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For THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK: 

"Rachel Shapiro is young Anne. Rachel, a recent graduate of the theater program at Northwestern University, takes on a bunch as she begins as a 13 year-old and over two hours grows into a young woman. Wendy Kesselman has fashioned a difficult, nuanced role who must become at two least different individuals and perhaps even a third as a kind of repeated narrator of the piece. Rachel does a fine job in her difficult role." - Broadway World

"Rachel Shapiro plays the title role in the Rep production with youthful enthusiasm. The role requires an actress to walk a fine line. Anne can be obnoxious because of her propensity for talking too much and reacting spontaneously to virtually every situation, and she cultivates ego-driven dreams of becoming a writer. Even so, she’s heartbreakingly vulnerable. Shapiro does a good job of maintaining that precarious balance." - Kansas City Star

"Which is not to say this Anne isn’t an inspiration, particularly as embodied by newcomer Rachel Shapiro, who remarkably resembles the girl in the famous black-and-white photos. Darting around the stage, she’s a spark in the darkness, cheering and annoying those she can’t help but bump into. Even within the cramped annex, she feels lucky—or rather, guilty to be alive and “free” when so many of her friends are gone. The best speeches are the ones taken verbatim from Frank’s journal entries, and Wolf has effectively foregone the use of voiceovers; it is Anne, not the pages of her diary, who tells the story directly to the audience." - Kansas City Metropolis

"Obvious stand out performances come from the leads Otto and Anne by Wolpe and Shapiro. All other characters and interaction hang on their central characters." - AXS

For A HOME ON THE LAKE:

"Jelani Pitcher and Rachel Shapiro round out the cast, putting admirable effort into dramatically inert younger-generation roles." - Newcity Stage

For ELEPHANT AND PIGGIE: WE ARE IN A PLAY:

"But the preschool and kindergarten-aged audience in attendance didn't mind the understated set-up – they were simply thrilled to see their favorite characters in real life, and they giggled and gasped and clapped along with their long-adored friends." - Chicago Parent

"Rachel Shapiro so carefully captured the essence of Piggie it felt like she was actually there. She was perfect and we loved her!" - Christine Trevino

"I really liked Piggie because she was very cute. She was very lovable and Piggie has always reminded me some of myself--like very energetic all the time. And I think she captured that energy very nicely because sometimes even myself who is always energetic gets slightly annoying to other people. But she wasn't annoying at all. I have no idea how she does it!" - Ada Grey 

For OUR CLASS:

"This is a Chicago-style show in the best aspects of the term: furious energy, small theater, unstinting pain, sublimation of the individual into ensemble. You will also see Linda Gillum, Dennis Williams Grimes, Aram Mosinoff, Brian Plocharczyk, Rachel Shapiro and Stephen Spencer." - Chicago Tribune (Chris Jones)

" And while Aram Monisoff and Rachel Shapiro played characters who passed on early in the plot, they brought to life more idealistic characters who are trod upon by the events in the town, and really brought home the horror that is appropriate to the related events." - Theatre by Numbers

"The other characters in this play,  are played to perfection by the amazing Linda Gillum, the powerful Matthew Fahey, The adorable Rachel Shapiro,  Stephen Spencer, who takes on a character who becomes the hunted and the hunter, Rebecca Sohn ( who captures the beauty of her character who converts to survive),Dennis William Grimes, Brian Plocharczyk, Aram Monisoff and Matt Holzfeind. This is a strong, energetic cast that keeps the mood of the story intact as they go in and out of narratives and music ( Joe Cerqua is the composer and the musical director and handles the sound as well)." - Around the Town

"Lovely Rachel Shapiro moves the audience to tears as Dora, the victim who suffers the most." - Chicago Theatre Review

For THE NUTCRACKER:

"As the toys, Ian Maryfield (Monkey), Rachel Shapiro (Phoebe), and Ben Hertel (Hugo) are simply marvelous, exhibiting all of the mania and chaos you might expect if our silliest toys actually came to life. Shapiro, whose Phoebe is a pull-string doll, does a wonderful job with a limited vocabulary. She’s all excitement and fun, and when it comes time to make Christmas cookies she takes the lead, singing a whole song with a single phrase and a huge smile." - Chicago Onstage

"Steakley, Shapiro and Maryfield interject whimsy and humor." - Chicago Theater Beat

"Phoebe (Rachel Shapiro) is the doll, who kind of dresses like a Groovy Girl. I thought she was so energetic and funny. I love her energy and my favorite moment of Phoebe is always when they are doing the "Let's Make Cookies" song and she holds the electric mixer in the air like a crazed murderer. Rachel did it justice; she made me laugh." - Ada Grey