“A grounded force, making her every note and glance feel loaded with meaning”

Natalie Charlé Ellis brought Emma to vivid life with a layered performance that balanced bitterness, sly humor, and undeniable vocal command. Her portrayal of Lizzie’s older sister was infused with both quiet resentment and a sharply observant wit, giving the character a presence that kept the audience leaning in.

It was through her singing, though, that Ellis truly cemented Emma as a standout. Her remarkably deep, powerfully filled alto range cut through the intense rock score with arresting clarity, commanding attention every moment she sang. In a production overflowing with raw energy, Ellis offered a grounded force, making her every note and glance feel loaded with meaning.

—Kristina Nungaray, BroadwayWorld

“Thoughtful, restrained portrayal… gave the audience something more complex to hold onto”

In a show driven by raw rock energy and turbulent emotions, Natalie Charlé Ellis stood out for her thoughtful, restrained portrayal of Emma. As Lizzie’s older sister, she provided a vital contrast to the surrounding chaos, her calm surface often hinting at a sly undercurrent that added layers to the story.

While the production charged forward with feverish momentum, Ellis anchored it with nuance, allowing Emma’s composed exterior to serve as both foil and quiet echo to Lizzie’s unraveling. Her choices gave the audience something more complex to hold onto — a sense that beneath Emma’s collected front, deeper fears and loyalties churned. It was a performance that subtly elevated the stakes, making Lizzie’s ultimate path feel even more haunting.

—D. L. Groover, Abby Koenig and Jim J. Tommaney, Houston Press