Annie Get Your Gun - Barksdale Theatre

“Annie Oakley (wonderfully feisty and winsome Robyn O'Neill) and Frank Butler (stout-hearted baritone Russell Rowland, a terrific Richmond "find") in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. O'Neill and Rowland conjure a potent chemistry to make their problematical relationship achingly real.” -Roy Proctor - Richmond Times Dispatch 6/23/03

“Frank Butler (Russell Rowland) with at least 40 very white teeth smiles into the hearts of all the women on- and offstage. Rowland has a very pleasant baritone. Annie (Robyn O'Neill) heats up her buckskins, and one expects her ammunition to fire-off spontaneously each time she and Frank rub rifles.” -Jerrell Sober - The Progress Index 7/2/03

“But Rowland’s precise and rich baritone is a perfect foil for O’Neill’s warbling early in the first act. Later, as they perform “Anything You Can Do,” I’m thinking this gang needs its own cast album. The best thing about this production is how O’Neill and Rowland’s voices circle one another before blending together. O’Neill and Rowland confidently deliver the goods, and the chemistry between them develops before our eyes. Early in the show, they seem like unlikely romantic material. Then we’re rooting for them to get together. By the end, you can’t imagine them apart. O’Neill and Rowland have such wonderful voices.” -Jerrell Nickerson - Style Weekly 7/2/03

Annie Get Your Gun - Riverside Center

“Rowland’s Frank Butler has a magical deep voice that transports whether he is speaking or singing.  His solo “The Girl That I Marry” is incomparable.  His rich voice makes the whole evening worthwhile.”  -Nancy Gilmore - Free Lance-Star 8/8/02

“The parts demand actors with superior voices and workable chemistry: they found them in Maija-Liisa Nielson and Russell Rowland….  Rowland is at his strutting Rooster best from beginning to end.  …  They have the kind of soaringly beautiful voices, separate and together, that make you want them to sing again...  “Anything You Can Do (I can do better!)” never goes long enough.”  -Margaret Lawrence - Culpeper News  8/22/02

Guys and Dolls - Riverside Center

“Russell Rowland plays gambler Sky Masterson, the cad who can be had, with just enough devil-may-care and second glances to make us believe his attraction to Sarah Brown.”  -Margaret Lawrence - Culpeper News

Annie - Riverside Center

“Enter Russell Rowland as Rooster Hannigan, brother to Miss Hannigan.  Rowland affects the slime-ball, dirt-bag Rooster to a “T” and leaves one asking, “He’s such scum so why do I like him so much?”  He just has that charisma.”  -Amanda K. Greene - Free Lance-Star

Carousel - Riverside Center

“It would be unfair to overlook Russell Rowland, another Riverside veteran, appearing this time as the slimy and comic Jigger Craigin who lures Billy toward his demise.  Rowland continues to demonstrate his great versatility as both actor and singer for this troupe.  He knows how to get the most out of his parts.”  -Chalmers Hood - The Daily Journal 8/17/00

“I am now officially Russell Rowland’s newest fan.  I admired his over-the-edge performance in “How to Succeed…”and felt that he was wasted in “Hello Dolly!” Here, as the dangerously deceitful, callous and incorrigible wharf rat, Jigger Craigin, Mr. Rowland brings an entire pallet of color to this performance.  The moment he steps on the stage  and even when he is warbling along in the chorus  he is a riveting force that is both comic and menacing.  The smallest throwaway gesture is a clear characteristic of Jigger’s laughing, long-legged villainy.  Take a bow, sir!”  -Margaret Lawrence - Culpeper Star-Exponent 8/17/00

“Russell Rowland as Jigger Craigin is delightful and scene-stealing.” -Laura Moyer - Free Lance-Star 8/17/00

How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying - Riverside Center

“Bud Frump, played dweebishly well by Russell Rowland, is the lazy, underhanded nephew of J.B. Biggley.”  -Ellen G. Gunther-Keith  - The King George Journal 3/29/00

“Of the central Characters though, it is Russell Rowland in the role of the boss’ dumb nephew, Frump, who manages to steal the show with his wacky interpretation of the role. White socks, thick glasses, buck teeth and an absurd stance all combine to make slow-minded Frump the best of the caricatures in this production.  Audience members may not recognize this actor as the same who played Captain von Trapp in the recently completed production of Riverside’s “Sound of Music.”  The difference between the two Characters show what a range Rowland possesses.”  -Chalmers Hood - The Daily Journal 3/24/00

The Sound of Music - Riverside Center

“There’s credible chemistry between Maria and the Captain, played with debonair humor by Riverside newcomer Russell Rowland.  The audience has to believe that love sneaks in then reveals itself as they dance the landler.  As written, it’s a stretch.  But in this production disbelief is willingly suspended.  They’re elegant and convincing.”  -Laura Moyer - Free Lance-Star 11/18/99