
press
| "A new breed of performer has arisen,
and of that new breed, none in my experience is more expert, more
skilled, more instinctive or more revelatory than Ron Bohmer." TREVOR NUNN (from his written forward to everyman) |
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we looked with a jaundiced eye and a ho-hum attitude at the barrage of hype that accompanies it’s "triumphant return engagement." Eating crow is very humbling, so let’s get it over with. |
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The production now
playing at the Pantages is a theatrical knock-out. So how does it
differ from the others? It’s the super-charged spin that carries a
zapped-up undercurrent of extra high-voltage. Let’s face it, Phantom of the Opera
is an extremely erotic musical. With Baritone Ron Bohmer in the title
role, the Phantom is not only a larger than life romantic figure, he
becomes down right seductive. Bohmer’s glorious tones caress Christine’s
soul, his soft tenor sweetness purrs in her ear, his burning desire
stabs her heart, his boyish vulnerability attracts her like a magnet.
The chemistry between this "beauty and the beast" simply
sizzles.’ "Ron Bohmer, a
veteran of Webber musicals, is the third Phantom to play Chicago since
the musical first came here in 1990. And he’s a surprise. He has a big
musical theatre voice, yet he’s most effective at showing the
pathetic, rather the than frightening, side of the character. He saves
his best work for his grand finale. Cornered in his underground
lair and "Bohmer, who starred
in the national tour of "Sunset Boulevard," uses his voice in
interesting ways to create a remote, tortured figure. The Phantom
actually has very little to do until the final scene of the musical, and
here Bohmer excels."
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The Scarlet Pimpernel “Stronger than its original incarnation, with a new trio of stars enacting the work's central love triangle in a more intimate setting. Its leading characterizations, especially from Ron Bohmer and Carolee Carmello as the English fop with a heroic alter ego and his plucky French wife, approach psychological realism in ways they didn't before, and there is a new respectfulness in both the playing and the singing of Wildhorn's songs. Bohmer, an actor of greater emotional delicacy and natural charisma. has a charmingly quiet spark of glee in his eyes and a shimmery, excellent voice. Bohmer, Ms. Carmello and Marc Kudisch deliver - with more gravity and finesse than their predecessors. “ Ben Brantley, NY TIMES |
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"If the current production of Pimpernel is less grandious
and handsome, it’s well acted and very well-sung. And it’s biggest
challenge – filling the shoes of Douglas Sills’ Percy – is it’s
most impressive element. Ron Bohmer lacks Sills’ larger-than-life
silliness, so has to approach the part differently, more obliquely,
offering an honest, subtler interpretation that builds admirably. Both
the actor and the character slowly blossom into the fop impersonation,
gradually finding the requisite extravagance while delineating the
serious, idealistic side of the character with complete conviction. A
good actor with a voice more operatic and of even finer quality than
Sills’, Bohmer succeeds at a formidable task." "Mr. Longbottom’s ideas are sometimes staggeringly lowbrow,
but his new cast helps us overlook the worst. Ron Bohmer still has to
mince and prance excessively as Percy. But there’s steel aplenty under
all the satin and lace of his foppish disguises. Mr. Bohmer’s strong
tenor sails out with a civilized virility that transcends all those Cage
aux Folles moments." "Both swashbuckler and fop are rendered deftly by Ron
Bohmer,
who plays the title role to the hilt in this buoyant frolic." "In the role of Sir Percy, Ron Bohmer is
superb, capturing perfectly the dual identities of this unlikely hero.
It is his ability to switch from vengeful righter of wrongs to girlish
patsy in an instant that makes this play truly work. The actions of
Percy and his friends in their effeminate roles provide for countless
laughs." |
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SUNSET BLVD. " Ron Bohmer as the wise-cracking, cynical Joe Gillis is stronger than his Broadway counterpart. He’s equally tall and tan but has a harder, sexier edge. The chemistry between Bohmer’s Joe and Linda Balgord’s Norma is Electric. And nothing can match the cynicism of Bohmer’s title-song-second-act-anthem to Hollywood’s opportunism." Sandra Brooks-Dillard, THE DENVER POST |
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"Mr. Bohmer deftly carries this huge show. He helps us suspend
our disbelief and listens as beautifully as he interprets his songs,
sounding like a snake oil salesman and a fallen angel by turn. The
touring company of Sunset Boulevard is that rare thing: a road
show that’s better than the Broadway production." "Ron Bohmer is a little too young for the role of Joe Gillis
(played by William Holden in the Billy Wilder Film), the disenchanted
screenwriter who stumbles into Norma Desmond's isolated world; but he's
smart, clear and clever in his acting, and he's in excellent
voice."
