonderful, original production. . . . The Middle School students were so receptive and appreciative of the talent and creativity in this production. I know it will be well received this weekend. . . . [C]cast and crew-- I know I speak for more than myself when I say--CONGRATULATIONS ON A JOB WELL DONE!!!

* Heartiest congratulations to cast, crew, writer and director Stefan Farrenkopf, and all involved with "Tater Tots". . . what a great show. . . I encourage everyone to see it. . . I expect that the time will come when this musical will be regularly produced by high schools across the country. . . and we can always say we saw the world premiere, and the author is our colleague/teacher. . . Bravo!!!

*One 8th-grader who normally isn't too enthusiastic told me that he thought the play was awesome, "the best I've ever seen at this school." Kudos.

* I'm sitting in my classroom right now and hearing singing from the 8th grade Spanish class down the hall. They're celebrating Cinco de Mayo by singing,
"Chess club, astronomy club, anime club, Knights of Python . . . "

* Brilliant.

* Okay, okay... Great show...
Now, come over to the middle school and get the kids to stop chanting "War Hammer... War Hammer"

* Bravo, bravo! Wonderful production, we loved it! Goethe's classic in a CA-like setting....not-so-subtle parallels....a stroke of pure genius. We saved our ticket stubs and programs, so when this is a Broadway hit, we can say we saw it first!!. . .Thanks for a fabulous evening.

*[W]hat I enjoyed most were [the] observations and commentary on women, all sorts of women who could represent aspects of one women depending on the time of day or demand of the moment. All sorts of women who are defined by the roles they choose.

* Just wanted to write you a note and say CONGRATULATIONS on a great job with "Lunch Ladies......" Our family went on Saturday evening and loved it. The music, the set, the acting, and the story line were all fantastic.

* Fabulous play.

* I want to pass on to you a comment I heard before and after the play... I was sitting in front of two high school girls, not from CA, on Friday night. Before the play, they were talking about favorite musicals, and how they thought Lunch Lady might stack up. One said something about Grease being one she likes, and maybe it would be almost that good. After the play, she told her friend, "It was better than Grease!"...I can see Lunch Lady becoming a great hit!

* a fantastic and wonderful play. I truly enjoyed every minute of it. . . .Great story, great songs, great set, great transitions, great kids.