"Thunderbird" by A.R. Gurney

“Victoria (beautifully played by Tonya Cornelisse) shows us what it looks like when lost souls sniff out a chance to belong to something whole.”

-David Cote, TIMEOUT NY

Tallgrass Gothic

*The Official Humana Festival Awards from the Actors Theatre of Louisville… 

*Best Supporting Actress: Tonya Cornelisse, Tallgrass Gothic.

“Cornelisse wears her heart on her sleeve in this beautiful performance. She creates a truly recognizable character, the fun-loving and wanton friend, then adds a twist of originality to make the role truly engaging. Her scenes with lead actress Lia Aprile are effortlessly engaging. A striking performance.”

-Theater critics, Dag Ryen & Rich Copley, Herald Leader


“Scenic designer Paul Owen’s eye-catching set of high grass in an open field, reminiscent of a similar set in London and New York for British playwright Charlotte Jones’s Humble Boy, helped make all the lust in the Great Plains dust tolerable as did the striking performance of Tonya Cornelisse as the heroine’s beer-guzzling friend with a long repressed yen for her.”

-Charles Whaley, Curtain Up


“The one worth her salt is Mary, played by Tonya Cornelisse. Mary provides the play’s zingers, and Cornelisse offers the liveliest performance.”

-Dana Norton, LEO, Arts & Entertainment Weekly


“Keeping me awake was Tonya Cornelisse’s interesting, jangly performance as Mary.”

-Judith Egerton, Courier-Journal

The Eight: Reindeer Monologues

“There are a number of accomplished and even exceptional performances to be found among the eight…Especially fun is Tonya Cornelisse’s sly Valley Girl portrayal of the idealistic Dancer.”

-J. Cooper Robb, Philadelphia Weekly

Sex Marks The Spot

“Program notes advise us she is “Madonna-like,” but (Cornelisse) also borrows from the younger Bette Midler and Cyndi Lauper. In playing her, Cornelisse enters wearing a huge blonde wig and doing bumps and grinds. Proving herself a game girl, the slender Cornelisse, whose torso also resembles the late Audrey Hepburn’s, allows to remain truly funny underneath her elaborate costuming.”

-James MacKillop, Syracuse New Times

Worm Day

“The stage comes alive at the DR2 when Millie Krause (played by the charismatic Cornelisse) enters into the action. We long to become a part her mysterious world…She gives this worm guts.”

-Mario Fratti, Theatrical REVIEWS

Acts of Providence

“ACTS OF PROVIDENCE, two one acts by Edward Allan Baker, a strong writer with a good ear, is an intriguing evening of theatre. The first play,"Jane's Exchange," sets up a fascinating mystery about the relationships among four people in the kitchen of a bakery that totally engages, and fully satisfies at the ending revelations. The four actors, Amorika Amoroso, Joe Capozzi, Julie Karlin and the scintillating Tonya Cornelisse fulfill their roles perfectly, and Russell Treyz directs with verve.”

-Richmond Shepard, Performing Arts INSIDER


“In “Jane’s Exchange” nothing is as it seems, after several twists and turns. It suddenly appears… It takes a seemingly airhead’s (Tonya Cornelisse) to solidify roles, explore emotions, and define the course of future events. Cornelisse comes in and cleans up.”

-Laurie Lawson, Talkin’ Broadway

"Zombie Honeymoon" Quotes

“Zombie Honeymoon scores simultaneously as romantic, grotesque, and screamingly funny…this well-thesped pic has a real shot at becoming a cult classic.”

--Variety


“Not quite the campfest its absurd but undeniably catchy title suggests, Zombie Honeymoon is actually an emotionally driven blend of romance, comedy, and horror…worth soled performances and capable direction by Dave Gebroe, whose script is infused with wickedly funny lines.”

--Laura Kern, New York Times


“Zombie Honeymoon has a winning cast…”

--V.A. Musseto, New York Post


“Zombie Honeymoon gave me nightmares and made me wake-up screaming…Cornelisse’s fierce performance was delicious to watch.”

--Ken Russell, director of “Altered States”