REVIEWS
" James Ricks never loses his audience for a beat. Especially in its more emotional moments, like portraying the bloodlust that can consume a soldier, Ricks’ direction excels."
Rich Griset - Style Weekly, An Iliad, March 2022
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"Director James Ricks has created an immersive experience that makes it impossible for the audience to distance themselves emotionally or intellectually."
Julinda Lewis - RVA Culture, March 2022
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"Director James Ricks is a man who looks deeply into the worlds of the plays he works on, and Love’s Labour’s Lost is no different."
John Porter - NPR, Love's Labor's Lost, June 2017
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"This season’s opener is “Love’s Labour’s Lost,” directed for all it’s worth by James Ricks as a rollicking comedy, until its mood-shifting ending."
Richmond Times Dispatch, Love's Labor's Lost, June 2017
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"James Ricks’ smart direction is sensitive to Shakespeare’s language and appreciates the play’s literary appeal."
Style Weekly, Love's Labor's Lost, June 2017
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“Ubu 84” ingeniously reminds us that both the seductive, colorful carnival barker and the harsh, imposing strongman have equal shots at hijacking the architecture of our emotions and corrupting our moral source code."
Richmond Times Dispatch, UBU 84, September 2016
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"...one of the most interesting, challenging, and ultimately satisfying evening of theatre that I’ve seen in a long time."
John Porter - NPR, UBU 84, October 2016
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"The monitors are not just gadgetry, but a dramatic tool in the hands of director James M. Ricks. The murder of Caesar is all the more gruesome in instant replay, and his ghost more haunting when it emerges from static."
The Intermountain News, Julius Caesar, 2014
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"Tucked inside the Petersburg Area Arts League pocket park, director James Ricks has fashioned this Shakespeare comedy so that it fits the space perfectly: cute, quirky and breezy. The production fills the charming little park with laughter and music."
Style Weekly Magazine, Twelfth Night, 2013
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"Ricks' direction is fully realized and achieves its goals perfectly, and Shakespeare's language comes through crystal clear. With its strong performances and terrific execution, Henley Street's latest staging is nearly flawless."
Style Weekly Magazine, Julius Caesar, 2013
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"Director James Ricks of Henley Street Theatre does it again. From the opening scene through the climactic ending, Ricks’ production of Julius Caesar, with its tangle of deceit, betrayal, and vindication, is riveting."
Richmond Family Magazine, Julius Caesar, 2013
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"Using costumes, sets and props that evoke an autocratic modern century — Stalin, Mussolini and George Orwell rolled into one — Ricks marches us through Shakespeare’s true-to-life story of paranoia, manipulation and misguided patriotism."
RIchmond Times Dispatch, Julius Caesar, 2013
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"I hope this is not the last time we will see Ricks’ work on a Richmond Stage. I’ve always found him to be provocative and challenging, and frankly that’s one of the things that excites me the most about theatre."
John Porter -NPR, Julius Caesar, 2013
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"Under James Ricks’ direction, the story unfolds effortlessly, and Brian Friel’s script is impeccably paced. Andrew Bonniwell’s lighting design adds subtlety to the proceedings. Ricks’ spare set of furniture focuses all attention on the actors."
Style Weekly Magazine, Faith Healer, 2013
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"Set Designer and Director James Ricks have brought a little bit of magic to SPARC’s stage..."
John Porter - NPR, Faith Healer, 2013
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"James Ricks' direction has optimal pacing and comedic timing, and the actors' dialogue flows naturally — not always the easiest thing to do with a play in rhymed verse."
Style Weekly Magazine, The Liar, 2012
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"Director James Ricks is on the top of his game as he winds up these comedic actors and then lets them play."
John Porter - NPR, The Liar, 2012
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"The company's version is the best staging of the show you could imagine...It's difficult to imagine a better staged version of 'Godot' than Henley Street's latest venture."
Style Weekly Magazine, Waiting for Godot, 2011
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"This production manages to tackle the complexity with nuance and charm, making it seem effortless. Under the able and confident direction of James Ricks, and led by a cast of immense talent, this winter’s tale hits all the right notes."
Richmond.com, The Winter's Tale, 2010
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" James Ricks never loses his audience for a beat. Especially in its more emotional moments, like portraying the bloodlust that can consume a soldier, Ricks’ direction excels."
