Audience Reactions
Comments from the October 29, 2016 show at the Euro Theater Central Bonn:
"...The show was amazing! I had such a great time. The stories were filled with a lot of different emotions.I laughed, I felt joy, we all sang together.. A really true and beautiful performance that I will never forget!.."
"...Kathleen, thank you so much for another lovely and funny evening. We loved to see the show over and over again and it never became boring. It's been great seeing the show change and develop over the years. Sharing your life with us has made our lives richer. Love you, Isabell, Raimund & Christian..."
Comments from the September 17, 2016 show at the Euro Theater Central Bonn:
"...Thank you so much for this amazing and heart-warming show! We had so much fun and you both were great!..."
"...A Lost American In Germany last night at Euro Theater Central in Bonn with and by Kathleen Renish. What a fantastic performer and what a great story, what a life!..."
"...Thanks for an amazing show! It was entertaining, funny, touching- I love you singing and Georg at the guitar..."
"...It was great! Thank you!..."
Comments from the March 12, 2016 show at the International Theater Frankfurt:
"...What a wonderful evening I had with you on stage, Kathleen!!! It was lovely to experience this mixture of singing, guitar playing, storytelling, laughing and feeling warmhearted with you and your life story you gave all of us as a precious present... Go and see this, girls and boys!!!!..."
"...WOW!! I really enjoyed your show Kathleen!! I think we all did!! An excellent mixture of unforgettable moments full of laughter and musical entertainment telling your biography!! Advisable for young and old!! Thank you for that Kathleen Renish.
"...Kathleen! Thank you so much for the fantastic show. I enjoyed every single minute.. We laughed a lot and the end was very touching and emotional though. I love your version of "time after time" and the GEZ/Mafia-Story! ..."
"... Hi Kathleen,
Your show is awesome! We had laughed so much about your jokes last night in Frankfurt and your voice is so wonderful. You are such a lovely Lady. Your version of “time after time“ was breathtaking. We had a fantastic time. Thank you. Hope you'll be back in Frankfurt soon again.
XOX
Moritz&Erik..."
Comments from the Nov. 7, 2015 show at the International Theater Frankfurt:
"...My boyfriend and I watched your show in Frankfurt last Saturday. I was the blonde girl who shook hands with you after the show J I came across your show by chance and I bought the tickets last minute – which was such a great idea. My boyfriend, a Turkish living in Turkey, looking for a job in Germany, we speak English J - and I are both familiar with cultural differences and we love any kind of comedy about it. I am especially interested in American culture, because I am a big fan of the US since I was a child.
Anyways, I just wanted to let you know how much your show, especially the second part, touched me. I am a very emotional person... It was so emotionally moving...This moment was so special. I really enjoyed this special show a lot. It was much more than a “random Saturday night activity” to me. It had a message about love and life. Thank you..."
"...Kathleen, congratulations on a superb show! I watched your show last night and had heaps of fun and laughter. Brilliant script, impeccable acting, singing and audience interaction. I'm the teacher married to an American, by the way :)
"...I live in Taunusstein, almost 2 hours away, by train and buses, from Frankfurt, but your show was definitely, absolutely, worth the trip! Can't wait to see you again next time you come to Frankfurt. Thank you very much, Kathleen. Cheers! :) ..."
"...meine Frau (Französin) und ich (Deutscher) haben gestern Ihre Aufführung in Frankfurt besucht.
Gut gefallen hat uns der Teil mit den sprachlichen und interkulturellen Missverständnissen. Meine Frau und ich haben beide in Deutschland, Frankreich und den USA gelebt und kennen diese manchmal komischen, manchmal frustrierenden Situationen nur zu gut. Auch der Gesang gefiel uns gut. Hervorheben will ich die hervorragende musikalische Begleitung und Stimme Ihres Gitarrist..."
Comments from the Sept. 12, 2015 show at the International Theater Frankfurt:
"...You put on a really great show - a lot of laughs, but with heart. Any shows you can do in Frankfurt, please do... or we'll have to come to Cologne to catch ya there!..."
"...last Saturday I saw you at Internationales Theater Frankfurt with your program "A lost american in Germany" and it was a really great show!!!..."
Comments from the Feb. 21, 2015 show at the International Theater Frankfurt:
"...Thanks Kathleen we had a fantastic fun weekend with friends and your show last night was the highlight! You were FABULOUS & your show was an absolute Success ... you were brilliantly spontaneous with your audience, it was perfectly tailored to us last night, completely filled with wit, humor & charm !! We all had a good laugh and a unforgettable journey with you last night!...
"...Wonderful show yesterday! Thank you so much for coming to Frankfurt again..."
"...I am very happy for such good English shows in Frankfurt which makes it easy to bring international people. Keep me informed when you are next time in the city..."
"...Hello Kathleen, by coincidence we saw an ad in the newspaper about your show. Being a Ge-American myself and married to my German wife we knew it was a must see. We got to see your show last night and we really enjoyed every minute of it. Well done! We were able to follow and relate to the items you spoke about. I've just been fifteen years longer in Germany than you are but otherwise I went through similar experiences. It brightens life up when you have the chance to understand both cultures, to criticize them and still love them for what they are..."
Comments from the November 22, 2014 THREE YEAR ANNIVERSARY show at the International Theater Frankfurt:
"...Hallo Kathleen,
deine Show hat mir sehr gut gefallen. Ich war auch sehr berührt.
Ich hoffe, du kommst mal wieder nach Frankfurt. Ich werde wieder sehr gerne in deine Show kommen!
Herzliche Grüße…"
"... I´m happy to have seen you in that great show you played. I really recommend to go and see Kathleen! Thank you for this awsome evening!..."
"...Ich möchte mich noch einmal explizit dafür bedanken, dass Du Deine doch sehr persönliche Geschichte mit Deinem Publikum geteilt hast. Diese Offenlegung Deiner Seele ist kein alltägliches Erlebnis - aber es ist ein von Mensch zu Mensch wertvolles Erlebnis…"
"...Loved the show— please keep us posted on your endeavors! …"
"…Your show was really great I was very happy that I came to see it.
