“A scarily brash Craig Houk.” – John Stoltenberg, DC Metro Theater Arts (Blue Camp)
“The interactions between Graham’s surly Sergeant and Bossenbroek’s sassy, Southern Billy are particularly charming, as is Houk’s outsized performance as the Colonel, a stand-in for all the toxic masculinity and ruthlessness associated with the American military.” – William G. Schulz, DC Theatre Scene (Blue Camp)
“Enter “The Colonel” (Craig Houk), the very embodiment of a realpolitik Cold Warrior who knows cannon fodder when he sees it.” – William G. Schulz, TheInTowner (Blue Camp)
"This is an excellent cast who play their roles with subtlety and grace." "A gentle and lonely Craig Houk." – Mary Ann Johnson, MD Theatre Guide (The Mollusc)
"I found Houk as the cowed pushover of a husband the most fun to watch—his every wince and trepidation was well played." – Roy Maurer, DC Theatre Scene (The Mollusc)
“Craig Houk's Richard is a perfect blend of the character's defining traits: he's affable, a bit of a pushover (though not as much as one assumes on sight), and genuinely trying to do right by his family. Houk also provides the audience with some lighthearted humor - his small facial expressions and reactions are delightful, and give you a sense that the character is more formidable than the others assume.” – Rachael Goldberg, Broadway World (The Mollusc)
“Houk is a comedic standout as a handsy Catholic priest whose idea of heaven is gay sex and a good show tune.” – Patrick Folliard, Washington Blade (Jeffrey)
“Emily Levey and Craig Houk find moments to shine in multiple supporting roles.” – André Hereford, Metro Weekly (Jeffrey)
“Members of the ensemble portray several differing, rotating roles with ease; sparkling brio and zest infuse every scene. Members of the ensemble who provide the very human backdrop of this play are Craig Houk, Emily Levey, Joshua Street, and Rick Westerkamp. All are superior.” – David Friscic, DC Metro Theater Arts (Jeffrey)
“The rest of the cast is rounded out by a talented ensemble consisting of Craig Houk, Emily Levey, Joshua Street, and Rick Westerkamp, who expertly transform themselves into a variety of comedic characters.” – John Bavoso, DC Theatre Scene (Jeffrey)
“The ensemble cast - Craig Houk, Emily Levey, Joshua Street, and Rick Westerkamp - is brilliantly versatile and hilariously funny. They bring a much-needed levity to the show, making it genuinely humorous, but also providing a good counter for the more serious, aching moments.” – Rachael Goldberg, Broadway World DC (Jeffrey)
“Ensemble members Craig Houk, Emily Levey, Joshua Street, and Rick Westerkamp did a fantastic job with multiple roles each and hit just the right notes to capture each of their characters’ quirks in many varied scenes.” – Liz Ruth-Brinegar, MD Theatre Guide (Jeffrey)
"Houk’s Garrison is compelling as he struggles to find meaning in both his personal and professional life." - Julie Janson, DC Metro Theater Arts (Consider the Ficus)
"This play featured Frank Britton as Nate and Craig Houk as Garrison, who gave some of the strongest performances of the evening." - Julie Janson, DC Metro Theater Arts (Consider the Ficus)
"Craig Houk is simply beyond reproach as Blackadder. Once you’ve seen him, you will forget Rowan Atkinson entirely." - Beverly Creasey, Boston Arts Review (Blackadder Goes Forth: Live!)
"Craig Houk as Anne’s husband provides a welcome playfulness to the somber proceedings, acknowledging that he “never wins in an argument” with his wife." - Beverly Creasey, Boston Arts Review (Goodly Creatures)
"Craig Houk gives a delightful portrayal of a man deeply in love with his strong willed wife." - Kay Bourne, Edge Boston (Goodly Creatures)
"[Craig] Houk is very funny as Hendryk, a pistol of a personality, pursuing outsized romantic thoughts, and dreams birthed by sexual ambivalence." - Kay Bourne, Edge Boston (Tiny Kushner)
"The intense Craig Houk as Nixon’s shrink is fun to watch agonizing over weekly sessions he had with the president in an analysis session with angel Metatron." - Kay Bourne, Edge Boston (Tiny Kushner)
"Two vignettes stem from Kushner’s fascination with psychoanalysis (with an emphasis on the psycho). In one a patient who has just been terminated (the wonderful Craig Houk) begs his doctor to take him back." - Beverly Creasey, Boston Arts Review (Tiny Kushner)
"[Craig] Houk’s portrayal of Blackadder oozes with just the right blend of oily pseudo-suavity, gimlet-eyed ambition, and sputtering exasperation at the dolts who surround him and the predicaments that engulf him." - Don Aucoin, Boston Globe (Blackadder II: Live!)
"Blackadder II stars Craig Houk, one of Boston’s best comic actors, of late having slain Zeitgeist audiences with his furious napping. He takes over Rowan Atkinson’s reins, galloping full tilt into the dubious fray." - Beverly Creasey, Boston Arts Review (Blackadder II: Live!)
