tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-135773462024-03-14T17:04:08.958-07:00Miryam's Theater MusingsTheater articles of all sorts, from previews and interviews to reviews of productions, and occasional musings about more meta aspects of theater production or administration.Miryam Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333918939213536603noreply@blogger.comBlogger637125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13577346.post-65475334568324487792024-03-14T16:20:00.000-07:002024-03-14T16:20:45.300-07:00Murder in the Mansion – “Something’s Afoot” Cast Is To Die For<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBCQnKR4juyZM8Q9ZuM8F4rJGgiSSPkdG9AncvOvUuma_rDqask2XCsWPmMIZ6Lnm-UC2HMSjprA6RUdqW9nt4kC7GDPqhLCdiPn_nrQM83QIyNGowfSkNXeYR8dwXyPAo-fviHQTR_XBP4B5T_n15qYb3rWajGxHYnjLxuxtwZVvSD6jhlEDRWQ/s1200/afoot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBCQnKR4juyZM8Q9ZuM8F4rJGgiSSPkdG9AncvOvUuma_rDqask2XCsWPmMIZ6Lnm-UC2HMSjprA6RUdqW9nt4kC7GDPqhLCdiPn_nrQM83QIyNGowfSkNXeYR8dwXyPAo-fviHQTR_XBP4B5T_n15qYb3rWajGxHYnjLxuxtwZVvSD6jhlEDRWQ/w580-h386/afoot.jpg" width="580" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Anne Allgood and Sarah Rudinoff in "Something's Afoot" (Mark Kitaoka)</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Something’s Afoot<br /></i><a href="http://www.5thavenue.org/" target="_blank">5<sup>th</sup> Avenue
Theatre<br /></a>Through March 24, 2024<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>Some of our town’s most iconically funny musical theater
performers join together in the 5<sup>th</sup> Avenue Theatre’s production of <i>Something’s
Afoot</i>. <b>Anne Allgood</b>, who I think can do anything on stage, is a past-master
of the totally-serious-hysterical-delivery needed in something as campy and
silly as this production.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>If you are an Agatha Christie reader, you already know what
happens in her book, <i>And Then There Were None.</i> It’s one of her most
famous murder mysteries and so you may only have read this one – or heard of
it. The title hints at what this evening of silliness will become.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>It’s a weekend in the country (sorry, Sondheim). Guests
start arriving at a mansion reached by a small land bridge, virtually all of
them expecting only themselves and the mansion owner. Yet, more keep coming
until there are ten guests. To their immediate surprise, the mansion owner is
found shot before anyone has had the opportunity to greet him, and a storm cuts
them all off from the mainland and strands them there.<br /><o:p><span><a name='more'></a></span> <br /></o:p>The ensemble chosen to perform are a wonderful collaboration
of folks, with <b>Porscha Shaw</b>, <b>Brandon O’Neill</b>, <b>Jason Weitkamp</b>,
<b>Ashley Lanyon</b>, <b>Yusef Seevers</b>, <b>Adam Standley</b>, <b>Allen
Fitzpatrick</b>, <b>Sarah Rudinoff</b>, <b>Jonathan Luke Stevens,</b> and
Allgood. Lanyon’s soaring voice and Stevens’ cute as a button sudden appearance
from a random boat on the lake make for a sweet love story.<br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p>It's lovely to see Standley and O’Neill back on stage.
Allgood and Fitzpatrick have a storyline that is so promising that it’s a shame
to have to have it cut short! As far as demises go, these two also have the
very best moments.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>Rudinoff is also so much fun to see back on stage, where she
takes on the role of detective, with a huge looking glass and an eye for
detail. She gets to cavort on stage in a dance with huge pointed staffs that
look a little terrifyingly ready to cause real mayhem.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>The songs are fine, certainly well-sung, but unmemorable;
the choreography by <b>Jimmy Shields</b> is really appropriate and keeps things
moving. The first act is the laugh-a-minute, as it should be. However, as the
mysterious murders keep happening, the second act gets sparser and sparser. The
energy sort of peters out.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>This is a piece where a more-unusual character is an
integral part of the story. The beautiful and deadly set by <b>Carey Wong</b>, and
lighting by <b>Robert J. Aguilar</b> and sound design by <b>Haley Parcher</b>, have
a lot of work to do, with intricate planning and exacting timing. Also, the sumptuous
1920s style costuming by <b>Deb Trout</b> gives flash and glitter to the
production.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>It is a family friendly production, as long as kids
understand that murder is fun in this show. There is little mystery in this
mystery, except for how and when someone might die. If you’d like an evening of
simple silliness, then this show’s for you.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>For more articles and reviews, go to <a href="https://miryamstheatermusings.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">https://MiryamsTheaterMusings.blogspot.com</a>
and subscribe to get articles direct to your in-box! On Facebook, you can find
reviews at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/SeattleTheaterWriters" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/SeattleTheaterWriters</a>.
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Miryam Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333918939213536603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13577346.post-19582253621109039492024-02-29T19:15:00.000-08:002024-02-29T19:15:19.624-08:00March Stages Roar To Life<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-M6b83mrrNW1LclMfX11nmTyuexKh7A9Z1RgwCqsU1-dTLXQM_67mLgDMSKy8ivOXSBouW3bT0GHyajdUsBE1vjXYMPit1s59Ln0dvjnKgSeLHkETcRfPqUI2jz3tYPrVbNZb3zMUdk-DpLjLweM8rOCr-iSoUh2i05sabHk1h1E5FDxoOEUnQ/s843/allen%20fitzpatrick%20somethings%20afoot%20john%20curry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="467" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-M6b83mrrNW1LclMfX11nmTyuexKh7A9Z1RgwCqsU1-dTLXQM_67mLgDMSKy8ivOXSBouW3bT0GHyajdUsBE1vjXYMPit1s59Ln0dvjnKgSeLHkETcRfPqUI2jz3tYPrVbNZb3zMUdk-DpLjLweM8rOCr-iSoUh2i05sabHk1h1E5FDxoOEUnQ/w467-h467/allen%20fitzpatrick%20somethings%20afoot%20john%20curry.jpg" width="467" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Allen Fitzpatrick in <i>Something's Afoot</i> at the 5th Avenue Theatre (John Curry)</td></tr></tbody></table>Seattle theater continues to roar back to life, producing as
many shows this month as was usual pre-Covid! Seattle theatergoers need to
continue to step up and step out to see these great shows! World premieres and
early Sondheim musicals, prize-winning scripts, a horrific medical story with a
happy ending – take a look and get out yer calendars and get them booked!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Sanctuary City</i>, <b>Seattle Rep</b>, 3/1-31/24 (opens
3/6)<br />In the winter of 2001, in Newark, NJ, two teens,
undocumented DREAMers-pre-DACA. meet up on the fire escape. They grapple with
life's challenges, from family to their futures. She promises to him that when she
becomes naturalized, she will marry him so he can receive his papers. As time
passes and their relationship shifts, both must confront what they are willing
to sacrifice to live freely and belong. This searing and captivating new play
by Pulitzer Prize-winning Martyna Majok asks what we're willing to risk for
those we love.<br /><a href="http://www.seattlerep.org/" target="_blank">www.seattlerep.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Something’s Afoot</i>, <b>5<sup>th</sup> Avenue Theatre</b>,
3/1-24/24 (opens 3/8)<br />A musical to poke fun at Agatha Christie murder mysteries;
ten people are stranded in an isolated country estate during a raging
thunderstorm. One by one, they are picked off by cleverly fiendish devices. As
bodies pile up, the survivors frantically race to solve the mystery! Join in
the tomfoolery of this farcical, raucous, and outrageous play, that will appeal
to lovers of shows like <i>Arrested Development</i>, <i>The Office</i>, and <i>Schitt’s
Creek</i>.<br /><a href="http://www.5thavenue.org/" target="_blank">www.5thavenue.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Ada and the Engine</i>, <b>Edmonds Driftwood Players</b>,
3/1-17/24<br />Ada Lovelace wrote the first computer program! In 1830!
Playwright <b>Lauren Gunderson</b> envisions a fiery, brilliant woman who sees
the boundless creative potential in the “analytic engines” of her friend and
soul mate Charles Babbage, inventor of the first mechanical computer. Ada
envisions a whole new world where art and information converge—a world she
might not live to see. A music-laced story of love, friendship, and the edgiest
dreams of the future.<br /><a href="http://www.edmondsdriftwoodplayers.org/" target="_blank">www.edmondsdriftwoodplayers.org<br /></a><o:p><span><a name='more'></a></span> <br /></o:p><i>The Complete Works of Shakespeare (abridged) (revised)
(again)</i>, <b>Red Curtain Foundation for the Arts</b>, 3/1-17/24<br />All 37 of Shakespeare's plays are performed at a breakneck
97 minutes by three actors. The show is fast-paced, witty, and physical… To
celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Reduced Shakespeare Company’s classic
farce, two of its original writer/performers thoroughly revised the show to
bring it up to date for 21st-century audiences, incorporating some of the
funniest material from the numerous amateur and professional productions that
have been performed around the world.<br /><a href="http://www.redcurtainfoundation.org/" target="_blank">www.redcurtainfoundation.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Broken Wide Open</i>, <b>Broken Wide Open</b>, 3/7-10/24
(at West of Lenin)<br /><b>Shana Pennington-Baird</b> (the invaluable local resource
for all things voice-over) had a near death experience visiting Ireland and has
now written a solo show (performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival – 2023) to
tell this fascinating tale of survival. This hour-long musical story includes
ten songs and forty minutes of comedic and dramatic narrative including a
3-person Celtic band. You’ll hear her harrowing and terrifying experience of
almost dying alone and what it took to get back home to Seattle.<br /><a href="https://brokenwideopen.com/" target="_blank">https://brokenwideopen.com<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Anyone Can Whistle</i>, <b>Reboot Theatre Company</b>,
3/8-23/24 (at Theatre Off Jackson)<br />An opportunity, finally, to experience a very early Stephen
Sondheim work! This musical features a corrupt mayor who fakes a miracle to
revitalize her bankrupt town, and the ill-fated romance between the rational
nurse, out to expose the fraud, and the easygoing doctor who is determined to
enjoy the chaos that it brings.<br /><a href="http://www.reboottheatre.org/" target="_blank">www.reboottheatre.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>The Sunless Scar</i>, <b>ACT Theatre Young Core Company</b>,
3/8-10/24 <b>(world premiere)<br /></b>In a post-apocalyptic world, environmental damage has turned
air and light into poison. To appease the gods in keeping with ancestral
traditions, regular “sacrifices” are made in the form of young villagers being
thrown into a deep crater called the Sunless Scar, from which there is no
escape. Instead of certain death, the Scar turns out to contain safety,
community, and light in a way that the harsh surface never could. Should the
denizens of the pit try to climb out and escape? And what exactly will they be
escaping to? <b>Maggie Lee</b> debuts a thrilling speculative fiction adventure
that explores how we honor ourselves and our past, and what we’re willing to
risk for an uncertain future. This was commissioned specifically for ACT’s Young
Core Company.<br /><a href="http://www.acttheatre.org/" target="_blank">www.acttheatre.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Rent</i>, <b>Tacoma Little Theatre</b>, 3/8-31/24<br />A group of impoverished young artists and musicians struggles
to survive and create in New York’s Lower East Side, under the shadow of
HIV/AIDS. The physical and emotional complications of the disease pervade the
lives of Roger, Mimi, Tom and Angel. Maureen deals with her chronic infidelity
through performance art; her partner, Joanne, wonders if their relationship is
worth the trouble. Benny has sold out his Bohemian ideals, and Mark, an
aspiring filmmaker, feels like an outsider to life in general. How these young
bohemians negotiate their dreams, loves and conflicts provides the narrative
thread to this groundbreaking musical.<br /><a href="http://www.tacomalittletheatre.com/" target="_blank">www.tacomalittletheatre.com<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Steel Magnolias</i>, <b>Olympic Theatre Arts Center</b>,
3/8-24/24<br />In Truvy’s beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, all the
ladies who are “anybody” come to have their hair done. Outspoken, wise-cracking
Truvy dispenses shampoos and free advice to the town’s rich curmudgeon, Ouiser;
an eccentric millionaire, Miss Clairee; and the local social leader, M’Lynn,
whose daughter, Shelby, is about to marry a “good ole boy.” Filled with hilarious
repartee and not a few acerbic but humorously revealing verbal collisions, the
play moves toward tragedy when Shelby risks a dangerous pregnancy. The characters’
underlying strength and love show how they manage life in good times and bad.<br /><a href="http://www.olympictheatrearts.org/" target="_blank">www.olympictheatrearts.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>The Fantasticks</i>, <b>Village Theatre</b>, Issaquah:
3/13/24-4/14/24, Everett: 4/27/24-5/19/24<br /><i>The Fantasticks</i> was the longest-running musical in
the world. Timeless songs like “<i>Try to Remember</i>” and “<i>Soon It’s Gonna
Rain</i>” add buoyant humor and charming tunes. A boy and a girl fall madly in
love, and their two meddlesome fathers agree try to keep them apart. This
production features a newly revised and updated script and a lush new approach
to this beloved classic. Don’t miss this magical, wild and witty tale about
young love, wild fantasy, and growing up.<br /><a href="http://www.villagetheatre.org/" target="_blank">www.villagetheatre.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Colder Than Here</i>, <b>As If Theatre Company</b>,
3/14-30/24 (Kenmore Community Club)<br />Myra’s typical, middle-class family is normal in its
eccentricities, especially when it comes to dealing with her illness. The
boiler keeps breaking, the cat’s gone missing, and the perfect funeral needs
planning, but her husband would rather bury his head in a newspaper while her
two daughters wrestle with their own problems. Myra might be busy researching
flatpack coffins and creating a PowerPoint presentation of her dying wishes,
but her last big project is to fix her family.<br /><a href="http://www.asiftheatre.com/" target="_blank">www.asiftheatre.com<br /></a><o:p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq3q0K-O5WZw7OGduD_hen153Er1-Ne0GElwR2C-QONwoFX-2Lwy5WNBGWGrFerEL4KmVDO-LVzI_u2uCV5Huc3_O818Tz4ONvplVLeXgoyVUe0ujMEE6IQS5gUBHxqWXOQ8nCT23newMeq-nUzNHU6cjb3ZsNEq36ksBJcdvLBMvUDqsGKXZsIA/s843/shermona%20mitchell%20stew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="445" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq3q0K-O5WZw7OGduD_hen153Er1-Ne0GElwR2C-QONwoFX-2Lwy5WNBGWGrFerEL4KmVDO-LVzI_u2uCV5Huc3_O818Tz4ONvplVLeXgoyVUe0ujMEE6IQS5gUBHxqWXOQ8nCT23newMeq-nUzNHU6cjb3ZsNEq36ksBJcdvLBMvUDqsGKXZsIA/w445-h445/shermona%20mitchell%20stew.jpg" width="445" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shermona Mitchell in <i>Stew</i> at ACT Theatre (courtesy ACT Theatre)</td></tr></tbody></table></o:p><i>Stew</i>, <b>ACT Theatre</b>, 3/15-31/24<br />This play by Zora Howard was a 2021 Pulitzer Prize finalist.
Mama’s up early to prepare the perfect stew for a very important community
meal. As the day rolls on, tempers go from a simmer to a boil, and secrets rise
to the surface for three generations of Tucker women. When the violence
hovering around the periphery of their lives begins to intrude upon the
sanctity of the kitchen, mothers and daughters wrestle with loss and hope in
this hilarious, haunting drama.<br /><a href="http://www.acttheatre.org/" target="_blank">www.acttheatre.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>THE PARTICIPANTS!</i>, <b>Annex Theatre</b>, 3/15-23/24 <b>(world
premiere)<br /></b>Loca playwright <b>Jesse Calixto presents f</b>our strangers
who are invited to participate in a focus group where they are asked to watch a
trailer about an infamous hidden-camera prankster. Despite being told
"Your opinion matters!" they suddenly begin to wonder if they
themselves are the subject of a sick joke or a life-threatening disaster.<br /><a href="http://www.annextheatre.org/" target="_blank">www.annextheatre.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)</i>,
<b>Harlequin Productions</b>, 3/15-31/24 (at Washington Center)<br />Another opportunity to see this irreverent, hilarious,
high-speed romp through all 37 of the Bard’s plays (and 154 sonnets) in under
two hours! Titus Andronicus becomes a cooking show, all the Histories are
performed as a football game, and we go NUTS with Hamlet!<br /><a href="http://www.harlequinproductions.org/" target="_blank">www.harlequinproductions.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Act A Lady</i>, <b>Woodinville Repertory Theatre</b>,
3/15/24-4/7/24 (at Sammamish Valley Grange, 14654 148th Ave NE, Woodinville)<br />In a small Midwestern Elks Club group in 1927, the men want
to mount an 18th Century romance play. But dressing as women in the play
scandalizes the Ladies Moral League who threatens to shut it down. Miles is
eager and not at all dismayed by the idea of getting into women's clothing. But
Miles' wife is conflicted with supporting her husband or giving in to sin, as
embodied by men wearing women's clothing. The fact that everyone seems to have
someone else inside him or her is revealed in this play.<br /><a href="http://www.woodinvillerep.org/" target="_blank">www.woodinvillerep.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>How to Write a New Book for the Bible</i>, <b>Taproot
Theatre</b>, 3/20/24-4/20/24<br />“Write what you know” the saying goes. But when Bill Cain
moves home to help his dying mother, he doesn’t have the words to capture the
mystery of his own family. Amidst doctor appointments and baseball games he
begins to see how seemingly ordinary details become the lifegiving rituals that
shape our lives.<br /><a href="http://www.taproottheatre.org/" target="_blank">www.taproottheatre.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>The Bed Trick</i>, <b>Seattle Shakespeare Company</b>,
3/20/24-4/7/24 <b>(world premiere)<br /></b>Seattle favorite ex-pat, and longtime SSC collaborator, <b>Keiko
Green</b> applies her sharp provocation and biting humor to contemporary
discussions of consent and manipulation in direct conversation with one of the
most problematic devices in Shakespeare. College freshmen Lulu and Marianne
test their limits as they party through the school. When their
drama-nerd-roommate Harriet brings in baggage from a student production of <i>All’s
Well That Ends Well</i>, ideas of consent and manipulation start to seep into
their lives.<br /><a href="http://www.seattleshakespeare.org/" target="_blank">www.seattleshakespeare.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>The Moors</i>, <b>Seattle Public Theater</b>,
3/22/24-4/14/24<br />Two sisters and a dog live out their lives on the bleak
English moors, dreaming of love and power. The arrival of a hapless governess
and a moor-hen set all three on a strange and dangerous path. <i>The Moors</i>
is a dark comedy about love, desperation, and visibility.<br /><a href="http://www.seattlepublictheater.org/" target="_blank">www.seattlepublictheater.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>The Master & Margarita</i>, <b>Dacha Theatre</b>,
3/22/24-4/13/24 (at 12<sup>th</sup> Avenue Arts)<br />The Devil went down to Moscow...1930’s Soviet era Moscow
that is. The Master is missing. His novel about Pontius Pilate was rejected,
and he himself has disappeared. To find her lover, Margarita must embark on a
journey that will bring her into contact with a mysterious foreigner and his
otherworldly crew. This gothic Soviet fairytale, full of magical realism, and
satire of greed and corruption is a sometimes charming, sometimes bewildering,
always hilarious ride through a strange, but all too recognizable world.<br /><a href="http://www.dachatheatre.com/" target="_blank">www.dachatheatre.com<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Merrily We Roll Along</i>, <b>SecondStory Repertory</b>,
3/29/24-4/21/24<br /><i>Merrily We Roll Along</i>, an early Sondheim musical,
begins in the present and moves backwards, tracing the lives of wealthy, jaded
composer, Franklin Shepard, and his two estranged friends through each
milestone of their personal and professional lives (good and bad). The show
ends with a touch of rueful irony, as the three best friends at the start of
their careers face a bright future: young, talented and enthusiastic about the
worlds waiting to be conquered.<br /><a href="http://www.secondstoryrep.org/" target="_blank">www.secondstoryrep.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>First Date</i>, <b>Centerstage Theatre</b>,
3/29/24-4/21/24<br />A meet-cute musical. When blind date newbie Aaron is set up
with serial-dater Casey, a casual drink at a busy New York restaurant turns
into a hilarious high-stakes dinner.<br /><a href="http://www.centerstagetheatre.com/" target="_blank">www.centerstagetheatre.com</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For more reviews, go to <a href="http://www.facebook.com/SeattleTheaterWriters" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/SeattleTheaterWriters</a>.
Please go to <a href="https://miryamstheatermusings.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">https://MiryamsTheaterMusings.blogspot.com</a>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Miryam Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333918939213536603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13577346.post-41706533495089911042024-02-25T17:26:00.000-08:002024-02-25T17:40:13.299-08:00Don’t Forget Tickets to “Memoirs of a Forgotten Man!”<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwpOnb7KE_-ki7FMgvictIj98PvqxkGw-Lj4w0s23wMoQRzFN15peW2miLF557g__s3wJryUWd9F_Gt5_UdpUlArGwmApbtn_aq-WZ2Fhs9BdKcXWRkULvh46T_jkIh71BUctactY26YJX6aiB4NfLPletYFN8G6uTo1NgHEVhnUTJxFhOK8VHw/s5472/Memoirs%20Patrick%20Harvey_Jon%20Lutyens_Sunam%20Ellis.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwpOnb7KE_-ki7FMgvictIj98PvqxkGw-Lj4w0s23wMoQRzFN15peW2miLF557g__s3wJryUWd9F_Gt5_UdpUlArGwmApbtn_aq-WZ2Fhs9BdKcXWRkULvh46T_jkIh71BUctactY26YJX6aiB4NfLPletYFN8G6uTo1NgHEVhnUTJxFhOK8VHw/w560-h373/Memoirs%20Patrick%20Harvey_Jon%20Lutyens_Sunam%20Ellis.jpg" width="560" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Patrick Harvey, Jon Lutyens, Sunam Ellis in <i>Memoirs of a Forgotten Man</i> (Annabel Clark)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Memoirs Of A Forgotten Man<br /></i><a href="file:///D:/Users/Miryam/Documents/ARTS%20articles/Musings/www,thaliasumbrella.org" target="_blank">Thalia’s Umbrella<br /></a>At 12th Avenue Arts</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Through March 9, 2024<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>A fascinating and brilliantly written production, <i>Memoirs
of a Forgotten Man</i>, is now onstage at 12<sup>th</sup> Avenue Arts, by <b>Thalia’s
Umbrella</b>. It feels like a decades-past Russian-written critique of their
government, but was written by an American, D. W. Gregory, and only in 2018.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>We meet Dr. Berezina (<b>Sunam Ellis</b>) who is trying to
get her doctorate thesis approved for publication and has been called in to
meet Comrade Kreplev (<b>Jon Lutyens</b>), but it’s on a Sunday morning – a very
odd time to be meeting about this effort. Immediately, we are on edge because
she is on edge. A feeling of menace and discomfort infuse every moment. What is
she doing there? What is he doing there?<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>Kreplev practically dismisses all of her scientific effort.
He demands to know information that is <i>not</i> present in her writings. Her
focus is regarding memory and how it works. She has written about a subject of
hers whom she both studied and counseled 20 years earlier. But the man has
disappeared. Kreplev is most interested in him and where he has disappeared to.
