Nice things:
Awards and Nominations
Performance:
B. Iden Payne
FronteraFest
B. Iden Payne
B. Iden Payne
- Lead Performer in a Drama ~ Judith et al in Judith
- Lead Actress in a Musical ~ Medium Alison in Fun Home (nominated)
- Featured Actress in a Drama ~ Gabrielle York in When the Rain Stops Falling
- Featured Performer in a Digital Production ~ Tay in Letters from Camp Shrewd
- Young Performer ~ The Teacher in The Visit
- Young Performer ~ Liza Minnelli in An Xmas Carol (nominated)
- Ensemble Cast of the Year ~ Ensemble in The Laramie Project
- Best Acting ~ Sammy Lewis in the comedic short film Suzy Lewis' Sewing Show
FronteraFest
- Best of the Fest: Wild Card ~ All Too Human
- Best of the Week ~ Lost on Most
- Finalist ~ Anne Elliot's Queer Little Heart
B. Iden Payne
- Movement Design ~ ImprovEd Shakespeare’s As You Like It (nominated)
Reviews
Henry V:
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Elizabeth Cobbe (Austin Chronicle):
Penfold has gathered a strong cast for its summer show. The six members of the ensemble have their work cut out for them in covering dozens of roles. Their dialect work is admirable, and their physical choices are clear. |
Photo credit: Dave Hawks Photography
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Fun Home:
Photo credit: Dave Hawks Photography
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Trey Gutierrez (Austin Chronicle):
As Alison's college girlfriend Joan, deaf actress Sandra Mae Frank...delivers a warm, confident portrayal that serves as a perfect foil to Flanagan's charmingly manic Middle Alison. Conversely, Flanagan's adept ability to build upon Frank's American Sign Language-delivered dialogue creates refreshingly sincere chemistry that's unattainable via spoken word. Curry and Flanagan's fluid blocking and reactive line delivery effortlessly convey a single entity, while maintaining more than enough variety between their performances to imbue the character of Alison with a believable depth. Rebecca Johnson (Arts Around Austin): While the whole company gives enjoyable performances, the three Alisons shine. The musical numbers are rollicking and heart-wrenching by turns...Particular favorites include the poignant “Welcome to our House on Maple Avenue,” sung by the whole Bechdel family and “Changing my Major,” by Middle Alison in the ecstatic first flush of new love. The finale includes a wonderful number of all three Alisons singing together in “Flying Away.” |
Much Ado About Nothing:
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Amy Tarver (Broadway World Austin):
"Out of the six actors, two performers developed wildly different frontier styled personalities for multiple roles - switching roles the way Katy Perry changes clothes, Suzanne Balling and Taylor Flanagan were a true highlight within the performance, malleable and unrecognizable from one characterization to the next." Emily Quigley (Austin American Statesman): "Flanagan is called upon to ebulliently switch between three separate roles within one scene." |
Photo credit: Kimberley Mead
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Kindertransport:
Photo credit: Rod Machen
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Andrew J. Friedenthal (Austin American Statesman):
"That experience is portrayed with nuance by Jessica Cohen and Taylor Flanagan, as Young Eva and Teen Eva, respectively. Each of them excels at portraying Eva’s internal conflicts as she adapts to British culture." |
The Member of the Wedding:
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T. Lynn Mikeska (The Austin Chronicle):
"Taylor Flanagan turns in a fast-paced, fiery performance as Frankie, and her version of the preteen is excellent" Michael Meigs (Central Texas Live Theatre): "[With] her vibrant energy, ever-changing moods and emotive expressions...Taylor Flanagan quite literally throws herself into the role." Frank Benge (Broadway World Austin): "Taylor Flanagan does a great job with Frankie Adams, capturing the conflicting emotions in a more thoughtful and introspective way than others I have seen in the role...a very nice approach to a difficult and deeply leveled character." |
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Troilus and Cressida:
Photo credit: Michael O'Reilly
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Michael Meigs (Central Texas Live Theatre):
"The action, movement and the words transcend the agreeable informality of the Austin park setting." "This is no band of amateurs. The cast is uniformly confident, knowledgeable and articulate. ...and Taylor Flanagan as Thersites, the equally gleeful but cynical and malevolent camp follower who embodies the exact opposite of everything heroic." Lynn Beaver (Broadway World Austin): "The entire cast of Troilus and Cressida is outstanding, with most of the cast playing more than one role. Standouts include Taylor Flanagan as Thersites; she gets every ounce of fun out of the physically demanding comic character." |