Thank you very much, I look forward to seeing another show from you…"
"...Thanks again for a great evening at “A Lost American in Germany…"
From Twitter:
..." @Krenishvoice thx for the great evening with "A Lost American in Germany"!.."
..."Great show yesterday in Frankfurt!…"
Comments from the September 19, 2014 IHK-Koblenz event show:
"...Hallo Kathleen,
vielen Dank für Deine Performance anläßlich unserer Veranstaltung "Eröffnung des IHK-Kompetenzzentrums USA". Du hast der sonst sehr wirtschaftsorientierten Veranstaltung Farbe und gute Laune beigemischt.
Das theoretische Betrachten der kulturellen Unterschiede zwischen Deutschen und Amerikanern mit deiner Show zum Leben erweckt.
Wir und unsere Gäste hatten Spaß und kommen gerne zu einer deiner nächsten Shows wieder.
Ganz liebe Grüße aus Koblenz
Andrea Wedig…"
Comments from the May 16, 2014 the show at the International Theater Frankfurt:
“...Thank you once again for the wonderful show, "A Lost American in Germany". We really enjoyed it very much. You are such a versatile artist and lovely woman. A tremendously professional stage person, very good timing, so connected to your body, unbelievable right in the moment and truthful and beside that always in touch with with your audience...Awesome!!! And your singing voice is absolutely beautiful....You are an amazing singer. You touched me with your art and heart. And we had a wonderful night at the International Theater in Frankfurt. Keep on going Kathleen...the stars (stage is) are yours...”
“...just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your show in Frankfurt recently! I am Jörg – “Jerk” – the German/American that sat in the audience together with his parents. I lived in McLean, VA from my third until my 11th year of age. The time in the US really formed me and it took me a couple of years to become a “German”. Your stories spoke from and to my heart – since I had very similar impressions and frustrations during my first years in this “third world” country! ;o) I wish you well with your ongoing journey through life! Hope to see you soon again! Do you have a “mailing list”? Would love to see you perform again soon!...”
“…I organized an InterNations group tonight to see your show in Frankfurt. Your show was really amazing! You just spoke out of my heart. I know this feeling like an alien so good. Great! In some scenes I had the impression you talked about my childhood/life…”
“…Thanks for a great show. I really enjoyed it!...”
“...Tolle Show!...”
“...Please come back soon to Frankfurt! It was an amazing evening!...”
Comments from the March 29, 2014 show at Steinhof in Duisburg:
"...Thank you sooo much for your wonderful show last night at Steinhof! We had such a great time with you.
"...We all had high expectations of your show and you even outranged them.Especially towards the end. I had the feeling that you were able to pass on your love and passion towards the whole audience and I’m very glad that you shared this with us. Wishing you all the best for your next shows!...”
Comments from the 2nd anniversary show, November 23, 2013 at rische’s Kleinkunstbühne in Drolshagen:
"...Thank you so much for a great evening of entertainment. Great songs and what a great way to interact with your audience. We hope you had a great time in the Sauerland and will come back soon.
"...We are wishing you all the best and it was a pleasure seeing you "live und in Farbe"..."
"...Es war wieder ein absolut perfekter Abend bei risches! Dass Kathy so eine tolle Show abliefert, hätte ich ehrlich gesagt nicht gedacht. Erwartungen übertroffen!
"...Ein Abend ist immer dann perfekt, wenn man den Alltag vergisst, ganz bei dem Künstler und seinem Programm ist und sich hinterher fragt: "Was? Schon so spät?"...
"...Mit dem tollen Ambiente, schon wenn man in das Foyer kommt, ist euch das echt gelungen...”
"...Kathleen Renish bei rische's - das war Großstadtflair im Sauerland. Ich fühlte mich wie in einem kleinen Theater am Broadway! Danke für den tollen Abend. Wir kommen gerne wieder..."!
Comments from the show, November 9, 2013 at the “Made in Germany” theater festival in Stuttgart in the Theater tri-buehne:
"...Thank you the nice evening! We talked a lot about the experiences and I personally think very often about the big differences between Germans and Americans. Wish you all the best!…"
"... Hi Kathleen, was a great Saturday evening in Stuttgart. Since I am a originally from Hungary and have been staying in Germany for the last 30 something years I felt like sharing some stories with you. Ha-ha-ha. It's a bit like you would see yourself telling your own stories on stage. And most fun is to laugh at yourself..."
One jury member that selected my show for the festival said: "...I must confess at the beginning I had reservations because I am a bit prejudiced against Americans ... but the charming nature of Kathleen Renish convinced me. And she speaks so clearly that I understood a lot and laughed heartily..." I met and spoke with her at the party afterwards. It was such a pleasure to converse with her over the show and many other things being a foreigner herself in Germany.
Comments from the show, October 12, 2013 at Arkadas Theater- Buehne der Kulturen:
"...Du bist eine großartige Künstlerin! Es war nicht einen Moment langweilig, Du hast mich gefesselt und zutiefst beeindruckt. Das ist genau Dein Programm! Es war eine ganz tolle show und eine sehr berührende Geschichte - ich hatte Tränen in den Augen - so wie Du! Respekt!!! Du kannst Dich sehen lassen damit! Hast mich umgehauen... Ich wünsche Dir noch viele schöne Vorstellungen mit dieser Dener tollen Biografie! I LOVE IT!!! My sweetes Ge-merican on earth!..."
Comments from the show, September 7, 2013 at Arkadas Theater- Buehne der Kulturen:
“…Amazing Show Last night Kathleen, You made us laugh, you made my wife cry. Your performance was wonderful, your singing was beautiful. It was impossible for the audience NOT to become involved....”
“...Thank you for the very nice evening! I laughed soo much!...”
“...I saw your show last week and enjoyed it very much. I lived for 11 years in the u.s. and most of the culture shocks were rather meaningful. ...the performance was great, you pulled me in and I really was laughing tears...”
Comments from the show, March 16, 2013 at Arkadas Theater- Buehne der Kulturen:
“…Thank you very much for this wonderful evening. I am glad that I finally made it! A brillant mixture from happy to touching emotionally-great!...”
