What folks have to say about
"An Evening at Dance Sauna"
(The Musical)
I enjoyed the show from the moment I read the program and the list of musical numbers. I have been in Maine since 2002 but have never heard any of the stories about Dave’s Sauna. However, being a Masshole myself, I enjoyed the connection of escaping life in MA for the freedoms of ME. The set was not overly impressive, so I was not sure what I was in for, but from the moment the Hot Box orchestra started the overture, I knew I was in for a treat. More impressive were the strong voices of the individual performers. Add in a mix of double entendre, physical comedy, and some burlesque like choreography and I was thoroughly entertained. Thanks to the orchestra, the entire cast, and for keeping the legend of Dave going"
Carl K.
"First off I fucking loved the show, comedic gold. Secondly, on the ride home my wife and I decided to get a divorce. I did not see that coming at all, but so is life! This isn't even a joke, we went to the Sunday matinee a weekend ago and now she has a divorce lawyer, I am soon to follow. I think you set her off, lol! But freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose, nothing ain't worth noting but it's free! It's all a dream we dreamed one afternoon, so long ago."
- Daniel D.
"I knew the show would be entertaining and fun. That being said, I wasn't prepared for the fantastic time I had. The singing was top-notch and the insular narrative made me feel like a spectator of a moment cast in amber. The songs were lively, but "Oh, Nancy" was the standout for me. Alyssa Rojecki's display of Nancy's frustration and anguish at Dave's apparent philandering made me choke up. I didn't expect that. And the fact that the conflict found no resolution within the play was honest and thought-provoking. Kim and Garry Robitalle, and Jo Ann Marino, are friends of mine. They and the rest of the fabulous cast shone. All in all, it exceeded my high expectations. Bravo!"
- Diane E
"DavesSauna was terrific. Totally original, the very talented singing and dancing engage and hold the audience for the entire two-hour production. While sometimes edgy (a PG13 rating?), other scenes are amazingly poignant. And the message in the final song is a little unexpected but very welcomed. A production well worth experiencing; a perfect antidote for today’s challenges and craziness."
Ellen B
"I recently had the pleasure of attending a performance of Dave’s Sauna, and it exceeded every expectation. The production was equal parts hilarious, heartfelt, and genuinely brilliant. Every scene flowed seamlessly, with thoughtful choreography and impeccable timing that kept the audience fully engaged from beginning to end. The cast was exceptionally talented, bringing depth, charm, and energy to every moment on stage. The music was another standout element—powerful, memorable, and perfectly woven into the story. What impressed me most was how much passion and creativity clearly went into this production. It left me wanting more, which is the highest compliment I can give. I would absolutely see it again and highly recommend grabbing a ticket—or even a copy of the book—if you have the chance. An unforgettable experience and incredibly well done."
- Lena R
'I had the pleasure of seeing An Evening at Dave’s Sauna last Sunday night, and it was absolutely outstanding. The show manages to be hilarious, outrageous, nostalgic, and unexpectedly heartfelt all at once — a true celebration of quirky Maine culture and storytelling. What impressed me most was how sharp and polished the production felt from beginning to end. The cast had incredible chemistry, the comedic timing was spot-on, and the audience was laughing constantly. But beyond the humor, the musical arrangements were genuinely excellent. The band and vocal performances elevated the entire production, giving the show an energy and professionalism that went far beyond what many people might expect from a regional original musical. The songs were catchy, clever, and extremely well executed, with arrangements that perfectly matched the wild personality of the show while still sounding musically tight and engaging. The production also deserves credit for capturing a very specific slice of Maine history and culture without ever feeling mean-spirited or forced. It felt authentic, affectionate, and completely unique. Original productions like this are rare, and An Evening at Dave’s Sauna deserves every bit of the enthusiastic response it’s getting. I’m very glad I got to experience it live."
- Chris G
"My husband and I came to opening night of "An evening at Dave's sauna" and enjoyed it very much! It was creative, funny and sad all in one! We loved the songs and the band was great! I can’t get the song "Swinging tonight at the hot box" out of my head! Made me want to get up and dance! We have been following Jonathan Leavitts productions for years and always are entertained musically and visually! Great cast! Great night out! and I bought the book! Lol! Thanks!"
