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Theatre Production Photos & Reviews

 
Old Wicked Songs
By Jon Marans
Directed by Stephanie Valhos   
The Colony Theatre - Burbank (2012)
 

“Who can watch ‘Old Wicked Songs’ at the Colony Theatre without falling in love with John Towey? If it sounds easy, you haven’t experienced this veteran actor’s endearing portrayal of Professor Josef Mashkan in Jon Marans’ Pulitzer Prize-nominated play.The grand piano in Mashkan’s rehearsal studio is played beautifully by both actors. Marans has woven his knowledge about, and passion for, Robert Schumann’s song cycle “Dichterliebe” – and for music in general – into the story with unusual grace, informing without ever seeming to lecture, and director Stephanie Vlahos guides the remarkably natural performances with a light hand. Towey’s nuanced and fully inhabited Mashkan makes a fairly stock character – the teacher who urges the student to unbend, make love, live life to its fullest – irresistible”.  -- Los Angeles Times, February 10, 2012, Margaret Gray

 

“The play makes large demands on its actors. They must not only chart the intricate interplay between their characters, they are called upon to speak and sing in German and play challenging works on the piano. Towey is as eloquent in his silences as in his speech and acts with unforced authority. Danz provides a wonderfully prideful foil. Together they produce potent theatre magic.” -- Backstage, February 22, 2012, Neal Weaver

 

“Towey’s performance as Professor Joseph Mashkan confirms to us why we love theatre so much, sweeping us away into the life of a man whose only joy is his passion and understanding of the music he loves. Tavis Danz is wonderful as the on edge, uptight and repressed young music student Stephen Hoffman who has come to Vienna to study to be an accompanist for classical artists. The expertise of these two actors transports us into their journey keeping us thoroughly engrossed and we come away completely satisfied. Other productions of the play have used recorded music but both John Towey and Tavis Danz are musically trained which brings us even closer to their characters and the beauty created by the classical song cycle of German composer, Robert Schumann.” -- NoHo Arts District, February 22, 2012 Cathy Wayne

 

“…Both Danz and Towey pull off their roles with ease, engaging in a battle of wills that crackle when they take turns at the piano”. -- L.A. Weekly – Amy Lyons

 

“..In pairing memorable theatre veteran John Towey, whose career spans decades on Broadway and regional stages, with youthful counterpart Tavis Danz, the Colony production has come up trumps.  Both men prove to be accomplished classical pianists whose in-the-moment performances at the Steinway grand gave the play added immediacy”. -- Glendale New Press - Lynne Hefley

 

“…Towey and Danz are actor musicians at the top of their game, and Old Wicked Songs is intimate musical dramedy at its most compelling and entertaining”. -- Stage Scene L.A. – Steven Stanley

“…This is a remarkable revival of a play that appears to be close to achieving classic stature”. –– L.A. Stage Times – Don Shirley

 

“…If there was ever such a thing as a love affair between lighting and a face, it can be seen in the way Jared Sayeg highlights  John Towey’s silent thoughts.  It is quite simply divine”. -- Musicals in L.A. – Ellen Dostal

 

The Colony Theatre - Production link

Midsummer Night's Dream
By William Shakespeare

Directed by Kyle Donnelly   

The Globe Theatre - San Diego  (September 2001)
    
The greatest stars of this show are the hilarious group of amateur actors who go into the woods to rehearse an upcoming play. Nick Bottom (J. Fred Shiffman) is the cocky actor who gets turned into an ass and soon discovers that his new long ears, long tail, and so on seem to be a big attraction to the enchanted fairy queen, Titania (Caroline Lagerfelt). John Harrington Bland, playing Tom Snout, is not at all bland in the challenging role of "The Wall." Lucas Caleb Rooney plays the not-so-ferocious lion (and a terrifying headless bear!). Matthew Floyd Miller is Francis Flute, awkwardly and nervously portraying the maiden with the high-pitched voice. John Towey is the doleful crescent moon who emits "sunshine" wherever he goes. And leading the band of misfit actors is James Winker as Peter Quince -- the man in the funny hat. Together this group steals the show, especially at the end when all their rehearsal time pays its dividends with a most hysterical performance.
 - Rob Hopper  San Diego Playbill
    Sept. 25, 2001

