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Chris is one of the most dedicated
and versatile artists I have ever met. ... I have worked with him
as an instructor, coach, and director for three years and still marvel
at his ability to create in original, deeply personal ways. He is
an affable, tireless contributor to any project. ...Chris is that
rare individual who combines the gifts of a very fine performer with
exceptional teaching expertise. ... Chris is a sophisticated, charismatic
actor.
Richard Warner, Associate
Professor, Head of Performance,
Univeristy of Virginia (2002)
Poetry and song rightly hold a major place in the new expression.
Chris is both a fine poet and a marvelous singer.
Sir George Trevelyan
Food for the soul….a world class performer.
Ray Shell, actor/singer, writer, producer;
original "Rusty" in the London West End Starlight
Express
Chris Van Cleave is special. His music is magical, inspiring and
transformational.
Larry Dossey, MD. author of Healing
Words,
Beyond Illness and Reinventing Medicine.
With timelessly crafted songs as powerfully
emotive as "Laugh With You" and "Simply Love"
and a voice that simultaneously encompasses the power of Scott Walker
with the tenderness of Jackson Browne, Van Cleave would be rubbing
shoulders with Nanci Griffith and Lyle Lovett if justice and talent
were the deciding factor in the music business.
STALKIN A COUNTRY SMILE Album Review
Johnny Black, music journalist
(Q Magazine, Insight, Hi Fi News)
Chris Van Cleave is arguably the most talented and popular musical
theater performer in Hampton Roads. He is an excellent actor, musician,
and vocalist with a slew of international, national, and local credits,
as well as honors; including Port Folio Weekly's Critic's Choice
as Best performer in a Musical in 1997.... I have seen his work
at ...[various theatres], where entire highly professional productions
have been built around his skill.
Robert P. Arthur: poet, playwright, novelist,
lyricist, and jounalist.
If you want to tell someone how deeply you love them but can't find
the words, let singer/songwriter Van Cleave do it for you. These
soulful, sweet tunes not only express romantic amour in a way that
could not be more to the point, but also parental, spiritual, and
other flavors of deep love. It takes real courage and truly being
in touch with one's most interior sensibilities to say these things
so directly and profoundly. ...A rich candescence one can take to
heart and soul.
BEYOND...SEE BEYOND Album Review
NAPRA ReVIEW
Within this blue-sky atmosphere, sensitive lyrics emerge, addressing
the deeper meanings ever present in relationships and nature. Van
Cleave's songwriting is rich in metaphor and ear pleasing poetry.
The overall sound is a meditative, often thought provoking blend of
sounds and insights, refreshing and
quite rare these days.
BEYOND...SEE
BEYOND Album Review
Ian Danielsen, Nine X
Van Cleave's voice is clear and expressive, providing fertile ground
for his lush lyrical landscape....With a range that slides easily
from bass to tenor, he is compared to Gordon Lightfoot, John Denver,
or Dan Fogelberg. For relaxing and insightful music, I recommend the
beautiful "Lavender White," the lifting "Riddle of the River," and
a cool-pickin' instrumental "Mystic Mountain Moogie."
BEYOND...SEE BEYOND Album Review
Eric Worden, Port Folio Weekly (February 3-9, 1998) DJ, WPTE 94.9
FM (Norfolk, VA)
...superb performers who are having so much fun the audience can't
help but be pulled into it. Christopher Van Cleave [is] the Pirate
King....he's such a dashing Pirate King you'd think the maidens
would be falling over each other to be carried off....This show
is a joy to see, to hear, and yell "Bravo" for.
THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE
New Lyric Theatre (Charlottesville, VA)
Clare Aukofer, The Daily Progress (May 7, 2000)
It is no small feat for an actor to play Jesus convincingly, and
Chris Van Cleave did just that. The performance was a credit to
both the actor and the director..[Van] Cleave stood out vocally
and dramatically....
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR National Tour
David Connelly, Shreveport Journal
Chris Van Cleave and Jane Simms...a beautiful job playing Jesus
and Mary.
A thunderous standing ovation rolled from the nearly sold-out audience
onto the Century II stage when the top three principals--Jesus,
Judas and Mary Magdalene--took their bows.
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR National Tour
Bob Curtwright, The Wichita Eagle and Beacon
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