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EMJOY GAVINO
Actor / Casting Director / Producer / Grocery Store Enthusiast
based in Chicago and Minneapolis
She / her / hers
Vietgone, Guthrie Theater
"Emjoy Gavino scores as Tong, conveying her cynical view on life with quick wit and complete candor....Gavino allows us to see Tong's inner self beginning to desire something more than this, despite her constant denials."
- Arthur Dorman, Talkin Broadway
"Gavino [plays] Tong with the confidence and sentimentality that the role needs....."
- Ron Dunkelberger, Stages of MN
"Emjoy Gavino and Hyunmin Rhee offer very involving portrayals of two conflicted people...Gavino is impressive as Tong, a woman who has adopted unhappiness as part of her identity but is being forced to reconsider that."
- Ron Hubbard, Pioneer Press
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Do You Feel Anger, A Red Orchid Theatre
"Played by the brilliant Emjoy Gavino...here, her character works in an entirely different mode: frustration masked by false optimism, forced smiles, and determined hopefulness as she slowly discovers that this particular den of toxic maleness is pretty much unflappable."
- Karen Topham, Chicago Onstage
"Gavino and Grimm, both solid Chicago performers, show their talents as comic actors...."
- Nancy Bishop, Third Coast Review
"The glue that holds this [story] together is Sofia, magnificently played by Emjoy Gavino, a gifted actress... She creates a character who’s bold and brassy, but knows how to tread lightly around a male-dominated workplace and patronize their stupidity. Emjoy Gavino is the backbone of this production."
- Colin Douglas, Chicago Theatre Review
Kentucky, The Gift Theatre
"Gavino, D’Addario and Toriumi are wonderful in the central roles—their performances seem perfectly calibrated with one another’s."
- Alex Huntsberger, Time Out Chicago
"Delightfully performed by Gavino..."
- Nancy Bishop, Third Coast Review
"Despite an entire ensemble’s worth of excellent performances, the play belongs to Gavino..."
- Karen Topham, Chicago Onstage
"The throughline of the play rests on Emjoy Gavino’s shoulders. Gavino is more than up to the task, portraying a wry and sarcastic personality who is easy to empathize with. Hiro’s gaping flaws shine brilliantly through, and we’re able to relate to her as she reacts to the chaos around her."
- Aaron Lockman, Rescripted
Vietgone, Writers Theatre
Cry it Out, Studio Theatre
"Emjoy Gavino radiates enormous appeal as the decent and loving Jessie. She also conveys the immense naïvete of a woman who has lived in a privileged, erudite world."
- Amy Kotkin, DC Metro
"Gavino, in more of the straight-man role, brings real empathy to Jessie’s early struggles, particularly the deep sense of fear and protectiveness she feels."
- Missy Frederic, DC Theatre Scene
"Emjoy Gavino, sweetly and sincerely giving everyone neighbor FOMO..."
- Rebecca Ritzel, Washington City Paper
"...the delicious Emjoy Gavino..."
- Kris Vire, Chicago Sun-Times
"Emjoy Gavino is phenomenally great, playing a number of roles."
- Kelly Kleiman, The Dueling Critics
"Emjoy Gavino...almost stole the show with her performance."
- Brenda McCain, The Chicago Defender
"An especially warm performance by Emjoy Gavino..."
- Tony Adler, Chicago Reader
"Gavino gives a bravely comic performance as Tong's mother.
- Richard Pahl, Northwest Herald
Bull in a China Shop, About Face Theatre
You on the Moors Now, The Hypocrites
"Emjoy Gavino shines as Marks, bringing warmth, charisma, defiance, and melodrama to the character in perfect harmony; it’s impossible to leave the play without wanting to be her friend."
- Jessie Bond, Splash Magazine
"Simpkins and Gavino are fantastic to watch from their mannerisms to their night and day personalities...When we’re allowed into the depths of their emotions, we feel the love these two share."
- Alexis Bugajski, Picture This Post
"Gavino gracefully acts her way through remarkable character growth in the show's 80 minutes."
- Marissa Oberlander, Chicago Reader
"Fun to watch spiral into chaos is Emjoy Gavino as Jeannette Marks, who is well past folding under the weight of a career, students, and conventional wifedom she never asked for.."
- Sean Margaret Wagner, Theatre by Numbers
"While the dramatic action and comedic material is spread well across the entire cast, the chemistry between Gavino and Balaban is particularly explosive... Gavino is the true revelation as Cathy, a firebrand capable of reaching deep within herself to dredge out hideous truths that are somehow beautiful in the right light."
- Kevin Greene, NewCity Chicago
"And as for Cathy, Gavino’s pointedness and poise capture our hearts as she rides the heart of the play, playing both with piratical pizzaz and utter earnestness."
- Ben Kemper, Chicago Theatre Review
"I want to binge watch Emjoy Gavino."
- Marti Lyons, director of Title and Deed and Prowess
Death and Harry Houdini, The House Theatre of Chicago
"Gavino is memorable as a brilliant mathematician whose starry-eyed desire to please her boss is laced with sincere – but never sappy – adoration that will be instantly relatable to anyone who has ever been in love or infatuated."
- Catey Sullivan, Chicago Theater Beat
"She broke my heart."
- Court Theatre patron
The Hard Problem, Court Theatre
"The radiant Gavino plays Bess with an undercurrent of the sadness that came with knowing she was third in her husband’s life, after his career and his idolized mother."