"Craig Houk stars as the pompous and ridiculous Edmund Blackadder, who seems very comfortable in the role itself, and manages to capture the arrogance and charm of the character incredibly well. His charisma is one thing to lock on to and he has it in spades." - Christian Hegg, Muffin Eats Dragon (Blackadder II: Live!)
Zeitgeist veterans Becca Lewis and Craig Houk are masters of farce. Houk can, as they say, read the phonebook and get laughs but his fitful nap and fabulous snoring in WONDERFUL DAY are reason alone to see the play. - Beverly Creasey, Boston Arts Review (My Wonderful Day)
"The laughs build to the required farcical frenzy with the appropriate array of entrances and exits, as well as some delicious physical comedy from [Craig] Houk (think John Cleese at his bumbling best)..." - Terry Byrne, Boston Globe (My Wonderful Day)
"Craig Houk is aptly ridiculous as the clueless Josh, who's capable of falling dead asleep, face buried in a sandwich, when read to from The Secret Garden." - Carolyn Clay, Boston Phoenix (My Wonderful Day)
"Craig Houk as the other younger salesman, the mean to the bone Dave Moss, fairly ripples with a merciless ruthlessness." - Kay Bourne, Edge Boston (Glengarry Glen Ross)
"Craig Houk brings a frenetic intensity to the scheming Moss. His “hypothetical” scene with the hapless Aaronow gets lots of laughs." - Beverly Creasey, Boston Arts Review (Glengarry Glen Ross)
"Houk gives the role of Moss a brash townie confidence… He speaks with confidence about subjects he couldn’t possibly know… and his arrogance makes us believe him." - John Perich, Periscope Death (Glengarry Glen Ross)
"[Craig] Houk as True (and, in the play-within-the play, as the Countess) shows incredible range. He delivers his Countess like a snippy, vengeful Dame Edna in a corset that has been laced too tightly. But he is also completely convincing as the womanizing, moonshine-sipping True." - Christopher Muther, Boston Globe (Act A Lady)
"Dyson is quivering with fury. Houk plays him with vein-popping intensity from start to finish." - Don Aucoin, Boston Globe (Lady)
"Best of all is Craig Houk’s heart-wrenching rage as Dyson, particularly as his fear mounts for his son’s future." - Jules Becker, My South End (Lady)
"Craig Houk paints a powerful portrait of sheer terror, as the object of Gill’s ruthless machinations. Without even speaking, he conveys the extent of the horror we never see---and can only imagine." - Beverly Creasey, Theatre Mirror (One For The Road)
"[Craig] Houk is hilarious as the photos send Bruce into a trancelike state... " - Boston Globe (7 Blowjobs)
"Particularly notable is Craig Houk as the senator's aide, driven nearly mad with lust by the offending photos. Houk cuts loose in a hilarious burst of unfocused lust that has him licking the furniture and literally putting ants in his pants." - Brian Jewell, Bay Windows (7 Blowjobs)
"Craig Houk, channeling John Cleese, gets a hilarious massage (from an unseen masseur) which hurls him head over heels on top of a tiny collapsible table. They should sign him up posthaste for the next Olympic gymnastic team! Then, if that weren’t enough, he out Chaplins the master on imaginary ice, not to mention dropping trou in classic slapstick form." - Beverly Creasey, Theatre Mirror (Gasping)
"Craig Houk in particular is a standout as gung-ho senior exec Philip...a physical dynamo from word one: he caps a profit report with a full-body spasm like a pitcher's windup." - Sandy MacDonald, Boston Globe (Gasping)
"Craig Houk tries to understand, to see under the skin, and to demand help in reaching for resolution. He has anthracite eyes and a hungry face." - Larry, Stark, Theatre Mirror (Two Rooms)
"Craig Houk is utterly convincing as the journalist who gets his story but truly regrets the manipulation." - Beverly Creasey, Theatre Mirror (Two Rooms)
"Houk gets his hooks in early, and keeps you there for more than 90-minutes. Quite a feat for any young actor." - Robert Nesti, Bay Windows (Desperately Aloof)
"Houk manages a deft spin of comedy and pathos throughout, moving from the sharply satiric to the sweetly sentimental." - Robert Nesti, Bay Windows (Desperately Aloof)
"A characterization that suggests Charles Busch at his best." - Robert Nesti, Bay Windows (Desperately Aloof)
"Houk shows that he has the range and the wit to hold together a diverse gallery of types who, in the end, benefit from his drive and inventiveness." - Robert Nesti, Bay Windows (Desperately Aloof)
"Aside from one woman, his characters are all gay men, but any stereotypes drop away quickly as his hour and twenty minute gallery presents more and more compelling portraits of unique individuals. Tears replace laughter as the evening progresses... excellent gallery of engrossingly interesting portraits." - Larry Stark, Theatre Mirror (Desperately Aloof)
"Craig Houk is quick out of the starting gate as Algernon. With facial expressions and body English galore, Houk blooms with Algernon’s pursuit of amusement and determination to take over the Ernest persona in order to woo the fair Cecily." - Roxanne Moore Saucier, Bangor Daily News (The Importance of Being Earnest)
"Houk's over-the-top portrayal as the bellhop is genuinely funny." - Dan Marois, Sun Journal (Lend Me a Tenor)