EVITA
The Stratford Shakespeare Festival

Reviewer: Charles Isherwood
Periodical: The New York Times
The dominant figure in this “Evita” is Josh Young’s mesmerizing Che, with a forceful presence and rich, handsome voice to match his glowering good looks. Whenever Mr. Young is center stage, annotating Evita’s march to national prominence with sardonic commentary set to some of Mr. Lloyd Webber’s most viscerally engaging music, the dramatic dialectic of the show tips heavily in favor of the narrator. The big song, the glamorous wardrobe, the piteous death all belong to the title character, but Mr. Young’s electrifying performance is a reminder that the ultimate victors are not necessarily the figures who shape history but the people who get to tell their stories.
Link: The New York Times

Reviewer: Richard Ouzounian
Periodical: The Toronto Star
"Rice has given actors and directors a gift by making Che Guevara the story’s narrator, but too often, he’s turned into a one-dimensional device. Thanks to Griffin’s sharp eye and the incredibly intelligent performance of Josh Young, we follow the growth of a revolutionary, as well as savouring the bitter ironies of a jaded commentator."
Link: The Toronto Star

Reviewer: Kelly Bedard
Periodical: My Theatre 
"But the production's best feature by far was Josh Young, who's Che was well worth the price of admission and who proved a more than worthy import to Canadian professional theatre. Young's vocal acrobatics were dumbfounding, his tone beautiful, and he acted circles around the rest of the cast, creating the only truly flesh and blood character on the stage. The way Griffin built Che from well-kempt storyteller to rough-and-tumble revolutionary involved slowly hiding more and more of Young's handsome features until he resembled an angry mess of an icon even more notorious than Eva (though unnamed, Che is meant to represent Che Guevara). As odd as the stick-on facial hair and wig looked, I appreciated the concept and Young's charm shone through the extra layers expertly."
Link: My Theatre

Reviewer: Lawrence B Johnson
Periodical: Detroit News
"The real star of this show is Josh Young as the cynical narrator Che, a serious advocate of the people who looks upon Evita as a mere, poseur, a hypocrite who's in it strictly for the cash and the couture. Whenever Young is onstage, the musical standard rises.
Link: Detroit News

Reviewer: Jamie Portman
Periodical: Canada.com
 (Josh Young gives a) "stunning performance"
"The immediate and dynamic impact of Stratford newcomer Josh Young in the role of Che, has you expecting something truly special."
"Josh Young remains the best thing in Gary Griffin's production."
"...Josh Young's chameleon-like triumph as Che"
Link: Canada.com

Reviewer: Kindah Mardam Bey
Periodical: PRESS + 1 
"Josh Young plays Che and does a fantastic job, clearly the best vocal performance; Young has a delicious layering to his vocals that few performers can really capture, so it was a delight to hear."
Link: PRESS + 1 

Reviewer: John Coulbourn
Periodical: Sun Media
"And while the role of Che has always been slightly suspect — his story and Eva Peron’s joined only by the broadest possible geographic references — Young makes it his own with an impressive passion and a simmering rage appropriate to a revolutionary who is determined to change the world."
Link: Sun Media

Reviewer: Valerie Hill
Periodical: The Record
"The thread running through Evita is of course the militant Che Guevara, played by Josh Young. A ridiculously handsome young man, Young commands the stage with a powerful voice as he tells Eva’s story from the perspective of a skeptic, a revolutionary who, along with all the elites and military leaders in 1940s Argentina, is suspicious about Eva’s motives.It’s fascinating to watch as Che winds through the scenes singing, poking fun at times (yes, there is a great deal of humor in Evita) and shouting to the people that they are fools to worship this woman."
Link: The Record

Reviewer: J. Kelly Nestruck
Periodical: The Globe And Mail
"Our narrator for this episodic musical is Che, played by an animated and intense Josh Young, who really drives this production."
Link: The Globe And Mail

Reviewer: Christopher Hoile
Periodical: Stage Door
"Josh Young’s Ché is another asset.  He, too, has a fine voice and sings rather than speaks his lines unlike many others playing this role.  He manages the difficult task of giving variety to Ché’s single stance of outraged derision."
Link: Stage Door

Reviewer: Paula Citron
Periodical: Classical 96.3
"There are only five characters in Evita and each one has to have dynamite force because they carry the show. Only Josh Young as the brooding and cynical Che passes the charisma test."
Link: Classical 96.3

AMAZING GRACE, THE TRUE STORY

Reviewer: Mary Fran Bontempo
Periodical: Philadelphia Bulletin
"Newton’s transformation in love and spirit, as portrayed by young Broadway veteran Josh Young, left my eyes spilling over."
Click here for the full review.

