The first (rave) reviews of ONCE are in!

South Coast Repertory's production of ONCE opened last Friday, and the praise from newspaper and blog reviewers has started showing up in print and on the web.

Geek Girl Authority's Leona Laurie compliments the show's "excellent music" and "festive atmosphere," and recommends seeing the production "if you love the music of ONCE even a little."

Paul Myrvold's Theatre Notes says the play is "brilliantly directed by Kent Nicholson," that "the cast of twelve quadruple, world-class threats as actors, singers, musicians and dancers, envelops the audience with warmth and emotion," and "ONCE is not to be missed."

At Stagescene LA, Steven Stanley deems ONCE "as thrilling a South Coast Repertory season opener as any musical theater lover could wish for," calling leads Rustin Cole Sailors and Amanda Leigh Jerry a "perfect Guy and Girl" and saying that Scott Anthony and his fellow "supporting performers are equally marvelous" who "may play smaller roles but… are no less sensational than their castmates."

The Los Angeles Times' Daryl H. Miller says "South Coast Repertory has grabbed hold of [ONCE], giving it a joyous production that looks, sounds and feels very much like Broadway’s yet resonates with an emotional truth all its own" and that "when audience members find themselves in tears without understanding why, it’s probably due to a tiny marvel such as this."

Scott Anthony portrays Eamon in SCR's production of ONCE, which runs through September 30. For more info and tickets, click here.