Romeo & Juliet
By William Shakespeare

Directed by Peter Hall   

Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles, California
February 4 - March 18, 2001

 

Photos by Craig Schwartz

Amadeus
By Peter Schaffer

Directed by Peter Hall   

The Music Box Theatre, New York

December 15, 1999 through May 15, 2000

 

 

Measure for Measure
1999
 
Photos by Craig Schwartz

 

 

Joined At The Head
By Catherine Butterfield
Directed by Pam Berlin

 he Pasadena Playhouse - January 1994
    
Photos by Craig Schwatrz

A Cup Of Coffee
By Preston Sturges

Directed by Larry Carpenter  

The Pasadena Playhouse - January 1992

 

Photos by Craig Schwartz

 

 

Tamara
By John Krizanc

Directed by Richard Rose  

American Legion Hall - October 1990 through June 1991

 

TAMARA opened in May of 1984 at The American Legion Hall in Hollywood and ran for seven years. John Towey played the leading role of Gabriel D’Annunzio for nine months (October 1990 through June 1991).  A true story you follow from room to room.

 

“There has never been a show like this. The action swirls from master bedroom to maid’s room, from conservatory to kitchen, over staircases and through hallways, as many as eight scenes at a time. The spectators, at most 140 per show, keep up as best they can, “invisible” and fickle, shadowing whichever of the ten characters they want to, free to change their minds whenever they please.  You may walk in on the chauffeur, Mario, in his bath (real water) or the master of the house, Gabriele d’Annunzio, cooking a frittata (real stove, real eggs, real zucchini).  Sometimes, if you are very lucky, a scene plays before no one but you.  There are hundreds of paths through the maze.  With Tamara, relativity has come down to earth.  What ‘play’ you see depends on what you walk in on.”     Connoisseur Magazine

 

1776
By Peter Stone & Sherman Edwards

Directed by Gordon Hunt

Terrace Theatre 1990 - Long Beach Civic Light Opera

 

Photo by Nancy's Portraits

 

Coriolanus
By William Shakespeare

Directed by Steven Berkoff

The Public / The Anspacher Theatre

November 8, 1988 through  January 15, 1989

Benched
Written by Richard Broadhurst
Directed by Anita Khanzadian
Costume designer Peter Mins
Starring Eddie Jones and John Towey
With Matt Fowler and Kelly Lohman 
 

North Hollywood Patch – Critics Corner – Radomir Luza

“John Towey (Randall) is his character.  Relaxed and confident, the Broadway and Off-Broadway veteran actor, eases his way into this critics consciousness with a truth and focus uncommon in many actors”.

 

Review Plays.com – Carol Kaufman Segal

“…It is one that is worth seeing, not only for the play itself, but for the two superb actors who bring empathy, humor and warmth to their roles”.

 

The Tolucan Times – Pat Taylor

“Eddie Jones as Max and John Towey as Randall give brilliantly fine-tuned performances…captivating throughout”.

 

Thespian Thoughts – Bret Chapin

“The play stars Eddie Jones and John Towey and for the majority of the show, it’s just them.  That means if you’re producing the show, you need to have some pretty terrific actors who know how to command a stage and that’s exactly what I saw.  Jones and Towey move through their dialogue with ease.  I couldn’t help but draw similarities to The Odd Couple and other great male comedy teams.  What made those comedy teams so great was that they managed to blend the comedy in with thought, just as Eddie Jones and John Towey do in Benched”.

 

NoHo Arts District – Cathy Wayne

“The acting throughout is superb.  Eddie Jones as Max and John Towey as Randall are amazing.  They have totally realized their characters with expert timing and acting skills, and I can’t imagine two other actors more perfect for their roles”.

 

I Do, I Do
Music by Harvey Schmidt
Lyrics by Tom Jones
Directed by Janet McCall 
Costumes by Peter Mins (1974) 
This summer stock production toured several cities in Vermont and upper New York state in 1974.