She is completely baffled by this.<br /><o:p><span><a name='more'></a></span> <br /></o:p>Kreplev is by turns conciliatory, abrupt, menacing and even
blackmailing her. Still, his business with her is a mystery. She begins to tell
the story of this subject, she’ll call him “Alexei” (<b>Patrick Harvey</b>),
who she described as having both a photographic memory and also synesthesia,
being able to taste words and hear colors. Alexei appears in her memories of
her meetings with him, as she describes the progress of their relationship.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>Alexei then describes to her his family and their lives growing
up under repressive Stalinist society. He talks about his mother (<b>Leslie
Law</b>) and his brother, Vassily (also Lutyens), and the nosy neighbor, Demidova
(also Ellis). He describes how much trouble he got into with his publications boss
(also Law), who did not understand why he couldn’t forget dissidents’ speeches.
As we watch this history unfold, we know how much danger he clearly is in, but
Alexei does not perceive or understand that danger.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><o:p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkfAS8Ct1mULFoHijI7wOXwEYEZmnWjlkS2zOCDPvqkErHTfGsfkTv-obErJoPoQnUF3IF7B5BKamhSUlzt4tVsJAykuQRLY7Ld78KadS14budNIl1cW2ZBF9dvzUC6yXNd4BlRZVg3-xLWvUNtmT8BjNbWVDnTt7VyFjKt7uMHosm7ncbVF5Kw/s5472/Memoirs%20Leslie%20Law.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkfAS8Ct1mULFoHijI7wOXwEYEZmnWjlkS2zOCDPvqkErHTfGsfkTv-obErJoPoQnUF3IF7B5BKamhSUlzt4tVsJAykuQRLY7Ld78KadS14budNIl1cW2ZBF9dvzUC6yXNd4BlRZVg3-xLWvUNtmT8BjNbWVDnTt7VyFjKt7uMHosm7ncbVF5Kw/s320/Memoirs%20Leslie%20Law.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leslie Law (Annabel Clark)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <br /></o:p>In this production, four pitch-perfect actors create all of
these characters. Ellis demonstrates almost uncanny ability to be both the cautious,
suspicious doctor and the creepy, nosy neighbor, each of whom is so specific
and so believable. Law also seamlessly changes from warm, anxious mother to
unkind, stern, boss or teacher. Lutyens tosses off his glasses and becomes an
older brother who can’t protect this young, vulnerable brother.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>Harvey is amazing as he drinks into himself a clearly neurodiverse
character. His movements, stares into space, and diffident, confused manner
lend total believability to this befuddled man. It’s a tour-de-force
performance.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Directed ably by <b>Terry Edward Moore</b>, with a simple, flexible set and evocative background by <b>Roberta Russell</b>, who also designed the lighting, the technical aspects never draw attention to themselves to distract. <b>Kyle Thompson's</b> sound design ever-so-softly hints at doors shutting, or people present on the other side of a door.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>The script is wonderfully crafted, unfolding the story with
precision, causing the audience to sit forward trying to figure out where it’s
going. The danger in the political manipulation of memory and whose truth is
being told is obviously topical. Soviet “propaganda” is now “fake news” and
those who are falling for it without protective filters are pawns in the political
game.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>But more than that, Gregory’s compassion for this unique
character and the care she has taken with his dialogue help us fall in love
with him and his communication style. Somewhat similarly to the play <i>The
Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time</i> by Simon Stephens, a deep
exposure to someone who doesn’t think as most do helps us develop compassion
for others, and reminds us that these differences enlarge and enrich our lives.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>I highly recommend this production! If you love post-play
discussions with friends, this play will provide plenty of fodder and food for
thought.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><o:p style="font-size: large;"><br /></o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">For more reviews, go to <a href="http://www.facebook.com/SeattleTheaterWriters" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/SeattleTheaterWriters</a>.
Please go to <a href="https://miryamstheatermusings.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">https://MiryamsTheaterMusings.blogspot.com</a>
and subscribe to get articles direct to your in-box!</span></div>
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Miryam Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333918939213536603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13577346.post-60647013504705157682024-02-22T16:39:00.000-08:002024-02-22T20:53:47.957-08:00Time Travel Matters in Seattle Public Theater's "Once More, Just For You"<div style="text-align: left;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5ibqNwtdnZFxViqRpunLut7_9cyXYLTFIM3oGgOvjkh-l2BircPz9vBqXmA5At47XBqkEUdnQMCeilfzHi2ZsytrDM_2mWA5nAeBM4cnoTAgeYC26JAhqn5PI03-6xtEpciJrublJkGeHA197Y549gpHoopdl9hW_wjDdq8mg4GoWdCJNJ4efPw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1444" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5ibqNwtdnZFxViqRpunLut7_9cyXYLTFIM3oGgOvjkh-l2BircPz9vBqXmA5At47XBqkEUdnQMCeilfzHi2ZsytrDM_2mWA5nAeBM4cnoTAgeYC26JAhqn5PI03-6xtEpciJrublJkGeHA197Y549gpHoopdl9hW_wjDdq8mg4GoWdCJNJ4efPw=w588-h392" width="588" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Once More, Just For You</i> (Joe Iano)</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Once More, Just For You<br /></i><a href="http://www.seattlepublictheater.org/" target="_blank">SeattlePublic Theater</a> and<br /><a href="http://www.machatheatreworks.com" target="_blank">Macha Theatre Works</a><br />Through February 25, 2024<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>A world premiere from Seattle’s preeminent sci-fi fantasy
playwright, <b>Maggie Lee</b>, is now on stage at <b>Seattle Public Theater</b>
(co-produced with <b>Macha Theatre Works</b>). The premise of <i>Once More,
Just For You</i> is that a woman (scientist) has a time machine in her basement
and is intent to do something very specific with it. What she wants and why are
the two questions that fill the mystery of the play.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>Scientist Rae (<b>Ina Chang</b>) has a mission to go back in
time and change one very tiny, very unimportant - to the whole universe -
event. She doesn’t want to change world history because that’s a step too far. She
doesn’t believe that changing this one tiny event will affect much of anything
else, though of course she’d never know if it did later.<br /><o:p><span><a name='more'></a></span> <br /></o:p>She’s helped by a long-time employee, Sloane (<b>Belinda Fu</b>),
who clearly cares about her a lot, and is worried because Rae seems to be jeopardizing
her health as she returns over and over to this one moment in time. Sloane gives
us a lot of laughs with wry one-liners that establish this friendship clearly.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>In a two-sided set by <b>Parmida Ziaei</b>, we jump back and
forth in time, from the basement to a house, with a sort of “null space” for
time travel in-between. It works very well and is pretty instantly clear.
Costumer <b>Leny Shen</b> helps us get to know a young woman, Yoori (<b>Pearl
Lam</b>) from about 1950-60 through subtle period fashions. Intricate “time
travel” lighting works beautifully from <b>Dani Norberg</b>. Director <b>Amy Poisson</b> pulls everything together and keeps it moving.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>The relationship between the whirlwind, “I don’t care about
conventions” Rae and the reserved, careful, cautious, and deeply
self-denigrating Yoori is a fascinating one, though Lee never tells us who they
are to the other until the very end. Yet, Rae is almost desperate to get Yoori
to do “something different.”<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>Lam and Chang do a great job in developing a complex
relationship, as we work to understand why Rae cares so much about this young
woman. Every note that Lam displayed seemed perfect, in her understanding of
how a young Korean immigrant might act in the middle of the 20<sup>th</sup>
century.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>I’ve seen every (I think) Maggie Lee play done in Seattle
and I have truly enjoyed her unique voice in the playwriting community. She is
always inventive and so smart at conceiving of a universe with a complete story
arc and then writing to that end. She knows her niche, and quite prolifically
writes cogent and cohesive characters in worlds that make sense.<br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p>This play ends in a bit of an abrupt moment, but it makes so
much sense, as well. And definitely provokes a lot of thought as you leave the
theater. Go get tickets for this weekend and have great conversations afterward!<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>For more reviews, go to <a href="http://www.facebook.com/SeattleTheaterWriters" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/SeattleTheaterWriters</a>.
Please go to <a href="https://miryamstheatermusings.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">https://MiryamsTheaterMusings.blogspot.com</a>
and subscribe to get articles direct to your in-box!</span></div>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Miryam Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333918939213536603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13577346.post-78658448168611060062024-02-17T22:51:00.000-08:002024-02-17T22:51:52.679-08:00"Blood Countess" Horrifies (In A Good Way)<div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YHFhS3POJoE-BzxV2s57VI1nr23sxeKx7TAxfTZlCBEngF7khchuUSGOnuoeOKYaogkdb4aT-wv2xXnEt_N_IF_gvuIiGZo8R2-ETNAD4DwGQMtRunP4ULKcAKxpbtHD8WklquoBrNwgeRJRcolApH_mFFAEWCLO-50_zbFEXItrLHzuiYYjEQ/s2160/Blood%20Fitzco%20Truman%20Buffett.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="1728" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YHFhS3POJoE-BzxV2s57VI1nr23sxeKx7TAxfTZlCBEngF7khchuUSGOnuoeOKYaogkdb4aT-wv2xXnEt_N_IF_gvuIiGZo8R2-ETNAD4DwGQMtRunP4ULKcAKxpbtHD8WklquoBrNwgeRJRcolApH_mFFAEWCLO-50_zbFEXItrLHzuiYYjEQ/w365-h456/Blood%20Fitzco%20Truman%20Buffett.jpg" width="365" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brandon Ryan as Fitzco and Zenaida Rose Smith as Elizabeth Bathory (Truman Buffett)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Blood Countess<br /></i><a href="http://www.map-theatre.com/" target="_blank">MAP Theatre</a> (at 18<sup>th</sup>
and Union)<br />Through February 24, 2024<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>Ten years ago (ok, 9 ½), <b>Annex Theatre</b> produced a
world premiere by local “goth” playwright <b>Kelleen Conway Blanchard </b>called
<i>Blood Countess</i>. The subject is a poetic and evocative telling of a
real-life noblewoman, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_B%C3%A1thory" target="_blank">Elizabeth Bathory</a>,
whose life spawned many folktales after her life and death in the 1500s, including
that she maimed, tortured, and killed hundreds of young women. There were
claims of vampirism!<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>Blanchard has a very unique writing voice and often blends macabre
humor and sexuality into her work. Laughter is inextricably mixed with dark
subjects. Here, Blanchard had a wide-open field to imagine the life of Bathory.
And imagine she does. The play begins with Bathory’s childhood, then marriage
to a fellow sadist, up to her final captivity and end.<br /><o:p><span><a name='more'></a></span> <br /></o:p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Brandon Ryan </b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">plays two key roles – both of them impeccably
and specially as only Ryan can play. Bathory’s </span>Mother is venal, crazy
and abusive, and then a strange man arrives to be Bathory’s servant, Fitzco.
Fitzco is a mystery all to himself, but here he literally “feeds” girls to the
Countess to assuage her need to drink their blood to stay “pretty!”<br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Zenaida Rose Smith,</b>
in the title role, displays a full range of emotions and facially transmits all
kinds of information through her expressions: longing to be accepted for
herself, developing awareness of her own powers and desires, and progressing
into a raging, crazy and megalomaniacal fully-grown woman.<br /> <o:p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKVi737EEEHefMe0zJuV5qCsSrQoNLkqKZs6lQisTUKUqN8S9AquNWChPQi5TWN4kembvXx7W5-dGw5q2V4vx0Baoq1TvPJfrS-xZuPRrRR7aqdrBZr2X72euQfMq3Vro-jI_5bOOaw-kFSTjsJHDmKa3BlqDyctN7BuIwEyhcegVaoozkR14CQ/s2160/Blood%20Truman%20Buffett%20smith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="2160" height="429" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKVi737EEEHefMe0zJuV5qCsSrQoNLkqKZs6lQisTUKUqN8S9AquNWChPQi5TWN4kembvXx7W5-dGw5q2V4vx0Baoq1TvPJfrS-xZuPRrRR7aqdrBZr2X72euQfMq3Vro-jI_5bOOaw-kFSTjsJHDmKa3BlqDyctN7BuIwEyhcegVaoozkR14CQ/w429-h429/Blood%20Truman%20Buffett%20smith.jpg" width="429" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smith and Jojo Salamanca as Dorkus (Truman Buffett)</td></tr></tbody></table></o:p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jojo Salamanca</b> is
Dorkus, the nursemaid and main house servant who must comply with her masters
and then somehow clean up after bloody messes she has to pretend not to
understand. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Van Lang Pham </b>is Elizabeth’s
husband Ferenc, a nobleman who enjoys her sadism and encourages it to new
heights. He skirts the edge of caricature, but adds a lot of creepy fun.<br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Heather Persinger</b>
plays a sleazy priest who has known the family and is trying, unsuccessfully,
to bring attention to disappearing young girls who are last seen at Elizabeth’s
manor. However, he is no saint!<br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jasmine (Jazz) Flora</b>
is new to me as an actor and she is astonishing (in a good way) as she plays
several young women who are introduced and quickly disappear, through changes
in costume, language and demeanor, along with a dark “fairy” of some kind who
might inhabit Countess’ dreams.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>The mayhem is ably directed by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Peggy Gannon</b>. With <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Robin
Macartney’s</b> support for set design, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Angelo
Domitri</b> providing creepy lighting, costuming from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jocelyn Fowler</b>, and sound by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Joseph
Swartz</b>, the overall effect is a sophisticated production. There were a few
moments when a bit more gore seemed missing (not that I love gore on stage at
all, but some of those transitions with the tortured girls were abrupt). Go get
your fright on and also experience a multi-layered biography.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>For more reviews, go to <a href="http://www.facebook.com/SeattleTheaterWriters" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/SeattleTheaterWriters</a>.
More articles can be found at <a href="http://www.miryamstheatermusings.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">www.miryamstheatermusings.blogspot.com</a>.</span></div>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Miryam Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333918939213536603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13577346.post-27396709124346972012024-02-08T15:22:00.000-08:002024-02-08T15:22:02.630-08:00Experienced Talent Brimming in "The Book of Will" at Taproot Theatre<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_LHu-mHWua7W4wIFf0mAKND05QXgPMMUCs2-YxE2_xIY0mN5TouOw3IlZyhAGj7wm8keNFjZNsMyuGTCNOevMHVgWOvWHW_OZPo0OXPJIQ-pmCUFRGiavLJXyomEpq7XU49wRzNcUQLdEREooPlAfX8KmEpZW8XLPos0Wt94QfQvsJx8vDEyIw/s1152/palmer%20will%20john%20ulman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="768" height="590" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_LHu-mHWua7W4wIFf0mAKND05QXgPMMUCs2-YxE2_xIY0mN5TouOw3IlZyhAGj7wm8keNFjZNsMyuGTCNOevMHVgWOvWHW_OZPo0OXPJIQ-pmCUFRGiavLJXyomEpq7XU49wRzNcUQLdEREooPlAfX8KmEpZW8XLPos0Wt94QfQvsJx8vDEyIw/w393-h590/palmer%20will%20john%20ulman.jpg" width="393" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nolan Palmer and Melanie Godsey in <i>The Book of Will</i> (John Ulman)</td></tr></tbody></table><i>The Book of Will<br /></i><a href="http://www.taproottheatre.org/" target="_blank">Taproot Theatre<br /></a>Through February 24, 2024<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>This production of prolific playwright <b>Lauren Gunderson</b>
is rambunctiously performed by a mostly-veteran ensemble of wonderful actors.
It’s such a joy to see/hear them chew into the script, especially <b>Nolan Palmer</b>,
as he skillfully overacts, as Richard Burbage, Shakespeare’s soliloquys while
wanting to murder the young, ridiculous thespians who mangle and change
Shakespeare’s words – because Shakespeare’s plays have not yet been codified in
print.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>The play surmises that after Shakespeare’s death, no one has
thought to collect all of his plays and make sure they are properly saved for
future audiences. In 1619, a few years after Shakespeare’s death, dumbed-down
versions of his plays are proliferating, with actors guessing at what the
script would be! Determined to fix this are the fabled actor Richard Burbage (Nolan
Palmer), who played dozens of the great roles, John Heminges (<b>Eric Jensen</b>),the
business manager of Shakespeare’s acting company, <i>The King’s Men</i>, Henry
Condell (<b>Reginald André Jackson</b>), an actor and co-owner of the Globe. They
are aided by wives and daughter (<b>Llysa Holland</b>, <b>Nikki Visel</b>, and <b>Melanie
Godsey</b>).<br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p>Palmer doubles as William Jaggard, a swindler in the
publishing game who has often been accused of plagiarism, and somehow has
spawned a son, Isaac (<b>Christopher Clark</b>), who swears he will help bring
authenticity and trust to publishing the Folio. The rest of the wonderful
ensemble include Ben Johnson (<b>Nik Doner</b>), the other great playwright of
the era, and Ralph Crane (<b>Andrew Litzky</b>), a meticulous scribe of the “acting”
scripts of Shakespeare who wrote down and kept many crucial scripts for himself
(thankfully), and <b>William Eames</b>, who plays several small but important
roles.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><a name='more'></a></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><o:p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM657Rk-J6DXgEBl5y4QE0BOa5ILmeTHNcvNPPzdFKV0iqTOL0CiaqyGG0SO6e2I7Ezm2tHYkhL68GgZbJt0gUfHB-Mc-ZMvRHJIhAgyWGWwVwJR2A_4_Lz6w2u9ZXVKq1VqupNvDn0zHGUrLme0N8646lYp_uqDLN1-HUdPXQPUiUtbBVmcjoSQ/s2560/reggie%20will%20john%20ulman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1707" data-original-width="2560" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM657Rk-J6DXgEBl5y4QE0BOa5ILmeTHNcvNPPzdFKV0iqTOL0CiaqyGG0SO6e2I7Ezm2tHYkhL68GgZbJt0gUfHB-Mc-ZMvRHJIhAgyWGWwVwJR2A_4_Lz6w2u9ZXVKq1VqupNvDn0zHGUrLme0N8646lYp_uqDLN1-HUdPXQPUiUtbBVmcjoSQ/w529-h352/reggie%20will%20john%20ulman.jpg" width="529" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reginald Andre Jackson and Eric Jensen (John Ulman)</td></tr></tbody></table></o:p>It's a pleasure to watch them play. They all, seamlessly, change
characters without missing a beat. Director <b>Karen Lund</b>, smartly and adeptly
as usual, keeps the pacing on track and works with the tiny stage meticulous
crafted by <b>Mark Lund</b>, as locations shift quickly and ingeniously.
Costuming by <b>Nanette Acosta</b> is beautifully period, as usual.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p><a name="_Hlk145860665">No one really knows what happened to
bring about the First Folio, nor do people actually all agree that Shakespeare
was only one person! So, Gunderson is free to dream and imagine and does so
credibly and with great humor. Do yourself a favor and visit Taproot to lean
into Gunderson’s imagination, and leave thankful that Shakespeare – whoever he
was – was somehow saved for posterity!<br /></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk145860665;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk145860665;">For more articles,
please go to </span><a href="https://miryamstheatermusings.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk145860665;">https://MiryamsTheaterMusings.blogspot.com</span></a></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk145860665;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> and subscribe to get them in your in-box!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Miryam Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333918939213536603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13577346.post-40697284087852282322024-02-07T19:09:00.000-08:002024-02-08T15:29:56.850-08:00Special Opportunity to Hear Musical “Sunset Boulevard”<div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCslFNgeLsNdeqwY_GpF1s6e8brF3TRyQDz8c2GGbvAMN8CMQPXYknTuL5aCzrHmKZd2UBKz08qJpJL2pAvA4IpEn4WKhLzrQjthA05VYZ8mrGfBNdMCEVcc4UdbCHkLae94QkzdCbBdiMDUy0akwq1yNGjvrsqpw9rjAZBqosSjxnUVpiQO6UA/s3200/billie%20sunset.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3200" data-original-width="3183" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCslFNgeLsNdeqwY_GpF1s6e8brF3TRyQDz8c2GGbvAMN8CMQPXYknTuL5aCzrHmKZd2UBKz08qJpJL2pAvA4IpEn4WKhLzrQjthA05VYZ8mrGfBNdMCEVcc4UdbCHkLae94QkzdCbBdiMDUy0akwq1yNGjvrsqpw9rjAZBqosSjxnUVpiQO6UA/w483-h486/billie%20sunset.jpeg" width="483" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Billie Wildrick and Matthew Kacergis in <i>Sunset Boulevard</i> (Chris Bennion)</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Sunset Boulevard<br /></i><a href="http://www.showtunestheatre.org/" target="_blank">Showtunes Theatre
Company<br /></a>(at Cornish Playhouse)<br />Through February 11, 2024<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>Below, you’ll see that I was intrigued enough about the
musical that I did some Wikipedia-ing about both the movie, <i>Sunset Boulevard</i>,
and the musical’s history. But I first want to encourage you to hurry and get
tickets for the last <i>two</i> performances of this concert before you lose this
unique opportunity!<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p><b>Showtunes Theatre Company</b>, if you have not had the
immense pleasure of attending their concerts, yet, allows us to see top-level local
musical theater performers tackle musicals that may well never have “full”
productions in Seattle. They perform “concerts” where there is no set, not much
significant costuming or lights, and the performers generally use
scripts-in-hand, so the audience has to bring a lot of imagination along.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>However, in recent years, the concerts have gotten more and
more complex, with choreography, a few key costumes, and fewer music stands
between the audience and performers. This concert is more technically sophisticated
than most concerts I’ve seen! There are absolutely gorgeous costumes for Norma’s
glamourous lifestyle (by <b>Chelsea Cook</b>), and some crucial projections (by
<b>Jake Burleigh</b>) that provide the old-timey feel of vintage motion
pictures.<br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p>Then there is a <i>20-person on-stage orchestra</i> led by artistic
director <b>Nathan Young</b>! That means that the musician-ship, the lush sound
of the score, couldn’t be better at a large theater with a full production! The
atmosphere and quality of the production is top-notch!<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>The ensemble of performers is superb! Glorious <b>Billie Wildrick</b>
plays Norma Desmond and trembles with silent-screen-star emotions. She nails
every big number, expressing (sometimes crazy) feelings with conviction and passion.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><b style="font-size: large;">Matthew Kacergis</b><span style="font-size: large;">, as Joe
Gillis, has great vocal range and power and whose down-at-heart screenwriter is
by turns driven and defeated. </span><b style="font-size: large;">Jeff Church</b><span style="font-size: large;">, as Max the taciturn butler,
has a beautiful bass voice. </span><b style="font-size: large;">Karin Terry</b><span style="font-size: large;">, as Betty Schaefer, the 22 year
old (!) literary assistant determined to write a movie, enchants. The rest of
the cast is full of huge talents, as well.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p><span><a name='more'></a></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLsobCORvpEXX52YnLG64Ny0FfYf_aR7Q1WuFX1Y-6AYposD_KRzgwhxUcuwi90ZoT3IopPt2Gz6fjNKpjPqdsFMwWhws9BqlCTyrFNAH6GSRV6lqvIH_IrHB3fZ-KwmjdHta1BLz732h52HfOlkBa8uZa6Zkq0A32MLoXw0mn6NS3yOEVq1JEw/s2100/Sunset%20chris%20bennion%20billie.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="2100" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLsobCORvpEXX52YnLG64Ny0FfYf_aR7Q1WuFX1Y-6AYposD_KRzgwhxUcuwi90ZoT3IopPt2Gz6fjNKpjPqdsFMwWhws9BqlCTyrFNAH6GSRV6lqvIH_IrHB3fZ-KwmjdHta1BLz732h52HfOlkBa8uZa6Zkq0A32MLoXw0mn6NS3yOEVq1JEw/w557-h371/Sunset%20chris%20bennion%20billie.jpeg" width="557" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Billie Wildrick as Norma Desmond (Chris Bennion)</td></tr></tbody></table></o:p><b>Kelly Kitchens</b> directs what feels like a full-on
production. The cast swirls around the stage (books in hand that you forget are
there), Wildrick has multiple costume changes (!), and creates wonder out of
what is known as a “29 Hour” show – one that is rehearsed per the union contract
for only 29 hours before opening.<br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p><b>The Movie<br /></b>The 1950 movie, <i>Sunset Boulevard</i>, is considered one
of Billy Wilder’s most celebrated movies of all time. While there never was a
real silent screen actor named Norma Desmond, Wilder heard a lot of lore about
silent screen stars and their sudden halt to their earning capacity when the “talkies”
began. I feel certain that some developed intense mental health issues from
being famous to being forgotten.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Per Wikipedia, “The most common analysis of the character's
name is that it is a combination of the names of silent film actress Mabel
Normand and director William Desmond Taylor, a close friend of Normand's who
was murdered in 1922 in a never-solved case sensationalized by the press.”<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p><b>The Musical<br /></b>There was a lot of run-up regarding who was going to adapt
the movie to a musical. Several people and several iterations preceded the April
1994 Broadway three-week opening, but even then it got rewritten. The creators
are listed as music Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Don Black & Christopher
Hampton, and book by Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder & D. M. Marshman Jr.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>Webber had already written <i>Phantom of the Opera</i> (and <i>Jesus
Christ Superstar</i> and <i>Evita</i> and <i>Cats</i> and <i>Joseph and the
Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat</i>). Many of his musicals already had a sort of
signature where a main motif or several motifs replayed with different lyrics
throughout a musical. <i>Sunset Boulevard</i> is very similar. There are around
five melodies that keep swirling back over again until they become very
familiar.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>Personally, this “signature” is very much why I am not a
huge Webber fan, but he definitely has been able to write power ballads for
musicals that are singable outside the confines of a musical, and I honor that
about his work. I am very happy that Seattle had this opportunity to hear the
musical the lush way it should sound, and I hope you are, too.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p><a name="_Hlk145860665">For more articles, please go to </a><a href="https://miryamstheatermusings.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk145860665;">https://MiryamsTheaterMusings.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk145860665;"> and subscribe to get them in your in-box!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>Miryam Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333918939213536603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13577346.post-64297065935585269552024-02-05T17:24:00.000-08:002024-02-05T17:24:58.296-08:00A New “Quixote” Enlivens Both The Classic and Border Issues <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipcHKXFzt6XXsd-Ut-_E8_pNRKsPgLZE3fgnkl45GZl2kkASLTLnp_blUYu7DguGJftyeCF4gfyUj2EFUOgiXwnLJA_m0p1gpk1-4cXlpSIKPXaj7rdvK7jX0nkrcq84L7f-7cz6SjhBQSMKFm4W_nQYHqIiOvqUCSznWeUmLlLC2pH4wvpMaHhg/s3000/Sancho%20and%20Quixote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipcHKXFzt6XXsd-Ut-_E8_pNRKsPgLZE3fgnkl45GZl2kkASLTLnp_blUYu7DguGJftyeCF4gfyUj2EFUOgiXwnLJA_m0p1gpk1-4cXlpSIKPXaj7rdvK7jX0nkrcq84L7f-7cz6SjhBQSMKFm4W_nQYHqIiOvqUCSznWeUmLlLC2pH4wvpMaHhg/w588-h391/Sancho%20and%20Quixote.jpg" width="588" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sancho Panza and Don Quixote (Nate Watters)</td></tr></tbody></table><i>Quixote Nuevo</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.seattlerep.org/" target="_blank">Seattle Rep<br /></a>Through February 11, 2024<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p><b>Octavio Solis</b>’ play, <i>Quixote Nuevo</i>, is a treat for
both Spanish and English speakers when you can pick out the interplay of puns
and alliteration and literary references. In <i>Quixote Nuevo</i>, he mirrors
the well-known tale of <i>Don Quixote</i>, who loved Dulcinea and tried to
fight the powers-that-be.<br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p>He chooses a professor, Jose Quijano (played with elegance
and verve by <b>Herbert Siguenza</b>), of the author Cervantes, who wrote <i>Don
Quixote</i>. The professor is accelerating in his decline toward dementia and
his family feels he’d be safer in an assisted living facility. Jose becomes a “new”
Quixote, escapes his concerned family and townsfolk, and begins a search for
Dulcinea. But escaping also presents great danger, as his inability to see
where reality ends and fantasy starts could cause him to forget to eat or drink
out in the bleak desert on the border of Texas.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>The tone of the play is often joyful, yet mixed with pain.
