Press
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY, Carl Collis
"Kirsten Holly Smith nicely captures Springfield's unique blend of Brit tomboy and 'Son of a Preacher Man' crooning soul legend."
"Christina Sajous is terrific!"
NEW YORK POST, Frank Scheck
"TERRIFIC!"
"Smith is the real thing!"
NEW YORK TIMES (This Week Ahead), Ben Brantley
"Dusty Springfield is reincarnated!"
ASSOCIATED PRESS, Peter Santilli
"Springfield sings again in Forever Dusty"
"An ambitious and stylish musical about the iconic soul singer Dusty Springfield."
" Smith displays a nuanced command of Springfield's unique vocal style... rare, richly developed."
TIME OUT NEW YORK, Raven Snook
"Smith is a truly gifted vocalist."
Smith captures the late star's esence and emotionality."
DOWNTOWN MAGAZINE
"The musical soars... you can almost feel the audience melt... a spectacular evening of theatre."
THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE, Buzz Belmont
"There is a great big nostalgic step back into the 60's, 70's and 80's happening in a fantastic way at New World Stages as the sultry, sexy, soulful Dusty Springfield comes alive. Kirsten Holly Smith & Jonathan Vankin have written the most mesmerizing, breathtaking, dazzling biographical musical since Jersey Boys."
"Kirsten Holly Smith's memorable, authentic, brilliant and phenomenal tour de force breathing authenticity, life, and soul into one of the singing legends that so many of us grew up with!"
"This is one show that I wish I had time to see again. I have not ceased telling everyone I know to go see this fabulous musical."
"Seriously ladies and gentleman, Forever Dusty is the best little Off — Broadway show of the season, so run to get your tickets and take everyone you love to the best bio musical on the New York stage"
Lisa Lampanelli, Comedy Central
"Forever Dusty is spectacular!... The show is terrific, the sing-a-long a blast, & the cast, crew & band the best! BRAVO!"
Douglas Rushkoff, author of Present Shock and CNN Correspondent
"Forever Dusty revives the spirit of a music industry still brimming with hope and possibility. When a pop star's image emerged from within instead of being manufactured by marketer. Dusty Springfield wasn't just born that way - she lived that way. And Kirsten Holly Smith both summons and comments on Dusty simultaneously, in an amazing, heartfelt, generous, and inspiring performance. This is a revival in the truest sense of the word, for Dusty and for anyone who still has soul."
QUEERTY.COM
"Mega-talented Kirsten Holly Smith not only conceived the musical, but gives a knockout performance... We caught the show last week, and we all we can say is: Go!"
HEEBMAGAZINE.COM
"Forever Dusty, the new off-Broadway musical biopic of Dusty Springfield, hits like a concentrated blast of pop candy… balances the luscious lightness of the music with the heavy human struggles."
PEREZ HILTON
"IF YOU LIKE JERSEY BOYS, THEN YOU WILL LOVE FOREVER DUSTY!"
"Songs you know and a life story that is told with equal parts HUMOR AND HEART!"
THEATERMANIA, Brian Scott Lipton
"Star Kirsten Holly Smith is an on stage talent to be reckon with!"
BACKSTAGE, Mac Miller
"Kirsten Holly Smith BELTS IT OUT OF THE PARK."
"Songs you know and a life story that is told with equal parts HUMOR AND HEART!"
IRISH CENTRAL
"Completely irresistible. I defy anyone to attend this captivating musical drama and fail to be transported."
RESIDENT MAGAZINE
"Kirsten Holly Smith has a tremendous voice. Barry Manilow may wrote the songs, but Smith as Dusty definitely sings them."
CURTAIN UP, Deirdre Donovan
"Forever Dusty is a tuneful homage to the legendary British performer, Dusty Springfield.".
"A bittersweet portrait of the blue-eyed Soul singer."