Rich Griset - Style Weekly, An Iliad, March 2022
Click here for full article
"Director James Ricks has created an immersive experience that makes it impossible for the audience to distance themselves emotionally or intellectually."
Julinda Lewis - RVA Culture, March 2022
Click here for full article
"Director James Ricks is a man who looks deeply into the worlds of the plays he works on, and Love’s Labour’s Lost is no different."
John Porter - NPR, Love's Labor's Lost, June 2017
Click here for full article
"This season’s opener is “Love’s Labour’s Lost,” directed for all it’s worth by James Ricks as a rollicking comedy, until its mood-shifting ending."
Richmond Times Dispatch, Love's Labor's Lost, June 2017
Click here for full article
"James Ricks’ smart direction is sensitive to Shakespeare’s language and appreciates the play’s literary appeal."
Style Weekly, Love's Labor's Lost, June 2017
Click here for full article
“Ubu 84” ingeniously reminds us that both the seductive, colorful carnival barker and the harsh, imposing strongman have equal shots at hijacking the architecture of our emotions and corrupting our moral source code."
Richmond Times Dispatch, UBU 84, September 2016
Click her for full article
"...one of the most interesting, challenging, and ultimately satisfying evening of theatre that I’ve seen in a long time."
John Porter - NPR, UBU 84, October 2016
Click here for full article
"The monitors are not just gadgetry, but a dramatic tool in the hands of director James M. Ricks. The murder of Caesar is all the more gruesome in instant replay, and his ghost more haunting when it emerges from static."
The Intermountain News, Julius Caesar, 2014
Click here for full article
"Tucked inside the Petersburg Area Arts League pocket park, director James Ricks has fashioned this Shakespeare comedy so that it fits the space perfectly: cute, quirky and breezy. The production fills the charming little park with laughter and music."
Style Weekly Magazine, Twelfth Night, 2013
Click for full article
"Ricks' direction is fully realized and achieves its goals perfectly, and Shakespeare's language comes through crystal clear. With its strong performances and terrific execution, Henley Street's latest staging is nearly flawless."
Style Weekly Magazine, Julius Caesar, 2013
Click for full article
"Director James Ricks of Henley Street Theatre does it again. From the opening scene through the climactic ending, Ricks’ production of Julius Caesar, with its tangle of deceit, betrayal, and vindication, is riveting."
Richmond Family Magazine, Julius Caesar, 2013
Click for full article
"Using costumes, sets and props that evoke an autocratic modern century — Stalin, Mussolini and George Orwell rolled into one — Ricks marches us through Shakespeare’s true-to-life story of paranoia, manipulation and misguided patriotism."
RIchmond Times Dispatch, Julius Caesar, 2013
Click for full article
"I hope this is not the last time we will see Ricks’ work on a Richmond Stage. I’ve always found him to be provocative and challenging, and frankly that’s one of the things that excites me the most about theatre."
John Porter -NPR, Julius Caesar, 2013
Click for full article
"Under James Ricks’ direction, the story unfolds effortlessly, and Brian Friel’s script is impeccably paced. Andrew Bonniwell’s lighting design adds subtlety to the proceedings. Ricks’ spare set of furniture focuses all attention on the actors."
Style Weekly Magazine, Faith Healer, 2013
Click for full article
"Set Designer and Director James Ricks have brought a little bit of magic to SPARC’s stage..."
John Porter - NPR, Faith Healer, 2013
Click for full article
"James Ricks' direction has optimal pacing and comedic timing, and the actors' dialogue flows naturally — not always the easiest thing to do with a play in rhymed verse."
Style Weekly Magazine, The Liar, 2012
Click for full article
"Director James Ricks is on the top of his game as he winds up these comedic actors and then lets them play."
John Porter - NPR, The Liar, 2012
Click for full article
"The company's version is the best staging of the show you could imagine...It's difficult to imagine a better staged version of 'Godot' than Henley Street's latest venture."
Style Weekly Magazine, Waiting for Godot, 2011
Click for full article
"This production manages to tackle the complexity with nuance and charm, making it seem effortless. Under the able and confident direction of James Ricks, and led by a cast of immense talent, this winter’s tale hits all the right notes."
Richmond.com, The Winter's Tale, 2010
Click for full article