“…Thumbs up! Great show Kathleen! You made me laugh, made me cry, and touched my heart. Schöne Grüße from the Ami with the big glass of wine in the back…”
“...Fabulous show and fabulous voice, enjoyed every minute, both the funny and the poignant moments! You made us laugh and cry at the same time!...”
Comments from the February 23, 2013 show at Arkadas Theater- Buehne der Kulturen , Koeln
"...Dear Kathleen,
you blew me away with your show tonight!
I wasn't only sittin there all the time feelin that ya totally nailed everything down to the spot. I am German but I've lived in the States twice so I knew exactly what ya were talkin about- both, when it came to typical American or German behavior and traditions. I do feel "Gamerican", too, and am torn at times. I just got back to Cologne, my hometown, last summer. When ya asked what America was to us, I silently said "extreme"...and you picked it up...even though you hadn't heard me. And that's how it feels...extreme... can't really handle my emotions quite well yet because I connect "my story" to that time and there's a lot behind that. But I also used to have my JB. And when you finally said you arrived home I could feel the knot in my throat because I don't really know where "home" is. I am back again but not ready to call this my home again yet. When you started to sing "Time after time", 'my' song, I was the Alabamian girl sittin in the back row ballin her eyes out.
Back in the car I put my favorite CD by Cindy Lauper in and drove through the snowy night thinkin that you thought you were taking me on your journey- but actually you were taking me on mine.
Thank you very much for this entertaining but mainly touching night.
'Another' Kathi…"
Comments from the January 26, 2013 show at Arkadas Theater- Buehne der Kulturen, Koeln
“...Great show!! We laughed so hard!!...”
“...Thank you for the excellent performance. My friends and I were really enjoying it. Being foreigners in Germany we can relate to it. Funny and emotional. Simply brilliant!...”
“...Your show was amazing! You’re such a great storyteller AND a great singer! Thanks so much - you made my day! :)...”
Comments from the November 21, 2012
1 year anniversary show at Arkadas Theater- Buehne der Kulturen, Koeln
“...Thank you for the great evening and show. I just wanted you to know that you have all my respect. Your show was so touching, heart warming, funny and some parts sad. :-) You really went through all the most important emotions a human being has, and mine just felt like an emotional roller coaster.
"...Your voice is amazing - you're amazing. You played one of my favorite songs I always heard when I was a little child. No one -except for Cindy- ever sang that song so wonderfully. I'll recommend your show to everyone...”
Comments from the September 20 - 21, 2012 shows at Theaterforum Kreuzberg, Berlin
“..."Intensive 2 1/2 Stunden, meinen Glückwunsch! Immer wieder spannend, auf der Bühne einer offenherzigen Biographie zu lauschen. Braucht es mehr? Weiter so...”
“...Kathy Renish spielt und singt einen lovely American/Ge-merikan Abend.
"...Schaut Euch an, was los war in ihrer 10köpfigen Familie, wo JLo war, bevor sie JLo wurde (Fotobeweis!) und lernt JB kennen – es lohnt sich! Sehr unterhaltsam, sehr liebenswert, sehr hörenswert – und auch berührend…"
"...Ich hatte viel Spaß gestern…"
"...Möglicherweise die letzte Chance, diesen feinen Abend in Berlin zu erleben!…"
"...(Don’t miss this version of the Cindy Lauper song.)..."You and your show were so enjoyable! GO THERE, EVERYONE! It's Fun!..."
“...Great show Kathleen! We really enjoyed it and I definitely suggest other people to go to your performance on Friday or Saturday! Thank you for the nice evening!...”
“...Liebe Kathleen, Dein Solo Programm ist großartig, berührend und Du bist nicht nur eine gestandene Schauspielerin, hervorragende Dramaturgin und tolle Sängerin, nein, Du kannst auch Entertainment!...”
“...I saw your show last saturday in Berlin and I really enjoyed it! I am french myself and I lived 2 years in Berlin in 2008-2009 before going back to Paris, and now, I'm back in Berlin to start a new job... So of course I felt quite concerned by what you described, these cultural gaps, though they're less strong between France and Germany.. :) And you have this ability to be so touching and charming! The songs are also great! I wish you a lot of success by your upcoming shows and..viel Spass noch in Deutschland!...”
Comments from the September 15, 2012 show at Arkadas Theater - Buehne der Kulturen, Koeln
“...You’ve got to see Kathleen’s show! It touched my funny bone and my heart. I really enjoyed the show. It was an awesome evening. You should go to the show in November...!
“...It was good fun! Thanks for a great evening...!”
“...Thank you soooo much for your wonderful show yesterday night! We had such a great time with you.
"...We all had high expectations of your show and you even outranged them. Especially towards the end, I had the feeling that you were able to pass on your love and passion towards the whole audience and I am very glad that you shared this with us. Wishing you all the best for your next shows in Berlin...!”
“...My girlfriend brought me (one of those surprise I’m taking you out nights) had a great great great time thank you...!”
“... You did a great job!! It was a lovely show, Kathy..very funny and also touching..!! I was with you...”
“...We finally made it and it was a really great evening! I will recommend it to everyone and come back in November. Wish you great success in Berlin!"...”
Comments from the June 29, 2012 show at Don’t Tell Mama in New York city:
“...Kathleen Renish's 'A Lost American in Germany' touches on the broader issues of belonging, anywhere, and not belonging, and all the strange customs you can encounter even in your own family. Weaving family history and her experiences in Germany into a colorful, humorous web, Kathleen catches us all, and we lose track of time and place, willingly transported into the story. With stage magic and personal charm she reveals the absurd and the hilarious aspects of culture clash. Having lived in Germany myself I love being able to laugh at what at times had been quite difficult. The story is partly carried through Kathleen's accomplished and warm hearted singing. I feel like more Germans and Americans need to see this show...”
Comments about the show at Chaplin’s Music Cafe, June 24, 2012:
“... The show was amazing!! You captured the essence of the cultural differences between Germany and America with humor and pathos. The music was right on with each part of the show. The audience really got to know you, with the highs and lows, the joys and sorrows...”