 

 

This intimate two charactrer musical follows one couple through fifty years of love, quarrels and marriage.

 

Agnes - Henrietta Valor

Michael - John Towey

 

That Championship Season
By Jason Miller
Directed by John Ulmer
Stage-West  Springfield, MA (1974) 
 

The Advocate - Nov. 6, 1974  
"John Towey is a magnificently understated Tom, staggering and muttering across the stage, dealing out scathing commentary on the other men's failings, swathed in an invulnerability born of nothing nobler than resignation to his own sodden ineffectuality."  Charles Smith  
   
Hampshire Gazette - Nov. 19, 1974  
"Tom, the dipsomaniac, John Towey effused charm and humor with every intoxicated breath; also much wisdom in epigrammatic asides that made him seem "the best in show." A truly lovable performance."  Elizabeth A. Hatch  
   
Journal Inquirer - Nov. 13, 1974  
"The most endearing character in the group is Tom Daley, an alcoholic who periodically flees the town, the team, the myth. But Daley, played beautifully by John Towey, always comes back. Especially for the reunion. Towey plays his drunken scenes with perfect control, avoiding the slapstick caricature of a sot."  Claudia Reid

 

Massachusetts Daily Collegian - Nov. 14, 1974 
"By far the star of the show is John Towey, playing the role of Tom Daley. As a youngster, Daley was the quickest on the team. He could dribble, set up those plays, and really get a team going. But life has been a confusing line of cities and honky tonk bars for Daley. Now Daley has returned home for the reunion, bringing with him a sense of cynicism from the real world that continually breaks through the fantasy of "that championship season" as it seems to obsess all of the others at the reunion.

Towey, brings a sense of sensitivity and real emotion to this most delicate role. His intonations are perfect, and his facial expressions are compelling. The tragic hero of the production, Towey gives the part of Tom Daley all the attention it deserves."  Frederic C. Weiss

The Decline And Fall Of The Entire World As Seen Through The Eyes Of Cole Porter
Conceived by Ben Bagley
Directed by Robert Loper
A Contemporary Theatre Seattle, Washington (1973) 
 

The Post-Intelligencer - September 19, 1973 
"When Laura Kenyon and John Towey followed "Hothouse Rose" with "You've Got That Thing", it was no contest. Towey has perfect command of a tired leer, which enabled him to do justice to the outrageous lyrics of  "I'm a Gigolo" and to his duet (as Louis XV) with Madame Dubarry, "But In The Morning, No", with Henrietta Valor."

 

The Seattle Times - September 19, 1973
"John Towey has just the proper insouciant curl of the lip and slouch of the shoulders to handle Porter's sophisticated, suggestive lyrics. He was especially fine in "I'm a Gigolo" and (with Miss Valor) in "But in the Morning, No!" Wayne Johnson

 

 

The Taming of the Shrew
studio arena theatre (1973) 
 

BUFFALO COURIER-EXPRESS - Saturday, March 3, 1973
'Taming' at the Studio
Two Viewpoints

Comedy Worthy of Praise - By DOUG SMITH

And a catalogue of the best also would have to include Gordon Connell's sometimes arthritic and lecherous loser, Gremio; Lee Goodman's upright yet befuddled Vincentio; Alan Brasington's foppish Hortensio, John Towey's wonderful little hustler, Tranio, and Yusef Bulos' sneering and intrusive Grumio.

 

Production Lauded For Smoothness - By ROBERTA PLUTZIK

John Towey is best as Tranio, a servant of troubling faithfulness who uses his eyes in a variety of telling glances, rightly playing them at the audience as much as to his friends and foes.