HAIRSPRAY
The Walnut Street Theater

Reviewer: Pati Buehler
Periodical: BroadwayWorld.com
"Josh Young ( Link Larkin), last seen flooring the crowd and the critics with his role as Marius in Walnut's Les Miserables, once again wows the folks in Philly with a joyful amount of spunk and hip swiveling rock and roll as the teen idol Link."

Reviewer: Tim Dunleavy
Periodical: Talkin' Broadway
"Josh Young straps on an acoustic guitar and does his best Elvis as the hunk who croons the doo-wop styled "It Takes Two,"

Reviewer: Jillian Ashley Blair Ivey
Periodical: Phillyist
"Josh Young plays her love interest with just the right combination of stupid and sweet."

Reviewer: Jim Rutter
Periodical: Edge Philadelphia
"Young, as Link, proves suitable as boy-band heartthrob with his gorgeous, soulful voice."

LES MISÉRABLES
The Walnut Street Theater

Reviewer: Chuck Darrow
Periodical: Courier Post, May 23, 2008
"But the real revelation in this cast is Josh Young, who plays Marius, the student revolutionary who falls in love with Valjean's adopted daughter, Cosette, whom Valjean rescued from the larcenous inn-keeper, Thenardier, and his wife when Cosette was a child.

There is nothing callow in Young's portrayal, which is as strong as any that Philadelphia audiences have ever seen, including that of Panaro, who introduced the character to local audiences two decades ago. Young is wonderful in all of his scenes, but his near-cantorial reading of "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" is a true tour de force."
Link: Courier Post Online

Reviewer: Jillian Ashley Blair Ivey
Periodical: The Phillyist, June 20, 2008
"But the true star in this production is the very handsome Josh Young as Marius. I usually hate Marius, but Young downplayed the character's annoying youthful naivety and made him compelling, providing him instead with real emotions. His rendition of "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" was stirring enough to send many in the audience, myself included, searching for a tissue with which to wipe our eyes. So strong and memorable is his performance that his clear tenor voice will haunt you as you make your way down Walnut Street, surprised, perhaps, that the song rings as true in the City of Philadelphia as it did in Revolutionary France."
Link: Phillylist.com

Reviewer: Claudia Perry
Periodical: AISLE SAY Philadelphia, June 5, 2008
"The young lovers, Marius and Cossette played by Josh Young and Julie Craig are extremely exciting to watch. Ms. Craig has a glorious coloratura and Mr. Young sings like an angel. Both actors are alive and engaging. But in particular, Mr. Young's performance was impressive. Quite frankly, I have never seen a young man his age express such a depth of heartfelt emotion in a musical before."
Link: Aislesay.com

Reviewer: Patti Buhler
Periodical: Broadwayworld.com, May 28, 2008
"One of the Walnut's best casting choice besides Panaro's Valjean, is young Broadway veteran actor Josh Young as Marius. Young, a Philly area native plays Marius with compelling emotion and a soaring voice. His "Empty Chairs and Empty Tables" is heartbreakingly effective."
Link: Broadwayworld.com

Reviewer: Lindsay Warner
Periodical: The Bulletin, May 23, 2008
"...Josh Young, as the love-stricken Marius. Though making his Walnut debut, Mr. Young captures the heart of the second act, as well as the hearts of both Cosette and the lowly, but spunky Eponine, wonderfully voiced by Christina DeCicco."
Link: The Bulletin

Reviewer: Andy Propst
Periodical: TheaterMania, May 22, 2008
"Equally charming are Josh Young and Julie Craig's turns as the young lovers Marius and Cosette. Young has the stronger voice, delivering a potent "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" with heartbreaking intensity, but both actors capture the overwhelming desire that these characters have for one another. Thanks to them, the nod that Clements' production gives to the balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet does not feel trite, but rather unusually intense."
Link: TheaterMania

A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC
Baltimore's CenterStage

Reviewer: Mike Giuliano
Periodical: Howard County Times, March 27, 2008
"The result is a consistently enjoyable evening that occasionally realizes this show's full potential. You get a keen sense of how completely engaging "A Little Night Music" can be in Josh Young's performance as an idealistic young seminary student, Henrik Egerman, who agonizes that he's in love with his 18-year-old stepmother, Anne (Julia Osborne), which is sure to put further strains on his relationship with his stuffy lawyer father, Fredrik (Stephen Bogardus).