Large puppets are used to menace and to entrance. Tejano music is used
masterfully to demonstrate parts of the story and underscore moments of
emotional outbursts.<br /><o:p><span><a name='more'></a></span> <br /></o:p>The actors, working as an ensemble, become friends, family, and
observers. Everyone except Quijano has at least two characters to play and everyone
inhabits their various roles expertly. The entire cast uses beautifully
rendered costumes and puppetry, throughout. (Cast: <b>Raúl Cardona</b>, <b>Viviana
Garza</b>, <b>Laura Crotte</b>, <b>Sol Castillo</b>, <b>Maya Malan-Gonzalez</b>,
<b>Lakin Valdez</b>, <b>Alicia Coca</b>, <b>Ernie González, Jr</b>., Costumes: <b>Helen
Q. Huang</b>)<br /><o:p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhddhRMfmVJvqaxqikd0rML998r-Jtg5t-UvFW_nhc2R5YnaMz7b77-Ec1XkOVLQwaw3FbpNLCgtn87G7XWhvbVp-h-4BAssCOLV64StsNIk3WRvupOXacdvwDtgZI1GjP9pbyBwh0Tjmo6shILmWQviaaOUBYKMLqpV184KbecDYbdM4PJhVgwAA/s3000/Nate%20Watters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhddhRMfmVJvqaxqikd0rML998r-Jtg5t-UvFW_nhc2R5YnaMz7b77-Ec1XkOVLQwaw3FbpNLCgtn87G7XWhvbVp-h-4BAssCOLV64StsNIk3WRvupOXacdvwDtgZI1GjP9pbyBwh0Tjmo6shILmWQviaaOUBYKMLqpV184KbecDYbdM4PJhVgwAA/w580-h386/Nate%20Watters.jpg" width="580" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of some costumes (Nate Watters)<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></o:p>Director <b>Lisa Portes</b> uses the stage fully – a craggy,
mountain/desert set (designer <b>Efren Delgadillo, Jr</b>.) with doors and
hiding places. Choreographer <b>Marissa Herrera</b> creates energetic dances
(mostly) for the puppet movement. <b>David R. Molina</b> is the composer of the
rousing Tejano music.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>While Quijano’s wandering is enjoyable, Solis infuses Texas
border issues with menace and great sadness. U.S. border agents harass a bar,
and deep in the desert, Quijano meets a man whose family has been destroyed by
the attempt at a better life. A couple of jokes reference very current politics.
These infusions are an important part of the experience of the play.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>Comedy is abundant and Ernie González, Jr. is wonderful as
the good-natured and slightly befuddled Manny, who gets dubbed Sancho Panza,
and dragged along on the journey. As Juana, Manny’s wife, Alicia Coca has great
comic timing as she anxiously screeches, “Manny!” in an absurd echo of Quijano’s desires
for Dulcinea.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>There is so much to appreciate about this production. I’m
sure that Spanish-speakers appreciate the infusion of Spanish as roughly half
of the dialogue. I understand very little Spanish, and I had to trust that what
I could catch of the English was enough to carry the story for me.<br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p>The show is one that may draw in some new theatergoers,
which is terrific. Since I make an assumption that many of them might be
younger, I wonder if they will arrive already fully aware of the story of Don
Quixote and his side-kick Sancho Panza, and the elusive Dulcinea. Hopefully,
they’ll be able to follow the broad strokes of that story, and maybe it will
encourage them to seek out the original.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">For more articles, please go to <a href="https://miryamstheatermusings.blogspot.com/">https://MiryamsTheaterMusings.blogspot.com</a>
and subscribe to get them in your in-box!</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div>
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Miryam Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333918939213536603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13577346.post-74033511000453436552024-02-03T20:27:00.000-08:002024-02-05T17:18:21.669-08:00February Theater – Great Choices<div style="text-align: left;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgM06Ae2OzZ_e_IXGmf5fpERwnXV62i1lYrm9YvrCvGVr1V14n48_sxPd1FamgRicyeYPWrxWJwNk3v1OP0DLOpPvnNPtKRvVCANad429CDQ6wcn9BCL2DKuNpxG5FgrTv53i5r0VPqT4ZPFFVqRlyTULyKO1zRgv13tK4FULr2msnyxfnkyrR9Q/s1200/Lady%20Satisfaction%20eric.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="1200" height="539" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgM06Ae2OzZ_e_IXGmf5fpERwnXV62i1lYrm9YvrCvGVr1V14n48_sxPd1FamgRicyeYPWrxWJwNk3v1OP0DLOpPvnNPtKRvVCANad429CDQ6wcn9BCL2DKuNpxG5FgrTv53i5r0VPqT4ZPFFVqRlyTULyKO1zRgv13tK4FULr2msnyxfnkyrR9Q/w573-h539/Lady%20Satisfaction%20eric.jpg" width="573" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Lady Demands Satisfaction</i> at Phoenix Theatre (Eric Lewis)</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>This short month has already shot out the gate and is
galloping along! Quick, start booking </span><span>your shows before they’re gone!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Born With Teeth</i>, <b>ArtsWest</b>, 2/1-25/24<br /> With an aging authoritarian British ruler, a violent police
state, and a restless, polarized people seething with paranoia, it’s a
dangerous time for poets. Two of them — the great Christopher Marlowe and the
up-and-comer William Shakespeare — meet in the back room of a pub to
collaborate on a history play cycle, navigate the perils of art under a
totalitarian regime, and flirt like young men with everything to lose. One of
them may well be the death of the other in this biting comedy about ambition,
ego, and history.<br /><a href="http://www.artswest.org/" target="_blank">www.artswest.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Living IncogNegro</i>, <b>Key City Public Theatre</b>,
2/1-11/24<br />Talented solo performer <b>Gin Hammond</b> writes about her
personal journey. When your cultural identity is one thing, but your physical
identity is another, how do you navigate self-expression? Both a humorous
love-letter, and an academic discourse, dedicated to those who find themselves
in the middle of a cultural battle they never asked for.<br /><a href="http://www.keycitypublictheatre.org/" target="_blank">www.keycitypublictheatre.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Once More, Just for You</i>, <b>Seattle Public Theater</b>,
2/2-25/24 <b>(world premiere)<br /></b>Local playwright <b>Maggie Lee</b> pens a new sci-fi based
play. The only foolproof way to truly fix past mistakes is time travel, right?
Rae has a time machine and she's gonna try. But just because you already know
which path NOT to take doesn’t always guarantee things will end up where you
planned. A curious, heartfelt new play about finding connection, unspoken
sacrifice, and the infinite metaphysical paradox of loving and letting go.<br /><a href="http://www.seattlepublictheater.org/" target="_blank">www.seattlepublictheater.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>A Case for the Existence of God</i>, <b>ACT Theatre</b>, 2/2-18/24<br />“Whale” writer Samuel D. Hunter won the 2022 New York Drama
Critics’ award for this play. Inside a small loan brokerage in Idaho, two men
struggle to make a place for their family in the American dream, navigating the
tensions of parenthood, financial security, desire, and empathy. Intrigue,
revelation, and surprises link the lives of two fathers intertwine reflecting
on what it means to be human.<br /><a href="http://www.acttheatre.org/" target="_blank">www.acttheatre.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>The Lady Demands Satisfaction</i>, <b>The Phoenix Theatre</b>,
2/2-25/24<br />When a young maiden who has never touched a sword learns she
must defend her inheritance in a duel, she struggles with a milksop suitor, a
servant girl posing as a Prussian fencing master, the actual Prussian fencing
master who believes he is there to marry her, a stodgy lord, and her
domineering aunt – the finest blade anywhere - to save her house and lands.<br /><a href="http://www.tptedmonds.org/" target="_blank">www.tptedmonds.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Sunset Boulevard</i>, <b>Showtunes Theatre Company</b>,
2/3-11/24 (at Cornish Playhouse)<br />We get a local view of the whole musical – going to Broadway
in 2024 – chronicling Norma Desmond, a faded star of the silent screen era,
living in the past in her decaying mansion on that fabled, famous Los Angeles
street. <b>Billy Wildrick,</b> local musical powerhouse star, takes stage as
Norma. When young screenwriter Joe Gillis accidentally crosses her path, she
sees in him an opportunity to make her return to the big screen, with romance
and tragedy to follow. Joining the large cast of favorite musical theater
actors will be a <b>25 person, on-stage orchestra</b>. (Trust me, this is
special!)<br /><a href="http://www.showtunestheatre.org/" target="_blank">www.showtunestheatre.org<br /></a><o:p><span><a name='more'></a></span> <br /></o:p><i>The Lower Depths</i>, <b>Intiman Theatre</b> with <b>The
Seagull Project</b>, 2/6-24/24 (at Erickson Theatre)<br />Maxim Gorky’s masterpiece is brought to life in a new
adaptation created by <b>The Seagull Project</b>. Neglected, seeking refuge and
hope, fourteen lost souls battle for love and humanity while pushing at the
limits of the human spirit and a society at the breaking point<i>. The Lower
Depths</i> is a classic piece of actor-driven drama, produced in an exciting
new way by Seattle’s premiere acting ensemble. The action focuses on an
ensemble of characters living in a shelter, brought there by a variety of
causes, and seeking their escape amongst the brutal weight of the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The arrival of the nomadic philosopher, Luka,
brings an injection of hope, but when the owner of the shelter is murdered,
reality strikes again, and the group must find their own way forward.<br /><a href="http://www.intiman.org/" target="_blank">www.intiman.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Tenderness</i>, <b>Annex Theatre</b>, 2/9-17/24 <b>(world
premiere)<br /></b>Playwright <b>Nelle Tankus</b> introduces Lemon Lymes, a
retired pop star and aspiring fascist looking to collaborate on a secret
project with an adoring fan, 1t the dawn of a new swine flu pandemic.
Meanwhile, three Queerdos are planning for their uncertain futures as
artificial intelligence renders their jobs obsolete. When a parasocial Lymes
fan takes things too far and billionaire industries begin to collapse, the
queerdos have to outsmart the state and keep their loved ones cared for.<br /> <a href="http://www.annextheatre.org/" target="_blank">www.annextheatre.org</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Blood Countess</i>, <b>MAP Theatre</b>, 2/9-24/24 (at 18th
& Union)<br />Based on a historical true-crime horror-comedy, playwright
<b>Kelleen Conway Blanchard</b> pens a fictionalized account of Countess Elizabeth
Bathory's life. A brilliant woman of Hungarian nobility, she holds the Guinness
World Record of Most Prolific Female Murderer, “[practicing] vampirism on girls
and young women. She is alleged to have killed more than 600 virgins in order
to drink their blood and bathe in it, ostensibly to preserve her youth.” We
know she was tried and convicted of her gruesome crimes. The rest we must
suppose.<br /><a href="http://www.map-theatre.com/" target="_blank">www.map-theatre.com</a><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
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</o:p><i>Trouble in Mind</i>, <b>BAT Theatre</b>, 2/9/24-3/3/24 (at
Kennedy Catholic High School theater, 140 S 140th St, Burien, WA 98168)<br />A talented and experienced Black actress has been cast in <i>Chaos
in Belleville</i>, an anti-lynching play written by a White playwright and set
to open on Broadway. She had paid her dues throughout the years, cast in
stereotypical supporting roles in second-rate shows, and is ready for her star
turn. A cast of multigenerational Black actors rehearse under the purview of a
White director and stage manager, and as the rehearsal process unfolds, theater
conventions and racial politics collide.<br /><a href="http://www.battheatre.org/">www.battheatre.org</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The Last Romance</i>, <b>Olympic Theatre Arts Center</b>,
2/9-25/24<br />A crush can make anyone feel young again - even a widower
named Ralph. On an ordinary day in a routine life, Ralph decides to take a
different path on his daily walk - one that leads him to an unexpected second
chance at love. Relying on a renewed boyish charm, Ralph attempts to woo the
elegant, but distant, Carol. Defying Carol’s reticence - and his lonely
sister’s jealousy - Ralph embarks on the trip of a lifetime, and regains a
happiness that seemed all but lost.<br /><a href="http://www.olympictheatrearts.org/" target="_blank">www.olympictheatrearts.org<br /></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> <br /></span></o:p></span><i>Plaza Suite</i>, <b>Renton Civic Theatre</b>,
2/16/24-3/2/24<br />Hilarity abounds in this portrait of three couples
successively occupying a suite at The Plaza. A suburban couple take the suite
while their house is being painted and it turns out to be the one in which they
honeymooned 23 (or was it 24?) years before and was yesterday the anniversary,
or is it today? This wry tale of marriage in tatters is followed by the
exploits of a Hollywood producer who, after three marriages, is looking for
fresh fields. He calls a childhood sweetheart, now a suburban housewife, for a
little sexual diversion. Over the years she has idolized him from afar and is
now more than the match he bargained for. The last couple is a mother and
father fighting about the best way to get their daughter out of the bathroom
and down to the ballroom where guests await her or as Mother yells, “I want you
to come out of that bathroom and get married!”<br /><a href="http://www.rentoncivictheatre.org/" target="_blank">www.rentoncivictheatre.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Love Beyond Borders</i>, <b>Seattle Mens’ Chorus</b>,
2/18/24 (at Benaroya Hall/livestream)<br />Celebrating the power of love around the world, SMC brings
inspirational stories of international refugees escaping persecution of LGBTQ+
people. (Postponed from 2020!)<br /><a href="http://www.seattlechoruses.org/">www.seattlechoruses.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Luchadora</i>, <b>Seattle Children’s Theatre</b>,
2/22/24-3/10/24<br />Transport yourself to the world of lucha libre, Mexican
wrestling, an adaptation of the Chinese legend Hua Mulan. We follow Lupita's
journey, witnessing her life as a daring teen tomboy; bike riding with her
friends, working at her father's flower stand, and lucha libre. When a World
Championship match is announced, Lupita's excitement explodes, until she
discovers her ailing father is one of the wrestlers. With the help of a magical
mask maker, Lupita secretly trains to take her father's place. She soon finds
it difficult keeping her secret from her friends and her father. (Ages 8+)<br /><a href="http://www.sct.org/" target="_blank">www.sct.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Memoirs Of A Forgotten Man</i>, <b>Thalia’s Umbrella</b>,
2/22/24-3/9/24 (at 12<sup>th</sup> Avenue Arts)<br />A man in Stalin's Russia has a perfect memory. When the
State tells him to forget someone, he can't... then he disappears. A Soviet
official searches for him and tries to enlist the help of the psychologist who
studied him. But are the official's reasons political or personal? or both? Here’s
an examination of the connections between memory and identity. What costs dowe
pay when the State decides what the truth is?<br /><a href="http://www.thaliasumbrella.org/" target="_blank">www.thaliasumbrella.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Lip Service</i>, <b>Theatre33</b>, 2/16-25/24 (at 13243
NE 20th St, Bellevue)<br />A historic look at self-made cosmetics tycoon, Helena
Rubinstein, and her rivals Elizabeth Arden and Revlon. When Helena hires a
battle-hardened war-veteran as a personal assistant, her life is turned upside
down. As her professional and family conflicts reach fever pitch, will the
ghosts of her past topple the world's richest businesswomen? Or will
war-veteran, Patrick, save her from herself? Inspired by real events, <i>Lip
Service</i> is a bright new comedy where the nails are painted and the gloves
are off. Yet when the lipstick bleeds and the makeup fades, what is there left
to hide behind?<br /><a href="http://www.theatre33wa.org/" target="_blank">www.theatre33wa.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><a name="_Hlk145860665">For more articles, please go to </a><a href="https://miryamstheatermusings.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk145860665;">https://MiryamsTheaterMusings.blogspot.com</span></a></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk145860665;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> and subscribe to get them in your in-box!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
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Miryam Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333918939213536603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13577346.post-89368958085984271702024-01-27T18:21:00.000-08:002024-01-29T15:19:29.662-08:0025 Years of ZinZanni Fun with Kevin Kent<div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_op0VAzPCLCL8iw1tCUbvCwP1Xf7XKZQd5Car0upn2gWEBmbqcgkpJZJSD7g-UGey1DRfiqzmzircs7A8pZQikluHPKprqvEDv9nqEMPPtZPDyMqMJ8Pk2hXuXObpq4aWO8PjW4WraUbwa8D19PxOTjWOvAReDGm7Ii9P8yWBr5MuQxkU824vjA/s4947/Kevin%20Kent-%20Photo%20By%20Nate%20Watters%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3298" data-original-width="4947" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_op0VAzPCLCL8iw1tCUbvCwP1Xf7XKZQd5Car0upn2gWEBmbqcgkpJZJSD7g-UGey1DRfiqzmzircs7A8pZQikluHPKprqvEDv9nqEMPPtZPDyMqMJ8Pk2hXuXObpq4aWO8PjW4WraUbwa8D19PxOTjWOvAReDGm7Ii9P8yWBr5MuQxkU824vjA/w582-h387/Kevin%20Kent-%20Photo%20By%20Nate%20Watters%20(1).jpg" width="582" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kevin Kent at Teatro Zinzanni (Photo by Nate Watters)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">In recent years, <a href="http://www.zinzanni.org/" target="_blank">TeatroZinZanni</a> has “put up its tent” in various temporary locations, and for the
last several months, they have been resident in the new Hotel Lotte (Low-tay)
in downtown Seattle. The building includes the soaring sanctuary inside what
used to be the 1908-built United First Methodist Church. ZinZanni figured out a
way to insert the bottom part of the tent inside the sanctuary, and then erect
metal structures above to be able to “fly” the aerial performers safely. But
you can still see the beautiful dome above that.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>So, if you’ve been to ZinZanni before, the surroundings will
be familiar. The deep burgundy of the curtains, the wooden floor, the mirrors,
the booths around the perimeter and the doors through which performers enter
and food is served.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>Kevin Kent was a cast member of the original Teatro ZinZanni
show in Seattle in 1998 and the subsequent debut show in San Francisco in 2000,
and has been with Teatro ever since. A physical and improvisational humorist,
Kevin has honed his comedic audience interactions to a fine point. During the
performance, he morphs into a female character that might baffle audience
members. (During my visit, my companion did not realize until after the show
that Kevin was both the male <i>and</i> female interactor.)<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>I had a great time interviewing Kevin about his life and
working with ZinZanni. A New Mexico native, he and his husband Joe are living
in the homestead his parents built in the mountains.<br /> <o:p><span><a name='more'></a></span> <br /></o:p>“We don’t have electricity and we use gas lights. I try and (get)
work in the winter (down from the mountain) because we get 8-13 feet of snow.
