“...Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse’s dazzling farce Oh, Kay! with speed and panache. Given Emily Hagens’s pocket-rocket Lady Kay and Gershwin’s fascinating rhythms, this was the stand-out show.”
— Christopher Webber, Opera Magazine
“Emily Hagens (an OLO newcomer) was a delightfully English Kay, the role originated by the great Gertrude Lawrence.”
— Harry Forbes, Operetta Research Center
“...Emily Hagens, who does the title character more than just justice with a beautiful, lilting rendition of the standard ‘Someone to Watch Over Me’. Brian and Hagens have an obvious on-stage chemistry... Hagens, a soprano in her debut season with the OLO, is a strong presence, especially among a group of seasoned veterans who know exactly what it takes to bring a Freedlander Theatre audience to its feet [Oh, Kay!, George & Ira Gershwin].”
— Tami Mosser, Wooster Weekly News
“Grete (an enchanting Emily Hagens)... Hagens, always a refreshing presence, is top-notch here and provides some of the very few light moments with ‘Primrose,’ her Act II song-and-dance number.”
— Tami Mosser, The Daily Record
“Fetching Emily Hagens [Grete Schöne, The Dancing Years]”
— Harry Forbes, Operetta Research Center
“Emily Hagens charmingly portrays the female undercover agent Lizzie [Have A Heart].”
— Kelly Ferjutz, Cleveland Classical
“Emily Hagens is engaging and not seen often enough as ‘detective’ Lizzie (as in ‘Lizzie, Lizzie, I’m so busy, don’t know what to do ...’).”
— Tami Mosser, The Daily Record
“Emily Hagens clearly is having fun with her role as artist’s model — playing the dumb, slightly off-key-singing goofy broad for all she’s worth [Can-Can, Cole Porter].”
— Ellen Pill, The Daily Record
“Emily Hagens as Fiona’s sister, Jean, the bride-to-be, is bright and delightful [Brigadoon].”
— Ellen Pill, The Daily Record
Opera Reviews
“Beautiful vocal strength and lyrical lushness... dramatically, Hagens offered a Pamina that was deliciously complex and entertaining.”
— Arts Knoxville
“Hagens was equally amazing [in the role of Despina] with a gorgeous voice and stage-taking comedy instincts.”
— Metropulse
“Emily Hagens and Briana Hunter brought energy, freshness, and character depth, not to mention captivating vocal performances, to the roles of Frasquita and Mercedes, respectively.”