- Diane A
"My man David and I began to go to Riverside Sauna at the end of Feb this year and I picked up your book there. I read it in a day or so and gave it to my friend Jason to read. We both loved it and I bought tickets to the show. I brought Jason and his friend and my man and we had a blast! Thought the show was great and funny. (Leaving out the first and last chapters of the book left enough to the imagination that my man will likely read the book now too.) We went to the sauna the next day (as we do every other week) and met Jen and another gentleman who said he used to go to Dave’s when he was 15-16yrs old. They were going to the show the following day, Mother’s Day. My friend who was supposed to come did not make it due to illness so I will be seeing it again with her hopefully next year. You and your team are quite talented and passionate people and your musical and book reflects it. Its a silly little addictive story and I'm glad to know it!"
- Katie E
DavesSauna was terrific. Totally original, the very talented singing and dancing engage and hold the audience for the entire two-hour production. While sometimes edgy (a PG13 rating?), other scenes are amazingly poignant. And the message in the final song is a little unexpected but very welcomed. A production well worth experiencing; a perfect antidote for today’s challenges and craziness.
Gino N
"Imagine my surprise when I saw that someone had made a musical about Dave's! A show about a spot in Oxford County -- a part of Maine which doesn't get much limelight -- where I had been! About people I'd known! HOLY SHIT (I exclaimed when I saw the poster)! This kind of thing........it just doesn't happen. There was NO. WAY. I was going to miss that. I wasn't disappointed."
- Siiri Cressey
"I am truly grateful I had an opportunity to see this performance in Lewiston! I'm not the type to write a review but it was such a pleasure to see, the story line is epic! Great cast the band was amazing! Nailed it...."
- Matty Leach
We were one of his regulars so we thoroughly enjoyed watching the show. Actually, we never knew about his shenanigans! He must have been quite stealthy. The acting was fantastic and the band was excellent. The band really enhanced the whole experience. Jess's song at the end was memorable. THANK YOU for all those memories!
- Emily Ecker
"We got to attend one of the performances of Dave's Sauna are still talking about it. Thank you for the effort that went into the productions and the wonderful acting performances on stage!! We'd love to hear about it if the show is performed again in the future. I signed up to the Facebook page. If there is a different way to stay informed please let us know. Thanks again for a wonderful show!"
- Dave Champlin
"It was absolutely hilarious! The music was humorous as well . Looking forward to listening to the CD!!"
- Travis Haggerty
"The talent was astounding! Great fun."
- Claudette Salinger-Pierce
First, thank you from the bottom of my heart for making this story and production. My sisters and I would go to the sauna with our parents on Friday nights. We often waited in the entrance room while they saunad and then were treated to pizza out at Giantonio's (if I remember right) with the Eagles and Led Zeppelin blasting from the jukebox while we waited for our pizza to cook. If we didn't get pizza, we continued around Norway lake to the ice cream shoppe- Ellen's Talk of the Town where we would get a soft serve twist with chocolate jimmies. Both options felt like the treat we had waited all week for. In waiting at the Sauna, we got to watch Dukes of Hazzard on the TV as well as all the folks coming and going. At the time we didn't have a television at home so this too was a big treat.
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Both of my parents have passed, with my Dad just in the last year and a half, so recounting any of these stories of the sauna with them now is not possible. It is easy to have happy memories of different parts of your childhood, but to go to a show on a Friday night that brings you back into that whole scene was magical. I also took the book home and read that through. I was only about 8 years old at the time I remember going to the sauna the most but it was definitely enlightening to realize all the other things happening in the space. To go back to how the energy felt there, well I do remember Dave being pressured into getting Porky's or Animal House on HBO (new on the scene in the 80's) as my Mom was shuffling us out the door on more than one occasion.
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I hope you continue to grow the show. Congrats on your success this far!!
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- Hannah F.