 

 

A Re-View of Revues : Many Happy Returns
Staged by Word Baker
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park (1970) 

 

The Cincinnati Enquirer - Friday  June 19, 1970

"Ceil Cabot , an old pro in the art of the revue technique, was the stand-out comedienne, doubling and tripling as singer, ballet dancer and tap dancer in addition to her comedy sketches in dialogue. Miss Cabot and Jack Fletcher, another old pro from both of their Julius Monk revue days, were excellent in their recreation of the famous Bea Lillie sketch, "Double Damask Dinner Napkins." Running a close second, if not a tie, with Cabot and Fletcher were John Towey and DeAnn Mears. Towey was also a highlight of the first act with his hilarious "Harvey Woofter" routine. Dietz updated one of his big hits by writing new lyrics dealing with pollution and soot and changed the title to, "I Can't See Your Face Before Me", sung by Towey and Mary Lynn Melton".   by George Palmer

 

To Be Young, Gifted And Black
by Lorraine Hansberry
Directed by Gigi Cascio and Robert Nemiroff
Adapted by Robert Nemiroff
1969
 

with James Earl Jones, and Barbara Baxley, Claudia McNeil
Tina Sattin, Camille Yarbrough, Garn Stephens,  John Towey

 

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Galileo
by Bertold Brecht
Directed by Ronald Satloff
Pittsburg Playhouse (1968)
 
 

Daily News McKeesport, PA - April 29, 1968
"Galileo is assisted by a cast of more than 35, most notably John Towey as Andrea Sarti, a dedicated pupil of Galileo." Carl Geruschat

Pittsburgh Press - April 29, 1968
"Of the supporting cast, John Towey is a standout as Galileo's prize student". Kaspar Monahan

 

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - April 29, 1968
"The most effective musical portion of the production, which includes original music composed by Robert Bernat, under the direction of John Towey, is highlighted by the most engaging vocal talents of ballad singers Stephen Pearlman and Jo Ann Cunningham." Win Fanning

Three Men on a Horse
by John Holm
Directed by Robert Baker
Pittsburg Playhouse (1968)
 
 

The Point - Feb. 22, 1968  
"Playing Erwin, John Towey's role is the most arduous. But Erwin emerges, often weak-kneed and susceptible, but no milquetoast. His frail body, we are delighted to learn, houses a tenacious core."  Anne Youens  

 

The Pittsburgh Press - Feb. 19, 1968  
"It's important, of course, that just the right player is picked for the role of Erwin. The current Playhouse production has one in John Towey. He's meek, he's fussy, he's loyal to his employer, nuts about his wife and so damned upright and honest that he will not take advantage of a rare gift for personal gain. The gift? Oh, Erwin can pick the winners of horse races day after day and never miss one."  Kaspar Monahan

 

Valley Independent - Feb. 20, 1968  
Towey Carries Comedy  
"John Towey, slight in build but large in talent, is a complete actor who takes his parts seriously, even in comedies. He was hilarious as the mother-dominated prince in "Once Upon a Mattress", opening show this season at the Pittsburgh Playhouse. Carrying the load of funny material in "Three Men on a Horse", which opened in the Craft Ave. Theatre of the Playhouse Saturday, isn't hard for him either. Towey's always "turned on" whether he has lines to say or not. And his expressions and reactions are priceless. He puts so much extra into his roles and so gives a performance which turns this pleasant show, set in 1936, into one worth seeing."  Donna Lange  

 

Daily News - Feb. 20, 1968 McKeesport, PA
"John Towey portrays Erwin Trowbridge, the greeting card bard admirably and with a fine sense of comedic definition of the role."  Carl Geruschat

Once Upon a Mattress
by Jay Thompson, Marshall Barer, and Dean Fuller.
Directed by Robert Baker
Composed by Mary Rogers
Lyrics by Mr. Barer
 

Pittsburgh Post -Gazette - Sept. 27, 1967
"John Towey is exactly right as the prince". Win Fanning

The New Courier - Sept. 30, 1967
"John Towey has the role of 'Prince Dauntless The Drab,' and is just about perfect in the part". Hazel Garland

Pittsburgh Press - Sept. 25, 1967
"John Towey's Prince Dauntless, and William Malloy's mute King round out the royal foursome. Their standout scene-wherein the speechless king of pantomime gives his stupid son a lecture on the birds, bees and flowers - is side-splitting". Kaspar Monahan

The Misanthrope
by Moliere
Directed by John Reich
Translation by Richard Wilbur
The Goodman Theatre Chicago (1967)
 

