Reviews
Evita (The Broadway Theatre of Pitman)
"Wearing his choreographer hat, Stephan keeps his stage awash in movement...Constant stage movement also jibes with the near civil war clash of the Peronists with the military elite and the Anglo-loving upper crust in Argentina...Stephan captures the mayhem of Evita as a kind of sociological event" --Hugh Hunter, Philadelphia Inquirer
--Hugh Hunter, Philadelphia Inquirer
"Direction by John Stephan used two of his greatest strengths: choreography and moment building. When you watch numbers like “Goodnight and Thank You” and “High Flying Adored” you find these moments that that most people would pass by to get to the show stopping numbers but Stephen leans into them and turns them into my favorite things to watch. Now don’t be disappointed if you want a show stopping number because he can fill a stage with bodies doing intricate choreography and taking our breath away. Look at “Buenos Aires” or “A New Argentina” and you’ll see why."
--The Young-Howze Theatre Journal
Disney's Beauty and the Beast (The Off Broad Street Players Theatre Company)
"Direction and choreography by John Stephan is a director of the “small things” as in he takes all of the smallest things and turns them into the most grandiose spectacle. He magnifies gestures and moments that you would easily miss and makes that the play. He’s also a choreographer of the small things. I just have to admire the fact that he’s making me applaud “perfect beer mug and flatware choreography” in a musical but he takes the smallest things like a beer mug and says “we’ll make these into a show stopping number”. It’s always fun to watch!"
--The Young-Howze Theatre Journal
Titanic: The Musical (The Broadway Theatre of Pitman)
"Pitman musical is a 'Titanic' achievement...a stellar show. John Stephan’s direction unites the disparate personalities [of ship personnel, and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd class passengers] through the dreams, ambitions, and hopes of a more optimistic era." --Jim Rutter, Philadelphia Inquirer
"Director John Stephan takes us back to the fateful voyage of 1912 in a truly touching performance. Direction and choreography...[were] masterful, weaving singing and dancing and drama in a seamless work of art...I love it when directors don’t go for flash but focus on the gripping human elements of a show and this is exactly what he did." --The Young-Howze Theatre Journal
Sister Act: The Musical (The Off Broad Street Players Theatre Company)
"John Stephan’s direction found the perfect mix of spectacle, music, and drama to guide a talented cast through a magnificent performance. From the minute the lights went up to the end I just could not stop laughing and clapping. Stephan kept everything to such a high standard of quality and I found myself totally engaged." --The Young-Howze Theatre Journal
The Will Rogers Follies (The Broadway Theatre of Pitman)
"...[A] sparkling revival [is]...running at The Broadway Theatre of Pitman...you applaud lavish chorus numbers thanks to director/choreographer John Stephan...!" --Hugh Hunter, Philadelphia Inquirer
"John Stephan's direction...is wonderful. [He] has shown a brilliant ability to blend his own originality along with the choreography by Tommy Tune." --Spencer Lau, Onstageblog.com
Disney's The Little Mermaid (The Off Broad Street Players Theatre Company)
"Director/Choreographer John Stephan smartly staged the show...[which] calls for a bit of Disney magic, imagination and difficult transitions which OBSP does very well. John Stephan is a wonderful director and choreographer...[whose work has] earned him a well respected reputation of getting the most out of his actors to establish his clear story telling vision." --Spencer Lau, Onstageblog.com
"This show is PURE MAGIC from start to finish,...John T. Stephan...waved [his] magic wand, and brought to life a beautiful tribute to Disney." --Carol Heaney, Founding Member of the Off Broad Street Players Theatre Company
Shrek the Musical (The Off Broad Street Players Theatre Company)
"When it comes to musicals, The Off Broad Street Players (OBSP) never cease to amaze me. The performances, costumes, set, choreography, and direction were all outstanding!" --ArtC New Jersey
RENT (The Off Broad Street Players Theatre Company)
"Under the direction of John T. Stephan, the performance [of RENT] was unlike anything I've ever seen in South Jersey. You can see the intent and true direction in every piece. John masterfully guided a talented cast and crew, creating a cohesive, emotional experience for the audience that is truly unique. Bravo!" --Kristina Gannotta
"The director and cast create a detailed world on stage where a story can be told no matter who is on stage and where they are. The director's staging...coupled with the cast's vulnerability touches your heart. OBSP's production of RENT...[provokes] a powerful message and [features] a dedicated and talented cast/crew!" --Oakwood Summer Theatre
Anything Goes (The Broadway Theatre of Pitman)
"I knew to expect something good. But this was better than 'something good'...The choreography, by John Stephan, was wonderful. It was easy to get caught up in the huge dance numbers -- two of my favorite, 'Anything Goes,' of course, and 'Blow, Gabriel, Blow' lit up the stage with extraordinary tap numbers." --Kristie Rearick, South Jersey Times
"This show will leave you in awe!...you [will] be singing, and toe taping along with all of these popular numbers such as 'You’re The Top,' 'Anything Goes,' and 'I Get a Kick Out of You.' BTOP delivers again...catch this incredible production before it ends!" --The Positivity Project
Grease (The Off Broad Street Players Theatre Company)
"As a director, one of the most important parts of the job is to make an actor feel important...the scene work was handled beautifully." --S. Lee Lewis, Stage Magazine
Bye Bye Birdie (The Off Broad Street Players Theatre Company)
"Director and choreographer John T. Stephan definitely deserves much of the credit for the production. The choreography was unbelievable!" --Chris Laning, Stage Magazine