Love Goes Toward Love
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Joni Lorraine (Broadway World Austin):
"Flanagan and Musser give us performances that feel contemporary and approachable...You can count on an evening of Shakespeare that will be performed with expertise and ease." |
Photo credit: Susan Suarez
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Hold Me Well:
Photo credit: Kimberley Mead
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Brian Paul Scipione (Central Texas Live Theatre):
"Casting and direction are superb. One can almost believe that there is no cast, for the actors have all embodied their characters to the point of possession. They react to each other purely and genuinely, ...One could imagine these passions running so wild on the stage would be the same if there had been no audience in the room." Shanon Weaver (The Austin Chronicle): "And though Raquel is closest to Roderigo, the character feels more like a new addition, and Taylor Flanagan wonderfully charges her with a dilemma over remaining in the status quo or fleeing to a would-be haven in Corpus Christi" Andrew J. Friedenthal (The Austin American-Statesman): "The strongest asset of the play’s premiere is its powerful cast...The chemistry between all of the players and their various relationships is what gives the show its forward momentum." |
The Lark:
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Michael Meigs (Central Texas Live Theatre):
"Joan's story plays out in attractive fashion on the boards of the Curtain Theatre. Flanagan's boyish enthusiasm enlivens the early scenes, and there's a cheerfully confiding reciprocity between her and Ryan Wilson as Charles." Audience testimonials (via a press release from The Baron's Men): "Humans of Austin: I am so moved. The Lark as presented by The Baron's Men is the single best theatrical production I have ever seen. I'm going back on Thursday. If you have any love for theatre, you should see this with me or on your own. ...This is not an ad. I speak from my heart. Go see it if you can." -Jennifer "The Lark is perhaps the best play The Baron's Men have ever done. They made me and Gayle cry for the first time at one of their plays. If you can possibly make it to a performance you will love it. Please see this one! Joan is played by Taylor Flanagan and she nails it! You will laugh, you will boo the bad (good) guys, and you will weep." -Michael Justin Scalise (via a public post to The Lark's event page): "Friends, do yourself a favor and make sure you see this fine, entertaining production. A fully engrossing night of theater, every actor is fully present with the proceedings, and the direction is precise. It is a joy to witness, filled with thought provoking ideas from a sharp, beautiful translation and is performed in a jewel of a theater, the Curtain. Don't miss it!" |
Poster design: Casey Jones
Photo credit: Azul Ox Visuals
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Richard III:
Photo credit: Katy Thompson
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Michael Saenger (Reviewing Shakespeare):
"The psychological tilt allows the women in general a stronger place on the stage, including the take-no-prisoners Leanna Holmquist as Queen Margaret and Taylor Flanagan as Lady Anne, fiery and defiant until the witty Richard wins her desire (and in a sense, her soul)." Lynn Beaver (Broadway World Austin): "The leading women of the cast turn in uniformly good performances. Leanna Holmquist as Queen Margaret, Mindy Rast-Keenan as the Duchess of York and Taylor Flanagan as Lady Anne were all excellent." |
As You Like It:
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Lynn Beaver (Broadway World Austin):
"Adding to the overwhelming charm of AS YOU LIKE IT is the music, composed by T. Lynn Mikeska and beautifully performed by the cast. ...Taylor Flanagan as Amiens adds her angelic voice to several songs and virtually glows with energy." Ryan E. Johnson (Austin Theater Examiner): "With bold casting choices, great directorial decisions, and a cast of a lifetime, they’ve breathed sparkling new life into one of Shakespeare’s most staid plays, as well as creating one of the most entertaining theatrical experiences this critic’s had in years." Michael Meigs (Central Texas Live Theatre): "Director Lily Wolff draws into this magic circle both familiar Austin devotees of Shakespeare performance and attractive newcomers. And the Shrewd company is just that: knowledgeable, confident, plausible and entirely winning. ...Diction, delivery, movement and intent are crystal clear throughout, and there's not a second of downtime. The Shrewds' As You Like It does the piece proud, and it's an enchantment to be cherished." Rudy Ramirez (Associate Artistic Director of The VORTEX): "Shrewds AS YOU LIKE IT is MAGICAL. Lily Wolff's direction is innovative and masterful. The cast is superb, with one of the best commands of the language I have encountered. I truly felt transported to another world. Do not miss this show!" |