Comments from the May 31, 2012 Arkadas Theater - Buehne der Kulturen performance:
“...ich bin grade von deiner Show gekommen und dachte lieber früher als später schreiben, manchmal nimmt man sich sowas vor und macht es aber dann nie. Ich habe es sehr genossen, viel geschmunzelt, gelacht und auch geweint... Ich fand es schön das du diesen sehr emotionalen Moment mit deinem Publikum geteilt hast, danke dafür. And as we all know...we are not gone we are just somewhere else and love never dies.
Liebe Grüße und viel Erfolg in Philly und New York...”
Comments from the April 24, 2012 Arkadas Theater - Buehne der Kulturen performance:
“...ganz herzlichen Dank für den wundervollen Abend gestern. Ich habe viel gelacht, aber auch Tränen vergossen...ein wirklich tolles Programm, eine tolle Darbietung, Sie haben eine wundervolle Stimme, und es war einfach ein Vergnügen, Ihnen zuzuhören und zuzusehen…"
"...Gerne komme ich am 31.05. wieder - denn dafür habe ich schon Karten. Ich freue mich, Sie demänchst mal wiederzusehen...”
Comments from the March 18, 2012 Migradonna - Der Preis fuer Starke Frauen awards ceremony in Gelsenkirchen:
“...your show was just amazing tonight! I am definitely coming to see your show in Cologne...:)
"...Thank you very much!!!”...
”...Your show was very exhilarating and we have had fun.”...
Comments from the March 11, 2012 Horizont Theater performance:
“...Thank you for this wonderful evening. You are so phantastic, wonderful and marvellous. Thank you for inviting me...”
“...You did rock Kathleen! Just magic your performance. Thank you for the touchy moments...”
“...That was a fantastic show! Ich habe gelacht, ich war berührt, ich hab geweint! Einfach alles dabei! Toll! Danke!..
“...We had a good time last night and enjoyed your performance. One notices your stage professionalism and you look good and move well...What the public really liked were the instances of misunderstandings between the German and English languages as they could relate themselves to that as well, especially in the second half after the break... the show keeps moving very well and you do hold our attention...We wish you continued success in the next two shows at the Arkadas Theater...”
”...Es hat mir vieles sehr gut gefallen.”
“...in deiner Show konnte man alles super verstehen. Es war toll. Wir haben so viel gelacht. Du bist wunderschön und es war ein phantasticher Abend. Thanks. And see you next time in Arkadas Theater!..”
“...I was really impressed by your personality and touched by your performance and story! Although I’m European, I could relate to you very well, since I left my home, when I was 18, and moved to Germany leaving my family in Slovakia. You have an amazing voice and are a fabulous actor and storyteller. I will see you in your next shows, and will definitely come again...”
Comments from the January 28, 2012 Arkadas Theater - Buehne der Kulturen performance:
“...I was there yesterday night and I loved it! So emotional, so funny, so confident, so close to us, your public, congratulations!! You are so right in your descriptions of this country and its people. I am an “immigrant” too (born und studied in France, travelled and worked around the world and came to Germany in 1995) and I could recognize myself in all your experiences. As you were telling about it, it was just like remembering all these things for me. I think we have a lot in common. Like you I am “imported” here, like you I often feel like an alien, like you I played theater …and it was a great feeling! It’s incredible, when you produce yourself on a stage, you send so many vibes to your public… In that moment, the only thing that counts is the human dimension. It’s just you and them! And the more you give, the more you get back and the more confident and generous you get, a wonderful ascention!.
I will recommend your show to my friends, you can count on it! I already made a complete report to my boyfriend about it this morning at breakfast and he could not believe it! I wish you so much luck with your show around Germany and keep my fingers crossed that you keep on performing in front of sold out places – like yesterday. Take care, Kathleen and thank you so much for this wonderful evening.”
Comments from the Dec. 17 Lichtung performance:
"...wir waren sehr begeistert von deiner Show! Die Idee ist einfach einmalig!…"
"...Du hast sie mit viel Mühe und Liebe für´s Detail aufgebaut - das merkte man direkt. Wir haben teils sehr gelacht... und teils saßen wir mit großen Augen da und haben einfach nur zugehört. .."
"...Danke für einen sehr vielseitigen Abend!! Weiter so!...”
“...Diese Performance ist toll! Kathleen greift das Leben so zart - alle Hürden und Schicksalsschläge inbegriffen, sieht sie doch den Humor und die Liebe in Allem. Damit regt sie dazu an, den Reichtum des eigenen Lebens zu begreifen und zu genießen. Selten habe ich von einem Performer so viel Persönlichkeit wie auch Verwundbarkeit geboten bekommen. Plus: es gibt viel zu lachen in dieser interaktiven Show. Ich hoffe, du wirst noch viele Möglichkeiten bekommen, dieses Programm zu zeigen!...”
“...I guess that was the sweetest show we have ever seen. In a funny way she made the audience a part of her life by telling all these wonderful stories. That show convinced us that it's not important to have a big stage, big lights and all that stuff. All that counts was Kathy and her unique charisma…"
One more example for: The best stories are told by life! We had a great evening…"
"...Thanks for that wonderful performance...”
TÜV Rheinland, Nov. 25, 2011- The “Loft” in the New Yorker Hotel, Cologne
“...vielen Dank das Du auf unserem Event gestern deiner Show uns gezeigt hast. Unsere Kunden waren von Dir begeistert. Du hast uns einen tollen Abend bereitet. Vorallem waren Sie von deinen Gesangsleistungen begeistert. Perfekt von Anfang bis Ende. Vielen Dank dafür...”
Some comments from the audience at the Premiere, November 22, 2011
“ it was so full of truth...”
“...authentic...”
“... funny as hell...”
“... I could relate exactly to what you were saying...”
“...very moving...”
“...wonderfully sung...”
“...beautiful voice...”
“...what a great green fairy!...”
“...very inspiring...”
"...dass für mich die Zeit im Flug vergangen ist... Ich habe Tränen gelacht, war geruehrt und habe viele Tränen vergossen. Mein Make-up war danach auch im Eimer...”
"...Gute Mischung aus Humor, Gesang und Story..."