Chicago Sun-Times - Aug. 22, 1967 
"John Towey has an effective moment as Alceste's servant." 
Glenna Syse

Galileo
by Berthold Brecht
Directed by Howard Da Silva
The Goodman Theatre Chicago (1966)
 

Chicago Tribune - May 9, 1966  
"John Towey's mixed-up little monk has precisely the right note of desperate sincerity." Thomas Willis  
   
Chicago Daily News - May 9, 1966  
"The play draws its strength from its quiet moments, and among these, two stand out.  One is the scene in which Galileo opposes the virtues of the new science against the old church faith in a brief talk with a little monk simply and movingly played by John Towey."  Richard Christiansen  
   
Chicago Sun-Times - May 9, 1966  
"Valuable contributions are made by William Pappas, Virginia Flick, and John Towey who plays the physics-loving monk."  Glenna Syse

The Rainmaker
By Richard Nash

Directed by Timothy Near

The Guthrie  Theatre - Minneapolis (1986)

 

 
On The Razzle 
By Tom Stoppard

Directed by Stephen Kanee

The Guthrie  Theatre - Minneapolis (1986)

 

Des Moines Sunday Register Jan. 19, 1986
"John Towey plays Weinberl, the rube, with knowing body English and perfect comic timing." Joan Burke

 

Pioneer Press Dispatch Jan. 17, 1986
"The leading performances that give the tone to the production are by John Madden Towey as Weinberl and James J. Lawless as Zangler. Towey, looking soulful-eyed and generally bemused, portrays Weinberl in a way that is part anarchic, part tremulous. It reminded me of what I'd expect if I saw Woody Allen portraying Candide." David Hawley

 

Freeway News February 5, 1986
"As Weinberl, the stolid store manager out for a final fling before settling into middle age, John Towey proves a dogged likable foil for James J. Lawless' apoplectic, Herr Zangler." Lucille Johnson Stelling

 

Station KSJN-FM January 23, 1986
"Director Kanee keeps the whole thing moving at a break neck pace and gets fine performances from his cast headed by James J. Lawless as Her Zangler and John Madden Towey as his head clerk." Robert Collins

Cyrano de Bergerac
By Edmund Rostand

Directed by Eddie Gilbert 

The Guthrie  Theatre - Minneapolis (1985)

 

Minneapolis Star and Tribune - June 24, 1985
"John Towey as the pastry cook Ragueneau was exceptional again, avoiding the buffoon aspects of the role and taking this romantic poet's soul seriously without reducing the comic effect." Mike Steele

 

After Hours: Center Stage - June 26, 1985
"John Towey is delightful as Ragueneau, a pastry cook whose shop has become the haven of would-be poets who listen agreeably to Ragueneau's attempts at rhyme in return for all the goodies they can eat. 'I love a friendly audience', he explains." Lucille Johnson Stelling

 

Twin Cities Reader - June 26, 1985
"In the large and able cast of supporting players, John Towey's quietly dexterous sincerity and humor as Ragueneau, baker and would-be poet, stand out." Carla Waldemar

 

St. Paul Pioneer Press Dispatch - June 23, 1985

"The production also featured a solid, admirable performance by John Towey as the good-hearted baker-poet Ragueneau." David Hawley

 

Photo: Joe Gianetti

Midsummer Night's Dream
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Liviu Ciulei
The Guthrie  Theatre - Minneapolis (1985)
 

Des Moines Sunday Register - July 28, 1985 
"Ciulei swirls the action rapidly through the identity crises, the potion-induced love-obsessions, the comical theatrics of Bottom and his friends, all notably funny, but none more so than John Madden Towey as Flute, who burlesques the "tragical" Thisbe with a standup comic's broad comedy shtick."  Joan Bunke

 

 

Photo: Joe Gianetti

Great Expectations
By Charles Dickens
Adaptation by Barbara Fields
Directed by Stephan Kanee 
The Guthrie  Theatre - Minneapolis (1985)
 