Photo credit: Kimberley Mead
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When the Rain Stops Falling
Photo credit: Dipu Bhattacharya
Photo credit: Dipu Bhattacharya
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Michael Meigs (Central Texas Live Theatre):
"You'll have your own favorites in this cast. Mine were Taylor Flanagan as the young version of Gabrielle York, prickly and yet wistful, and Scot Friedman as Henry Law, the conflicted and eventually fugitive father." "The cast is uniformly excellent in their ability to present these characters and make us care about them, an achievement all the more remarkable given that they're using accents that evoke varieties of Australian and British English." "Each life presented in the course of a performance...is striking, vivid and achingly vulnerable." Frank Benge (Broadway World Austin): "The acting in this production is exquisitely done. " "Gabrielle York, played by Taylor Flanagan,...bears the trauma of her own tragic past and greatly fears for her future. ...Again, both actresses [Gilbert and Flanagan] are wonderfully believable in their roles." Adam Roberts (Austin Chronicle): "A robust cast delivers the tragic story convincingly, with many standout performances." |
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie:
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Frank Benge (Broadway World Austin):
"Taylor Flanagan, as the precocious Sandy,...turns in a lovely, nuanced performance that shows Sandy's growth." |
Photo credit: Steve Rogers
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Dracula:
Photo credit: Errich Petersen
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Pearson Kashlak (Austin Entertainment Weekly):
"Taylor Flanagan and Jessica Riley (Mina and Lucy respectively) were strong leads in a similar fearful yet hopeful sense." Michael Meigs (Central Texas Live Theatre): "The riskiest but most effective moment is when the ill and wilding Mina [Taylor Flanagan] ardently sucks blood from Dracula's chest, a flesh-on-flesh horror that sends a shudder through the audience." |
Stalking John Barrowman:
David Glen Robinson (Central Texas Live Theatre):
"The remaining cast members comprise a talented ensemble that enacts and sings multiple characters; standouts are Taylor Flanagan, Mindy Rast-Keenan, and Carl Gonzales."
Frank Benge (Broadway World Austin):
"Many members of the ensemble also deliver memorable moments, namely...Taylor Flanagan as a Starbucks employee"
"The remaining cast members comprise a talented ensemble that enacts and sings multiple characters; standouts are Taylor Flanagan, Mindy Rast-Keenan, and Carl Gonzales."
Frank Benge (Broadway World Austin):
"Many members of the ensemble also deliver memorable moments, namely...Taylor Flanagan as a Starbucks employee"
Love's Labour's Lost:
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Michael Meigs (Central Texas Live Theatre):
"...at every point throughout the gentlemen’s pursuit of the ladies [Fulton, Pearcy, Hughes and Flanagan] and their teasing response, movement and gesture tell just as much of the story as does the text. All of them glow with health and vitality, and we’re pleased to be included in their antics." |
Photo credit: Shawn McHorse
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Peer Gynt:
Photo credit: Allen Childress
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Elissa Russell (Austin Chronicle):
"With the main actor [Bosworth] ably soliloquizing and pontificating at length, it would be easy, and perhaps expected, for the ensemble to fall flat by comparison...his castmates skillfully avoid this pitfall. ...Of particular note [is] Taylor Flanagan as Peer's endearing wife Solveig." Jeff Davis (Broadway World Austin): "Casting is crucial, and Gates has assembled a wonderful cast. ...The actors and actresses surrounding Bosworth are all worthy of praise as well. ...Taylor Flanagan brings a sincerity and innocence to the role of Solevig, Peer's love interest." Michael Meigs (Central Texas Live Theatre): "Taylor Flanagan is the eternally sweet, patient and neglected Solveig, Peer's eventual safe harbor, too late to suggest any salvation but a peaceful end." |
Testimonials
Former Theatre Teacher and fellow Actor, Jon Watson:
Taylor Flanagan is a fearless performer,
and one of the hardest-working,
most playful actresses in Austin.