We try to (go) somewhere where it’s less inaccessible.<br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p>“Joe and I don’t have internet at our house – we’re
completely off the grid! If you want to text someone you have go to a meadow
and hold your phone at just the right angle to where the cell service is
triangulated. If you want more, you drive 20 minutes to a ridge or walk 40
minutes, and there’s a place where you can get 2 bars of service.”<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p><b>Early Days<br /></b>Kevin found improv work around college-age after obtaining a
degree in architectural design. “I joined an improv company (in New Mexico) and
it was put together by a guy from Chicago and we’d go to Chicago. We got the
benefit of great knowledge there. The whole company would go, 6-8 of us each
summer and would live in a one bedroom apt and spend our summer. (It was
crowded!) …One guy slept on the fire escape with his dog. One on the couch.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>“The entire company moved to Seattle in 1985-86. We spent a
summer (most of us were still in school) and two went to Miami and Atlanta and
two went to St. Paul– we went to scout. I went to San Diego and SF and Seattle
by train. We would feel what the vibe was like.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>“We loved Seattle. We told everyone that Seattle might be
the place. We were called King’s Elephant Theatre and we did long form improv
and wrote shows through improv. We first produced at Children’s Center for the
Arts at Pilgrim’s Church right off Broadway. We got there just as the very
first League of Fringe Theaters came together, at the same time as UMO and
Annex and Seattle Mime Theatre, Alice B, small companies banded together to
become more known. We were together for 10 years.<br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p>“Joe is a genealogist and travels with me. We became a
couple 10 years ago. We met in Seattle. At the Starbucks under the Space
Needle. The first time he came to New Mexico with me, we arrived and were
unloading groceries and I said, ‘The outhouse is down this path.’ And we walked
down the path and I said, ‘Wait a minute, there’s a bear. We need to stand
still.’ And he said, ‘I’m never going to the outhouse again!’ Later, I got a
picture from him with a bear in the front yard. He heard it and ran outside to
take pictures. He’s become quite the mountain man!<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>“Eventually, as people got to know us, I worked with Dan
Savage. We all started to work at larger theaters. We disbanded. I ended up
doing a showcase at an LGBTQ “<i>Proms You Never Went To</i>” through the Tacky
Tourists. A guy from Coca Cola saw me as an old woman who improvised an opera
in Italian gibberish and then translate that to the audience. He loved what I
did but (told me) ‘I cannot sell drag to Coca Cola. But I have an entire summer’s
gig for you!’<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>“I went to a thrift store and bought a gold blazer and
bowler hat and I did the exact same thing but I did it as a male character, as
an audience member, and told the story of the opera. As it turns out, the
summer gig was Minute Maid and they were putting out <i>Fruitopia</i> as new
drink, and were casting 4-5 person tours. They painted these school buses
psychedelic colors and put up stages and lighting. We would hop on the bus
travelling from event to event and have people hand out product and we’d do
these variety shows. Parades, concerts, affiliated with a Coke distributed. I’m
not the only Teatro performer that was on one of these tours.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>“Over the course of time, you work on developing skills that
you enjoy. My skills involved having quirky characters and being able to engage
an audience and hold their attention. For me it was always great to play female
characters. That’s a pretty niche character. But it only fits into a few
categories. I never did “bar drag” but I started doing theater in female roles.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>“Dan Savage was producing at the ReBar and did a lot of
great plays that were cross-cast. And they were great successes and super fun
to do. He ended up producing my first solo show based on Sister Wendy Beckett.
She was an actual nun who had retired from one sisterhood and moved into
seclusion and started studying art. She got picked up by the BBC to discuss art
on a tv show. (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendy_Beckett" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Wendy Beckett - Wikipedia</span></a>)<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>“I would have people bring in their own art and David
Schmader would curate pictures before I would see them. And I would come
improvise about the art. Dan thought people could bring their own art, and I
thought it was dumb, but we tried it in the publicity “bring your own art” and
the first night, 40 people brought pieces of art.<br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p>“That became a huge section of the show. I would critique
the art or talk to them. I had to hire a door person just to manage the art and
the people who brought it. Sometimes I’d talk about the frame, or how the back
of the art was more interesting than the front. I’d treat it absolutely
seriously and talk about its great value.”</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOnIldl9VU0ld_Nc2wXdwQ0_MrOG4qHJMx-9FJdOM_lllRIpg4vGt2jBYMR7wkA8B6uya1FddJEhm0A5cf160usDeRpJ9oj999PJqipgIWARMLmmF8Oz5nq4qHvtvkXR-wvwoLmttTcTeG_ujW-eucOdVsNeM8gzlGEdlZHeCsHBHJ1vDIh8lfg/s6192/Kevin%20Kent%20in%20Teatro%20ZinZanni%20Residency%20at%20Lotte%20Hotel%20Seattle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="6192" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOnIldl9VU0ld_Nc2wXdwQ0_MrOG4qHJMx-9FJdOM_lllRIpg4vGt2jBYMR7wkA8B6uya1FddJEhm0A5cf160usDeRpJ9oj999PJqipgIWARMLmmF8Oz5nq4qHvtvkXR-wvwoLmttTcTeG_ujW-eucOdVsNeM8gzlGEdlZHeCsHBHJ1vDIh8lfg/w527-h351/Kevin%20Kent%20in%20Teatro%20ZinZanni%20Residency%20at%20Lotte%20Hotel%20Seattle.jpg" width="527" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kevin Kent as The Preacher (Nate Watters)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Kevin’s ZinZanni History<br /></b>“I was there opening night (in 1998). When it came to
ZinZanni, it was a retirement project by Norm Langill. He was the head of One
Reel and had done Bumbershoot for 30 years, Summer Nights on the Pier, and he
did theatrical importing from Japan. They’d taken a show to the Barcelona
Olympics, a musical about rice performed in both English and Japanese. In
Barcelona, he saw three Spanish clowns and approached them and asked them to
come to the U.S. They told him to visit Germany and the spiegeltent with dinner.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>“Norm opened the Seattle location with local talent and
added singers. I’d performed at Bumbershoot and they asked me to come do this.
Norm didn’t initially know how I fit into the show. He suggested, ‘We might
call you the chef and you could introduce the meals and you could develop a
short comedy bit. You could sing and do an opera piece.’ He asked what I would
do. I said I’d go from a male character to a female character, and he went with
it. I developed the snippets and they wrote a song for me. We had a story and
since I was hometown kid, we got a lot of press.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>“One night I was out with my bustier and doing my piece and
I started to sing and a guy heckled me. It was gentle and kind sort of a cat
call, and I talked to him and sat on his lap and unbuttoned his shirt and
talked to his wife, and got him up to dance. People loved it and Norm was
watching, as he did every night. When I saw him, I thought I was fired!<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>“Norm said what I did was amazing and ‘the moment you
engaged that guy, they were all on the edge of their seats. Could you do that
every night?’ And I said I guess so and that became what I did every night.
Norm expanded that to all my characters. My scenes went from 2 minutes with a
song to 10 minutes. It was the comedy staple of the show. Now I’ve developed 35
different characters and scenarios. It’s given me the freedom to write my own
storylines.”<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p><b>Kevin’s Present<br /></b>“Now I do ‘show development’ for ZinZanni, meaning I take
cast members and help them develop characters. We usually have an outline of what
interactions might be, what arguments might be, everything that may be part of
their story. Then the directors look at it and think of the possibilities. The
design of the show has to support the story. That’s done way before rehearsals
start. We have very short rehearsals. 10 days including tech. People fly in and
improvise and string it all together.<br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p>“Teatro shows are 14 transitions. Opening number, transition
to act 1, transition into featured comedian, transition to song, transition to
dinner, transition… these are what we consider the scenes. The main rehearsal
focus is to try to make it seamless, but that happens mostly during the first
week of performances. We just go straight into it (performing the show). It’s a
collaborative effort with ZinZanni. A lot of ideas come from these
interactions.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>“We’ve developed (characterizations for) people over the
course of several contracts. Someone might be great at individual miming with
audience interaction before the show, but we might coach her to act with a mike
(on) and practice hearing her own voice, and then learn to act through that.”<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p><b>Then and Now<br /></b>I asked Kevin to reflect on what he sees are significant
differences between 25 years ago and now. “Then, people weren’t used to drag. Now,
it’s a big part of the popularity of the performance. Then, it (seemed easier)
to shock audiences. Now, it’s harder to shock, but I’m not interested in
shocking, and want to find a situation where we all find it funny. My heroes
are people like Carol Burnett and Imogen Coca and Lucille Ball.<br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p>“Then, people seemed enchanted by the spiegeltent as a whole
world unto itself. Now, it’s still a whole world. Then, people weren’t used to
be in a small space where they can see other audience members enjoying it and performers
interacting with people at your table and other tables. Now, people who have
never seen us are still not used to it when they’ve never been.”<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>Kevin still looks just as happy to be performing with
ZinZanni now, as he ever has. If you go, take a picture with him afterward, and
tell him I sent you!</span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Miryam Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333918939213536603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13577346.post-50700375786375244392024-01-15T17:24:00.000-08:002024-01-27T18:23:23.130-08:00Jan + Half Feb Theater Openings, Check Out the World Premieres!<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqjdSM0-ST321dvITuEJPbYTmLQvV4ug8DU4HpOWmooA5SNAQJDaReC2BamgCLh2thY0A8KOxciuQvLfplQBKbKKV5Yd8nx1NVe1NGpPFfcJbjrlofOSFUByW9P82LY9M3dUgTJ7r_My5UwM2Uh_9HCj7uZCRL71OLhN_36lUHHN2Khvb81wBCww/s2048/Comedy%20of%20Errors.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1638" height="644" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqjdSM0-ST321dvITuEJPbYTmLQvV4ug8DU4HpOWmooA5SNAQJDaReC2BamgCLh2thY0A8KOxciuQvLfplQBKbKKV5Yd8nx1NVe1NGpPFfcJbjrlofOSFUByW9P82LY9M3dUgTJ7r_My5UwM2Uh_9HCj7uZCRL71OLhN_36lUHHN2Khvb81wBCww/w515-h644/Comedy%20of%20Errors.jpg" width="515" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Montage of <i>Comedy of Errors</i> photos (Giao Nguyen)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Theater is bringing great energy to the new year! I’m partial to world premieres because of the sense of adventure, seeing a show that only has a tempting blurb, and rolling dice hoping that it will be a great experience. Even if it ends up not being your favorite show, you’re still supporting the forward motion of the theater community. Engage your inner adventurer and get outcher calendars!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>The Comedy of Errors</i>, <b>Seattle Shakespeare Company</b>,
1/10-28/24</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This small ensemble version cleaves right to the heart of this
comedy of separated twins. What are the chances there’s a guy walking around
town with your face? What are the chances there’s another guy walking around
town with your servant’s face? Antipholus and Dromio encounter some trouble
when their doppelgangers seem to be on the loose in Ephesus, not realizing that
their identical twins with identical names were separated from them in a
shipwreck as babies. Performed by a troupe of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and
People of Color) collaborators.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.seattleshakespeare.org/" target="_blank"><span>www.seattleshakespeare.org</span><br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>God of Carnage</i><span>, </span><b>SecondStory Repertory</b><span>,
1/12-28/24</span><br /><span>A playground altercation between eleven-year-old boys brings
together two sets of Brooklyn parents at a home for a meeting to resolve the
matter. At first, diplomatic niceties are observed, but as the meeting
progresses, and the rum flows, tensions emerge and the gloves come off, leaving
the couples with more than just their liberal principles in tatters.</span><br /><a href="http://www.secondstoryrep.org/" target="_blank">www.secondstoryrep.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Strong Waters</i><span>, </span><b>Global Works</b><span> 1/13/24-2/3/24 (at
12</span><sup>th</sup><span> Ave Arts) </span><b>(world premiere)<br /></b><span>“Permission to come aboard?” A retired actor and his
recently divorced son share a tranquil life in a floating home community -
until an unexpected guest arrives, destined to make waves. The past is
awakened, and the present enlivened, as three people discover where their
hidden hurts, and their hope for healing, collide.</span><br /><a href="http://www.globalworksproductions.com/" target="_blank">www.globalworksproductions.com<br /></a><o:p><span><a name='more'></a></span> <br /></o:p><i>Becoming Dr. Ruth</i><span>, </span><b>Village Theatre</b><span>, Issaquah:
1/17/24-2/18/24 Everett: 2/24/24-3/17/24</span><br /><span>She’s America’s favorite sex therapist! Before she became
Dr. Ruth, Karola Ruth Siegel had to flee Nazi Germany on the Kindertransport,
become a sharpshooter in Jerusalem, and survive as a single mother in America. It
is a life-affirming story of a woman who—through her perseverance,
indefatigable spirit, and bravery—carved her own unique place in the world.
Acclaimed actress Naomi Jacobson reprises the role that has garnered her
ovations across the country in this tour-de-force one woman play.</span><br /> <a href="http://www.villagetheatre.org/" target="_blank">www.villagetheatre.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><span><i>Bohemia</i>, <b>Marxiano Productions</b>, 1/18-28/24 (at
the Triple Door)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Set in 1890s Prague, <i>Bohemia</i> combines the music of
Dvořák and Chopin, with art by Alphonse Mucha. Historic artists like Sarah
Bernhardt and George Sand, interweave with beautiful green fairies, aerial
numbers, dance, burlesque, classical piano battles, comedy, and original songs. Czech composer Antonin Dvořák has hit a wall in his
composing and looks to the bottom of a bottle of absinthe for inspiration. In a
dream cabaret, Dvořák is visited by the ghost of late composer Frederick Chopin
and a host of green fairies. Chopin and many other famous Bohemians guide
Dvořák on the search for true inspiration in the pursuit of artistic
immortality. (Yes, absinthe can be served.)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.marxiano.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>https://www.marxiano.com</span><br /></span></a><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><br /></o:p><i style="font-size: large;">XXX Island</i><span style="font-size: medium;">, </span><b style="font-size: large;">18<sup>th</sup> & Union</b><span style="font-size: medium;">, 1/18-20/24</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">‘It Girl’ Amethyst Crystal has just arrived on XXX Island to
film what she thinks is the hottest new reality dating show… but is actually a
hardcore solo survival challenge. Stranded by producers of failing network
ApeTV, she must last 30 days with zero survival skills and enough liquor to
haze a whole frat. As her fears begin to manifest, she must brave the elements,
drug-induced hallucinations, and a mysterious Production Assistant she can’t
stop thinking about…</span><br /> <a href="http://www.18&union.org/" style="font-size: large;" target="_blank">www.18&union.org<br /></a><o:p style="font-size: large;"> <br /></o:p><i style="font-size: large;">Quixote Nuevo</i><span style="font-size: medium;">, </span><b style="font-size: large;">Seattle Rep</b><span style="font-size: medium;">, 1/19/24-2/11/24</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Playwright Octavio Solis introduces aging Cervantes
professor Jose Quijano. When his family tries to move him to an assisted living
facility, Jose escapes on his valiant tricycle steed in search of his long-lost
love. Reality and fantasy blur in the Texas desert, as Jose dubs himself Don
Quixote and embarks on a fantastic, death-defying journey to discover the truth
of his past. Underscored by vibrant Tejano music, here is a humorous and
heartfelt quest towards becoming the hero of your own story.</span><br /><a href="http://www.seattlerep.org/" style="font-size: large;" target="_blank">www.seattlerep.org<br /></a><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="font-size: large;"> <br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><i><span color="windowtext">Deathtrap</span></i></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span color="windowtext">, <b>Harlequin Productions</b>, 1/19/24-2/4/24<br /> <o:p></o:p></span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span color="windowtext">Sidney Bruhl would do anything to
publish the next great play. He would even kill for it. This dark comedy
thriller will have audiences laughing one moment and screaming in terror the
next as Sidney discovers he may not be the only murderer in the room.<br /></span></span><a href="http://www.harlequinproductions.org/" target="_blank">www.harlequinproductions.org<br /></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span color="windowtext"> <br /></span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><i><span color="windowtext">Shakespeare’s R&J</span></i></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span color="windowtext">, <b>Red Curtain Foundation for the Arts</b>, 1/19/24-2/4/24<br /><o:p></o:p></span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span color="windowtext">In the regimented world of an
all-boys college, four students meet in secret to explore Shakespeare's
"Romeo & Juliet." But when the students' deep love for the text
collides with their ingrained understanding of romance and sexuality, their
worldview is challenged.<br /></span></span><a href="http://www.redcurtainfoundation.org/" target="_blank">www.redcurtainfoundation.org<br /></a></span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="font-size: large;"><span color="windowtext"><br /><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXPQH1sy8SWQtWKXmi0P_RZvXx8StC2UVV1flRcIEP0nK2dj-hFV9rvdQ9GKzSXlLO0wqte-1OTZv-JRCshJucFdX1xFLpjSGE8r6nmfjh3tCrWYVyjP5tsNvB1WAMhc98YcKSBJ-ISXfDfG558SgpXrdHBI8_YyVXYM7H0f3Y-OXYvORYwh2NJw/s960/Bookofwill-robert%20wade.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXPQH1sy8SWQtWKXmi0P_RZvXx8StC2UVV1flRcIEP0nK2dj-hFV9rvdQ9GKzSXlLO0wqte-1OTZv-JRCshJucFdX1xFLpjSGE8r6nmfjh3tCrWYVyjP5tsNvB1WAMhc98YcKSBJ-ISXfDfG558SgpXrdHBI8_YyVXYM7H0f3Y-OXYvORYwh2NJw/s320/Bookofwill-robert%20wade.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Book of Will </i>(Robert Wade)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><i><span color="windowtext">The Book of Will</span></i></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span color="windowtext">, <b>Taproot Theatre,</b> 1/24/24-2/24/24<br /><o:p></o:p></span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span color="windowtext">Shakespeare is dead. But in an act of
undying devotion, his dearest friends rally to keep his plays alive by
publishing every word he wrote, before time erases them forever. For booklovers
and history buffs, and anyone whose love has inspired them to persevere.
Taproot brings us another Lauren Gunderson play, back to back!<br /></span></span></span><a href="http://www.taproottheatre.org/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;">www.taproottheatre.org</span><br /></a><o:p style="font-size: large;"> <br /></o:p><i style="font-size: large;">Spider's Web</i><span style="font-size: medium;">, </span><b style="font-size: large;">Centerstage Theatre</b><span style="font-size: medium;">,
1/26/24-2/18/24</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Mistress of Mystery Agatha Christie delivers a comedy
brimming with twists and turns in this thriller that brings both suspense and
humor. Complete with invisible ink, hidden drawers, the (un)usual suspects, and
red herrings aplenty, this show delivers absolutely everything you want from a
British drawing room mystery – and more!</span><br /><a href="http://www.centerstagetheatre.com/" style="font-size: large;" target="_blank">www.centerstagetheatre.com<br /></a><o:p style="font-size: large;"> <br /></o:p><i style="font-size: large;">A Doll’s House Part 2</i><span style="font-size: medium;">, </span><b style="font-size: large;">Tacoma Little Theatre</b><span style="font-size: medium;">,
1/26/24-2/11/24</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">In the final scene of Henrik Ibsen’s 1879 groundbreaking
masterwork, Nora Helmer makes the shocking decision to leave her husband and
children and begin a life on her own. This climactic event—when Nora slams the
door on everything in her life—instantly propelled world drama into the modern
age. In </span><i style="font-size: large;">A Doll’s House, Part 2</i><span style="font-size: medium;">, many years have passed since Nora’s
exit. Now, there’s a knock on that same door. Nora has returned. But why? And
what will it mean for those she left behind?</span><br /><a href="http://www.tacomalittletheatre.com/" style="font-size: large;" target="_blank">www.tacomalittletheatre.com<br /></a><o:p style="font-size: large;"> <br /></o:p><i style="font-size: large;">Born With Teeth</i><span style="font-size: medium;">, </span><b style="font-size: large;">ArtsWest</b><span style="font-size: medium;">, 2/1-25/24</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"> With an aging authoritarian British ruler, a violent police
state, and a restless, polarized people seething with paranoia, it’s a dangerous
time for poets. Two of them — the great Christopher Marlowe and the
up-and-comer William Shakespeare — meet in the back room of a pub to
collaborate on a history play cycle, navigate the perils of art under a
totalitarian regime, and flirt like young men with everything to lose. One of
them may well be the death of the other in this biting comedy about ambition,
ego, and history.</span><br /><a href="http://www.artswest.org/" style="font-size: large;" target="_blank">www.artswest.org<br /></a><o:p style="font-size: large;"> <br /></o:p><i style="font-size: large;">Living IncogNegro</i><span style="font-size: medium;">, </span><b style="font-size: large;">Key City Public Theatre</b><span style="font-size: medium;">,
2/1-11/24</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Talented solo performer </span><b style="font-size: large;">Gin Hammond</b><span style="font-size: medium;"> writes about her
personal journey. When your cultural identity is one thing, but your physical
identity is another, how do you navigate self-expression? Both a humorous
love-letter, and an academic discourse, dedicated to those who find themselves
in the middle of a cultural battle they never asked for.</span><br /><a href="http://www.keycitypublictheatre.org/" style="font-size: large;" target="_blank">www.keycitypublictheatre.org<br /></a><o:p style="font-size: large;"> <br /></o:p><i style="font-size: large;">Once More, Just for You</i><span style="font-size: medium;">, </span><b style="font-size: large;">Seattle Public Theater</b><span style="font-size: medium;">,
2/2-25/24 </span><b style="font-size: large;">(world premiere)<br /></b><span style="font-size: medium;">Local playwright </span><b style="font-size: large;">Maggie Lee</b><span style="font-size: medium;"> pens a new sci-fi based
play. The only foolproof way to truly fix past mistakes is time travel, right?