Minneapolis Spokesman "Opening the 1985-1986 season is Stephan Kanee's production of Great Expectations. Barbara Fields Adaption of the Charles Dickens novel captures romance, comedy, adventure and mystery of Victorian England as a number of eccentric characters aid youg Pip in becoming a gentleman of status. Scenic design is by Jack Barkla, costumes by Jack Edwards, lighting by Dawn Chiang and music by Hiram Titus. Rafael Tilton

Minneapolis Spokesman - Thursday, June 27, 1985
"Woven into Dickens’ novel is his experience of his father. The male figures in Pip’s impressionable youth become a part of his growth. Jaggers’ legal inflexibilities, Wimmick’s boundaries around personal life, Aged Parent’s engaging compliance and, most importantly, Joe Gargery’s blunt humility and kindness are endearingly human at the same time as they show their strong influence in Pip’s struggle toward wholeness. I would see it again solely for Towey’s Joe Gargery".

 

Twin Cities Reader - June 19, 1985
"John Towey joins Richard Iglewski (Wemmick) as his deaf but nimble Aged Parent, and also finds the simple unembellished goodness of blacksmith Joe's warm heart." Carla Waldemar

Minneapolis Star and Tribune -Monday, June 10, 1985
"John Towey’s rendition of Joe the gentle blacksmith is heartbreaking through its sheer lack of histrionics. It’s a restrained, subtly feeling, spontaneous character who just seems to exist and is all the more vulnerable and beautiful for it. From this, Towey snaps easily into the riotously giddy, childlike ‘Aged P’ without missing a blink, pulling off an amazing tour de force". Mike Steele

The Guthrie Company 1985-1986 Season
 
Key to Photo
 

1) Jack Wetherall  2) Allen Hamilton  3) Richard Iglewski  4) Jay Patterson  5)Bob Breuler  6) Mark Benninghofen  7) Thomas Glynn  8) Richard Howard  9) Kurt Schweickhardt  10) Peter Francis-James  11) Harriet Harris  12) Richard Ooms  13) Peter Thoemke   14) Henrietta Valor  15) Barbara Kingsley  16) Barbara Tirrell  17) Brian Hargrove  18) Lynn Chausow  19) Gary Reineke  20) David Pierce  21) Kathryn Dowling   22) Eric Weitz  23) Mitchell Lichtenstein  24) Faye Price  25) Katherine Leask  26) John Towey.   Not pictured: Helen Carey, Pamela Nyberg, John Spencer, Sally Wingert.

 

Twelth Night
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Liviu Ciuleu
The Guthrie  Theatre - Minneapolis (1984)
 

The Free Press  Mankato, MN  - June 13, 1985 "Towey was the drunken clown Fabian in Twelfth Night, and stole my heart with his brilliant evocation of silent film comedian Harold Lloyd."  Tim Demarce

 

KFAI -FM Radio - November 1, 1984
"John Towey plays Fabian in a style remnant of Wally Cox as Mr. Peepers, although he's costumed to resemble silent film comedian Harold Lloyd. His Fabian is a delight to behold." Steven LaVigne

 

Three Sisters
By Chekhov
New version by Richard Nelson
Artistic director, Liviu Ciuliu
The Guthrie Theatre, Minneapolis 1984
 

Twin Cities Reader - July 4, 1984
"Masha's husband is made more than a boring, cuckolded, constricted pedant by John M. Towey's understated and intelligent limning of the man's kindness and pathos." Carla Waldemar

 

Minnesota Daily - July 6, 1984
"John M. Towey also gives a sensitive, understated performance as Kulygin, creating a three-dimensional characterization out of this usually flat role." Lisa A. Brock

 

Chekhov's masterpiece, Three Sisters with John Towey as Fyodor Ilyich Kulygin and Joan MacIntosh as Masha Prozorov. 

Scenic design is by Liviu Ciulei, assisted by James Burbeck, costumes by Jack Edwards, lighting by Dawn Chiang and sound by Bob Jorissen. Musical consultant is Paul Goldstaub.