Taylor moves easily from traditional theatre offerings
to more experimental fare, and shines in both.
She is a beacon of truth onstage,
grounding both comedic and dramatic roles
in seemingly effortless sincerity.
Taylor is an actress who joys in taking risks,
who comes to work fully prepared and raring to go
-- I'd work with her again in a heartbeat.
Fellow Actor, Andy Bond:
Taylor Flanagan is a wonder.
Off stage, her energy and enthusiasm are
boundless and infectious.
On stage, she is riveting and delightful.
She is effortlessly expressive,
a performer with both
great nuance and great power.
A joy to watch, a joy to work with,
and a joy to be around,
Taylor Flanagan is a tremendous asset to
any production lucky enough to have her.
Artistic Director of Rosedale Shakespeare, Deb Streusand:
Taylor Flanagan is perhaps the most hardworking individual I have ever met. When I cast her as Juliet, she immediately had loads of questions that showed impressive insight into the text and a dedication to creating the very best performance she was capable of. Taylor’s powerful acting talents allowed her to inject new interest into speeches so familiar that they can often feel stale in other productions. Her Juliet was delightfully fresh. I then happily cast her again in Troilus and Cressida as the role of Thersites. Playing an ugly, petty, bitter man is a far cry from her usual type, and that role is also famously challenging for anyone. Yet she took on the task with aplomb and made the character a vividly entertaining element of the show.
In 2017, I asked Taylor to join the board of Rosedale Shakespeare as our Managing Director. I am very grateful that she did. She has been a constant help as we pursue the professionalization of what was once a small, ad hoc theatre troupe. Despite being incredibly busy due to high demand for her acting work, Taylor is continually coming up with new ideas for how we can run our company better, get the word out about our shows, fundraise, etc.
I am so lucky to have her as a significant presence in my theatrical world, and I would recommend working with her to absolutely anyone. She is a skilled actress and producer, which is excellent, but even more importantly, she is kind, thoughtful, and has an unbelievable work ethic. Taylor is a delightful and valuable person to have on any team.
Co-founder of Esther's Follies and Director of ShakesParody, Terry Galloway:
I love her and she’s a hoot.
And I’ll never do another production in Austin without her.
Taylor’s comedy is effortless, her timing impeccable.
She has a gut-level instinct for comedy that you either have or don’t.
She’s deeply charming.
Part of that charm is her beauty—she is striking on stage,
the first face on stage that you notice,
the one you follow from scene to scene.
Part is her chameleon quality–male to female, wench to creature.
Part is that elusive something else,
a kind of simmering inner dazzle
that kicks into high gear when she gets onstage.
She can move like nobody’s business—with the fluidity,
grace, and precision you usually see only in serious dancers.
She’s no Diva. She doesn’t whine. She doesn’t demand.
She pitches in to help make things work.
She has unexpected talents.
A talent for languages. A talent for choreography.
A talent for music—her voice is so pure it can be chilling.
Taylor is the kind of person I need and want to be working with,
the kind of person whose presence automatically makes a play,
a video, a skit, a musical number, better and stronger.
(You can read Terry's original, uncut testimonial here.)
Artistic Director of Austin Scottish Rite Theatre, Susan Todd:
I was moved by Taylor Flanagan's gorgeous voice and trademark authenticity in Fun Home!