Henrik often mournfully plays the cello as he worries out loud, a habit that seems inevitable considering the show's source in a Bergman movie. He's a ripe subject for satirical treatment long before he ineptly tries to hang himself, and the actor definitely knows how to play the role for laughs. However, Young also finds genuine pathos in the song "Later." It's at such moments that the production succeeds in simultaneously appealing to your head, heart and sense of humor."
Link: My Web Pal

Reviewer: Mary Carole McCauley
Periodical: Baltimore Sun, March 21, 2008
"..But then actor Josh Young (Henrik, the student) took the stage and opened his mouth to sing "Later." Out poured his rich, chocolaty baritone. Audience members settled back to enjoy themselves, and the other performances clicked into gear."

Reviewer: James Howard
Periodical: BroadwayWorld.com, March 21, 2008
"Josh Young represents the one extreme of young adulthood know-it-all attitude. As Henrik, seminary student, he gives all the fire and brimstone righteousness you could ever need in his character's over-earnest reverie for being a "man of IDEAS," which is a hilarious counterpoint to the confused, horny twenty-something he becomes in the presence of his step-mother, who is younger than he is, but with whom he is madly in love. Mr. Young's vocal gifts are on full display during his wonderfully sung emotional "Later," and his fine acting skills are evident in a later scene in act two (I won't give away the situation)."

Reviewer: Mike Guiliano
Periodical: Variety, March 20, 2008
"At the emotional end of the spectrum, the young, idealistic and quasi-suicidal seminary student Henrik Egerman is potentially a foolish character, but Josh Young brings such sincerity to his melancholic number, "Later," that more serious undertones rise to the surface."

WEST SIDE STORY
2005-2006 International Tour

Reviwer: Ho Yi
Periodical: Taipei Times
“Josh Young, who plays Tony, bewilders audience members with his high soaring renditions of the well-loved numbers.”

Reviewer: Nauval Yazid
Periodical: Jakarta Post
“In particular, no other cast member in this revival could bring down the house by mere reliance on a powerful presence -- and vocal chords -- aside from Josh Young, who plays Tony.”

His high-soaring tenor left the audience aghast and trembling at his near-perfect rendition of the familiar, well-loved numbers of Maria and Tonight. Young gave the less-showy Tony a certain lovable charisma through his solo acts, and was one of the main highlights of the musical.

Reviewer: Hong Xinyi
Periodical: The Singapore Strait times
“Young had a particularly lovely voice, tender in its emotional tenor and subtly restrained in his technique. You don’t want to miss his performance!”

LES MISÉRABLES
3rd National Tour 2004

Reviewer: Peter Filichia
Periodical: Star-Ledger
“Josh Young is a handsome and sensitive Marius, who does a gorgeous rendition of “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables.” No wonder Eponine loves him so!”

Reviewer: Bob Rendell
Periodical: Talkin Broadway
“Josh Young is as handsome, persuasive and vocally excellent a Marius as one could hope for.”

Reviewer: Lawson Taitte
Periodical: The Dallas Morning News
“Josh Young makes an impressive Marius.”

TITANIC
Seacoast Rep (2001)

Reviewer: Jeanne McCartin
Periodical: Fosters Daily: Showcase Magazine
“Among this lot is one stunning standout. Josh Young as Barrett lets loose with a dynamic voice that comes from his toes, and shatters the air with beauty and force. He has an absolutely Herculean voice, powerful, rich and in control. A rare delight. Furthermore his acting performance is right on the money. He’s a force to be reckoned with on stage.”

HAIR
Seacost Rep (2001)

Reviewer: Jeanne McCartin
Periodical: Fosters Daily: Showcase Magazine
“Josh Young, as Claude, does a great job of portraying the complexities of a young man coming of age at a time when it was difficult as it gets. But better yet is this man’s splendid voice. Young’s voice has a lot of depth. It’s rich, strong and controlled and there’s just never enough of it.”

ALBUM REVIEW
Talkin Broadway

Reviewer: Rob Lester
“He is very much an actor in his singing, but doesn't succumb to choosing "acting moments" at the expense of the notes. On the contrary, he sings in a powerful voice, letting the melodies forcefully weave and soar”
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