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![]() "Refreshingly vicious! Bohmer delivers a hilariously raspy-voiced rendition of Harvey Fierstein's upcoming turn as Tevye; "If I Were a Straight Man." Hilarious, expert impressions!" NEW YORK POST |
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| "My 'Forbidden' love
must include the cast! One of Ron Bohmer's best moments is as Alfred
Molina, declaring, "A 'Fiddler' with no Jew. Sounds crazy,
no?" Then, moments later, he does Tevye again as we see him played
next by Harvey Fierstein. It zings right on target!" Howard Kissel, NEW YORK DAILY NEWS "The most gratifying and freshest "Forbidden Broadway" in years. The New York theater's favorite practitioner of tough love has put on the brass knuckles for this round. Four protean performers (Mr. Bohmer acutely impersonates Jerry Orbach, Harvey Fierstein, Alfred Molina and others), colorfully assume the often-colorless styles of their subjects. Astutely anatomized, painfully precise satire!" Ben Brantley, THE NEW YORK TIMES "The show's most consistently riotous moments come from Ron Bohmer, a veteran of several leading-man stints on Broadway who clearly knows whereof he spoofs." Charles Isherwood, THE NEW YORK TIMES "Bohmer dissects his characters with a skill
worthy of Sweeney Todd! His piecé de resistánce is Michael Crawford in
full tenor affectation as the Phantom. A delicious sneer!"
"This two-hour mock out will slay you. The
great wit and dash of designer Alvin Colt's costumes allows a
fast-changing quartet of ace performers to suggest scores of footlight
personalities. Recently that tasty President Wintergreen of Paper Mill's
"Of Thee I Sing," Ron Bohmer wrings the amusing most from the
show’s twisted lyrics. You’ll be catching your breath between
laughs." |
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THE THING ABOUT MEN Ron Bohmer is just plain terrific." WOR am 710 "Ron Bohmer is most appealing! He’s a terrific actor." |
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| "As the artist Sebastian, Bohmer is hot
and charismatic." BACKSTAGE "Muscular, gentle... a dreamy tenor." "No one could better his performance." |
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OF
THEE I SING |
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"As Wintergreen, Ron
Bohmer has the good looks and disarming smile of a presidential
candidate, coupled with a soaring voice that no U.S. president could
ever lay claim to." The comely Bohmer is a
splendid singer and plays the easy to manipulate Wintergreen with a
wonderfully reckless panache that pays more than a little homage to
Groucho." "Director Tina
Landau's revival of Of Thee I
Sing recaptures the play's frothy silliness and does honor to the
musical pleasures that range from ballads to Gilbert and Sullivan-like
patter songs. All this silliness is carried out with great aplomb by the
cast, lead by Ron Bohmer." This hit of yore is only a
must for musical theater aficionados who rarely get to see it.
Nevertheless, an unapologetically slick Ron Bohmer couldn't be more
ideal for Wintergreen, the candidate who's all style and no substance. "A landslide victory!
Landau's production is nimble, funny and unashamedly period. Ron Bohmer,
as Wintergreen, despite being in a non-dancing role, always looks like
he's going to break out into a tap routine any second. And since being
President of the United States often requires a bit of song and dance,
then why not? His youthful cockiness and pleasantly crooning voice make
him perfect political timber for this satire of
style-over-substance."
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| Anything Goes " I felt as if I was in a big champagne glass, bubbling along with the rest of the audience and this funny, gorgeous cast. That starts with Carolee Carmello’s very knowing, just-outrageous-enough, golden lunged Reno Sweeney. But the greater surprise is Ron Bohmer’s Billy – surprising because Billy can be a bit of a lightweight. Not Bohmer. To his beautiful tenor add rugged leading man appeal and a sense of fun." Christopher Rawson, PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE |
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"Ron Bohmer (The Scarlet Pimpernel with Carolee
Carmello) seems
to have fun in his
role as Billy Crocker and performs with boundless energy. If you don't
like Billy you won't like the show, and there's no problem with that here. Bohmer
really engages
the audience. His voice is perfect for these Cole Porter songs. On
"Easy to Love"
and "It's Delovely" (with Glory Crampton) in particular,
Bohmer really shows his range and smoothly delivers even the highest notes."