- Christine Dolen, Miami Herald
"Harry's love interest [is] Bess, a charming and devoted Emjoy Gavino."
- Aaron Krause, Theatre Criticism - Miami
"I was rooting for her the whole time...TEAM BESS!"
- Adrienne Arsht Center patron
Fallen Angels, Remy Bumppo Theatre
"You have the rare Coward comedy that is dominated by strong women...[Gavino is] entertaining to behold."
- Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune
"Conversation is droll and riddled with sophisticated barbs from Gavino. With razor-sharp timing and a refined tongue, Gavino delivers her jabs for pure comedy gold. She lingers over a word or a name with wicked grandeur. Emjoy Gavino [does] physical comedy like [she is] tanked on liquid courage.."
- Katy Walsh, The Fourth Walsh
"The physical humor of the piece is extremely well-realized, particularly so from the leading duo of Gavino and Stoughton."
- Keith Glab, Chicago Theater Beat
"I had a hard time believing [she wasn't] actually drunk."
-- Remy Bumppo Patron
Realish Housewives, Second City National Tour
"As the cartoonish Desiree, Gavino has the most challenging part to play and with her helium voiced delivery and winking dunderheadness, she's dingbat-tastic."
- Gary Zeidner, Boulder Weekly
"Gavino, the ditzy neck-model Desiree, was always on point."
- Chris Arnesen, BWW.com
"The scene stealer is Emjoy Gavino, who plays a froyo-addicted neck model... She is sweet, bless her heart, but so dumb that when she sips champagne her mouth can’t seem to find the straw."
- Michael Morain, Des Moines Register
"Desiree is a neck model and a fro-yo addict, and Gavino gives her all the squeaky kookiness you'd expect from such a airhead."
- Perry Tannenbaum, Broadway World
"How did she do that with her voice? Doesn't that hurt?"
- Denver Center for the Performing Arts Patron
M. Butterfly, Court Theatre
"The women...are excellent. Emjoy Gavino is hilarious and terrifying as Comrade Chin (and others)."
- David Zak, Chicago Stage Standard
"As a devoted government official, Emjoy Gavino employs the intensity and grace that make her one of Chicago's most in-demand actresses."
-- Lauren Whalen, Chicago Theater Beat
"I liked the part when she screamed."
- CourtTheater Patron
4000 Miles, Northlight Theatre
"...delicate sketchwork which also encompasses brief but lovely turns by [Emjoy Gavino]."
- Kris Vire, Time Out Chicago
"Amanda, played with a flourish by Emjoy Gavino..."
-- Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune
"I loved [her]! Such a skank!"
-- NorthlightTheater Patron
The Drunken City, Steppenwolf Theatre
Failure: A Love Story, Victory Gardens Theatre
"Emjoy Gavino is a winning Jenny June..."
- Michael J Roberts, Showbiz Chicago
"Gavino sings and swims with fearless moxie."
- Katy Walsh, The Fourth Walsh
"Emjoy Gavino radiates spunk as Jenny June."
-Tony Adler, Chicago Reader
"I cried like a little bitch, watching Emjoy Gavino give fast-talking soul-searching realness."
- Ike Holter, writer of Hit the Wall
"The cast each had their moments and the staging was manic and funny. Emjoy Gavino [was] particularly effective."
- Tom Williams, Chicago Critic
"Gavino is the embodiment of vivacity and delight.
-- Lauren Whalen, Chicago Theater Beat
"[She] must be a professional drinker."
-- Steppenwolf Theater Patron
Working, Broadway Playhouse
"Knockout performer, Emjoy Gavino..."
- Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune
"She's heartbreaking as the weary factory worker who does the lead vocals on Taylor's "Millwork." Gavino [is an exceptional singer]..."
-John Olson, Talkin Broadway
"[She was] so good...my Dad ugly-cried!"
- Lin Manuel Miranda, writer of Hamilton and In the Heights
"I still listen to that mix tape [she] gave me!"
- Stephen Schwartz, composer of Working and Wicked
Wait Until Dark, Court Theatre
"[It's] worth it for granting us Gavino’s breakout performance...Her transformation from damsel in distress to worthy adversary is physically convincing and utterly winning; the final, pitch-black showdown...supplies edge-of-your-seat satisfaction."
-Kris Vire, Time Out Chicago
"In Emjoy Gavino, Parson has an endearing, resilient and charming heroine. Susy is a woman of both determination and an oh-so-human streak of something that flirts with laziness. There’s a journey as she develops the autonomy needed to foil a killer, and Emjoy has the audience rooting for her every step of the way."
- Catey Sullivan, The Examiner
Arabian Nights, Lookingglass Theatre
"Emjoy Gavino [was] exceptionally fluid, portraying a variety of different characters."
-Katy Walsh, Chicago Now
"She was fabulous...the girl sure can do 'fear.' "
-Beth Finke, NPR Commentator and author of Long Time, No See
The Violet Hour, Repertory Actor's Theatre
"The entrancing Emjoy Gavino...sparkling throughout her Plaza Hotel mania..."
- Annie Wagner, The Stranger
"The major accomplishment of the men in the cast...is not getting in the way of the women, for it is they who give the play life.
As Rosamund, Emjoy Gavino comes to the edge of psychosis while remaining believable."
-- Leah Green, Seattle Times
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