REVIEWS
Father, Ragtime, Music Theater Works (Chicago, IL)
"Brian Hupp’s operatic voice and subtly acted character arc are memorable takeaways."
-Barry Reszel, Chicagoland Musical Theater
El Gallo, The Fantasticks, Citadel Theatre (Chicago, IL)
"Brian Hupp has that pure, rich baritone that defines El Gallo. This tall, handsome, lithe young actor, who looks great in Ms. Brink’s Spanish-inspired costumes, is a combination of Inigo Montoya and Zorro. Displaying perfect diction and vocal clarity, Mr. Hupp’s slow, dramatic pacing works nicely. The gentleness behind El Gallo’s narratives is a good choice, particularly his “There is a curious paradox” speech, and his musicality is exceptional. Mr. Hupp’s gorgeously sung “Try to Remember,” his rousing, tongue-twisting “It Depends on What You Pay,” as well as his duets with Matt, “I Can See It,” and Louisa, “Round and Round,” are superb and would make Schmidt and Jones proud."
-Colin Douglas, Chicago Theatre Review
"As (the) narrator El Gallo, Brian Hupp is a multi-layered enigma. In the meta-show within a show, he nails a begrudging detachment as an actor who doesn’t want to be here, but then he reveals a deeper nature with sinister and sympathetic shades. With a masterfully cultured baritone, he manages to look simultaneously young and rakish and ancient and profound, a man you could never hope to trust and yet would give your life. His best line-reading may be his final one: 'You must always leave the wall.'"
-Ian Rigg, Chicagoland Musical Theatre
Sky Masterson, Guys & Dolls, Dare 2 Defy Productions (Dayton, OH)
"Equally radiant is classically trained, deeply resonate baritone Brian Hupp (wonderfully sharp in his Dayton performing arts debut) as high roller Sky Masterson. Hupp’s captivatingly smooth charm bolsters a terrifically layered portrayal which includes an outstanding rendition of “I’ve Never Been in Love Before.”
- Russell Florence, On Stage Dayton
El Gallo, The Fantasticks, Short North Stage (Columbus, OH)
"Hupp’s El Gallo is a fascinating take, low to the ground and earthy in a way that avoids the cartoonishness that sometimes plagues the role and emphasizes the seductiveness."
-Richard Sanford, Columbus Underground
"Brian Hupp is especially strong as El Gallo, the theater-style narrator and mock villain of the parent planned abduction."
-Michael Grossberg, Columbus Dispatch
"With a smooth-as-glass baritone voice, Hupp casts a mysterious shadow on the show as the audience tries to decide if he is actually in love with Luisa or just a mercenary lover out to break her heart."
-Paul Batterson, Broadway World
Sweeney Todd, Sweeney Todd, Ohio State University (Columbus, OH)
"Brand and Hupp both wholeheartedly embraced their macabre roles with gusto and conviction, peppering otherwise horrifying conversations about death and killing with witty banter and sly wordplay. The puns in the act one final number, "A Little Priest," relieved the tension that had been building throughout much of the first act, and the actors' enthusiasm over a flippant conversation about cannibalism elicited several surprised laughs and guilty giggles from those in the audience."
-Amanda Etchison, Broadway World
Stone, City of Angels, Ohio State University (Columbus, OH)
"The movie follows the adventures of stalwart private detective, Stone (Hupp).... Stine and Stone make a comic pair, one as nebbishy as the other is macho."
-Margeret Quamme, Columbus Dispatch
"Portrayed by graduate student Brian Hupp, Stone brought an atmosphere of cool, calm and collection whenever he appeared. His wit is undeniable."
-Desiaire Rickman, The Lantern
Leading Man, A Grand Night for Singing, Short North Stage (Columbus, OH)
"Brian Hupp, with a big voice well under control, elicits goose bumps on We Kiss in a Shadow and This Nearly Was Mine."
-Margeret Quamme, Columbus Dispatch
"Brian Hupp gave the most sincere performances of the night, from “We Kiss In A Shadow” to “My Little Girl” – even his rendition of “Oh What a Beautiful Morning” was moving."
-Kailen Nourse, Ohio Outlook Magazine
"Brian Hupp delivers a beautiful version of the classic "Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin' " to open Act II."
-Lisa Norris, Broadway World
Hucklebee, The Fantasticks, Opera Theater of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA)
There are true moments of delight as Brian Hupp's Hucklebee and James Critchfield's Bellomy explain their philosophies of child-rearing in their vaudeville-inspired song and dance routines “Never Say No” and “Plant a Radish.”
-Alice Carter, Pittsburgh Tribune
"The men, professional singers and otherwise, are a pleasant bass-baritone mix. James Critchfield and Brian Hupp are charming as the scheming, "feuding" fathers.
-Michelle Pilecki, Pittsburgh City Paper."
Benny Southstreet, Guys & Dolls, Weathervane Playhouse (Newark, OH)
"A variety of strong supporting players including Anthony Murphy (Nicely-Nicely Johnson), Brian Hupp (Benny Southstreet) and Frederick Luper (Arvide Abernathy) carry the show through its many Broadway standards including "Luck Be A Lady," "A Bushel and A Peck," and "Havana."
-Paul Batterson, Broadway World