REVIEWS
Some Kind of Wonderful: Bayla Whitten Sings Carole King:
"Bayla Whitten is a remarkable talent, with one of the best voices in Washington, D.C...and is a very important part of the Signature family." - Matthew Gardiner, associate artistic director, Signature Theatre
"Bayla was an exquisite member of our acclaimed 'Jacques Brel' cast, receiving a nomination for Outstanding Ensemble from the Helen Hayes Awards. She is so talented and was a delight to work with. Bayla and Carole King songs-what a perfect match." - Carolyn Griffin, artistic director of MetroStage
"Just this past weekend, a sunny, very talented Bayla Whitten held the audience enthralled making her solo cabaret debut covering singer, song writer Carole King's many hit tunes. She performed Some Kind of Wonderful: Bayla Whitten sings Carole King at three sold-out dates...Whitten has a satisfying smooth clear delivery of her vocals, and chatty, genuine, approachable presence. She is likable, not an ersatz diva to deride...Whitten's work was a great pleasure. She has a charming, wanting to please style. Her light-hearted banter, with self-deprecating humor was a nice touch. Whitten also provided little stories about why a particular song mattered to her sounded real; not from a made-up script....So, quite an auspicious debut for Bayla Whitten with her Some Kind of Wonderful: Bayla Whitten sings Carole King. Next stop perhaps, other venues with different audiences. Certainly there are plenty of places in the area that should come knocking on her door. Paraphrasing the lyrics of Carole King's "Beautiful," Whitten most definitely had a smile on her face and showed the audience all the love in her heart." - David Siegel, DC Metro Theatre Arts
A Concert Tribute to Irvine Berlin:
" As bright-toned Bayla Whitten sings engagingly of a first family member's plight - "The Secret Service makes me nervous; when I am dating they are waiting to observe us. ... The president's daughter must drink water, no drink of scotch; she might do what she hadn't oughter" - the other cast members don dark glasses and strike all the familiar poses of a security detail..."Always," delivered sweetly by Whitten" - Tim Smith, Baltimore Sun
Merrily We Roll Along:
"Gartshore and Olivera are exceptionally good, Erik Lieberman makes a good Signature debut as does Bayla Whitten as the composer's first wife and Tory Ross as his second. Whitten is particularly strong even though her part is the least well structured in the reverse-in-time format of the musical." - Brad Hathaway, Potomac Stages
"Gartshore, Olivera and Liberman are pitch perfect as the show's lead trio. Gartshore brings his usual talent and charisma to the stage while Olivera and Liberman demonstrate a comic timing matched only by Olivera's stunning voice. They are more than ably supported by Tory Ross as the desperate Broadway starlet Gussie Carnegie, Christopher Bloch as her husband Joe Josephson, and Bayla Whitten's Beth. Special appreciation must go to Whitten for her moving performance of ''Not a Day Goes By,'' arguably the greatest break-up song ever written." - Tom Avila, Metro Weekly
High School performance at the Kennedy Center 2003
"The highlight was the performance by the Annandale Singers, the chorus from Annandale High School, under the direction of Carleen Dixon. Dressed in colorful Elizabethan garb, these young musicians displayed fine ensemble and purity of sound. Michael Weinberg and particularly Bayla Whitten gave memorable solos that painted a rosy picture for the future strength of choral singing in America."
Daniel Ginsberg, Washington Post