 

Mother Courage and Her Children
By Bertold Brecht
Directed by Timothy Mayer
Music by Van Dyke Parks
The Boston Shakespeare Company - January & February 1984
 

The Boston Globe - January 29, 1984 
"While Linda Hunt and Lily Knight admirably carry most of the play's dramatic weight, accolades also go to Susan Long, John Madden Towey, and Brian Doyle-Murray in supporting roles. Towey's near-perfect comic timing suits the character of the chaplain, a sleaze and buffoon who represents organized religion, another target for Brecht's biting irony".
Ted Osius

 

My Heart Is In The East
By Linda Klein
Directed by Raphael Crystal
Lyrics by Richard Engquist
The Jewish Repertory Company - New York 1983
 

New York Post -  July 4, 1983 
"Judah Halevy was undoubtedly a more complex man than Linda Klein's book makes him out, but he could hardly have been more ingratiating a fellow than in John Towey's sweet portrayal. The domestic cheeriness gets a bit thick at times - with its sugar content considerably raised by Raphael Crystal's music - but Towey craftily thins it out with a shot of gentle wry.  Marilyn Stasio

 

Division Street
By Steve Tesich
Directed by Stan Wojewodski
Center Stage - Baltimore 1982
 

The Daily Record Baltimore - December 23, 1982
"John Madden Towey is the derelict with a growing paranoia about the female orgasm which he sees as a threat to his civil and social rights. He creates and sustains the play's centerpiece which widens with chauvinistic cynicism while drawing humor from truth."

 

The Miser
By Moliere
Directed by Stan Wojewwodski
Center Stage - Baltimore 1982
 

The Daily Record - November 11, 1982
"Bill McCutcheon is supported by an extraordinary ensemble of actors, highlighted by an unusual naturally comedic performance by John Madden Towey as Jacques, a servant who believes in absolute truth and learns to regret his candor. Much of Towey's performance seems like sardonic skits from "Saturday Night Live." Don Walls

The Washington Post - November 16, 1982
"John Madden Towey, doing double duty as cook and coachman demonstrates in the process how far an actor can cut back and still be funny." David Richards

The Washington Times - November 11, 1982

"Particularly noteworthy is John Madden Towey, Harpagon's cook/coachman, who learns a valuable lesson about telling the truth too often. Towey, a frequent Arena Stage performer, has a knack for making a major impression in a minor role, without throwing the production out of whack." Hap Erstein 

 

The Taming of The Shrew
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Susan Kerner
Pennsylvania Stage Company - 1981
 

The Morning Call - Allentown, PA March 19, 1981
Character-Baptista
"John Madden Towey as Baptista Minola, is enormously communicative. His mobile face and voice of many ranges within short sentences, contribute to this talented man's appeal." Sandra Matuschka

 

The Free Press  - April 1, 1981
"Towey's Baptista seems to have gotten an ulcer from Kate; he drinks frequently after an encounter with her. He behaves as Barney Fife would if he were taken out of Mayberry and placed in 16th century Italy." Andrea Siegel

 

That Championship Season
By Jason Miller
Directed by Greg Hurst
Pennsylvania Stage Company - 1981
 

The Globe-Times Bethlehem, PA - February 13, 1981
Character - James Daley
"John Madden Towey is perhaps the most sympathetic of the men, if any of them can garner any empathy at all. He is a living nebish. At 38 he is a junior high school principal who wants to be a congressman. He is grasping - no, scrounging - for a "piece of the action." But it's hopeless. According to the Peter Principal he's reached his level of incompetency and is sliding. He's lost his teeth and his dignity. He can only connive like a Machiavellian serpent. Towey towers as the sorrowful slob." Dan Sigley

 

The Morning Call Allentown, PA - February 12, 1981
"James, played by John Madden Towey, is festering under the frustration of seeing the others prosper, and the burden of his alcoholic brother, Tom played by Gary Holcombe. Towey's transformation from a slow seethe to rage is a marvel to watch through the three acts." Michael Marzella

 

Relatively Speaking
By Alan Ayckbourn
Directed by Russell Treyze
Stage-West Springfield, MA 1980
 

Valley Advocate  April 9, 1980 
"John Madden Towey as Philip gives a witty, maturely styled comic performance that's head and shoulders above T.V. sitcom shtick."  Stephanie Kraft 
  
The News   April 4, 1980 
"For me the show was stolen by John Madden Towey as Philip. His portrayal of the philandering boss knowing that he is about to be caught by his wife is superb. One nervous flick of his eyebrow sent me into convulsions." 
  