Annie Randall, author of "Dusty: Queen of the Postmods"
"Forever Dusty goes much farther than any other Dusty show I have seen in portraying the singer's 30-year career and the emotional roller coaster that was her life. The script weaves Dusty's hit songs cleverly into the biographical story line; Kirsten Holly Smith delivers them with exciting authority and, most importantly, sings with the genuine soul sound that distinguished Dusty from her Britpop contemporaries and earned the respect of Motown's stars. The show covers a lot of ground in under two hours; it paints a vivid picture of Dusty's colorful, sometimes sensational life and the unique musical talent that produced pop songs that still sound fresh after forty years. Bravo to Smith and Vankin for bringing Dusty to life so richly for a new generation of fans."
GALO Magazine
"Smith has a voice to reach the rafters, and the verve and versatility in pitch do justice to Dusty's hits."
FLAVORPILL.COM, John Peacock
"The rare jukebox musical with depth.... As Dusty, Kirsten Holly Smith thrillingly channels the passion and the pain."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
"Smith displays a nuanced command of Springfield's unique vocal style... rare, richly developed."
Forgotten Hits: Forever Dusty Interview
February 16, 2013
The popular music web site "Forgotten Hits" interviews Forever Dusty star Kirsten Holly Smith and Co-Writer Jonathan Vankin
100 Times FOREVER DUSTY
February 14, 2013
Forever Dusty celebrated its 100th performance on February 13, 2013, with an audience Sing Along night. The New York Times was there to cover the festivities.
Behind the Scenes With a Music Icon
January 30, 2013
Broadway World goes backstage to see how Kirsten Holly Smith transforms herself into Dusty Springfield eight times per week
STAGE VIEWS: Forever Dusty Star Sean Patrick Hopkins
January 19, 2013
Playbill.com's series features actors commenting on their recent theatregoing experiences, what productions they are looking forward to and more. Here we hear from singing actor Sean Patrick Hopkins, who plays Tom Springfield in the new biographical musical Forever Dusty, about the life of the late soul singer Dusty Springfield, at Off-Broadway's New World Stages.
TWI-NY TALK: KIRSTEN HOLLY SMITH AND JONATHAN VANKIN — FOREVER DUSTY
January 15, 2013
This Week in New York converses with Forever Dusty star Kirsten Holly Smith, who also co-wrote the show, and her co-writer Jonathan Vankin about their writing process and how the show came to be.
Fox5 Good Day NY
January 8, 2013
Forever Dusty stars Kirsten Holly Smith and Christina Sajous appeared on Fox5's "Good Day New York" show where they gave an interview & sang a rocking mash-up of "Tell Him" and "Son of a Preacher Man."
DIVA TALK: Chatting With 'Forever Dusty' Star Kirsten Holly Smith
January 4, 2013
Kirsten Holly Smith chatted with Andrew Gans of Playbill.com. Read the whole, in-depth interview.
She's a Believer
December 29, 2012
Kirsten Holly Smith’s onstage transformation is stunning as she evokes the fierce determination — and underlying vulnerability — of the late groundbreaking performer who embodied the mod 1960s.
Don’t Mess with the Zohar: Backstage at new Dusty Springfield Musical
December 21, 2012
From her controversial coming out to her refusing to perform to segregated audiences in South Africa, Forever Dusty balances the luscious lightness of the music with the heavy human struggles.
Catching Up With Kirsten Holly Smith for 'Forever Dusty'
December 20, 2012
Plus watch her and co-star Christina Sajous recreate the holiday classic, 'Baby It's Cold Outside'
STAGE VIEWS: Forever Dusty Star Christina Sajous
December 15, 2012
Playbill.com's series features actors commenting on their recent theatregoing experiences, what productions they are looking forward to and more. Here, via email, we hear from Christina Sajous, who co-stars in Forever Dusty — the new musical by Kirsten Holly Smith and Jonathan Vankin about the life of late singer Dusty Springfield — which is now playing Off-Broadway's New World Stages.
Dusty Springfield Musical's Kirsten Holly Smith On Adapting The Life Of A Complex Legend
December 14, 2012
Most people think of the classic album "Dusty in Memphis" if they think of Dusty Springfield at all. But Kirsten Holly Smith and Jonathan Vankin are working to expand the unique soul sensation's legacy with an off-Broadway musical, "Forever Dusty."