Rae has a time machine and she's gonna try. But just because you already know
which path NOT to take doesn’t always guarantee things will end up where you
planned. A curious, heartfelt new play about finding connection, unspoken
sacrifice, and the infinite metaphysical paradox of loving and letting go.</span><br /><a href="http://www.seattlepublictheater.org/" style="font-size: large;">www.seattlepublictheater.org<br /></a><o:p style="font-size: large;"> <br /></o:p><i style="font-size: large;">A Case for the Existence of God</i><span style="font-size: medium;">, </span><b style="font-size: large;">ACT Theatre</b><span style="font-size: medium;">,
2/2-18/24</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">“Whale” writer Samuel D. Hunter won the 2022 New York Drama
Critics’ award for this play. Inside a small loan brokerage in Idaho, two men
struggle to make a place for their family in the American dream, navigating the
tensions of parenthood, financial security, desire, and empathy. Intrigue,
revelation, and surprises link the lives of two fathers intertwine reflecting
on what it means to be human.</span><br /><a href="http://www.acttheatre.org/" style="font-size: large;" target="_blank">www.acttheatre.org<br /></a><o:p style="font-size: large;"> <br /></o:p><i style="font-size: large;">The Lady Demands Satisfaction</i><span style="font-size: medium;">, </span><b style="font-size: large;">The Phoenix Theatre</b><span style="font-size: medium;">,
2/2-25/24</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">When a young maiden who has never touched a sword learns she
must defend her inheritance in a duel, she struggles with a milksop suitor, a
servant girl posing as a Prussian fencing master, the actual Prussian fencing
master who believes he is there to marry her, a stodgy lord, and her
domineering aunt – the finest blade anywhere - to save her house and lands.</span><br /><a href="http://www.tptedmonds.org/" style="font-size: large;" target="_blank">www.tptedmonds.org<br /></a><o:p style="font-size: large;"> <br /></o:p><i style="font-size: large;">Sunset Boulevard</i><span style="font-size: medium;">, </span><b style="font-size: large;">Showtunes Theatre Company</b><span style="font-size: medium;">,
2/3-11/24 (at Cornish Playhouse)</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">We get a local view of the whole musical – going to Broadway
in 2024 – chronicling Norma Desmond, a faded star of the silent screen era,
living in the past in her decaying mansion on that fabled, famous Los Angeles
street. </span><b style="font-size: large;">Billy Wildrick,</b><span style="font-size: medium;"> local musical powerhouse star, takes stage as
Norma. When young screenwriter Joe Gillis accidentally crosses her path, she
sees in him an opportunity to make her return to the big screen, with romance
and tragedy to follow. Joining the large cast of favorite musical theater
actors will be a </span><b style="font-size: large;">25 person, on-stage orchestra</b><span style="font-size: medium;">. (Trust me, this is
special!)</span><br /><a href="http://www.showtunestheatre.org/" style="font-size: large;" target="_blank">www.showtunestheatre.org<br /></a><o:p style="font-size: large;"> <br /></o:p><i style="font-size: large;">Banned & Beloved</i><span style="font-size: medium;">, </span><b style="font-size: large;">Seattle Women’s Chorus</b><span style="font-size: medium;">,
2/3/24 (Town Hall Seattle and livestream)</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">What they don’t want you to hear. Books are being banned in
the US at an unprecedented rate. Seattle Women’s Chorus has commissioned five
living female-identified composers to create new music from banned books: </span><em style="font-size: large;">Alice in Wonderland</em><span style="font-size: medium;">, </span><em style="font-size: large;">Beloved</em><span style="font-size: medium;">, </span><em style="font-size: large;">Heather Has Two Mommies</em><span style="font-size: medium;">, </span><em style="font-size: large;">Melissa</em><span style="font-size: medium;">, and </span><em style="font-size: large;">This Book is Gay</em><span style="font-size: medium;">. Featured are
censored songs from </span><i style="font-size: large;">The Wizard of Oz</i><span style="font-size: medium;">, </span><i style="font-size: large;">Winnie the Pooh</i><span style="font-size: medium;">, and </span><i style="font-size: large;">The
Muppets</i><span style="font-size: medium;"> with integrated video storytelling.</span><br /><a href="http://www.seattlechoruses.org/" style="font-size: large;" target="_blank">www.seattlechoruses.org<br /></a><o:p style="font-size: large;"> <br /></o:p><i style="font-size: large;">The Lower Depths</i><span style="font-size: medium;">, </span><b style="font-size: large;">Intiman Theatre</b><span style="font-size: medium;"> with </span><b style="font-size: large;">The
Seagull Project</b><span style="font-size: medium;">, 2/6-24/24 (at Erickson Theatre)</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Maxim Gorky’s masterpiece is brought to life in a new
adaptation created by </span><b style="font-size: large;">The Seagull Project</b><span style="font-size: medium;">. Neglected, seeking refuge and
hope, fourteen lost souls battle for love and humanity while pushing at the
limits of the human spirit and a society at the breaking point</span><i style="font-size: large;">. The Lower
Depths</i><span style="font-size: medium;"> is a classic piece of actor-driven drama, produced in an exciting
new way by Seattle’s premiere acting ensemble. The action focuses on an
ensemble of characters living in a shelter, brought there by a variety of
causes, and seeking their escape amongst the brutal weight of the world. The arrival of the nomadic philosopher, Luka,
brings an injection of hope, but when the owner of the shelter is murdered,
reality strikes again, and the group must find their own way forward.</span><br /><a href="http://www.intiman.org/" style="font-size: large;" target="_blank">www.intiman.org<br /></a><o:p style="font-size: large;"> <br /></o:p><i style="font-size: large;">Tenderness</i><span style="font-size: medium;">, </span><b style="font-size: large;">Annex Theatre</b><span style="font-size: medium;">, 2/9-17/24 </span><b style="font-size: large;">(world
premiere)<br /></b><span style="font-size: medium;">Playwright </span><b style="font-size: large;">Nelle Tankus</b><span style="font-size: medium;"> introduces Lemon Lymes, a
retired pop star and aspiring fascist looking to collaborate on a secret
project with an adoring fan, at the dawn of a new swine flu pandemic.
Meanwhile, three Queerdos are planning for their uncertain futures as
artificial intelligence renders their jobs obsolete. When a parasocial Lymes
fan takes things too far and billionaire industries begin to collapse, the
queerdos have to outsmart the state and keep their loved ones cared for.</span><br /> <a href="http://www.annextheatre.org/" style="font-size: large;" target="_blank">www.annextheatre.org<br /></a><o:p style="font-size: large;"> <br /></o:p><i style="font-size: large;">The Last Romance</i><span style="font-size: medium;">, </span><b style="font-size: large;">Olympic Theatre Arts Center</b><span style="font-size: medium;">,
2/9-25/24</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">A crush can make anyone feel young again - even a widower
named Ralph. On an ordinary day in a routine life, Ralph decides to take a
different path on his daily walk - one that leads him to an unexpected second
chance at love. Relying on a renewed boyish charm, Ralph attempts to woo the
elegant, but distant, Carol. Defying Carol’s reticence - and his lonely
sister’s jealousy - Ralph embarks on the trip of a lifetime, and regains a
happiness that seemed all but lost.</span><br /><a href="http://www.olympictheatrearts.org/" style="font-size: large;" target="_blank">www.olympictheatrearts.org</a><br /></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; 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font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="text-align: left;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>Miryam Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333918939213536603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13577346.post-2079600127276373442023-12-21T17:39:00.000-08:002023-12-21T17:39:12.912-08:00Christmas and a Jane Austin-style play: Great Combination (Taproot Theatre)<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0zc287_x6r34JMSmQ5jEkoN90lNNlXO7L55OIntvzO__rGRZPl4LdJLop1jX32GMBkgdOCUXJ27pCfMwR54hwqxgVpHdDpg_1eXjplp32eoDr4EOkzOt9mPZPss6A-NMIVnkIFAPpSbI-imCcQhD7Jf3CBpGUL6DjHOefY_AjFyNSzWZW6pEUZw/s2560/taproot-georgiana-kitty-21nov23-440-scaled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1709" height="523" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0zc287_x6r34JMSmQ5jEkoN90lNNlXO7L55OIntvzO__rGRZPl4LdJLop1jX32GMBkgdOCUXJ27pCfMwR54hwqxgVpHdDpg_1eXjplp32eoDr4EOkzOt9mPZPss6A-NMIVnkIFAPpSbI-imCcQhD7Jf3CBpGUL6DjHOefY_AjFyNSzWZW6pEUZw/w350-h523/taproot-georgiana-kitty-21nov23-440-scaled.jpg" width="350" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Georgiana</i> and <i>Kitty</i> (Robert Wade)</td></tr></tbody></table></span><i style="font-size: large;">Georgiana & Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.taproottheatre.org/" target="_blank">Taproot Theatre</a>
(for tickets)<br />Through December 30, 2023<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>Taproot Theatre loves period pieces, and period pieces love
to be done at Taproot. And add Jane Austin and you’ve got a powerful
combination. This holiday season, they have mounted the third and final play of
a trilogy of <i>Pride and Prejudice</i> “spin-offs” written by Lauren Gunderson
and Margo Melcon.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Pride and Prejudice</i> introduced us to the five Bennet
sisters who all needed to be married off, as per the cultural demands of the
time. Each of them had distinct personalities and views. Gunderson and Melcon
created plays based on these sisters, but not on the book. In science fiction,
writers often extend the “world” of the first book by writing “spin-offs” incorporating
side plots or prequel or sequel-like stories.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley</i> and <i>The Wickhams:
Christmas at Pemberley</i> were produced at Taproot in 2018 and 2022. Now, the
last of the trilogy focuses on the younger Bennet sisters, Lydia the
troublemaker (played again with great zest by <b>Kelly Karcher</b>), Kitty, the
stalwart independent who has learned a lot from her sisters’ exploits (played with
gusto and loyalty by <b>Ays Garcia</b>), and Fitzwilliam Darcy’s (a stern <b>Brian
Picheu</b>) sister, Georgiana (a charming <b>Claire Marx</b>) who loves music
and is so reticent that she rarely gets to finish a sentence.<br /><o:p><span><a name='more'></a></span> <br /></o:p>Georgiana has been having a year-long correspondence with a
young man, Henry Gray (a delightfully self-effacing <b>William Eames</b>).
Their connection is musical, they met one time when she played music in public,
and she has invited him to Pemberley to get better acquainted and share her
music with him. She has forgotten, however, to tell anyone in the family. Her
brother has taken care of her and monitored her social life after the death of
their parents. But Fitzwilliam is a stern and judgmental fellow, even though
his wife, Elizabeth (a graceful <b>Annie Yim</b>) tries to moderate his
thinking.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>When Henry Grey and his friend Thomas O’Brien (<b>Jeremy Steckler</b>,
who steals the scene every time) arrive, the humor and the mayhem amp up. Eames
and Steckler have great comic timing, together and separately.<br /><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Supported as well by <b>Shanna Allman</b>, who also returns to
this play as Mary, and <b>Melanie Hampton</b> as oldest sister Jane, this is a
sweet tidbit of fun, ably directed by <b>Karen Lund</b> – who really does do
historic comedy well. Gunderson and Melcon also anchor a strong feminist message
into their present to us. Christmas and a Jane Austin-style play: great
combination. </span></div>Miryam Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333918939213536603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13577346.post-50831326140156215402023-12-09T16:02:00.000-08:002023-12-09T16:53:31.873-08:00December Theater Has Gone to The Gays!<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div></blockquote><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The Gays have taken over holiday shows! They may have let a few other productions escape, it's true, but if you want your holidays to be Gay, this year is all for YOU! Enjoy yourself and have a wonderful holiday season! (Get outcher calendars!)</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgom5uAQVcbtgth_RRpCv8gT56sOJzIYWpsE2iuBdGbmhvU4caTZtnR0sinUJWaMzI-Lajl4viFyTRKgYIKJfCe-S96y1vsQ68flwJcu6CTTVIXPdc_SK8A56hcNiXVplVH-SyL_qMSfQNN-yPzTLEoQnz9gHsofCcK_iq50vWIeOMzeyUvxAngrg/s4350/bOsier%20Scrooge.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2900" data-original-width="4350" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgom5uAQVcbtgth_RRpCv8gT56sOJzIYWpsE2iuBdGbmhvU4caTZtnR0sinUJWaMzI-Lajl4viFyTRKgYIKJfCe-S96y1vsQ68flwJcu6CTTVIXPdc_SK8A56hcNiXVplVH-SyL_qMSfQNN-yPzTLEoQnz9gHsofCcK_iq50vWIeOMzeyUvxAngrg/w307-h204/bOsier%20Scrooge.jpg" width="307" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Fellow Passengers</i> (John Ulman)</td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Fellow Passengers</i>, <b>Strawberry Theatre Workshop</b>,
12/1-23/23 (at 12<sup>th</sup> Avenue Arts)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Told in the narrative style that Book-It Repertory Theatre
made famous in Seattle, <i>Passengers</i> is every page of Charles Dickens’ <i>A
Christmas Carol</i> performed by just three actors, who bring over fifty
characters to the stage. <b>Amy Thone</b>, <b>Galen Joseph Osier</b> and <b>Shermona
Mitchell</b> perform the play with live music by keyboardist <b>Ayako Okano</b>.<br /><a href="https://www.tickettailor.com/events/strawberrytheatreworkshop/994206#" target="_blank">https://www.tickettailor.com/events/strawberrytheatreworkshop/994206#</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.tickettailor.com/events/strawberrytheatreworkshop/994206#" target="_blank"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9FBcHT5bS2qa6b5cKhL6-v3G7nTojBSEpP0HOEghdzCLsHN7Z8Jq_NlPS6hoytQ2BkZCLoxcfbhu3ZUshg8xLp7w3b3Knf-N_o8dvG_UmCyE87yIhek5fud1it5ctni3a2oI_B09EMwSVjAvH5YVkkfXsfm4_XyUGemRdCuhF1-HDEfOS8uyEQ/s1500/2023WOX_SneakPeek_web-25.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1500" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9FBcHT5bS2qa6b5cKhL6-v3G7nTojBSEpP0HOEghdzCLsHN7Z8Jq_NlPS6hoytQ2BkZCLoxcfbhu3ZUshg8xLp7w3b3Knf-N_o8dvG_UmCyE87yIhek5fud1it5ctni3a2oI_B09EMwSVjAvH5YVkkfXsfm4_XyUGemRdCuhF1-HDEfOS8uyEQ/w305-h204/2023WOX_SneakPeek_web-25.jpg" width="305" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>War on Christmas</i></td></tr></tbody></table></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Scott Shoemaker’s War on Christmas</i>, <b>Shoes and
Pants Productions</b>, 12/1-23/23 (at Theatre Off Jackson)<br />The all-star variety spectacular, a Yule Tide tradition,
returns! Come spend an evening with Scott and a cast of Seattle luminaries as
they try to figure out who’s fighting a war on Christmas and what for? A night
of comedy, songs, dance numbers, delightful videos, and partial nudity!<br />Joining Scott are an amazing group of illustrious superstars
Ade, Joel Domenico, Mandy Price.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
Major Scales.<br /><a href="https://www.strangertickets.com/events/143357134/scott-shoemakers-war-on-christmas" target="_blank">https://www.strangertickets.com/events/143357134/scott-shoemakers-war-on-christmas</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-size: large;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley</i>, <b>SecondStory Repertory</b>, 12/1-23/23<br />A sequel to Jane Austen’s <i>Pride and Prejudice</i> set two years after the novel ends, Miss Bennet continues the story, only this time with bookish middle-sister Mary as its unlikely heroine. Mary is growing tired of her role as dutiful middle sister in the face of her siblings’ romantic escapades. When the family gathers for Christmas at Pemberley, an unexpected guest sparks Mary’s hopes for independence, an intellectual match, and possibly even love.<br /><a href="http://www.secondstoryrep.org/" target="_blank">www.secondstoryrep.org<br /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.secondstoryrep.org/" style="font-size: large;" target="_blank"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW5EEkaxfsmpiFY6vlKhyrnaRoAj9yIskV3qCCM7kI9rdKmcCySP6Z8WF1x3R2qzU5Ttdte-3w8BYrySbLsmNxquC4sV95N_Y8dd-SxWB0vvanAdk_n3QQt7IbP634uG44vjb5lagoIYqbXO02_T5n91CcTmvpJF7M6l5GWm_9jmQakg4xHROdRA/s2100/unnamed.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1402" data-original-width="2100" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW5EEkaxfsmpiFY6vlKhyrnaRoAj9yIskV3qCCM7kI9rdKmcCySP6Z8WF1x3R2qzU5Ttdte-3w8BYrySbLsmNxquC4sV95N_Y8dd-SxWB0vvanAdk_n3QQt7IbP634uG44vjb5lagoIYqbXO02_T5n91CcTmvpJF7M6l5GWm_9jmQakg4xHROdRA/w330-h221/unnamed.jpg" width="330" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A Treemendous Holiday</i> (courtesty Seattle Choruses)</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>A Treemendous Holiday</i>, <b>Seattle Men’s Chorus</b>,
12/1-23/23 (at Benaroya Hall)<br />It’s time to ho ho ho with Seattle Men’s Chorus. Greater
Seattle’s most joyful holiday tradition is a fun-filled celebration of seasonal
favorites along with the Pacific Northwest’s gayest sing-a-long.<br /><a href="http://www.seattlechoruses.org/" target="_blank">www.seattlechoruses.org<br /></a><o:p><span><a name='more'></a></span> <br /></o:p><i>A Mid-Winter Night’s Dream</i>, <b>Red Curtain Foundation
for the Arts</b>, 12/1-17/23<br />Theseus and Queen Hippolyta are planning to wed. Meanwhile,
four young lovers seek refuge in the forest, deep in the winter season,
attracting the attention of fairies King Oberon and Queen Titania, and the
mischievous Puck. When Bottom and his band of actors try to stage a play for
the wedding party, more complications arise!<br /><a href="http://www.redcurtainfoundation.org/" target="_blank">www.redcurtainfoundation.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Cinderella</i>, <b>Ovation! Performing Arts Northwest</b>,
12/1-10/23<br />Rodgers and Hammerstein first adapted this timeless fairy
tale for television in 1957 with Julie Andrews and then again in 1965 with
Lesley Ann Warren. The “Enchanted Edition” is based on the very popular 1997
version for television with Brandy and Whitney Houston and includes several
songs from that version and from the 1965 version. There is a “sensory
inclusive” performance Dec. 9 at 2pm. (Supported by Neurodiversity Allies, <a href="http://www.ndallies.org/" target="_blank">www.ndallies.org</a>)<br /><a href="https://www.ovationmtb.com/" target="_blank">https://www.ovationmtb.com/</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <br /> </span><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>The Games Afoot or Holmes for the Holidays</i>, <b>Olympic
Theatre Arts Center</b>, 12/1-17/23<br />It is December 1936, and Broadway star William Gillette,
admired for his leading role in the play Sherlock Holmes, invites his fellow
cast members to his Connecticut castle for a weekend of revelry. But when one
of the guests is stabbed to death, the festivities quickly turn dangerous. It
is then up to Gillette himself, as he assumes the persona of his beloved
Holmes, to track down the killer before the next victim appears.<br /><a href="http://www.olympictheatrearts.org/" target="_blank">www.olympictheatrearts.org<br /></a><o:p><span><!--more--></span> <br /></o:p><i>The Dina Martina Christmas Show</i>, <b>ACT Theatre</b>,
12/8-24/23<br /><b>Dina Martina</b> returns with her annual Christmas show,
a Seattle tradition for over 25 years. Accompanied by award-winning
composer/musician/adult prodigy <b>Chris Jeffries</b>, Dina Martina brings a
mix of traditional and contemporary holiday tunes, treated with her undeniably
surreal comic sensibility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <br /> </span><a href="http://www.acttheatre.org/" target="_blank">www.acttheatre.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reinder</i>, <b>Tacoma Little
Theatre</b>, 12/8-31/23<br />The holiday classic soars off the screen in this musical
adaptation of the beloved television special. Holiday hits like “Rudolph the
Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “A Holly Jolly Christmas” feature all of your favorite
characters including Santa and Mrs. Claus, Hermey the Elf, Bumble the
Abominable Snow Monster, Clarice, Yukon Cornelius and, of course, Rudolph. It’s
an adventure that teaches us that what makes you different can be what makes
you special.<br /><a href="http://www.tacomalittletheatre.com/" target="_blank">www.tacomalittletheatre.com<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>The Full Monty</i>, <b>Renton Civic Theatre</b>,
12/8-23/23<br />While spying on their wives at a “Girls’ Night Out,” a group
of unemployed steelworkers from Buffalo sees how much they enjoy watching male
strippers. Jealous, out of work and feeling emasculated, the men come up with a
bold and unclothed way to make some quick cash. In preparation, they find
themselves extremely exposed; not merely physically but emotionally. As they
conquer their fears, self-consciousness and prejudices, the men come to
discover that they’re stronger as a group, and the strength that they find in
each other gives them the individual courage to “let it go.”<br /><a href="http://www.rentoncivictheatre.org/" target="_blank">www.rentoncivictheatre.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Black Nativity</i>, <b>Intiman Theatre </b>and<b> The
Hansberry Project</b>, 12/12-30/23 (at Broadway Performance Hall)<br />Langston Hughes’ gospel song-play returns to Seattle with an
all-new, reimagined production! Celebrate the Christmas story with actors,
dancers, soaring vocalists, a rousing city-wide gospel choir, and the chance to
sing-along. A stirring and joyful holiday experience for families of all
backgrounds and beliefs.<br /> <a href="http://www.intiman.org/" target="_blank">www.intiman.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Uncle Mike Ruins Christmas</i>, 12/15-23/23, (at Center
Theatre, Seattle Center)<br />A holiday tradition with a cult following for those who like
their eggnog spiked with a good dose of sacrilege. It's a celebration of the
holiday season's less explored side, where cringe-worthy moments,
non-conformity and personal expression have their time to shine. This show is a
testament to the power of humor to bring people together, even as it playfully
tears apart their most treasured holiday tales.<br /><a href="http://unclemikeruinschristmas.com/tickets" target="_blank">http://unclemikeruinschristmas.com/tickets<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Special</i>, <b>Moore
Theatre</b>, 12/21-24/23<br />Another holiday season brings another year of fabulous
spectacle, comedy, brand new songs, and annual favorites. Join the sugary <b>BenDeLa
Crème</b> and spicy <b>Jinkx Monsoon</b> for an evening the New York Times says
is “sure to lift your spirits and make you howl with laughter.<br /><a href="https://www.jinkxanddela.com/tour" target="_blank">https://www.jinkxanddela.com/tour<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><a name="_Hlk145860665">For more articles, please go to </a><a href="https://miryamstheatermusings.blogspot.com/"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk145860665;">https://MiryamsTheaterMusings.blogspot.com</span></a></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk145860665;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> and subscribe to get them in your in-box!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Miryam Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333918939213536603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13577346.post-1143794191296041822023-12-07T13:15:00.000-08:002023-12-07T13:15:44.225-08:00“A Very Electric Christmas”: Intriguing Light Show, But Know What To Expect<div style="text-align: left;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggReEUXd5fUNXtvvxPjibQo6LjiXPPPQ57sA_baKJIIAtLNSyR9K36LdOVrxsnTKvldkyfWXKmL7bjirQLblDHejCNL-FvESAcPNNcmrp_QXX9zDQUR5BniPQA_eBmihSWthRGIH9BrfUwomQ3IEeKHTF660PF4YWnwkCt7HFtkOkyvH7Zv87LjA/s5616/courtesy%20of%20Lightwire%20Theater..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3744" data-original-width="5616" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggReEUXd5fUNXtvvxPjibQo6LjiXPPPQ57sA_baKJIIAtLNSyR9K36LdOVrxsnTKvldkyfWXKmL7bjirQLblDHejCNL-FvESAcPNNcmrp_QXX9zDQUR5BniPQA_eBmihSWthRGIH9BrfUwomQ3IEeKHTF660PF4YWnwkCt7HFtkOkyvH7Zv87LjA/w577-h384/courtesy%20of%20Lightwire%20Theater..jpg" width="577" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>A Very Electric Christmas<br /></i><a href="http://www.sct.org/" target="_blank">Seattle Children’s Theatre</a>
(for tickets)<br />Through December 31, 2023<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p><b>Seattle Children’s Theatre</b> has brought an intriguing
performance company to town that everyone from 3 (ish) to 93 will enjoy. <b>Lightwire
Theater</b> has developed a “light show” that is tourable without a lot of
encumbering technology: Dancers who wear neon-style tubing costumes that they
can control themselves with battery packs! The battery packs allow them to not
have to rely on a whole elaborate computerized performance. There are a lot of
background visuals, though, that are controlled in the booth.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>Lightwire (<a href="http://www.lightwiretheater.com/" target="_blank">www.lightwiretheater.com</a>) was
a semi-finalist on <i>America’s Got Talent</i> in Season 7, and I remember
them! But that was only three minutes of performance and storytelling, and
they’ve come to Seattle with <i>A Very Electric Christmas</i> which is claimed
to be 60 minutes but was closer to 70 when I saw it.<br /><o:p><span><a name='more'></a></span> <br /></o:p>Their artistry in performance is quite excellent. The “costumes”
of lighted characters are colorful and riveting, especially to the smaller
audience members. Virtually everything has background music, and the choices
for this production were generally delightful.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>The entire production is a lighted up story in the dark. It’s
almost impossible to see the dancers who wear the lights. The basic story is
about a bird family with a young bird the company named “Max.” Of course in the
dark, with no information, the bird is really nameless. But it’s about how “he”
and his parents begin to fly and the baby bird gets blown off course, to the
North Pole.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>At the North Pole, the bird sees dancing poinsettias (though
these flowers don’t quite look like a specific flower), and worms who “carol.”