Daily News   March 31, 1980 
"Take one part Don Knotts, one part Tim Conway, mix well, and you'll probably come up with John Madden Towey. His kind of comedy depends not on words but on visuals. He is hilarious while he cocks his head, opens his mouth to emit not a sound, hitches his pants, and lurches off in search of a missing hoe. All do their jobs superbly, but it is John Madden Towey (as Ginny's second lover, Philip) who stands out most. He is the most natural, and his gestures and movements lend themselves well to his character. He and Joan Ulmer (as his wife, Sheila) lend a touch of class to the play."  Pat Garrity

 

The Agawam Advertiser/News  - April 10, 1980  
"But it is John Madden Towey as Philip who can capture your heart. One look at his expressive face gives credence to the idiom "A picture is worth a thousand words." Mr. Towey utilizes his whole body and creates a complete personality. Almost against our wills, we are taken in by him."  Diana Willard  
  
The Journal Inquirer  - April 4, 1980  
"John Madden Towey also acts with his body as much as his voice. Using a wide range of facial expressions and other body movements, together with a keen sense of timing, Towey creates a most droll Philip."  Malcom K. Chadbourne

 

The Morning Union - April 1, 1980
"With gestures and mugging and odd personal mannerisms, the players can establish what seems to be distinctive personalities without changing the words. John Madden Towey, did this Saturday night with carefully controlled overplaying and was the most entertaining of the quartet. His character seemed to have trouble controlling his speech and his legs and his facial expressions. He almost lurched, and his face showed his feelings instantly and with wide animation. He was likable, and there was a large measure of sympathy generated for him."  R.C. Hammerich

Transcript Telegram - April 3, 1980
"Towey, as Philip, looks like a dejected bloodhound most of the time. His face twitches and he gulps for air with such intensity that you really believe he can't believe what's happening" Ronnie Gordon

 

Duck Hunting
By Alexander Vampilov
Directed by Zelda Fichandler
The Arena Stage - Washington, D.C. 1978
 

The New York Times  - Saturday May 20, 1978 
"Some of the acting is splendid. Apart from Miss Wines, there is a fine, weary and corrupt bureaucrat played by Mark Hammer; and a charming rendition by John Madden Towey of Zilov's friend, Sayapin, as a blinking, downtrodden wage slave." Richard Eder

 

 

Comedians
By Trevor Griffiths
Directed by David Chambers
The Arena Stage - Washington, D.C. 1978
 

The Washington Star - January 10, 1978
"Comedians presents performers with one of the most difficult acting tasks: convincing an audience that they are bad. It's a little like singing off-key. We all do it in the shower, but only the surest musicians can do it persuasively on the stage. And Arena's comics (Timothy Meyers, Mark Hammer, Joe Palmieri, Joel Colodner and John Madden Towey) are a properly third-rate collection. Their ambitions are arrestingly sweaty and their perceptions have the hypnotic desperation of the dumb and hungry. Mostly, they make a mockery of their craft and a shoddy spectacle of themselves. But if they were better, they would engage us less." David Richards

 

 

Hamlet
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Liviu Ciulei
Set by Ming Cho Lee
The Arena Stage - Washington, D.C. 1978
 

New York Post - April 5, 1978
"John Madden Towey is an interesting Osric more effective than affected." Clive Barns

 

The Baltimore Sun - April 3, 1978
"The only member of the company of whom I approved without reservation was John Madden Towey, whose Osric reflects the taste and style one hopes for in such productions." R.H. Gardner

 

 

The National Health
By Peter Nichols
Directed by David Chambers
The Arena Stage - Washington, D.C. 1977
 

The Washington Star - October 20, 1977
"The cast - headed by Robert Prosky, Jarlath Conroy, Paula Desmond, John Wylie, Stanley Anderson, John Madden Towey, Terrence Currier, and Veronica Castang - is a fine one". David Richards

 

Photo by: George da Vincent

 

 

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