“With his richly expressive voice and magnetic stage presence, Rock makes for a compelling Hayes, ranging skillfully from spirituals to art songs to original compositions by Beaty.”
[more]: The Boston Globe- Review

“Rock, always wearing white tie and tales, convincingly plays Hayes at various ages. Without make-up, he imbues the role with so much heart, one quickly forgets that it’s a grown man portraying a restless child, then a rash teenager who wants only to become an artist…Though Hayes was a tenor, Rock’s plush baritone is a thing of beauty whether he’s singing the traditional spiritual, “Were You There (When They Crucified My Lord)” or French composer Gabriel Fauré’s “Les Berceaux.”
[more]: 90.9wbur (Boston’s NPR News Station)

“Rock and the members of the creative team are reminded of a popular symbol currently being used to protest the death of Eric Garner, who died after telling a New York police officer who had his arm around his neck that he couldn’t breathe. “I am thinking of the hashtag, ‘I can’t breathe,’ ” Rock explains. “This play will hopefully show us that we all need to breathe. The police need to breathe. The urban folks who have been suffocating need to breathe.”
[more]: The Boston Globe

“Jared Bowen from WGBH interviews actor Elijah Rock and director David Dower on their Arts Emerson production ‘Breath and Imagination’ and the artistry of classical singer Roland Hayes.”
[more]: WGBH- Open Studio LIVE Episode!

“The play opens with “Roland” speaking to the audience about a music school he is starting, on the plantation on which he was raised, and then the time changes to when he is a young boy with his mother at church, and thus his life unfolds before your eyes.  This was done masterfully by Elijah Rock; he was able to suddenly be transformed from the older Roland remembering his life, to the young boy at church with his mother and then to the eighteen-year-old young adult Roland, hearing Enrico Caruso’s voice singing “Una furtiva lagrima.”
[more]: The Schiller Institute

“Mr. Rock is an exquisite performer. He has the vocal clarity and expression of Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and stunning good looks all his own. Rock’s portrayal of Hayes had the audience laughing and crying in equal measure. He found great humor in the face of atrocious racism and sweet joy in melancholy spirituals. His version of “Lord, I Want to be A Christian” was so tender there were sniffles echoing through the theater. He was an entertaining character, an inspiring artist, and a gracious host. I am humbled by the range and dedication Mr. Rock displayed.”
[more]: The New England Theatre Geek  

“The play is beautifully crafted to use the formidable vocal and acting talents of Elijah Rock to channel the sound, the struggle and the spirit of Roland Hayes…Mr. Rock’s rendering of that German lieder love song was a highlight of the evening.  Another vocal and dramatic highlight was his interpretation of Hayes’ iconic rendering of the Spiritual “Were You There?”  I wonder if there was a dry eye in the house.”
[more]: The White Rhino Report

“Elijah Rock is, without a doubt, breathtaking with his interpretation of Roland Hayes…Rock’s voice is a rich instrument he clearly has attuned to, and the careful control over his craft allows him to pay rendition to Hayes successfully. It is no wonder he won 2014’s NAACP Theatre Award for Best Male Equity performer with a role that demands great acting and great singing.”
[more]: Entertainment Monthly

“It all starts with an inspirational, passionate performance by the charismatic Elijah Rock — check him out in several episodes of the latest season of Showtime’s “Masters of Sex” — as Hayes. There is plenty of music, and Rock handles the vocal requirements admirably, but Hayes the person is what makes the piece special.”
[more]: Rick Fahey’s on Boston Stages-Review

“The performances are uniformly exceptional. Rock is true to his name, anchoring the production with a fine voice and dignified bearing.”
[more]: South Shore Critic

“The title role is performed with great skill and verve by Elijah Rock as Hayes…”
[more]: Fuse Theater Review