....."
Comments from the October 29, 2016 show at the Euro Theater Central Bonn:
"...The show was amazing! I had such a great time. The stories were filled with a lot of different emotions.I laughed, I felt joy, we all sang together.. A really true and beautiful performance that I will never forget!.."
"...Kathleen, thank you so much for another lovely and funny evening. We loved to see the show over and over again and it never became boring. It's been great seeing the show change and develop over the years. Sharing your life with us has made our lives richer. Love you, Isabell, Raimund & Christian..."
Comments from the September 17, 2016 show at the Euro Theater Central Bonn:
"...Thank you so much for this amazing and heart-warming show! We had so much fun and you both were great!..."
"...A Lost American In Germany last night at Euro Theater Central in Bonn with and by Kathleen Renish. What a fantastic performer and what a great story, what a life!..."
"...Thanks for an amazing show! It was entertaining, funny, touching- I love you singing and Georg at the guitar..."
"...It was great! Thank you!..."
Comments from the March 12, 2016 show at the International Theater Frankfurt:
"...What a wonderful evening I had with you on stage, Kathleen!!! It was lovely to experience this mixture of singing, guitar playing, storytelling, laughing and feeling warmhearted with you and your life story you gave all of us as a precious present... Go and see this, girls and boys!!!!..."
"...WOW!! I really enjoyed your show Kathleen!! I think we all did!! An excellent mixture of unforgettable moments full of laughter and musical entertainment telling your biography!! Advisable for young and old!! Thank you for that Kathleen Renish.
"...Kathleen! Thank you so much for the fantastic show. I enjoyed every single minute.. We laughed a lot and the end was very touching and emotional though. I love your version of "time after time" and the GEZ/Mafia-Story! ..."
"... Hi Kathleen,
Your show is awesome! We had laughed so much about your jokes last night in Frankfurt and your voice is so wonderful. You are such a lovely Lady. Your version of “time after time“ was breathtaking. We had a fantastic time. Thank you. Hope you'll be back in Frankfurt soon again.
XOX
Moritz&Erik..."
Comments from the Nov. 7, 2015 show at the International Theater Frankfurt:
"...My boyfriend and I watched your show in Frankfurt last Saturday. I was the blonde girl who shook hands with you after the show J I came across your show by chance and I bought the tickets last minute – which was such a great idea. My boyfriend, a Turkish living in Turkey, looking for a job in Germany, we speak English J - and I are both familiar with cultural differences and we love any kind of comedy about it. I am especially interested in American culture, because I am a big fan of the US since I was a child.
Anyways, I just wanted to let you know how much your show, especially the second part, touched me. I am a very emotional person... It was so emotionally moving...This moment was so special. I really enjoyed this special show a lot. It was much more than a “random Saturday night activity” to me. It had a message about love and life. Thank you..."
"...Kathleen, congratulations on a superb show! I watched your show last night and had heaps of fun and laughter. Brilliant script, impeccable acting, singing and audience interaction. I'm the teacher married to an American, by the way :)
"...I live in Taunusstein, almost 2 hours away, by train and buses, from Frankfurt, but your show was definitely, absolutely, worth the trip! Can't wait to see you again next time you come to Frankfurt. Thank you very much, Kathleen. Cheers! :) ..."
"...meine Frau (Französin) und ich (Deutscher) haben gestern Ihre Aufführung in Frankfurt besucht.
Gut gefallen hat uns der Teil mit den sprachlichen und interkulturellen Missverständnissen. Meine Frau und ich haben beide in Deutschland, Frankreich und den USA gelebt und kennen diese manchmal komischen, manchmal frustrierenden Situationen nur zu gut. Auch der Gesang gefiel uns gut. Hervorheben will ich die hervorragende musikalische Begleitung und Stimme Ihres Gitarrist..."
Comments from the Sept. 12, 2015 show at the International Theater Frankfurt:
"...You put on a really great show - a lot of laughs, but with heart. Any shows you can do in Frankfurt, please do... or we'll have to come to Cologne to catch ya there!..."
"...last Saturday I saw you at Internationales Theater Frankfurt with your program "A lost american in Germany" and it was a really great show!!!..."
Comments from the Feb. 21, 2015 show at the International Theater Frankfurt:
"...Thanks Kathleen we had a fantastic fun weekend with friends and your show last night was the highlight! You were FABULOUS & your show was an absolute Success ... you were brilliantly spontaneous with your audience, it was perfectly tailored to us last night, completely filled with wit, humor & charm !! We all had a good laugh and a unforgettable journey with you last night!...
"...Wonderful show yesterday! Thank you so much for coming to Frankfurt again..."
"...I am very happy for such good English shows in Frankfurt which makes it easy to bring international people. Keep me informed when you are next time in the city..."
"...Hello Kathleen, by coincidence we saw an ad in the newspaper about your show. Being a Ge-American myself and married to my German wife we knew it was a must see. We got to see your show last night and we really enjoyed every minute of it. Well done! We were able to follow and relate to the items you spoke about. I've just been fifteen years longer in Germany than you are but otherwise I went through similar experiences. It brightens life up when you have the chance to understand both cultures, to criticize them and still love them for what they are..."
Comments from the November 22, 2014 THREE YEAR ANNIVERSARY show at the International Theater Frankfurt:
"...Hallo Kathleen,
deine Show hat mir sehr gut gefallen. Ich war auch sehr berührt.
Ich hoffe, du kommst mal wieder nach Frankfurt. Ich werde wieder sehr gerne in deine Show kommen!
Herzliche Grüße…"
"... I´m happy to have seen you in that great show you played. I really recommend to go and see Kathleen! Thank you for this awsome evening!..."
"...Ich möchte mich noch einmal explizit dafür bedanken, dass Du Deine doch sehr persönliche Geschichte mit Deinem Publikum geteilt hast. Diese Offenlegung Deiner Seele ist kein alltägliches Erlebnis - aber es ist ein von Mensch zu Mensch wertvolles Erlebnis…"
"...Loved the show— please keep us posted on your endeavors! …"
"…Your show was really great I was very happy that I came to see it.