It’s a bit difficult to know if one would apply the emotion of fear to him, as
he interacts with these puppets, because he’s separated from his parents. He
seems intrigued, basically.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>The description of the show, however, does not give the full
picture of what Lightwire decided was an appropriate story for Max’s journey.
It turns out that it’s really a take-off, weirdly, of <i>The Nutcracker</i>.
The beginning of the show is several Nutcracker Soldiers dancing around a bit.
That’s fine, though it is only later that one realizes why they are there.
After the soldiers, there are some (very large) mice.<br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p>Then we get to the story of Max and his family. Somehow,
after Max is separated from his parents in the North Pole, these mice “hear”
about him (there are lighted up telephone handles they use) when the radio
announcer tells them about a missing baby bird, and they go capture him and
take him to the Mouse King, who is clearly evil and wants to put Max in a very
small birdcage.<br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p>That’s when the soldiers come in because they have a sword
fight with the Mouse King and kill him. And then, somehow, Max is brought back
to his parents and everything is all better.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>Here’s the thing – the light show is definitely entrancing
and a great idea. It’s short enough that even very small children can manage
it. I brought my three-year-old granddaughter and while she did well, she got
scared of the scary music and scary Mouse King and sat on her parents’ laps.
There were Dozens of Very Small Children. I mean from 3 months to 1 ½ years and
2 years old. There wasn’t any crying that I heard, so it seemed to be ok for
them to watch.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>But the story is misguided. Sure, <i>The Nutcracker</i> is a
Christmas tradition. But the story of a small bird being separated from his parents
and needing to get back to them somehow is enough of a story. In this show, the
parents were oddly enormously passive and they go on the internet to “look for”
their child, and give up and go back home. If the story were shortened to just
their search and Max’s amazing experiences apart from them, with a happy
ending, that would have been fine.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>In fact, the mouse sequences were quite long, their
interactions with the Mouse King were confusing and clearly scary, and the
fight with the soldiers was endless (not to mention the death at the end). The
show could have been a great show at… 45 minutes? Without any of the Nutcracker
reference material. Without scaring the tiny kids who inevitably were going to
be brought by their parents, who are likely seeking holiday entertainment for
their littles.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>I still liked the experience, and I enjoyed that at the end
of the show the actors took off their costumes and showed the children that it
was all make-believe. If you’re reading this wondering if you should take your
family, I think it’s generally worth it, and <i>now</i> you at least know what
you’re in for. I think the media descriptions of this production should really
be more informative.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p><a name="_Hlk145860665">For more articles, please go to </a><a href="https://miryamstheatermusings.blogspot.com/"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk145860665;">https://MiryamsTheaterMusings.blogspot.com</span></a></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk145860665;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> and subscribe to get them in your in-box!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Miryam Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333918939213536603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13577346.post-34642395328048379012023-12-04T19:03:00.000-08:002023-12-04T19:03:00.239-08:00“White Christmas” is Here to Smile Up Your Holidays<div style="text-align: left;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBmBzdPEKXZqPeKKEjLLmN1PPgFKzxIUDKiQApf2vxqsP2QN4d3aMvgRcgQSKMdDWcd2wi5c604iYttfeotn20b0hICc1QAQYI1NkhUJtA179vVUw1Hruys6ewVw3HMfW-w9ZJBBOh3MaE_URXnhmhVDpQwTg5o8VVhAzIvvyFn9siaFZVvg7nrQ/s1200/Cayman%20and%20Taryn-%20Mark%20kitaoka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="698" data-original-width="1200" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBmBzdPEKXZqPeKKEjLLmN1PPgFKzxIUDKiQApf2vxqsP2QN4d3aMvgRcgQSKMdDWcd2wi5c604iYttfeotn20b0hICc1QAQYI1NkhUJtA179vVUw1Hruys6ewVw3HMfW-w9ZJBBOh3MaE_URXnhmhVDpQwTg5o8VVhAzIvvyFn9siaFZVvg7nrQ/w588-h342/Cayman%20and%20Taryn-%20Mark%20kitaoka.jpg" width="588" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Cayman Ilika</b> and <b>Taryn Darr</b> in <i>White Christmas</i> (Mark Kitaoka)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Irving Berlin’s <i>White Christmas<br /></i><a href="http://www.5thavenue.org/">5<sup>th</sup> Avenue
Theatre</a> (for tickets)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Through December 24, 2023<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>Your Christmas delight on stage is at hand. <b>The 5<sup>th</sup>
Avenue Theatre</b> has decided to mount <i>White Christmas</i> again, having
produced it in 2006 and 2009. The reason is very clear: it’s a chance to sit
back, laugh, and relax while a bunch of singers and hoofers sing and dance
their tushies off. This talented cast is here to do exactly that for you!<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>The script is aging, although romances never go out of
style, but there are jokes a plenty – some good, some groan-worthy, and almost
everyone in the cast gets a little cameo and a lot of applause. <br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p><b>David Armstrong</b> and <b>James A. Rocco</b> have
co-directed this production all three times, so they know what they’re doing
cold and recreate their vision pretty exactly. The sets and costumes are
absolutely gorgeous (by <b>Anna Louizos</b> and <b>Carrie Robbins</b>), and the
orchestra, led by <b>Matt Perri</b>, has the lush 1940s sound needed for all
that Irving Berlin music.<br /><o:p><span><a name='more'></a></span> <br /></o:p>If you’ve never seen the movie, it’s a show-biz focused
story about a duo who were in the Army together and went on to fame as
vaudeville style stars who sing a little, joke a little, and travel around to
national venues. Bob Wallace (<b>Ashley Day</b>) and Phil Davis (<b>Phillip
Attmore</b>) meet the Haynes Sisters – Betty (<b>Cayman Ilika</b>) and Judy (<b>Taryn
Darr</b> – who is reprising the same role from 2009!) and they couple up,
uncouple up, and then couple up again.<br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p>They all end up at a Vermont inn owned by the ex-general
they served under in the Army and who is now in danger of losing his inn. Bob
and Phil determine to try to help the general out by calling together all of
the men in the 151<sup>st</sup> Division they were in, but they keep it a
secret for Christmas. And there’s misunderstanding and heartbreak, and then of
course it clears up.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>The story is dressing for some amazing music from Berlin,
many classic songs you’re bound to recognize, and plenty of big tap numbers
with an enthusiastic ensemble. These are the big extravaganzas of that old
movie age!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><o:p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8U-VQgxkdyqt3MHqov1wTyXOJ4xqBmDw6SWPn-50wL2XZ8FviQxJlZ3x2olWtj_R0_nsm8jqF4bqzaZv8uONFpN5C7JEWIQx1pJgH9UCPkiZwe9dG63hVYaH_wBgSFWOLz16_GzNseEpbaEqtyxbH43GtYTWDLID-Ua82NzQdFsvOYeJ142hzw/s1200/Taryn%20Darr%20Phillip%20Attemore%20-%20Tracy%20Martin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1200" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8U-VQgxkdyqt3MHqov1wTyXOJ4xqBmDw6SWPn-50wL2XZ8FviQxJlZ3x2olWtj_R0_nsm8jqF4bqzaZv8uONFpN5C7JEWIQx1pJgH9UCPkiZwe9dG63hVYaH_wBgSFWOLz16_GzNseEpbaEqtyxbH43GtYTWDLID-Ua82NzQdFsvOYeJ142hzw/w543-h343/Taryn%20Darr%20Phillip%20Attemore%20-%20Tracy%20Martin.jpg" width="543" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taryn Darr and Phillip Attmore (Tracy Martin)</td></tr></tbody></table></o:p>Ilika and Darr were my favorites of the evening, with
Ilika’s beautiful alto and Darr’s lovely singing, cute-as-a-button portrayal,
and killer dance moves, front and center. Ilika catches everyone’s breath when
she appears and sings, “<i>Love, You Didn’t Do Right By Me</i>.” Another
stand-out solo was from <b>Candice Song Donehoo</b>, the cranky manager of the
inn, who busts out a song to prove she used to be a Big singer. And there was
the sassy delivery by <b>Gia Pellegrini</b> as the young granddaughter of the
general. (She alternates with <b>Beatrice Cramer</b> in the role.)<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>It's a big cast, and a lot of energy, and perfect for the
holidays. If gifts should be experiences, then by all means, gift everyone a
chance to relax and laugh with tickets to this classic musical.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For more articles, please
go to <a href="https://miryamstheatermusings.blogspot.com/">https://MiryamsTheaterMusings.blogspot.com</a>
and subscribe to get them in your in-box!</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><o:p> </o:p></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>Miryam Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333918939213536603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13577346.post-58425078423426237702023-11-21T19:48:00.000-08:002024-02-26T23:04:07.965-08:00"Beautiful" should Not Be Missed!<div style="text-align: left;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi43TQjzZ1sScLSqPAbOrGdpuSTCA9EthLH2fDV_MmFNwOovd9TU9GpyY6PPWvuTVKFZ7FxSlPD1nz6yWLPgYqL5UO3Q1MaMujgjAhjwYIBMDnv9-hoJqt29EH4uIExAPOpd-GG-nX3NgDRAJNzF1bwkmPjH49WcUv3Qppdj5ruR7mZzfBz-YkZZA/s1200/VillageTheatre_Beautiful_6834_Auston-James.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi43TQjzZ1sScLSqPAbOrGdpuSTCA9EthLH2fDV_MmFNwOovd9TU9GpyY6PPWvuTVKFZ7FxSlPD1nz6yWLPgYqL5UO3Q1MaMujgjAhjwYIBMDnv9-hoJqt29EH4uIExAPOpd-GG-nX3NgDRAJNzF1bwkmPjH49WcUv3Qppdj5ruR7mZzfBz-YkZZA/w554-h368/VillageTheatre_Beautiful_6834_Auston-James.jpg" width="554" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jason Kappus and Sarah Rose Davis in <i>Beautiful</i> (Auston James)</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Beautiful: The Carole King Musical<br /></i><a href="http://www.villagetheatre.org" target="_blank">Village Theatre</a> (<a href="http://www.villagetheatre.org" target="_blank">www.villagetheatre.org</a>)<br />Issaquah: Through December 23, 2023<br />Everett: January 6 to January 28, 2024<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>I will absolutely <i>rave</i> about the perfection of <b>Sarah
Rose Davis</b> as Carole King and the rest of the cast, in a minute. I promise!
But OMG the SET! The set and the lights and projections!!! I’m so in love with <b>Grace
Laubacher</b>, set designer, <b>Robert J. Aguilar</b>, lighting designer, and <b>Ahren
Buhmann</b>, projection designer, right now.<br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p>You see, I have a “thing” about sets and set changes – so often
there’s too much set, sometimes for no reason, and usually set changes just <i>take
time</i> and are noticeable, and often also changed for no reason. This set was
a thing of beauty because it changes in a Split Second!<br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p>That’s important because there are So. Many. Set. Changes. And
it’s beautiful or useful. Also, the lighting here comes from the back to light
up parts of the set, and the projection changes locations and I don’t know how
they do that thing where when the set is moving you can see behind it, but when
it stops, it’s a new location that is not see-through! Magic!<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>While I’m talking tech, the costumes by <b>Melanie Taylor
Burgess</b> were absolutely spot on and there were Tons of them! Very 1960s and
you could see the years change by the costumes in the scenes. There isn’t a
credit for wigs, but there were Tons of those, too, also absolutely telling the
story through their wearings. I’ll presume that Melanie coordinated/made those,
too, and they hit every note.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>OK. So.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Beautiful </i>tells the story of the very early years of
Carole King’s life, starting when she is 16 and already devoted to getting into
the song-writing business. Douglas McGrath’s book (words spoken not sung) is
funny and encompasses all the changes in Carole’s life with swift scenes that
move the story along in a very satisfying way. All of the songs that are sung
in the musical are either by Carole and her husband Gerry Goffin, or their
friends and competitors in song-writing, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. You are
likely to know many of them, since they wrote so many classics.<br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p>The show opens with Carole, played by the sublime <b>Sarah
Rose Davis</b>, at a pinnacle of her success when she plays a concert at Carnegie
Hall. She has achieved a massive success with her now classic perfect album, <i>Tapestry</i>.<br /><o:p><span><a name='more'></a></span> <br /></o:p>Then we go back in time to meet the 16 year old Carole as
she meets cute with her soon-to-be husband Gerry Goffin (<b>Jason Kappus</b>,
who manages both the good times charmer and the struggles he had with a pathos
that keeps us liking him).<br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p>Carole bargains with her mother (a super role for “Mama” <b>Angela
DiMarco</b>) and talks her way into selling songs to Don Kirschner (<b>Avery
Clark</b>). There she meets Barry and Cynthia. <b>Adam Marino</b> and <b>Krystle
Armstrong-Alan</b> are<b> </b>an adorable match. It’s so great to see Krystle
back on local boards, and her voice is gorgeous. Adam is new to town but a
great talent added to this show.<o:p><br /></o:p><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVSnf6dYlwqAkj6st29Z1X434lMtC6eP2PrLrMzunONgflramdvnLyZ8qNJ6-zg21WSU7wfefXNIyrMPS0TY_WtdSXJz1b4naR4B84cVltfefYTgJB3fivgb6zvK3SRxI-jOR_-SYWMxTaZbnTXPIsSfQ0Pj1q9rBvEW47VZmlK6c3KAHXeuq-GA/w566-h376/Village-Theatre_Beautiful_7345_Auston-James%20Krystle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="566" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barry Mann and Krystle Armstrong-Alan (Auston James)</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVSnf6dYlwqAkj6st29Z1X434lMtC6eP2PrLrMzunONgflramdvnLyZ8qNJ6-zg21WSU7wfefXNIyrMPS0TY_WtdSXJz1b4naR4B84cVltfefYTgJB3fivgb6zvK3SRxI-jOR_-SYWMxTaZbnTXPIsSfQ0Pj1q9rBvEW47VZmlK6c3KAHXeuq-GA/s1200/Village-Theatre_Beautiful_7345_Auston-James%20Krystle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The rest is history, with a jam-packed, powerhouse ensemble with big voices, to play famous singers and writers. The Drifters – </span><b style="font-size: large;">Charles L. Simmons</b><span style="font-size: large;">, </span><b style="font-size: large;">Chandler T. Thomas</b><span style="font-size: large;">, </span><b style="font-size: large;">Nehemiah Hooks</b><span style="font-size: large;">, </span><b style="font-size: large;">Montel Butler</b><span style="font-size: large;"> – were so perfect with their harmonies and killer choreo moves. The Shirelles – </span><b style="font-size: large;">Simone Alene</b><span style="font-size: large;">, </span><b style="font-size: large;">Anteia DeLaney</b><span style="font-size: large;">, </span><b style="font-size: large;">Alexandra Henderson</b><span style="font-size: large;">, </span><b style="font-size: large;">Nalica Hennings</b><span style="font-size: large;"> – shined as well. </span><b style="font-size: large;">Savannah Lynn</b><span style="font-size: large;"> played several roles, as did </span><b style="font-size: large;">Cherisse Martinelli</b><span style="font-size: large;">, who also got a chance to display her singing chops to great effect. </span><b style="font-size: large;">Matthew Posner</b><span style="font-size: large;">, with a dreamy voice, got to sing with </span><b style="font-size: large;">Jason Weitkamp</b><span style="font-size: large;"> as they blended together to be The Righteous Brothers, and add some solid humor along with the harmony.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p> <br /></o:p>Ohhhh, the music. <b>R.J. Tancioco</b> music directs a wonderful orchestra with big sounds. It’s a pleasure to listen and want to sing along.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>Director and choreographer <b>Lisa Shriver</b> is one of the best musical directors we occasionally have had in town. It is so so clear that she knows what she’s doing. She put together an amazing cast and created a rhythm in the show with a swift tempo, but didn’t hurry along the sad parts. She’s pulled out all the humor, perfect choreography that mimics that period brilliantly. Here’s hoping she comes back more often!<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>And then, finally, there’s the star…. I first saw Sarah Rose in the 2010 productions of <i>The Yellow Wood</i>. She was always a “presence” in every show. She has a sweet, pure voice and expressive eyes. I watched as she gained bigger roles at the 5<sup>th</sup> Avenue Theatre and grew in confidence. She’s taken on some big roles in <i>How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying</i>, <i>Holiday Inn</i>, a fun role in <i>Grease</i>, <i>A Chorus Line</i>, and then there was the opportunity to play Fanny Brice in <i>Funny Girl</i>.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Funny Girl </i>seemed like a bucket-list role and she was wonderful. She had to be funny and spunky and also draw us in to moments of great pathos. It was a triumph. And now that looks like the precursor preparation for portraying Carole King. Sarah Rose shows us every emotion and makes us feel all her feelings. Her singing is beautiful! She does Carole King proud!<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>Everyone should see this show. It’s for everyone aged 7 to 97. It’s one of the best musicals I’ve seen in a long time, so you owe it to yourself and your family to take everyone and go. It’s during the holidays – so give the “experience” as a gift to anyone on your gift list. They’ll remember that holiday gift for a long time.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>For more articles, please go to https://MiryamsTheaterMusings.blogspot.com and subscribe to get them in your in-box!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Miryam Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333918939213536603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13577346.post-78591238282453595222023-11-09T16:46:00.002-08:002023-11-09T16:46:50.779-08:00Thank Goodness It’s the Season on Seattle Stages<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpE6qclNi3fRyQsdu3AJceEI7yBuA9_WmqDyAwEVypYPfesgteGNiNzyGYL9Sr4qSTTfxRUTF3IIGrLYilVDsbn0DnEcopU08KkqKgT9hpqJGeCF9b5Iqk2ZlQ164K-o-Zt6Vtk1EvCYVaZB6Y3CsOABj0bSfwI4ytTLUBBB_-wXrzzj-0xoh4g/s6720/Little%20Women%20Rebecca%20Cort%20and%20Cy%20Paolantonio%20in%20rehearsal%20-%20photo%20by%20Sayed%20Alamy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpE6qclNi3fRyQsdu3AJceEI7yBuA9_WmqDyAwEVypYPfesgteGNiNzyGYL9Sr4qSTTfxRUTF3IIGrLYilVDsbn0DnEcopU08KkqKgT9hpqJGeCF9b5Iqk2ZlQ164K-o-Zt6Vtk1EvCYVaZB6Y3CsOABj0bSfwI4ytTLUBBB_-wXrzzj-0xoh4g/w435-h289/Little%20Women%20Rebecca%20Cort%20and%20Cy%20Paolantonio%20in%20rehearsal%20-%20photo%20by%20Sayed%20Alamy.jpg" width="435" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Rebecca Cort </b>in <i>Little Women </i>(Seattle Rep) (photo by Sayed Alamy)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7yLkpGlNgy21ogp25EPpY1jDK0u99wDWgpF_z6AcY6w_6qyTk8NxRrLLuj7FTsc_j48e6gOoUMljxSMmV1AOqtlC9vtvpLco7SxW2S1_YXF9hOzSZKCMKiazxsAE5ZJ19W9eT9r-_91a42jgxveGUB3dXjFN1LzaQjUZKJr6RzisgblE7RjdwQ/s1200/Sarah%20Rose%20Davis%20as%20Carole%20King.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7yLkpGlNgy21ogp25EPpY1jDK0u99wDWgpF_z6AcY6w_6qyTk8NxRrLLuj7FTsc_j48e6gOoUMljxSMmV1AOqtlC9vtvpLco7SxW2S1_YXF9hOzSZKCMKiazxsAE5ZJ19W9eT9r-_91a42jgxveGUB3dXjFN1LzaQjUZKJr6RzisgblE7RjdwQ/w261-h392/Sarah%20Rose%20Davis%20as%20Carole%20King.jpg" width="261" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sarah Rose Davis</b> as Carole King in <i>Beautiful </i>(Village Theatre)</td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">November stages have skipped Thanksgiving this year and gone
straight to Christmas programming. There are quite a lot of choices for that,
along with some interesting counter-programming. It’s a merry time to be back
together in person and consider multiple family-friendly options! Get outcher
calendars.<br /><i><o:p> <br /></o:p></i><i>The Merry Wives of Windsor</i>, <b>Seattle Shakespeare
Company</b>, 11/1-19/23<br /> Our old friend Falstaff has a ploy to make some easy
money—woo Mistress Page and Mistress Ford and thus gain access to their
husbands’ wealth. It shouldn’t be too challenging; he can be quite a charming
and insightful man when it benefits him. He sends the mistresses notes with
declarations of love, but in a small town like Windsor, everyone knows everyone
else’s business and Mistresses Page and Ford soon realize their notes are exact
copies. Rather than take that insult lying down, they make dates with Falstaff,
scheming to be discovered in flagrante by their husbands and so to achieve
their saucy revenge on the knight.<br /> <a href="http://www.seattleshakespeare.org/" target="_blank">www.seattleshakespeare.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Hotdish</i>, <b>Pony World Theatre</b>, 11/3/23-12/2/23 (at
12<sup>th</sup> Ave Arts) <b>(world premiere)<br /></b>Local playwright <b>Brendan Healey</b> presents his new play
introducing Kayla and her older brother. Toby is unemployed and living with her
in her cramped townhouse. But Toby believes he’s found the answer to all his
troubles: winning his favorite reality TV cooking show, Champion Chef. As Toby
falls deeper into this enticing fantasy, their mother, Evelyn, is hiding the
truth about her own financial problems. Kayla is supposed to save them both,
but she can barely keep her own life together. Guided by a magical being who
just so happens to be the glamorous host of Champion Chef, the family will have
to face what fractured their lives in the first place to find out if they can
still love each other. Hotdish tells a story about family, food, and fixing the
cracks in all our hearts.<br /><a href="http://www.ponyworld.org/" target="_blank">www.ponyworld.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Caligula</i>, <b>Theatre33</b>, 11/4-18/23 (at 13243 20th
Street NE, Bellevue, WA 98005)<br />(Presented in Russian with a summary in English) What do we
know about Caesar, the Emperor of Rome? His name became commonly associated
with ruthless tyrants. He was very young and ruled for only three and a half
years prior to being killed by traitors. He squandered all the funds and was an
unpredictable despot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Historically, we
know very little about him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However,
that is not the focus of Albert Camus’ play; rather, he explores the issues of
power, integrity, freedom, corruption to address the existential
questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is the meaning of life?