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THE JOYS OF SEX
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Aspects of Love "You won’t find a better set of actors anywhere, especially Bohmer as Alex and Balgord as Rose, both of whom have great voices and considerable presence." H.J. Kirchhoff, THE TORONTO GLOBE AND MAIL |
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"As Rose and Alex, the young lovers
around whom the memories of love play out into middle age, Linda Balgord
and Ron Bohmer are a perfectly matched team of thoroughbreds, prancing
under the silken reins (director) Robin Phillips holds securely in his
hands. Both turn in powerful, moving performances, never once
sacrificing the drama to the music, or vice versa. This is goosebump
stuff." "Ron Bohmer as Alex, is a handsome young leading
man who has a big tenor voice and, more important, the ability to make even his character's
most irrational moves seem the natural acts of an impulsive,
tormented lover."
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| DRACULA "Ron Bohmer's electric presence and huge, booming voice make Dracula into a compellingly, mesmerizing figure --- he projects an unbelievable power." NEW ENGLAND THEATRE MIRROR "Ron Bohmer makes for a frightening, seductive Dracula. This is,
indeed, an impressive tour de force performance that greatly enhances
the entire production." |
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| "From the moment he appears as the sensual and sinister Dracula,
Ron Bohmer dominates the stage. Mr. Bohmer's Dracula is hypnotic, and he
has captured to perfection the intense, mesmerizing stare of the
infamous vampire count. His powerful baritone grows ever more effective
throughout the evening, with even the highest notes progressing from
thin to full. His singing is sometimes elegantly controlled as Dracula
connives, sometimes terrifyingly powerful as Dracula rages. Bohmer
clearly has the best role in this musical, and he makes the most of it,
earning a screaming standing ovation from the audience at curtain
call." Sally Applegate, NORTH SHORE SUNDAY, TOWNONLINE.COM
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Floyd Collins is a terrific role for Mr. Bohmer, playing a
big voiced good old boy who, trapped in body and in the cold, damp, dark,
makes a spiritual journey nonetheless. I’ve never seen him
better."
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H.M.S. PINAFORE Dick Jackson, WSBS |
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"Briskly energetic and handsomely sonorous. Ron
Bohmer sings Ralph Rackstraw Marcy Hariell and Ron Bohmer are true musical stars,
with powerful voices and strong acting talents (Bohmer brought new
strengths to Sir Percy in the last and best version of The Scarlet
Pimpernel on Broadway)." |
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Among the standouts is Ron Bohmer as the gambler Gaylord Ravenal, whose glorious tenor in "Where's the Mate for Me?" and "Make Believe" creates a stunning contrast with Phillip Boykin's impossibly rich bass in "Ol' Man River." Kern's score demands operatic skill from the singers, which can be off-putting if it isn't grounded in strong acting chops. But Bohmer, as the charming rake, and Boykin, as the stalwart representative of all African-Americans stuck doing the dirty work, give the characters much-needed depth. Boston Globe |
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Teri Dale Hansen and Ron
Bohmer deliver youthful, energetic performances in their respective
roles as Magnolia and Ravenal. Hansen's operatic voice compliments
Bohmer's classic strength during their three lovely courtship ballads,
"Make Believe," "You Are Love," and "I Have
the Room Above Her." Another great voice in the
cast belongs to Ron Bohmer, whose soaring tenor was on display when he
played Dracula at NSMT. His voice is perfect for the great songs he
performs as riverboat gambler Gaylord Ravenal. As he begins singing the
memorable melody line to “Who Cares if my Boat Goes Upstream?” it is
clear this is one fine singer. He moves on to the classic hits “Only
Make Believe,” “You are Love,” and “Why Do I Love You?”
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1997-2008 The Official Ron Bohmer
Internet Site and Ron
Bohmer.
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