Thank you very much, I look forward to seeing another show from you…"
"...Thanks again for a great evening at “A Lost American in Germany…"
From Twitter:
..." @Krenishvoice thx for the great evening with "A Lost American in Germany"!.."
..."Great show yesterday in Frankfurt!…"
Comments from the September 19, 2014 IHK-Koblenz event show:
"...Hallo Kathleen,
vielen Dank für Deine Performance anläßlich unserer Veranstaltung "Eröffnung des IHK-Kompetenzzentrums USA". Du hast der sonst sehr wirtschaftsorientierten Veranstaltung Farbe und gute Laune beigemischt.
Das theoretische Betrachten der kulturellen Unterschiede zwischen Deutschen und Amerikanern mit deiner Show zum Leben erweckt.
Wir und unsere Gäste hatten Spaß und kommen gerne zu einer deiner nächsten Shows wieder.
Ganz liebe Grüße aus Koblenz
Andrea Wedig…"
Comments from the May 16, 2014 the show at the International Theater Frankfurt:
“...Thank you once again for the wonderful show, "A Lost American in Germany". We really enjoyed it very much. You are such a versatile artist and lovely woman. A tremendously professional stage person, very good timing, so connected to your body, unbelievable right in the moment and truthful and beside that always in touch with with your audience...Awesome!!! And your singing voice is absolutely beautiful....You are an amazing singer. You touched me with your art and heart. And we had a wonderful night at the International Theater in Frankfurt. Keep on going Kathleen...the stars (stage is) are yours...”
“...just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your show in Frankfurt recently! I am Jörg – “Jerk” – the German/American that sat in the audience together with his parents. I lived in McLean, VA from my third until my 11th year of age. The time in the US really formed me and it took me a couple of years to become a “German”. Your stories spoke from and to my heart – since I had very similar impressions and frustrations during my first years in this “third world” country! ;o) I wish you well with your ongoing journey through life! Hope to see you soon again! Do you have a “mailing list”? Would love to see you perform again soon!...”
“…I organized an InterNations group tonight to see your show in Frankfurt. Your show was really amazing! You just spoke out of my heart. I know this feeling like an alien so good. Great! In some scenes I had the impression you talked about my childhood/life…”
“…Thanks for a great show. I really enjoyed it!...”
“...Tolle Show!...”
“...Please come back soon to Frankfurt! It was an amazing evening!...”
Comments from the March 29, 2014 show at Steinhof in Duisburg:
"...Thank you sooo much for your wonderful show last night at Steinhof! We had such a great time with you.
"...We all had high expectations of your show and you even outranged them.Especially towards the end. I had the feeling that you were able to pass on your love and passion towards the whole audience and I’m very glad that you shared this with us. Wishing you all the best for your next shows!...”
Comments from the 2nd anniversary show, November 23, 2013 at rische’s Kleinkunstbühne in Drolshagen:
"...Thank you so much for a great evening of entertainment. Great songs and what a great way to interact with your audience. We hope you had a great time in the Sauerland and will come back soon.
"...We are wishing you all the best and it was a pleasure seeing you "live und in Farbe"..."
"...Es war wieder ein absolut perfekter Abend bei risches! Dass Kathy so eine tolle Show abliefert, hätte ich ehrlich gesagt nicht gedacht. Erwartungen übertroffen!
"...Ein Abend ist immer dann perfekt, wenn man den Alltag vergisst, ganz bei dem Künstler und seinem Programm ist und sich hinterher fragt: "Was? Schon so spät?"...
"...Mit dem tollen Ambiente, schon wenn man in das Foyer kommt, ist euch das echt gelungen...”
"...Kathleen Renish bei rische's - das war Großstadtflair im Sauerland. Ich fühlte mich wie in einem kleinen Theater am Broadway! Danke für den tollen Abend. Wir kommen gerne wieder..."!
Comments from the show, November 9, 2013 at the “Made in Germany” theater festival in Stuttgart in the Theater tri-buehne:
"...Thank you the nice evening! We talked a lot about the experiences and I personally think very often about the big differences between Germans and Americans. Wish you all the best!…"
"... Hi Kathleen, was a great Saturday evening in Stuttgart. Since I am a originally from Hungary and have been staying in Germany for the last 30 something years I felt like sharing some stories with you. Ha-ha-ha. It's a bit like you would see yourself telling your own stories on stage. And most fun is to laugh at yourself..."
One jury member that selected my show for the festival said: "...I must confess at the beginning I had reservations because I am a bit prejudiced against Americans ... but the charming nature of Kathleen Renish convinced me. And she speaks so clearly that I understood a lot and laughed heartily..." I met and spoke with her at the party afterwards. It was such a pleasure to converse with her over the show and many other things being a foreigner herself in Germany.
Comments from the show, October 12, 2013 at Arkadas Theater- Buehne der Kulturen:
"...Du bist eine großartige Künstlerin! Es war nicht einen Moment langweilig, Du hast mich gefesselt und zutiefst beeindruckt. Das ist genau Dein Programm! Es war eine ganz tolle show und eine sehr berührende Geschichte - ich hatte Tränen in den Augen - so wie Du! Respekt!!! Du kannst Dich sehen lassen damit! Hast mich umgehauen... Ich wünsche Dir noch viele schöne Vorstellungen mit dieser Dener tollen Biografie! I LOVE IT!!! My sweetes Ge-merican on earth!..."
Comments from the show, September 7, 2013 at Arkadas Theater- Buehne der Kulturen:
“…Amazing Show Last night Kathleen, You made us laugh, you made my wife cry. Your performance was wonderful, your singing was beautiful. It was impossible for the audience NOT to become involved....”
“...Thank you for the very nice evening! I laughed soo much!...”
“...I saw your show last week and enjoyed it very much. I lived for 11 years in the u.s. and most of the culture shocks were rather meaningful. ...the performance was great, you pulled me in and I really was laughing tears...”
Comments from the show, March 16, 2013 at Arkadas Theater- Buehne der Kulturen:
“…Thank you very much for this wonderful evening. I am glad that I finally made it! A brillant mixture from happy to touching emotionally-great!...”
