fulbright.bg ~ September 14, 2023

“The incredible musical program featuring Bulgarian and American music from Gershwin to Pancho Vladigerov was the brainchild of piano virtuoso John Thomas (US student researcher, 2019-2020), who was joined on stage throughout the evening by fellow musicians Martin Dafinov, Ali Kelov and Dr. Ana Borisova (BG Scholar, 2017-18) for a thrilling program of original as well as classic compositions…. [T]he audience enjoyed a rousing final musical salute from John and Ali that embodied the creative and collaborative spirit of Fulbright, a Bulgarian-American musical mash-up that takes inspiration from Philip Koutev to Beethoven to Gershwin.”

ptownie.com ~ July 21, 2024

“As both narrator and music director, musician John Thomas shines. The music is always a high point of Provincetown Theater productions, and this band (Thomas, Sue Goldberg, Austin Smith and Joe Hoyt) delivers energy and momentum.”

Provincetown Magazine ~ July 2024

“The live band, featuring Sue Goldberg, Austin Smith, Joe Hoyt, and John Thomas, who also acts as the Narrator, sets the tone for the show with its inventive use of drums, synthesizer, and the unmistakable sound of the theremin, which often acts as a character unto itself.”

The Provincetown Independent ~ July 24, 2024

“Musical director John Thomas makes the most of O’Brien’s pastiche of a score and even serves as the Narrator.”

ptownie.com ~ July 16, 2023

“[W]hen a musical brings you to tears in the first number, you know something special is going on…. These people can sing, and their harmonies are often achingly beautiful. Under John Thomas’ inspired (and energetic!) direction and performance, the music moves the play at a vigorous clip and brings many, many more possibly forgotten songs back into the audience’s consciousness.”

The Provincetown Independent ~ July 19, 2023

 “It’s difficult to overstate how delightful and perfectly restrained the production actually is, with its inventive seaside set, … [and] its three-musician orchestra, directed by John Thomas[.]”

Provincetown Magazine ~ August 2023

 “…[I]n a sense music is all around us, and sometimes it is so much around us we don’t realize its contribution, whether it’s in street performances, at the beach, at clubs, concert halls and churches…”

“You limit yourself if you define your genre as just Broadway, or just classical. There are so many kinds of music, it’s timeless.”

Provincetown Banner ~ February 1, 2021

“John works so hard bringing music to the Outer Cape…. I have a lot of respect for what he adds to the community musically.” – Ken Field, musician

Provincetown Banner ~ July 10, 2019

 “[H]igh praise must be reserved for music director and arranger John Thomas, who does more with three musicians than might seem possible. His interpretation of Sondheim’s sophisticated motifs is graceful and emotional and jarring when it needs to be. The choral moments in ‘Sweeney Todd’ will reach down to your bones.”

-       Howard Karren

Cape Cod Times ~ November 30, 2018

“Terrifically backing the music and action, and becoming characters themselves at certain points, are the musicians in the Bodacious Bobcats band: music director John Thomas on piano….”

Provincetown Banner ~ June 20, 2018

“Musicians are cool – they speak the same language no matter where they’re from. When we play music, we play without borders. We meld other styles and voices. Maybe, if we can do that, we don’t have to have such rigid borders about other things.”

Cape Cod Times ~ June 21, 2018

“I’ve always needed to learn and make friends with other cultures.”

Provincetown Banner ~ August 20, 2012

“We sang together and it was really surprising to me; Bulgarian rhythms are all… really hard to understand, but he got it.” – Elena Mancheva, singer