“Barnes’ Jenna is real and sympathetic — and funny — and, boy, can she sing. It’s a joy to take Jenna’s journey with her.”
-Jim Lowe, The Rutland Herald
(Jenna in Waitress, Northern Stage)
“Brianna Kothari Barnes brings a fine voice and ideal comic timing to Jenna. The character is engineered for likability, but Barnes supplies a radiance that reaches to the back of the house.”
-Alex Brown, Seven Days Vermont
(Jenna in Waitress, Northern Stage)
“Kothari Barnes, who’s based in New York City, shares Bareilles’ vocal chops.“
-, Marion Umpleby, Valley News
(Jenna in Waitress, Northern Stage)
“In a role she was born to play, Brianna Kothari Barnes shines as Carole King. Her vocals soar and she convincingly captures the many facets from a pony-tailed teenage wanna-be songwriter to the composer of countless pop hits…to finding her own voice and recording her own compositions…”
-Lori Schneider, Aisle Seat
(Carole King in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, The Forestburgh Playhouse)
"Carole, and Brianna, really are 'beautiful' in more ways than one, and one can imagine, and even hope, to see Brianna play Ms. King in a tribute concert someday somewhere. She’s that believable."
-Florida Theatre On Stage
(Carole King in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, The Maltz Jupiter Theatre)
“Barnes has perfected the characterization of the songwriter’s youthful optimism and exuberance, her whirlwind romance and heartbreak, and the artist’s trepidation to step into the role of recording artist. Even her Brooklyn accent is subtly believable and not overdone….Barnes is an outstanding vocalist and a skilled composer, pianist, and songwriter. Her portrayal brings a virtuosic authenticity to her performance as King. It was the first time seeing an actor in the role that made the onstage piano playing appear as if she was actually playing the instrument. She wasn’t, but her impressive pantomiming was so realistic, as was the rest of her portrayal, that it required confirmation from one of the pit musicians that she wasn’t playing live on stage.”
-Jim Lindhorst, BroadwayWorld
(Carole King in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical at Stages St. Louis)
“The stunning Brianna Kothari Barnes sings the hell out of these numbers…Barnes carries the production handily, carving out King’s journey from ugly duckling to swan, finding her confident singing voice along the way.”
-Hap Ernstein, The Palm Beach Arts Paper
(Carole King in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, The Maltz Jupiter Theatre)
“Barnes is smashing as King, showing vulnerability in her ill-fated marriage to Goffin as well as an indomitable spirit to make it in show business, first as a songwriter and, eventually, as a singer of notable renown.”
-Mark Bretz, Ladue News
(Carole King in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical at Stages St. Louis)
“Brianna Kothari Barnes is outstanding as the effervescent songwriter…Brianna Kothari Barnes gently layers-on new vocal tonalities throughout her performance, elegantly. Over and over, each one becomes a new counsel on the great Ms. King. She's continuously adding fresh vocal richness to her character, in almost every scene–which I almost feel is the greatest success of act two here.”
-Richard T. Green, Talkin’ Broadway
(Carole King in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical at Stages St. Louis)
“But the star of this show without a doubt was Brianna Barnes. Her maturity as a performer revealed a deep understanding of “Lizzie” that was breathtaking. Barnes gets it; every time I’ve seen her on stage I’ve been impressed with what she brings to the table – and every time she ups her game... She is a mega-star waiting for her turn in the spotlight.”
-Kirk Sheppard, The Sappy Critic
(Lizzie in 110 in the Shade, Cohen Family Studio)
“Brianna Barnes captured my attention from the moment she entered the stage. She managed to give us a range of emotion carrying us through self-consciousness humbleness, rage, pity, sorrow, and love, played with truthfulness and energy... The highlight of this show was Brianna Barnes as Louise who was completely authentic and charismatic throughout this show, has great poise and vocal talent, and made a stunning transformation from Louise to Gypsy Rose that never seemed forced or faked. She is truly a star.”
-The League of Cincinnati Theaters
(Lousie in Gypsy, The Covedale Performing Arts Center)
“Brianna Barnes does a rip-roaring job with ‘I Am Woman.’ She belts it out, but with deft vocal control.”
-Marty Fugate, The Observer
(Lead Singer in The 70’s… More Than A Decade, Florida Studio Theatre)
PERFORMANCE REEL
Dream Roles Include:
Carole King (Beautiful), Jenna (Waitress), Maria (The Sound of Music), Louise (Gypsy), Fantine (Les Miserables), Alice Murphy (Bright Star), The Baker’s Wife (Into The Woods), Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins), Eliza Doolittle (My Fair Lady)
RESUME
HEADSHOTS