“…Thumbs up! Great show Kathleen! You made me laugh, made me cry, and touched my heart. Schöne Grüße from the Ami with the big glass of wine in the back…”
“...Fabulous show and fabulous voice, enjoyed every minute, both the funny and the poignant moments! You made us laugh and cry at the same time!...”
Comments from the February 23, 2013 show at Arkadas Theater- Buehne der Kulturen , Koeln
"...Dear Kathleen,
you blew me away with your show tonight!
I wasn't only sittin there all the time feelin that ya totally nailed everything down to the spot. I am German but I've lived in the States twice so I knew exactly what ya were talkin about- both, when it came to typical American or German behavior and traditions. I do feel "Gamerican", too, and am torn at times. I just got back to Cologne, my hometown, last summer. When ya asked what America was to us, I silently said "extreme"...and you picked it up...even though you hadn't heard me. And that's how it feels...extreme... can't really handle my emotions quite well yet because I connect "my story" to that time and there's a lot behind that. But I also used to have my JB. And when you finally said you arrived home I could feel the knot in my throat because I don't really know where "home" is. I am back again but not ready to call this my home again yet. When you started to sing "Time after time", 'my' song, I was the Alabamian girl sittin in the back row ballin her eyes out.
Back in the car I put my favorite CD by Cindy Lauper in and drove through the snowy night thinkin that you thought you were taking me on your journey- but actually you were taking me on mine.
Thank you very much for this entertaining but mainly touching night.
'Another' Kathi…"
Comments from the January 26, 2013 show at Arkadas Theater- Buehne der Kulturen, Koeln
“...Great show!! We laughed so hard!!...”
“...Thank you for the excellent performance. My friends and I were really enjoying it. Being foreigners in Germany we can relate to it. Funny and emotional. Simply brilliant!...”
“...Your show was amazing! You’re such a great storyteller AND a great singer! Thanks so much - you made my day! :)...”
Comments from the November 21, 2012
1 year anniversary show at Arkadas Theater- Buehne der Kulturen, Koeln
“...Thank you for the great evening and show. I just wanted you to know that you have all my respect. Your show was so touching, heart warming, funny and some parts sad. :-) You really went through all the most important emotions a human being has, and mine just felt like an emotional roller coaster.
"...Your voice is amazing - you're amazing. You played one of my favorite songs I always heard when I was a little child. No one -except for Cindy- ever sang that song so wonderfully. I'll recommend your show to everyone...”
Comments from the September 20 - 21, 2012 shows at Theaterforum Kreuzberg, Berlin
“..."Intensive 2 1/2 Stunden, meinen Glückwunsch! Immer wieder spannend, auf der Bühne einer offenherzigen Biographie zu lauschen. Braucht es mehr? Weiter so...”
“...Kathy Renish spielt und singt einen lovely American/Ge-merikan Abend.
"...Schaut Euch an, was los war in ihrer 10köpfigen Familie, wo JLo war, bevor sie JLo wurde (Fotobeweis!) und lernt JB kennen – es lohnt sich! Sehr unterhaltsam, sehr liebenswert, sehr hörenswert – und auch berührend…"
"...Ich hatte viel Spaß gestern…"
"...Möglicherweise die letzte Chance, diesen feinen Abend in Berlin zu erleben!…"
"...(Don’t miss this version of the Cindy Lauper song.)..."You and your show were so enjoyable! GO THERE, EVERYONE! It's Fun!..."
“...Great show Kathleen! We really enjoyed it and I definitely suggest other people to go to your performance on Friday or Saturday! Thank you for the nice evening!...”
“...Liebe Kathleen, Dein Solo Programm ist großartig, berührend und Du bist nicht nur eine gestandene Schauspielerin, hervorragende Dramaturgin und tolle Sängerin, nein, Du kannst auch Entertainment!...”
“...I saw your show last saturday in Berlin and I really enjoyed it! I am french myself and I lived 2 years in Berlin in 2008-2009 before going back to Paris, and now, I'm back in Berlin to start a new job... So of course I felt quite concerned by what you described, these cultural gaps, though they're less strong between France and Germany.. :) And you have this ability to be so touching and charming! The songs are also great! I wish you a lot of success by your upcoming shows and..viel Spass noch in Deutschland!...”
Comments from the September 15, 2012 show at Arkadas Theater - Buehne der Kulturen, Koeln
“...You’ve got to see Kathleen’s show! It touched my funny bone and my heart. I really enjoyed the show. It was an awesome evening. You should go to the show in November...!
“...It was good fun! Thanks for a great evening...!”
“...Thank you soooo much for your wonderful show yesterday night! We had such a great time with you.
"...We all had high expectations of your show and you even outranged them. Especially towards the end, I had the feeling that you were able to pass on your love and passion towards the whole audience and I am very glad that you shared this with us. Wishing you all the best for your next shows in Berlin...!”
“...My girlfriend brought me (one of those surprise I’m taking you out nights) had a great great great time thank you...!”
“... You did a great job!! It was a lovely show, Kathy..very funny and also touching..!! I was with you...”
“...We finally made it and it was a really great evening! I will recommend it to everyone and come back in November. Wish you great success in Berlin!"...”
Comments from the June 29, 2012 show at Don’t Tell Mama in New York city:
“...Kathleen Renish's 'A Lost American in Germany' touches on the broader issues of belonging, anywhere, and not belonging, and all the strange customs you can encounter even in your own family. Weaving family history and her experiences in Germany into a colorful, humorous web, Kathleen catches us all, and we lose track of time and place, willingly transported into the story. With stage magic and personal charm she reveals the absurd and the hilarious aspects of culture clash. Having lived in Germany myself I love being able to laugh at what at times had been quite difficult. The story is partly carried through Kathleen's accomplished and warm hearted singing. I feel like more Germans and Americans need to see this show...”
Comments about the show at Chaplin’s Music Cafe, June 24, 2012:
“... The show was amazing!! You captured the essence of the cultural differences between Germany and America with humor and pathos. The music was right on with each part of the show. The audience really got to know you, with the highs and lows, the joys and sorrows...”
