. Actor . Singer . Performer . Director .
PERFORMANCE REVIEWS
"As good as the raw material is, it requires talented artists to pull off that tone. Lightning Bolt has precisely that, starting with company founder Jessie Hoffman portraying the adorable victimized Audrey. She fearlessly inhabits the cartoonish parts and invest a slightly different topspin to the iconic characterizations, thereby giving the show a bit of freshness. Hoffman is solid as the kewpie doll with a childlike voice. Her rendition of “Somewhere That’s Green,” while as funny as it is meant to be, is also as touching as it ever could be with her wistful yearning for a dream so heart-breakingly modest."
-Bill Hirschman (Jessie as Audrey in Little Shop Of Horrors)
"Special mention should also go to Jessie Hoffman not only for her directing but for being able to negotiate the trick of making deadpan funny and somehow full of expression as Wednesday. A difficult task."
-Gary Solomons (Jessie as Wednesday in The Addams Family)
"Hoffman plays Jeanie, radiantly knocked-up and in unrequited love with Claude, imbuing her character with an endearing front couching deep heartache."
-John Thomason (Jessie as Jeanie in Hair)
"Jessie Hoffman handles double duty, not only directing, but playing Cinderella. She imbues the familiar waif with a stubborn, fearless drive, while also conveying a carefree, youthful demeanor."
-Bill Hirschman (Jessie as Cinderella in Into The Woods)
DIRECTING REVIEWS
"Director Jessie Hoffman has re-imagined the musical but to her credit, Hoffman has otherwise kept intact the familiar characters and Stephen Sondheim’s music and lyrics as well as James Lapine’s book. This is mostly the same Into the Woods with which you’re familiar. But in this production, it’s also a musical that vividly reflects our uncertain and frightening world.
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But considering that this is just Lightning Bolt’s third production, credit must go to the company. Hoffman and her team deserve kudos for even attempting this complex musical, complete with Sondheim’s difficult music.
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They’ve not only tried, but largely succeeded in clearly and robustly singing the legendary composer/lyricist’s intricate harmonies and clever but challenging solos. Even more impressive, cast members capture the emotion behind the words. They offer multi-faceted performances of emotional depth and nuance.
Throughout the production, one senses an almost hyperventilating, heart-pounding urgency as these characters breathlessly rush to fulfill their wishes."
-Aaron Krause (Jessie Directing Into The Woods)
"My son's theater teacher Jessie Hoffman directed and starred as Cinderella in the production of "Into The Woods" and invited us to come. We sat front row and it was as good as a show on Broadway. Wow!! My son wanted to be up there so badly!"
-Jennifer Rothstein Liquerman (Jessie Directing Into The Woods)
It was amazing! Exhilarating! Terrific! I went with my daughter to watch The Addams Family Musical. What an amusing and entertaining experience. It was absolutely hilarious and totally engaging. It will have you hysterically laughing your socks off, snapping your fingers and rocking to their catchy tunes. The Addams Family was such a fun and interactive show, that it had the whole crowd laughing at all times. Everything flowed so nicely and it truly felt as if we, the audience, were really inside the spooky Addams' mansion and taking part as the action unfolded. I highly recommend this show to all my friends and family! A magnificent production you absolutely can't miss!!!
-Barbra Meneses (Jessie Directing The Addams Family)
"Just saw Young Frankenstein. Do not miss this incredible production. It outshines many off Broadway productions I've reviewed. We enjoyed every moment. Jessie, you are a genius, kudos to the entire cast. You are Broadway bound!"
-Ellen Eichelbaum (Jessie Directing Young Frankenstein)
"But this production’s most novel innovation involves a reduction in casting. For the key scene in which Claude receives his draft notice, rather than dress up a handful of her twentysomething cast members as sanctimonious, finger-wagging adults, Hoffman presents Claude’s elders as robot mannequins constructed from found materials, carried onstage and pantomimed by two members of the ensemble. In lieu of spoken dialogue, their incessant chiding is delivered via monotonous, computerized voice tracks. What better way to convey the generational divide between the woke, flesh-and-blood protestors and, in this case, literally mindless automatons?"
-Bill Hirshman (Jessie Directing Hair)