Taylor Flanagan is a fearless performer,
and one of the hardest-working,
most playful actresses in Austin.
Taylor moves easily from traditional theatre offerings
to more experimental fare, and shines in both.
She is a beacon of truth onstage,
grounding both comedic and dramatic roles
in seemingly effortless sincerity.
Taylor is an actress who joys in taking risks,
who comes to work fully prepared and raring to go
-- I'd work with her again in a heartbeat.
Fellow Actor, Andy Bond:
Taylor Flanagan is a wonder.
Off stage, her energy and enthusiasm are
boundless and infectious.
On stage, she is riveting and delightful.
She is effortlessly expressive,
a performer with both
great nuance and great power.
A joy to watch, a joy to work with,
and a joy to be around,
Taylor Flanagan is a tremendous asset to
any production lucky enough to have her.
Artistic Director of Rosedale Shakespeare, Deb Streusand:
Taylor Flanagan is perhaps the most hardworking individual I have ever met. When I cast her as Juliet, she immediately had loads of questions that showed impressive insight into the text and a dedication to creating the very best performance she was capable of. Taylor’s powerful acting talents allowed her to inject new interest into speeches so familiar that they can often feel stale in other productions. Her Juliet was delightfully fresh. I then happily cast her again in Troilus and Cressida as the role of Thersites. Playing an ugly, petty, bitter man is a far cry from her usual type, and that role is also famously challenging for anyone. Yet she took on the task with aplomb and made the character a vividly entertaining element of the show.
In 2017, I asked Taylor to join the board of Rosedale Shakespeare as our Managing Director. I am very grateful that she did. She has been a constant help as we pursue the professionalization of what was once a small, ad hoc theatre troupe. Despite being incredibly busy due to high demand for her acting work, Taylor is continually coming up with new ideas for how we can run our company better, get the word out about our shows, fundraise, etc.
I am so lucky to have her as a significant presence in my theatrical world, and I would recommend working with her to absolutely anyone. She is a skilled actress and producer, which is excellent, but even more importantly, she is kind, thoughtful, and has an unbelievable work ethic. Taylor is a delightful and valuable person to have on any team.
Co-founder of Esther's Follies and Director of ShakesParody, Terry Galloway:
I love her and she’s a hoot.
And I’ll never do another production in Austin without her.
Taylor’s comedy is effortless, her timing impeccable.
She has a gut-level instinct for comedy that you either have or don’t.
She’s deeply charming.
Part of that charm is her beauty—she is striking on stage,
the first face on stage that you notice,
the one you follow from scene to scene.
Part is her chameleon quality–male to female, wench to creature.
Part is that elusive something else,
a kind of simmering inner dazzle
that kicks into high gear when she gets onstage.
She can move like nobody’s business—with the fluidity,
grace, and precision you usually see only in serious dancers.
She’s no Diva. She doesn’t whine. She doesn’t demand.
She pitches in to help make things work.
She has unexpected talents.
A talent for languages. A talent for choreography.
A talent for music—her voice is so pure it can be chilling.
Taylor is the kind of person I need and want to be working with,
the kind of person whose presence automatically makes a play,
a video, a skit, a musical number, better and stronger.
(You can read Terry's original, uncut testimonial here.)
Artistic Director of Austin Scottish Rite Theatre, Susan Todd:
I was moved by Taylor Flanagan's gorgeous voice and trademark authenticity in Fun Home!
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Brackets [ ] are used to indicate information you can gather from the full text from which the quote was extracted, but not from the quote alone. Therefore whatever is within brackets are not the direct words of the person quoted, but are my best attempt to communicate the context of their writing surrounding that quote. For example, "she" becomes [Flanagan], etc.
Ellipses ... are used to indicate that I removed text from the original quotation, either for brevity or clarity.
In this process, I hope that I retained the integrity and meaning of all persons quoted. If you are quoted here and do not feel that my brackets or ellipses are true to your intent, please contact me and I will make the necessary adjustments immediately.