Does freedom exist? How to live knowing the inevitability of death?<br /><a href="https://www.theatre33wa.org/" target="_blank">https://www.theatre33wa.org/<br /></a><o:p><span><a name='more'></a></span> <br /></o:p><i>Little Women</i>, <b>Seattle Rep</b>, 11/10/23-12/17/23<br />Jo March isn't concerned with what's "ladylike." She's
not sure she wants to be a lady at all. An aspiring writer, Jo must negotiate
with society's expectations to realize her dreams. Against the backdrop of the
Civil War, the beloved March sisters grow together and apart, discovering love,
joy, and loss as they learn the importance of family and being true to oneself.<br />
<a href="http://www.seattlerep.org/" target="_blank">www.seattlerep.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Beautiful: The Carole King Musical</i>, <b>Village
Theatre</b>, Issaquah: 11/15/23-12/17/23, Everett: 1/6-28/24<br />Carole King wrote the soundtrack to a generation. <i>Beautiful</i>
tells the touching and true story of chart-topping musical legend’s remarkable
rise to stardom: beginning as an ordinary girl with extraordinary talent, char<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">ti</span>ng
her rock ‘n roll songwriting with husband Gerry Goffin,<br />exploring her relationship to fellow writers and best
friends Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, and forging her path to becoming one of
the most successful and enduring solo artists in popular music history. Local
favorite <b>Sarah Rose Davis</b> stars as the iconic song-writer! Learn how
this groundbreaking female artist forged her own path in the male-dominated
music industry, finding her own true voice and moving the earth for us all.<br /><a href="http://www.villagetheatre.org/" target="_blank">www.villagetheatre.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>A Very Electric Christmas</i>, <b>Seattle Children’s
Theatre</b>, 11/16/23-12/31/23<br />Enjoy a cutting-edge light show with puppetry, technology,
and dance! A gust of wind blows a young migratory bird named Max off course,
and he finds himself in a wondrous and unfamiliar world at the North Pole. Follow
Max's glow-in-the-dark adventures as he encounters dancing toy soldiers, caroling
worms, and performing poinsettias, all while trying to find his way back to his
family. A soundtrack of timeless holiday hits accompanies this magical and
captivating tale of family, friendship, and hope.<br /><a href="http://www.sct.org/" target="_blank">www.sct.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley</i>, <b>Taproot
Theatre</b>, 11/22/23-12/30/23<br />This is the third in a trilogy of plays inspired by Jane
Austen’s <i>Pride & Prejudice</i> by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon. Georgiana
Darcy is an accomplished pianist but wary of romance. Kitty Bennet is a
bright-eyed optimist and a perfect best friend. These two younger sisters are
ready for their own adventures in life and love, starting with the arrival of
an admirer and secret correspondent. Meddlesome families and outmoded
expectations won’t stop these determined friends from forging their own way in
a holiday tale filled with music, ambition, sisterhood, and forgiveness.<br /><a href="http://www.taproottheatre.org/" target="_blank">www.taproottheatre.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>A Very Die Hard Christmas</i>, <b>Marxiano Productions</b>
and <b>Seattle Public Theater</b>, 11/22/23-12/28/23<br />Yippie Ki Yay, it's a Christmas miracle! Here it comes,
again, a musical parody that is sure to blow the roof off the joint. This
holiday comedy is perfect for those who like their Christmas entertainment with
lots of action, 80s jokes, smooth soft rock jams, and snarky German terrorists.<br /><a href="http://www.seattlepublictheater.org/" target="_blank">www.seattlepublictheater.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>A Christmas Carol</i>, <b>ACT Theatre</b>,
11/24/23-12/24/23<br />Charles Dickens’ enchanting tale of compassion and hope
comes to life once again. On a snowy Christmas Eve brimming with memorable
characters, ghostly apparitions, and visits to the past, present, and future,
miserly Ebenezer Scrooge discovers the joy of charity and redemption. Capture
the timeless magic of Dickens’ Yuletide classic, proudly returning for the 48th
year.<br /><a href="http://www.acttheatre.org/" target="_blank">www.acttheatre.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>A Nice Family Christmas</i>, <b>The Phoenix Theatre</b>,
11/24/23-12/17/23<br />It’s Christmas Eve and a young newspaper reporter, on the
brink of being fired, has been assigned a last chance story about a typical
family Christmas - his family. He goes home to his recently widowed mother, his
crazy uncle, and eccentric grandmother as well as battling siblings and
neurotic spouses with no shortage of material. One by one, we learn of each
family member’s secrets, problems and dysfunctions, and when they learn that
he’s writing an article with some very personal family information, the
fruitcake hits the fan. The question is, will the magic of Christmas bring this
family back together?<br /><a href="http://www.tptedmonds.org/" target="_blank">www.tptedmonds.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Sleeping Beauty</i>, <b>Centerstage Theatre</b>,
11/25/23-12/20/23<br />Take a classic fairy tale and stick it in a gift box with
pitch-perfect pop music, raucous routines, hysterical humor, and dynamic dances
- give it a good shake, and unwrap to reveal a theatre experience unlike
anything else out there! Holiday Pantos have become a laughter- and joy-filled
tradition for both audiences and artists, alike.<br /><a href="http://www.centerstagetheatre.com/" target="_blank">www.centerstagetheatre.com<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p>Roald Dahl's <i>Willy Wonka,</i> <b>Edmonds Driftwood
Players</b>, 11/24/23-12/17/23<br />Enigmatic candy manufacturer, Willy Wonka, stages a contest
by hiding golden tickets in five of his scrumptious candy bars. Whomever comes
up with these tickets will win a free tour of the Wonka factory, as well as a lifetime
supply of candy. Four of the five winning children are insufferable brats: the
fifth is a likeable young lad named Charlie Bucket, who takes the tour in the
company of his equally amiable grandfather. The children must learn to follow
Mr. Wonka's rules in the factory... or suffer the consequences.<br /><a href="http://www.edmondsdriftwoodplayers.org/" target="_blank">www.edmondsdriftwoodplayers.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Irving Berlin’s White Christmas</i>, <b>5<sup>th</sup>
Avenue Theatre</b>, 11/25/23-12/24/23<br />Based on the beloved, timeless film, and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>just in time for the holiday season, the 5<sup>th</sup>
Avenue is bringing back this classic. After World War II, two veterans, Bob
Wallace and Phil Davis, begin a successful song and dance act, following two
singing sisters to their Christmas gig at a Vermont resort lodge. With classic
standards such as “Blue Skies,” “How Deep is the Ocean,” and the titular hit, <i>Irving
Berlin’s White Christmas</i> is a stirring and delightful musical that stands
the test of time.<br /><a href="http://www.5thavenue.org/" target="_blank">www.5thavenue.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Snowed In</i>, <b>ArtsWest</b>, 11/30/23-12/23/23<br />ArtsWest has sent four incredible artists on a cozy retreat
to write the most perfect holiday show the world has ever seen.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span> But when a blizzard hits
and tensions rise, the crumpled-up notebook pages start to pile up even faster
than the snow. Will they finish the show in time?<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span>Or
will they have to rely on a sprinkle of holiday magic to pull the whole thing
off?<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> <br /><o:p></o:p></span><a href="http://www.artswest.org/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">www.artswest.org<br /></span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><i><span style="color: windowtext; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">A Charlie Brown
Christmas</span></i></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">, <b>Taproot Theatre</b>,
11/30/23-12/23/23<br /><o:p></o:p></span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Charlie Brown is
depressed by the never-ending commercialism surrounding the holidays.
Thankfully, Linus is there to help him find the true meaning of Christmas in
this musical adaptation of the cartoon classic. December 8 at 7 PM is a sensory-friendly
performance.<br /></span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><a href="http://www.taproottheatre.org/" target="_blank">www.taproottheatre.org<br /></a></span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><i><span style="color: windowtext; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">What the Dickens</span></i></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">, <b>Key City Public Theatre</b>, 11/30/23-12/23/23<br /><o:p></o:p></span></span>Ebenezer Scrooge meets Sherlock Holmes in this hilarious
holiday hodgepodge of humbug and hugger-mugger. The story begins at Ghost Central,
where Marley and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future are with
their union representative to complain about a hostile work environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems the ghosts’ annual haunting to
reform a wayward soul has gone awry, a problem that has been getting worse
every year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the ghosts explain,
people are getting jaded and fighting back with Ghostbuster-like
resistance!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the board of directors
already looking to trim the budget, it seems that these Christmas ghosts are
headed toward the proverbial chopping block!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <br />
</span><a href="http://www.keycitypublictheatre.org/" target="_blank">www.keycitypublictheatre.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><a name="_Hlk145860665">For more articles, please go to </a><a href="https://miryamstheatermusings.blogspot.com/"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk145860665;">https://MiryamsTheaterMusings.blogspot.com</span></a></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk145860665;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> and subscribe to get them in your in-box!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
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Miryam Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333918939213536603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13577346.post-13338172988388875792023-10-08T16:01:00.008-07:002023-10-13T14:51:06.778-07:00October: Spooky, Funny, Renewed Production Companies, and Lots of New Plays!<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8U_t5TZm6FB5X7v48zzgFQkiCf-W5OKLiQJL6Iw2oUNB3u0GSGnnGPX1p3PtJTQytpyVjc80o4NyuyoigGhmo71y0Hdrc_YJjOBbNRyr310HpVndbM6sHCLFn29BAinB0gDtglntkUtrLpmxb34VfTI0PKdDXFcj7EWmoPwtoxONjr6WCtrYeig/s2560/zinzanni.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2560" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8U_t5TZm6FB5X7v48zzgFQkiCf-W5OKLiQJL6Iw2oUNB3u0GSGnnGPX1p3PtJTQytpyVjc80o4NyuyoigGhmo71y0Hdrc_YJjOBbNRyr310HpVndbM6sHCLFn29BAinB0gDtglntkUtrLpmxb34VfTI0PKdDXFcj7EWmoPwtoxONjr6WCtrYeig/w562-h316/zinzanni.jpg" width="562" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKacBmTrT7uIhW15N3AtnE9628k0S8y4V2Ab5Xkqu__l-5_YtjrYVTN9PHJNPcjKF3YAxEoqovSj-7vp35MP2jQkrbVQ5DsH77y0oOF8-S707hoQTO8qQhBGLH25hcHJTSmDWvvCrd1yIgmvmf0jSGX_pq_QOz0qYmPsFYmBsUey9dHbjArh-Wg/s980/980x390_GoodnightMoon.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="980" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKacBmTrT7uIhW15N3AtnE9628k0S8y4V2Ab5Xkqu__l-5_YtjrYVTN9PHJNPcjKF3YAxEoqovSj-7vp35MP2jQkrbVQ5DsH77y0oOF8-S707hoQTO8qQhBGLH25hcHJTSmDWvvCrd1yIgmvmf0jSGX_pq_QOz0qYmPsFYmBsUey9dHbjArh-Wg/w555-h220/980x390_GoodnightMoon.jpg" width="555" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Goodnight Moon</i> at SCT</td></tr></tbody></table>October has a fair number of spooks poking their noses onto
our stages. Annex Theatre is resurrected. Zinzanni is back. There has to be at
least ONE thing you’ll be dazzled by this month! Get outcher calenders!</div><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Residency at Lotte Hotel</i><b>, Teatro ZinZanni</b>,<b> </b>10<b>/</b>12/23-3/31/24<br />The legendary theatrical cirque experience, and Lotte Hotel
Seattle, the premiere luxury hotel of downtown Seattle announce a new circus residency.
This one-of-a-kind holiday run of performances promises an opulent, world-class
extravaganza in the breathtaking setting of the hotel's largest venue, the
Grand Ballroom in The Sanctuary. The Teatro ZinZanni dinner-and-show experience
will bring the talents of <b>Kevin Kent</b>, <b>Elena Gatilova</b> and more to
tease and tantalize. (Matinee 12PM, Evening 7PM)<br /><a href="http://www.zinzanni.com/seattle" target="_blank">www.zinzanni.com/seattle</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Goodnight Moon</i>, <b>Seattle Children’s Theatre</b>,
10/12/23-11/5/23<br />Goodnight Moon has been cherished by generations for over 40
years, and SCT’s lively musical production has been popular all over the
country since the world premiere in 2007. Children and families can enjoy the
surprise and delight of Bunny’s imaginative detours on the way to dreamland. In
this intimate production, everyone will revel with Bunny in the fun of jumping
cows, dancing bears, and a room that springs to life! (Ages 3+)<br /><a href="http://www.sct.org/" target="_blank">www.sct.org</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Miss You Like Hell</i>, <b>Strawberry Theatre Workshop</b>,
10/12/23-11/11/23 (at 12<sup>th</sup> Ave Arts)<br />A teenager and her estranged mother—an undocumented Mexican
on the verge of deportation—embark on a road trip across the United States to
mend their frayed relationship. Combined with the musical talent of Erin
McKeown, Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Quiara Alegría Hudes artfully crafts
a story of the barriers and the bonds of family, while also addressing the
complexities of immigration in today’s America.<br /><a href="http://www.strawshop.org/" target="_blank">www.strawshop.org<br /></a><o:p><span><a name='more'></a></span> <br /></o:p><i>Cry It Out</i>, <b>As If Theatre Company</b>, 10/12-29/23<br />This heart-warming comedy takes a sharp and honest look at
the power of female friendship, the dilemma of going back to work after being
home with a newborn, and the effect that economic and social class has on
parenthood in America.<br /><a href="http://www.asiftheatre.com/" target="_blank">www.asiftheatre.com<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Macbeth: A Rock Musical</i>, <b>Seattle Public Theater</b>
and <b>Macha Theatre Works</b>, 10/13/23-11/5/23 (at Bathhouse Theater)<br />This isn’t your Shakespeare’s Shakespeare… The witches'
prophecy swallows Macbeth whole and a murderous nightmare begins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can Macbeth upend fate? In this all-femme
punk rock telling, MacBeth's foul greed and hunger for power distorts his actions.<br /><a href="http://www.seattlepublictheater.org/" target="_blank">www.seattlepublictheater.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Battle Crow Radio</i>, <b>Annex Theatre</b>, 10/13-21/23<br />After a long hiatus, Annex is BACK! An evening of diabolical
radio mysteries by <b>Kelleen Conway Blanchard</b> with swoony live music and
spine-chilling shocks. Four terrifying tales presented live and streaming to
freeze your blood! Join Detectives Palmerston and Jiggles as they follow the
trails of murdering fiends, other worldly creatures and spine-chilling evil!<br /><a href="http://www.annextheatre.org/" target="_blank">www.annextheatre.org</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.annextheatre.org/"><br /></a></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p><div><i>The Veil</i>, <b>Dacha Theatre</b>, 10/13/23-11/5/23 (at Forestledge Mansion, Burien) <b>(world premiere)</b></div><div>In an old mansion of haunting beauty where the veil between worlds is weak, a group of amateur spiritualists are grappling with a power that they don’t fully understand. It is up to you to help them, if they can still be helped. Audiences will explore an original, expansive world and uncover the truths that lie beyond – or succumb to its dangers and darkness. Séances, summonings, bindings, and other forms of magic will become second nature as you try to save the young occultists who are in way over their heads.</div><div><a href="http://www.dachatheatre.com" target="_blank">www.dachatheatre.com</a></div><div><br /></div></o:p><i>Every Brilliant Thing</i>, <b>Harlequin Productions</b>,
10/13-28/23<br />The color yellow. Sunsets. Things with stripes. Wearing a
cape. Ice cream! There are a million brilliant things. Can you name them all? <b>Eleise Moore</b> stars in this solo show, an immersive storytelling experience blending
comedy, improv, and audience interaction to tell the story of an adult growing
up in the shadow of mental illness and learning to grapple with their own
experiences of love, loss, and a finding a new way forward, one brilliant thing
at a time.<br /><a href="http://www.harlequinproductions.org/" target="_blank">www.harlequinproductions.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Emma</i><span>, </span><b>Centerstag</b><span>e, 10/13-29/23</span><br /><span>Jane Austen's fantastic comedy shines in this high-energy adaptation. Emma Woodhouse, the self-titled "matchmaker of Highbury," is completely uninterested in marriage for herself...but has big plans for everyone else. Flying high from her most recent match, she takes on her latest project: an orphan named Harriet Smith, who quickly discovers that Emma's confidence is enough to carry most anyone along in its wake. But when secretive visitors and surprise guests appear in Highbury, Emma's best-laid schemes begin to go off the rails, and she is forced to make adjustments while deftly side-stepping the counter-schemes of her presumptuous neighbor, George Knightley.</span></span><br style="font-size: large;" /><a href="http://www.centerstagetheatre.com/" style="font-size: large;" target="_blank">www.centerstagetheatre.com<br /></a><o:p style="font-size: large;"> </o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p><br /></o:p><i>Calendar Girls</i>, <b>The Phoenix Theatre</b>, 10/13/23-11/5/23<br />When Annie's husband John dies of leukemia, she and best friend Chris resolve to raise money for a new settee in the local hospital waiting room. They manage to persuade four fellow Women's Institute (WI) members to pose nude with them for an "alternative" calendar, with a little help from hospital porter and amateur photographer Lawrence. The news of the women's charitable venture spreads like wildfire, and hordes of press soon descend on the small village of Knapeley in the Yorkshire Dales. The calendar is a success, but Chris and Annie's friendship is put to the test under the strain of their newfound fame.<br /><a href="http://www.tptedmonds.org/" target="_blank">www.tptedmonds.org<br /></a><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Bloodletting</i>, <b>Pork Filled Productions</b>,
10/19/23-11/4/23 (at Theatre Off Jackson)<br />A supernatural, psychological thriller. Under the watchful
moon, estranged siblings Farrah and Bosley reunite in the Philippines to spread
their father's ashes in Palawan's treasured underground river. They take
shelter from a storm in a local café, where they open old family wounds and
encounter an aswang, a Filipino witch, who awakens in Farrah an ancient,
terrifying, and innate power. Will she embrace her new-found power? Or let it
destroy herself and her brother?<br /><a href="http://www.porkfilled.com/" target="_blank">www.porkfilled.com<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Islander</i>, <b>Seattle Rep</b>, 10/20/23-11/19/23
(tour)<br />Musical. Myth and reality collide when the tide washes a
mysterious stranger onto the shore of Eilidh's lonely island, changing her life
forever. Join us for a musical showcase of epic storytelling, intimately staged
with a contemporary Scottish folk-inspired score. Two actors embody a host of
characters while weaving, building, and layering their voices using live
looping technology. This internationally acclaimed hit will create an
expansive, ethereal soundscape for the ears and imagination as Seattle Rep
kicks off the North American Tour.<br /><a href="http://www.seattlerep.org/" target="_blank">www.seattlerep.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Meteor Shower</i>, <b>SecondStory Repertory</b>,
10/20/23-11/12/23<br />A comedy by Steve Martin. Corky and Norm are excited to host
Gerald and Laura at their home in the valley outside Los Angeles to watch a
once-in-a-lifetime meteor shower. But as the stars come out and the
conversation gets rolling, it becomes clear that Gerald and Laura might not be
all that they appear to be. Over the course of a crazy, starlit dinner party,
the wildly unexpected occurs. The couples begin to flirt and insanity reigns. A
surprising and unforgettably funny new play.<br /><a href="http://www.secondstoryrep.org/" target="_blank">www.secondstoryrep.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Ripeness is All</i>, <b>Red Curtain Foundation for the
Arts</b>, 10/20/23-11/5/23<br />A world premiere adaptation of Shakespeare's classic
tragedy, King Lear, told with an all-female cast. When Queen Lear's attempts to
force her youngest daughter to marry is met with unexpected disobedience, the
queen's wrath is unleashed. In the ensuing chaos, Lear's goddaughter Edelle
finds herself caught in a political storm that pits generation against
generation and sister against sister.<br /><a href="http://www.redcurtainfoundation.org/" target="_blank">www.redcurtainfoundation.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Night of the Living Dead</i>, <b>Olympic Theatre Arts
Center</b>, 10/20-31/23<br />A desperate group seeks shelter in an old house to barricade
themselves from a horde of the undead! No one is safe! Not for the faint of
heart! Leave your loved ones at home and see if you can survive the zombie
apocalypse.<br /><a href="http://www.olympictheatrearts.org/" target="_blank">www.olympictheatrearts.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Misery</i>, <b>Tacoma Little Theatre</b>, 10/20/23-11/5/23<br />Successful romance novelist Paul Sheldon, is rescued from a
car crash by his “Number One Fan,” Annie Wilkes, and wakes up captive in her
secluded home. While Paul is convalescing, Annie reads the manuscript to his
newest novel and becomes enraged when she discovers the author has killed off
her favorite character, Misery Chastain. Annie forces Paul to write a new
“Misery” novel, and he quickly realizes Annie has no intention of letting him
go anywhere. The irate Annie has Paul writing as if his life depends on it, and
it does.<br /><a href="http://www.tacomalittletheatre.com/" target="_blank">www.tacomalittletheatre.com<br /></a><i><o:p> <br /></o:p></i><i>The Canterville Ghost</i>, <b>Key City Public Theatre</b>,
10/20-29/23 <b>(world premiere)</b><br />A musical version of this chilling and humorous story filled
with romance and redemption by Oscar Wilde, 19th century Ireland's celebrated
and scandalized master of biting wit.<br /><a href="http://www.keycitypublictheatre.org/" target="_blank">www.keycitypublictheatre.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>The Merry Wives of Windsor</i>, <b>Seattle Shakespeare
Company</b>, (dates changed to Nov)<br /><a href="http://www.seattleshakespeare.org/" target="_blank">www.seattleshakespeare.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>The Return</i>, <b>Dunya Productions</b>, 10/26/23-11/18/23
(at Cherry Street Village, 702 25<sup>th</sup> Ave)<br />Two people meet in an auto-body shop in Herzilya, a
mid-sized city in Israel. One is Palestinian, one is Israeli (and) Jewish. They
might or might not have known each other in the past. By the end of the play,
both of their lives will be changed forever by the realities of present-day
Israel.<br /><a href="https://dunyaproductions.square.site/upcoming" target="_blank">https://dunyaproductions.square.site/upcoming<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Measure for Measure</i>, <b>Freehold Engaged Theatre
Project</b>, 10/26-30/23 (at West of Lenin)<br />The Duke and his community are thrown into an imbalance by
the pinched intolerance of the city's cultural climate. The Duke senses the
crisis, and his own failure, and sets out to find a way to fix the imbalance.
(By Donation)<br /><a href="http://www.freeholdtheatre.org/" target="_blank">www.freeholdtheatre.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>New Works Northwest</i>, <b>ACT Theatre</b>, 10/27-29/23<br />This 3-day festival will feature 5 new plays from local
playwrights in an intimate, workshop environment.<br /> <i>Golden</i>, written by <b>Andrew Lee Creech</b>: Amid the
Great Recession, Morris Golden fights to save his marriage and keep the bank
from foreclosing on his house. And he just might be able to pull it off if only
he could get this stubborn magical change machine to work.<br /><i>Mrs. Loman is Leaving</i>, written by <b>Katie Forgette</b>:
It's opening night of <i>Death of a Salesman</i> at the Teacup Theatre. Two
actors returning to the stage after many years have a lot riding on this
bare-bone off-Broadway production. But what happens when life imitates art and
one of them suffers a break with reality?<br /><i>History of Theatre Part II: or, The Fruits of Mr. Brown's
Garden</i>, written by <b>Reginald André Jackson</b>: Over 200 years ago, upon
noting there was nowhere in New York for Free People of Color to gather and
socialize, William Alexander Brown opened his garden to the public. Sister
Blacknall returns, bringing her mysterious time portal with her, to tell the
story of Mr. Brown and his intrepid theatre troupe.<br /><i>The Sunless Scar</i>, written by <b>Maggie Lee</b>: In a
post-apocalyptic world, regular "sacrifices" to appease the gods are
made in the form of young villagers being thrown into a deep crater called the
Sunless Scar, from which there is no escape. But instead of certain death, the
Scar turns out to contain safety, community, and light in a way that the harsh
surface never could.<br /><i>Vitalman (The Apothecary's Story)</i>, written by <b>Steven
Dietz</b>: The Apothecary from Romeo and Juliet has lived into the present day,
determined to atone for his part in the death of history's most famous lovers.
