praise for IVORIES
"Ivories is a unique and intriguing tragicomedy-thriller hybrid, with a fantastic team that has clearly put so much love and care into the production." ★★★★★ Lost in Theatreland
"This show brings horror, chiller with some touches of humour, but most of all what a great theatre show that we loved." ★★★★★ MoreishTV
"A playwright to keep an eye on for SURE! Ivories has it all: tears, trauma, sexual tension, ghosts, laughs & the understanding that nothing (and no one) is ever as they appear to me. The cast is stunning. The script is stunning." ★★★★★ Hailey Green
"Horror fans know the real deal when we see it, and Riley Elton McCarthy's tightly wound exploration of haunting grief is a refreshing case in point." ★★★ The Scotsman
praise for I'M GOING TO EAT YOU ALIVE
"I'm Going To Eat You Alive contains an effective balance of plain speak and poetics, matched with intriguing originality and an adventurous spirit, all wrapped up in traditional horror genre tension. Part of the fun is to envision what might be done in a larger scale production, which, hopefully, will not be long off." Talkin' Broadway
"I’m going to say that this is the strangest play I have ever seen, and I do mean that as a compliment. Humanity is sick, not the roaches, and if anything we poison them. I am hoping that this show finds its way to new audiences soon, because it deserves to be produced - and seen. " Gossip Giancaspro
"Riley Elton McCarthy's queer horror play, which had a buzzy trial run at the Tank last year, returns in a new production." TimeOut New York
praise for SOUTHERN BEDFELLOWS
"Southern Bedfellows has the integrity and raw passion of a resistance movement." ★★★★★ CPHPost
"I let myself be sucked into a story about finding one's identity, deep friendship and choosing oneself first. This experience made such an impression on me that I dreamed about gender identity all night." ★★★★★ POVInternational
praise for RABBIT
"rabbit is a horror play with plenty of room for individual interpretation. If the actors point prop “guns” (actually cap guns/rifles) in your direction or the chase after prey comes tumbling into the space beside you, you will jump. The young theater artists of LakehouseRanchDotPNG are attracting audiences hungry for shows that aren’t the same old same old. Some of which, like “rabbit,” may just startle the bejesus out of them." ArtBurst Miami
"LakeHouseRanchDotPNG THRILLS with "rabbit". It is scary, chilling and eerily familiar these days to think of a world in which books are forbidden, journaling is “not really allowed,” and one person’s words, wishes, and commands are “law.” Yet that is the world of “rabbit,” a new horror play by Riley Elton McCarthy in a solid production by LakeHouseRanchDotPNG at its intimate black box theater space in Kendall." MiamiArtZine
praise for RAGWEEDS
"The author of “Ragweeds” knew what they were going for with this play and LakeHouseRanchDotPNG gets it. McCarthy says in their author’s note at the beginning of the script: “there is something weirdly comforting at the end of it all.” " ArtBurst Miami
"What does a body of work mean at the end of the world? The text, by Riley Elton McCarthy is so deeply contemporary the dialogue references our modern world as the backdrop for the eschaton. A painfully relevant watch that is given a moment of levity as we watch our central duo find common ground in their shared love of classic movie musicals. “Ragweeds” is an enigmatic piece of theatre that is every bit prescient to our modern day as it is a cautionary tale for our near future." When The Lights Go Out Magazine
features about REM and their work
New
New York Times: "A geologist named Roach is the leading character in Riley Elton McCarthy’s new queer horror play “i’m going to eat you alive” at Culture Lab LIC in Queens." Halloween in New York: Things to Do in October
EDGE: "The prolific young playwright is a two-time semifinalist at the Eugene O'Neill National Playwriting Conference for "Sharon and Melina" and "I'm Going to Eat You Alive!" and received extremely favorable reviews for "IVORIES" at the 2023 Edinburgh Fringe Festival." A Horrifically Funny Interview with Playwright Riley Elton McCarthy
LICPost: Wheeler described the concept of a horror play as “super interesting and rare,” further describing the production as very intensive. Culture Lab in Long Island City prepares for jam-packed weekend of cultural events
BroadwayWorld: "Basement Light Productions will present the World Premiere of i’m going to eat you alive, a queer horror play by Riley Elton McCarthy, directed by Brandon Urrutia." Riley Elton McCarthy's I'M GOING TO EAT YOU ALIVE to Premiere at Culture Lab LIC.
Up and Coming Weekly: "Ivories was written by the extraordinarily talented, internationally produced playwright, Riley Elton McCarthy, a Fayetteville childhood resident." Ivories ends spectacular season for Gilbert Theater.
BroadwayWorld: "THE LESBIAN PLAY is a war cry for the "more" that queer people deserve, a demand for action, and a celebration of the lesbian, bisexual, and trans voices that need to be heard." The Lesbian Play will play Limited Engagement Off-Broadway
Marymount Manhattan College: "This year will be a pivotal one for McCarthy as they make their off-Broadway debut with The Lesbian Play at the Triad Theater in June." Alumni at Work
Playbill: "The Lesbian Play, with a revised version of the script, will head to Off-Broadway's The Triad Theater in June 2023 for its first fully-staged production." Basement Light Productions to host industry workshop of The Lesbian Play
Up and Coming Weekly: "Alongside these classics, the theater will be showcasing a brand new work, “Ivories,” from up-and-coming playwright Riley Elton McCarthy." Gilbert announces milestone 30th anniversary season
podcasts and other interviews
Opening Doors: Navigating the Future of the Theatre Industry - with Spencer Sher - Part I / Part II
The Trumpet - with Robert Pellechio - interview about Ivories
Neuse Little Podcast - on the regional premier of Ivories at The Gilbert