Kirsten Holly Smith on Portraying ‘Soulful, Sultry’ Dusty Springfield in Forever Dusty
December 11, 2012
Kirsten writes a first-person account of how she came to create and star in Forever Dusty.
A Dusty Road to Springfield
November 29, 2012
"Dusty Springfield, remember her - that sexy songstress of the swinging 60s and beyond that at her peak, had six top 20 singles on Billboard's Hot 100? With her blue-eyed soul sound, her vulnerable, heartbreaking urgency was so singular that songwriter Burt Bacharach would remark, "You could hear just three notes and you knew it was Dusty." Add the beehive hairdo, 'panda eyed' mascara and evening gowns to take the breath away - is it any wonder then when Kirsten Holly Smith in the world premiere of Forever Dusty at New World Stages sings "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me," we want to answer her with "oh, but we do, we do!""
Annie J. Randall, author of Dusty! Queen of the Postmods (Oxford University Press, 2009)
November 29, 2012
"Forever Dusty goes much farther than any other Dusty show I have seen in portraying the singer's 30-year career and the emotional roller coaster that was her life. The script weaves Dusty's hit songs cleverly into the biographical story line; Kirsten Holly Smith delivers them with exciting authority and, most importantly, sings with the genuine soul sound that distinguished Dusty from her Britpop contemporaries and earned the respect of Motown's stars. The show covers a lot of ground in under two hours; it paints a vivid picture of Dusty's colorful, sometimes sensational life and the unique musical talent that produced pop songs that still sound fresh after forty years. Bravo to Smith and Vankin for bringing Dusty to life so richly for a new generation of fans."
Forever Dusty
November 27, 2012
The rare jukebox musical with depth, Forever Dusty follows the career of Irish soul legend Dusty Springfield over four decades.
Dusty a Go-Go!
November 25, 2012
Get the Inside Track on the New Dusty Springfield Bio-Musical, Forever Dusty
Perez Reviews: Forever Dusty
November 19, 2012
What drives someone to spend 5 years developing a show? The answer is clearly... passion! And that passion for the subject material - both the person and the songs - is clear in Forever Dusty, a new biographical musical about the late Dusty Springfield by the very gifted Kirsten Holly Smith.
'Drood,' Duke and Dusty
November 14, 2012
Our picks for the best in the city this weekend.
Sixties icon Dusty Springfield subject of new stage musical
November 13, 2012
She was a huge 1960s soul sensation, but Dusty Springfield's personal life played more like something out of grand opera.
Meet the Cast of FOREVER DUSTY- Kirsten Holly Smith, Christina Sajous and More; Plus a Sneak Peek!
November 12, 2012
The world premiere of Forever Dusty, a new musical about the life and times of legendary icon Dusty Springfield, by Kirsten Holly Smith and Jonathan Vankin, begins performances November 11, 2012 at New World Stages.
Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll: Meet the Talented Cast of the Off-Broadway Musical Forever Dusty
November 12, 2012
The life of groundbreaking singer Dusty Springfield is illuminated in the new bio musical Forever Dusty.
Forever Dusty, Musical About Late Dusty Springfield, Begins Off-Broadway Nov. 11
November 11, 2012
Forever Dusty, a new musical by Kirsten Holly Smith and Jonathan Vankin about the life of late singer Dusty Springfield, begins previews at Off-Broadway's New World Stages Nov. 11 with an official opening set for Nov. 18.
Kirsten Holly Smith Transforms Into Dusty Springfield as Forever Dusty Begins Off-Broadway Run
November 11, 2012
The new bio musical Forever Dusty begins previews at off-Broadway's New World Stages on November 11.
Dusty Springfield Was More Complex Than You Think
October 25, 2012
Well, if you were wishin' and hopin' for more about the late, great singer, here's what Smith has to say about what makes her a fascinating subject for a 90-minute stage show.
Dusty Springfield's Sexuality Addressed In New Show
October 23, 2012
I was wishin' and hopin' the show would make it to a big-time NYC theater, and now it has.