Comments from the May 31, 2012 Arkadas Theater - Buehne der Kulturen performance:
“...ich bin grade von deiner Show gekommen und dachte lieber früher als später schreiben, manchmal nimmt man sich sowas vor und macht es aber dann nie. Ich habe es sehr genossen, viel geschmunzelt, gelacht und auch geweint... Ich fand es schön das du diesen sehr emotionalen Moment mit deinem Publikum geteilt hast, danke dafür. And as we all know...we are not gone we are just somewhere else and love never dies.
Liebe Grüße und viel Erfolg in Philly und New York...”
Comments from the April 24, 2012 Arkadas Theater - Buehne der Kulturen performance:
“...ganz herzlichen Dank für den wundervollen Abend gestern. Ich habe viel gelacht, aber auch Tränen vergossen...ein wirklich tolles Programm, eine tolle Darbietung, Sie haben eine wundervolle Stimme, und es war einfach ein Vergnügen, Ihnen zuzuhören und zuzusehen…"
"...Gerne komme ich am 31.05. wieder - denn dafür habe ich schon Karten. Ich freue mich, Sie demänchst mal wiederzusehen...”
Comments from the March 18, 2012 Migradonna - Der Preis fuer Starke Frauen awards ceremony in Gelsenkirchen:
“...your show was just amazing tonight! I am definitely coming to see your show in Cologne...:)
"...Thank you very much!!!”...
”...Your show was very exhilarating and we have had fun.”...
Comments from the March 11, 2012 Horizont Theater performance:
“...Thank you for this wonderful evening. You are so phantastic, wonderful and marvellous. Thank you for inviting me...”
“...You did rock Kathleen! Just magic your performance. Thank you for the touchy moments...”
“...That was a fantastic show! Ich habe gelacht, ich war berührt, ich hab geweint! Einfach alles dabei! Toll! Danke!..
“...We had a good time last night and enjoyed your performance. One notices your stage professionalism and you look good and move well...What the public really liked were the instances of misunderstandings between the German and English languages as they could relate themselves to that as well, especially in the second half after the break... the show keeps moving very well and you do hold our attention...We wish you continued success in the next two shows at the Arkadas Theater...”
”...Es hat mir vieles sehr gut gefallen.”
“...in deiner Show konnte man alles super verstehen. Es war toll. Wir haben so viel gelacht. Du bist wunderschön und es war ein phantasticher Abend. Thanks. And see you next time in Arkadas Theater!..”
“...I was really impressed by your personality and touched by your performance and story! Although I’m European, I could relate to you very well, since I left my home, when I was 18, and moved to Germany leaving my family in Slovakia. You have an amazing voice and are a fabulous actor and storyteller. I will see you in your next shows, and will definitely come again...”
Comments from the January 28, 2012 Arkadas Theater - Buehne der Kulturen performance:
“...I was there yesterday night and I loved it! So emotional, so funny, so confident, so close to us, your public, congratulations!! You are so right in your descriptions of this country and its people. I am an “immigrant” too (born und studied in France, travelled and worked around the world and came to Germany in 1995) and I could recognize myself in all your experiences. As you were telling about it, it was just like remembering all these things for me. I think we have a lot in common. Like you I am “imported” here, like you I often feel like an alien, like you I played theater …and it was a great feeling! It’s incredible, when you produce yourself on a stage, you send so many vibes to your public… In that moment, the only thing that counts is the human dimension. It’s just you and them! And the more you give, the more you get back and the more confident and generous you get, a wonderful ascention!.
I will recommend your show to my friends, you can count on it! I already made a complete report to my boyfriend about it this morning at breakfast and he could not believe it! I wish you so much luck with your show around Germany and keep my fingers crossed that you keep on performing in front of sold out places – like yesterday. Take care, Kathleen and thank you so much for this wonderful evening.”
Comments from the Dec. 17 Lichtung performance:
"...wir waren sehr begeistert von deiner Show! Die Idee ist einfach einmalig!…"
"...Du hast sie mit viel Mühe und Liebe für´s Detail aufgebaut - das merkte man direkt. Wir haben teils sehr gelacht... und teils saßen wir mit großen Augen da und haben einfach nur zugehört. .."
"...Danke für einen sehr vielseitigen Abend!! Weiter so!...”
“...Diese Performance ist toll! Kathleen greift das Leben so zart - alle Hürden und Schicksalsschläge inbegriffen, sieht sie doch den Humor und die Liebe in Allem. Damit regt sie dazu an, den Reichtum des eigenen Lebens zu begreifen und zu genießen. Selten habe ich von einem Performer so viel Persönlichkeit wie auch Verwundbarkeit geboten bekommen. Plus: es gibt viel zu lachen in dieser interaktiven Show. Ich hoffe, du wirst noch viele Möglichkeiten bekommen, dieses Programm zu zeigen!...”
“...I guess that was the sweetest show we have ever seen. In a funny way she made the audience a part of her life by telling all these wonderful stories. That show convinced us that it's not important to have a big stage, big lights and all that stuff. All that counts was Kathy and her unique charisma…"
One more example for: The best stories are told by life! We had a great evening…"
"...Thanks for that wonderful performance...”
TÜV Rheinland, Nov. 25, 2011- The “Loft” in the New Yorker Hotel, Cologne
“...vielen Dank das Du auf unserem Event gestern deiner Show uns gezeigt hast. Unsere Kunden waren von Dir begeistert. Du hast uns einen tollen Abend bereitet. Vorallem waren Sie von deinen Gesangsleistungen begeistert. Perfekt von Anfang bis Ende. Vielen Dank dafür...”
Some comments from the audience at the Premiere, November 22, 2011
“ it was so full of truth...”
“...authentic...”
“... funny as hell...”
“... I could relate exactly to what you were saying...”
“...very moving...”
“...wonderfully sung...”
“...beautiful voice...”
“...what a great green fairy!...”
“...very inspiring...”
"...dass für mich die Zeit im Flug vergangen ist... Ich habe Tränen gelacht, war geruehrt und habe viele Tränen vergossen. Mein Make-up war danach auch im Eimer...”
"...Gute Mischung aus Humor, Gesang und Story..."
....."