Founder and Lead Critic

Rachel Bixler James is the founder and lead critic of Ghost Light Review, a professional theater criticism platform dedicated to thoughtful, artist-informed analysis of Broadway, national touring, and regional productions.

Her critical perspective is informed by 27 years of formal dance training, including classical ballet, along with professional certifications in Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) and Giordano Jazz instruction. She also brings over a decade of classical piano training, including membership in the National Piano Guild, shaping her approach to musical structure, orchestration, and vocal storytelling.

In the past, Rachel performed in two touring productions with the Moscow Ballet, experiences that deepened her understanding of classical discipline, rehearsal process, and performance at scale. Her professional background also includes nine years as the owner of a women’s clothing boutique, where she developed hands-on knowledge of fabric, fit, and styling—an experience that informs her attention to visual detail and design onstage.

Through Ghost Light Review, Rachel approaches criticism as stewardship of the art form—valuing technical craft while prioritizing emotional resonance. She believes the mark of a great musical is one that makes an audience feel something and sends them home with a song that lingers long after the curtain falls.