Encountering a troubled young woman and a guileless young man, the Apothecary
contrives to build a modern romantic love that cannot be destroyed ... with
dangerously emotional results.<br /><a href="http://www.acttheatre.org/" target="_blank">www.acttheatre.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><a name="_Hlk145860665">For more articles, please go to </a><a href="https://miryamstheatermusings.blogspot.com/"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk145860665;">https://MiryamsTheaterMusings.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk145860665;"> and subscribe to get them in your in-box!<br /><o:p></o:p></span><o:p> </o:p></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
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Miryam Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333918939213536603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13577346.post-81221625661621584342023-10-08T13:59:00.000-07:002023-10-08T13:59:13.690-07:00For the History Books – “Autocorrect Thinks I’m Dead”<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyXzCng8qDlFJy4kWF2uvuPOwlJbKc8XOcSkg5PZafE57rRy7JXtDX64ZFzBkhDNlupBaJTfv0yj2pl0x_Kf2JGd1f2JpCUQRqOSFGdZXOn1AMKx9Qim9wInNeXcHJ7lRVwdx0Tb4uo0IWB3jwxnVK8xs_YY24AkbsXBEMKb0_P7v-FeLheqBNw/s3240/autocorrect.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3240" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyXzCng8qDlFJy4kWF2uvuPOwlJbKc8XOcSkg5PZafE57rRy7JXtDX64ZFzBkhDNlupBaJTfv0yj2pl0x_Kf2JGd1f2JpCUQRqOSFGdZXOn1AMKx9Qim9wInNeXcHJ7lRVwdx0Tb4uo0IWB3jwxnVK8xs_YY24AkbsXBEMKb0_P7v-FeLheqBNw/w579-h385/autocorrect.jpeg" width="579" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cast members of <i>Autocorrect Thinks I'm Dead</i> (Jason Tang)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><i>Autocorrect Thinks I’m Dead<br /></i><b><a href="https://soundtheatrecompany.org/2023-season/autocorrect-thinks-im-dead/" target="_blank">Sound Theatre Company</a><br /></b>Through September 24, 2023<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>A long time ago, when I started reviewing theater, someone
told me that reviewing was very important because a stage production is a
living thing that only exists while the art-makers are making it. A review of
it marks it in time as having <i>existed</i>. I, therefore, think it’s even
more important when it’s a world premiere work where I am one of the few folks
that was privileged to see it.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>Sound Theatre Company mounted an intricate and somewhat
complicated production of <i>Autocorrect Thinks I’m Dead</i> by <b>Aimee Chou</b>.
Aimee is Deaf, but her work is not siloed into plays for Deaf folk. She’s
writing for everybody. And it was a sold-out run! Except that the entire last sold-out
weekend had to be cancelled because of illness.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>This quirky, fun play is described by their blurb thusly: “Three
Deaf roommates get more than they bargained for when mysterious messages from
Alexander Graham Bell start appearing on a vintage teletypewriter phone (TTY).
Told in American Sign Language (ASL), spoken English, and English captioning, (it’s
a) twist on horror, a genre known for challenging culture and subverting
expectations. It features a majority-Deaf and Hard of Hearing cast and creative
team – with a set created by a Deaf scenic designer and lighting designer.”<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>Aimee Chou has also written <i>Humanly Possible</i>, <i>Plumb
Crazy Pipe Dream</i>, and the shadow puppetry film <i>Motherclucker!</i> This
is her first main stage production.<br /><o:p><span><a name='more'></a></span> <br /></o:p><i>Autocorrect Thinks I’m</i> <i>Dead </i>is an odd title
until you realize just how often your autocorrect changes “deaf” to “dead.”
That’s one of many funny moments as the actors occasionally interact with the
subtitles displayed, almost like another character.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>Brittany (<b>Brittany Rupik</b>) and Calvin (<b>Kai
Winchester</b>) and Merlin (<b>Phelan Conheady</b>) have rented a house in
Salem, MA. It’s a historic location for this historic town, and it turns out
that Alexander Graham Bell lived there. But Brittany found the house in a hurry
because she had to move quickly. While her housemates aren’t sure what
happened, she’s keeping a secret of abuse that is revealed piece by piece.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>During their first night, spooky things happen, including
lights flashing, the thermostat breaking, and an ancient Teletype machine that starts
typing to them! It tells them that they are communicating with Alexander Graham
Bell himself! What’s going on? They decide they need to hire a Medium to make
contact with the dead. But the one they hire (<b>Jessica Kiely</b> with just
the right silly, unhinged character) needs a Deaf interpreter (<b>Talasi Haynes</b>)
to help them all communicate.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>Then there are a couple of extremely bothersome missionaries (including <b>Van Lang Pham</b>) who are so persistent it becomes
unrealistic. I know… “unrealistic” is a strange word to use in a clearly suspend-your-belief play, but there are
aspects of this script that ultimately don’t quite work, and an ending that
tries to wind up too much confusion and explains it with less finesse than I
wish it could.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>It’s still a really smart and interesting script that shows a lot
of promise for potential rewrites that help slim down the confusions, like a
fine-dining meal that has a few too many ingredients. It blends humor, horror,
technological glitchy-ness (on purpose) and even history in a unique brew.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>The production features subtitles for the hearing audience
and those subtitles help the Deaf audience when the cast members are talking
out loud. So, the production is for everyone who can read quickly – general audiences
over about age 10 or so. It’s not an automated process, so a tech person has to
match up the signers and the out-louders.<br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p>Sound designer <b>Castor Rosencrantz Kent</b> worked to
augment sound effects by increasing the volume and techniques for bringing out
vibrations for the Deaf audience members to feel the sound. There are moments
of sound menace, and bangs, crucial to startling the audience for the spooky
moments.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>Spooky lighting effects combined the efforts of <b>Annie
Wiegand</b>, <b>Richard Schaefer</b>, and <b>Ken Michels. </b>Director <b>Howie
Seago</b> brings it all together. I just wish more people had been able to see
it before it disappeared into its own history.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p><a name="_Hlk145860665">For more articles, please go to </a><a href="https://miryamstheatermusings.blogspot.com/"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk145860665;">https://MiryamsTheaterMusings.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk145860665;"> and subscribe to get them in your in-box!<br /><o:p></o:p></span><span style="mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-ligatures: standardcontextual;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
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Miryam Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333918939213536603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13577346.post-43134412003311987572023-09-21T19:27:00.001-07:002023-09-21T20:14:38.636-07:00Huey Thrills (Again!) with Help of Fab Hometown Ensemble!<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1pf-I2dIDqbgBGq3u3TQOGTx-Qg6Agq-KIpwJGpGxrna11MF4dIax9cfKREGRsCpX9aohOqqrVQoVG7_JmUzwZeZAxJf1n9PloILsuGXXoY1D_CY4SMSS0_kkn5tcEdubZhVjhOwW1Xe6tfWp2XodMtHAz_y4tz1dGsTrObNYXQbY53FMmt95eQ/s1200/mermaid.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1pf-I2dIDqbgBGq3u3TQOGTx-Qg6Agq-KIpwJGpGxrna11MF4dIax9cfKREGRsCpX9aohOqqrVQoVG7_JmUzwZeZAxJf1n9PloILsuGXXoY1D_CY4SMSS0_kkn5tcEdubZhVjhOwW1Xe6tfWp2XodMtHAz_y4tz1dGsTrObNYXQbY53FMmt95eQ/w594-h394/mermaid.jpg" width="594" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cassi Q Kohl, Diana Huey, and Shaunyce Omar (Photo: Tracy Martin)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The Little Mermaid<br /></i><a href="http://www.5thavenue.org" target="_blank">The 5<sup>th</sup> Avenue Theatre</a><br />Through October 8, 2023<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>As good as any Broadway NYC show, our area is blessed with a
wealth of gorgeous performers who get to shine now in <i>The Little Mermaid</i>!
We then are double-blessed to have <b>Diana Huey</b> return “home” to let us hear
her crisp, clean, soaring voice – every bit as good as the first time she
starred as Ariel on the 5<sup>th</sup> Ave stage in 2016. Maybe even better!<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>Huey broke the mold in 2016 to star in a national tour as
the first Asian American performer to star in the show. Rumors had it that
there were some ugly adventures in some parts of the country where people somehow
could not fathom how a mermaid could be Asian. It was also her biggest role, at
that point, carrying a huge Broadway hit show on her shoulders. Now, seasoned by
a move to NYC and dozens of performing opportunities, she is sure-finned and in
perfect voice to do it again.<br /><o:p><span><a name='more'></a></span> <br /></o:p>The rest of the cast provide great support generally and in
key roles. Prince Eric is played by <b>Coleman Cummings</b>, a native to our
region who has left for NYC pastures, but has come “home” to show off his pipes
and sweet, soulful delivery. The Mersisters are cohesive but also each stands
on her own (and <b>Kristin Burch</b> gets to <i>mer</i> again as well!). <b>John
David Scott</b> gets his tapping on as Scuttle. <b>Cassie Q Kohl</b> and <b>Ethan
Carpenter</b> get creepy as Flotsam and Jetsam.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>Then there is <b>Shaunyce Omar</b> as Ursula. Of course Omar
is Ursula! Omar is the first anyone should think of for that role, with her big
belt and sure characterization, all with a glint of fun. She’s had a great year,
playing belting roles in <i>Into the Woods</i> and <i>The Wiz</i>, as well. I
look forward to seeing her in other, less-stereotyping roles, because she has great
range, as well.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>The atmosphere of the production is amazing. The colors are
vibrant. The set is simple in some ways (walls of watery bubbles, castle
backdrop of lush-looking wallpaper), but streamlined and very quick-changing. The
costuming is a wonderful swirl of color and swishing fabrics as everyone in the
water has to seem to float. Ursula’s squid costume is a marvel of legs, and
Sebastian is quite red and clawful.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>Huge puppets, like jelly fish and other sea creatures swarm
among the ensemble. They make more magic. The “flying sequence choreographer”
Paul Rubin helped create the visualization of Ariel and others floating and
swimming through deep waters. Little kids will be amazed.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>It’s still a kid-show. Let’s be honest. But there is so much
to look at, marvel at, and enjoy that parents and grandparents will have a
great time with their little ones. This reboot at the 5<sup>th</sup> has
floated to the top!<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>For more articles, please go to
https://MiryamsTheaterMusings.blogspot.com and subscribe to get them in your
in-box!</span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Miryam Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333918939213536603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13577346.post-11639361328067735622023-09-06T20:34:00.003-07:002023-09-06T23:48:33.057-07:00Expansive September List Provides Great Entertainment Options<div style="text-align: left;"> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggqNmlPHn_rTPHcVBDMnKLkJ6gUtCQ-Keuz6Q43Ca6dUFrs-KbqNiyv9dIJSum_imeKNg5gf6X5ZR14WznqBo2wh6bu66zrbFmQr9ywg23HOyRDaErAVHn9cM1o8Afb3ujLLUt65qp69EHmYtuf8WhZT_cF55pEDj6a7Xl9p5J-VcZoZ4LaaKYlw/s1224/Autocorrect-Poster-final.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="792" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggqNmlPHn_rTPHcVBDMnKLkJ6gUtCQ-Keuz6Q43Ca6dUFrs-KbqNiyv9dIJSum_imeKNg5gf6X5ZR14WznqBo2wh6bu66zrbFmQr9ywg23HOyRDaErAVHn9cM1o8Afb3ujLLUt65qp69EHmYtuf8WhZT_cF55pEDj6a7Xl9p5J-VcZoZ4LaaKYlw/w414-h640/Autocorrect-Poster-final.jpg" width="414" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I’m working on expanding this list to include nearby cities
and towns and hamlets that are near enough to get to easily. But that means the
list for September is pretty massive. It’s exciting because it truly seems “back
to normal,” and is wonderful to see. Get outcher calendars!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><a name="_Hlk144919787"><i>Deep Purple Wiggle</i>, <b>Theatre
Battery</b>, 9/1-10/23 (opened last week) <b>(world premiere)<br /></b></a><b>Milo Cramer</b> writes
about Bro and Sibling who are twins in their thirties who, up until now, have
self-identified as dudes. When one comes out to the other as non-binary
(without either of them fully knowing what it means), a queer Pandora's box is
opened. A new comedy (with music) about contemporary masculinity. Theatre
Battery practices Radical Hospitality: No-Cost Admission for All!<br /><a href="https://theatrebattery.strangertickets.com/" target="_blank">https://theatrebattery.strangertickets.com<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Matt & Ben</i>,
<b>Artswest</b>, 9/7/23-10/1/23<br /> From the mind of
multi-award-winning writer and actress Mindy Kaling,<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span>Matt
& Ben</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span>depicts its Hollywood
golden boys – before J-Lo, before Gwyneth, before Project Greenlight, before
Oscar… before anyone actually gave a damn. When the screenplay for Good Will
Hunting drops mysteriously from the heavens, the boys realize they’re being
tested by a Higher Power.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span>A hilarious satire on the
real and imagined difficulties of pursuing a dream.<br /><a href="http://www.artswest.org/" target="_blank">www.artswest.org<br /></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span color="windowtext"> <br /></span></span><i>Autocorrect
Thinks I'm Dead</i>, <b>Sound Theatre Company</b>, 9/7-30/23 (at 12<sup>th</sup>
Ave Arts) <b>(world premiere)<br /><o:p></o:p></b>Local playwright <b>Aimee
Chou</b> writes about three deaf friends moving into an old house during the
centennial anniversary of Alexander Graham Bell's 1922 death, unaware that
things go bump in the night. But when a vintage teletypewriter phone (TTY)
becomes a landline to the afterlife, the trio finds themselves in a madcap
caper of portals - between the hearing and deaf, and living and dead. Meshing
historic and technological realities with the theatrical absurd, this tale is
both a homage and a home to horror fans of all generations.<br /><a href="http://www.soundtheatrecompany.org/" target="_blank">www.soundtheatrecompany.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><span class="MsoHyperlink"><i><span color="windowtext">Dream Hou$e</span></i></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span color="windowtext">, <b>Washington
Ensemble Theatre</b>, 9/8-25/23<br /><o:p></o:p></span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span color="windowtext">Set in a rapidly changing neighborhood, two sisters sign
up for a reality tv show to sell their childhood home after the passing of the
family matriarch. As Julia and Patricia perform for the camera, they confront
their own desires, aspirations, and the sacrifices they are willing to make to
achieve them. What is the cultural cost of progress in America? Is cashing in
always selling out?<br /></span></span><a href="http://www.washingtonensemble.org/" target="_blank">www.washingtonensemble.org<br /></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span color="windowtext"><span><a name='more'></a></span> <br /></span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><i><span color="windowtext">Fall ’23</span></i></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span color="windowtext">, <b>Whim W’him</b>,
9/8-16/23 (at Erickson Theatre)<br /><o:p></o:p></span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span color="windowtext">Hannah Garner is one of three choreographers chose for
this year’s collaborations. Her work includes text and song while exploring “the
contradictory nature of desire, and navigation of uncertainty.” See her work
and others with one of our area’s premiere dance companies.<br /></span></span><a href="https://www.whimwhim.org/next-creations/FALL-23/" target="_blank">https://www.whimwhim.org/next-creations/FALL-23/<br /></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span color="windowtext"> <br /></span></span><i>The
Revolutionists</i>, <b>Harlequin Productions</b>, 9/8-23/23<br />Four beautiful,
badass women lose their heads in this irreverent, girl-powered comedy set
during the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror. Real life playwright Olympe de
Gouges, assassin Charlotte Corday, former queen (and fan of ribbons) Marie
Antoinette, and Haitian rebel Marianne Angelle hang out, murder Marat, and try
to beat back the extremist insanity in 1793 Paris. This grand and dream-tweaked
comedy is about violence and legacy, art and activism, feminism and terrorism,
compatriots and chosen sisters, and how we actually go about changing the
world.<br /><a href="http://www.harlequinproductions.org/" target="_blank">www.harlequinproductions.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Peter And The
Starcatcher</i>, <b>Reboot Theatre Company</b>, 9/8-23/23 (at Theatre Off
Jackson)<br />A young orphan and
his mates are shipped off from Victorian England to a distant island ruled by
the evil King Zarboff. They know nothing of the mysterious trunk in the
captain’s cabin, which contains a precious, otherworldly cargo. At sea, the
boys are discovered by a precocious young girl named Molly, a
Starcatcher-in-training who realizes that the trunk’s precious cargo is <i>starstuff</i>,
a celestial substance so powerful that it must never fall into the wrong hands.
When the ship is taken over by pirates – led by the fearsome Black Stache, the
journey quickly becomes a thrilling adventure.<br /><a href="http://www.reboottheatre.org/">www.reboottheatre.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Something
Rotten!</i>, <b>Red Curtain Foundation for the Arts</b>, 9/8-24/23<br />Welcome to the
Renaissance and the outrageous, crowd-pleasing musical farce that's been a hit
on stages around the world! Brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom are desperate to
write a hit play but are stuck in the shadow of that Renaissance rock star
known as "The Bard." When a local soothsayer foretells that the
future of theatre involves singing, dancing, and acting at the same time. Nick
and Nigel set out to write the world’s first musical.<br /><a href="http://www.redcurtianfoundation.org/" target="_blank">www.redcurtainfoundation.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>The Play That
Goes Wrong</i>, <b>Tacoma Little Theatre</b>, 9/8-24-/23<br />Welcome to opening
night of the Cornley Drama Society’s newest production, <i>The Murder at
Haversham Manor</i>, where things are quickly going from bad to utterly
disastrous. This 1920s whodunit has everything you never wanted in a show—an
unconscious leading lady, a corpse that can’t play dead, and actors who trip
over everything (including their lines). Nevertheless, the accident-prone
thespians battle against all odds to make it through to their final curtain
call, with hilarious consequences!<br /><a href="http://www.tacomalittletheatre.com/" target="_blank">www.tacomalittletheatre.com<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Ken Ludwig’s
Sherwood: The Adventures Of Robin Hood</i>, <b>Village Theatre</b>, Issaquah: 9/13/23-10/15/23
/ Everett: 10/21/23-11/12/23<br />Robbing from the
rich has never been so fun! A greedy prince has taken control of England, and
it is up to Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men—and women!—to fight for justice
and champion the underdog. This rollicking and inventive play is packed with
delightful thrills, amorous exploits, contagious laughs, and great beloved
heroes like Litle John, Friar Tuck, and Maid Marian.<br /> <a href="http://www.villagetheatre.org/" target="_blank">www.villagetheatre.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Disney’s The
Little Mermaid</i>, <b>5<sup>th</sup> Avenue Theatre</b>, 9/14/23-10/8/23<br /><b>Diana Huey</b> returns
from NYC to reprise her starring turn as Ariel at the 5th. Dive under the sea
with Ariel and her friends as they sing some of the best-known songs of the
last century. Look forward to power-belter <b>Shaunyce Omar</b> as Ursula.<br /><a href="http://www.5thavenue.org/" target="_blank">www.5thavenue.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Agatha
Christie's</i> <i>Murder on the Orient Express</i>, <b>Edmonds Driftwood
Players</b>, 9/15/23-10/8/23<br />Just after
midnight, a snowdrift stops the Orient Express in its tracks. The luxurious
train is surprisingly full for the time of the year, but by the morning it is
one passenger fewer. An American tycoon lies dead in his compartment, stabbed
eight times, his door locked from the inside. Isolated and with a killer in
their midst, the passengers rely on detective Hercule Poirot to identify the
murderer – in case he or she decides to strike again.<br /><a href="http://www.edmondsdriftwoodplayers.org/" target="_blank">www.edmondsdriftwoodplayers.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>John & Jen</i>,
<b>Olympic Theatre Arts Center</b>, 9/15/23-10/1/23<br />A truly original
musical that honors brothers and sisters, as well as parents and children, set
against the background of a changing America between 1950 and 1990, <i>John
& Jen</i> is a gem of a show, brimming with intelligence, wit and beautiful
melodies.<br /><a href="http://www.olympictheatrearts.org/" target="_blank">www.olympictheatrearts.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Last Drive to
Dodge</i>, <b>Taproot Theatre</b>, 9/20/23-10/21/23 <b>(world premiere)<br /></b>Local playwright <b>Andrew
Lee Creech</b> introduces Prophet and Ro, chasing dreams faintly whispered on
the wind that sweeps the dusty Texas plain, where ranching is brutal work and
change is on the horizon. Set at the end of the Cowboy Golden Age, <i>Last
Drive to Dodge</i> examines race, love, and legacy in a time when everyone is
scrambling for their piece of the American Dream.<br /><a href="http://www.taproottheatre.org/" target="_blank">www.taproottheatre.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Dog Man: The
Musical</i>, <b>Seattle Children’s Theatre</b>, 9/21/23-10/22/23<br />Best buds George
and Harold have been creating comics for years, but now that they’re in 5th
grade, they figure it's time to level up and write a musical based on their
favorite character, Dog Man, the crime-biting sensation who is part dog, part
man, and ALL HERO!! How hard could it be? With the head of a dog and the body
of a policeman, Dog Man loves to fight crime and chew on the furniture. But
while trying his best to be a good boy, can he save the city from Flippy the
cyborg fish and his army of Beasty Buildings? Can he catch Petey, the world’s
most evil cat, who has cloned himself to exact revenge on the doggy do-gooder?
And will George and Harold finish their show before lunchtime?? (Ages 6+)<br /><a href="http://www.sct.org/" target="_blank">www.sct.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Two Big Black
Bags</i>, <b>eSe Teatro</b>, 9/21/23-10/14/23 (at West of Lenin) <b>(world
premiere)<br /></b>Local playwright <b>Julieta
Vitullo</b> introduces James an Argentine veteran of the 1982
Malvinas/Falklands War. Following a drunken spree at the casino, he wakes to a
big surprise in his living room: two big black bags containing ten million
dollars. Confused, yet determined to turn his life around, he embarks on a
marvelous adventure from Seattle to South America. But is he willing to face
the ghosts of his past in order to transform his future?<br /> <a href="http://www.eseteatro.org/" target="_blank">www.eseteatro.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Passengers</i>, <b>Seattle
Rep</b>, 9/22/23-10/15/23 (tour)<br />Your train is about
to depart the station and a cirque spectacular awaits. Through contemporary
dance, music, and extraordinary acrobatics, a breathtaking series of vignettes
tells the unique stories of reunions and goodbyes from the strangers that
surround you onboard. From contemporary physical theater troupe <b>The 7
Fingers</b> comes this jaw-dropping ride you must see to believe.<br /><a href="http://www.seattlerep.org/" target="_blank">www.seattlerep.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>The Forgotten
History of Mastaneh</i>, <b>Seda Iranian Theatre Ensemble</b>, 9/22-24/23 (at
Bathhouse Theater)<br /> In an all-girls
high school in 1987 Iran, eight years after the revolution that permanently
altered the course of the country’s history, three young girls’ lives change as
they are impacted by the rules forced upon them, the revelation of the many
secrets held by their families, and the Iran-Iraq war. Their secrets lead to an
entanglement with the school Principal, a woman who is also keeping many
secrets of her own. This play illuminates the reality of so many young women in
Iran, who are striving for normalcy and finding their inner truth and freedom<i>.
Reviewed by me: This is another opportunity to see this stunning play. It sold
out so quickly that it left people unable to see it!<br /><o:p></o:p></i><a href="http://www.seattlepublictheater.org/" target="_blank">www.seattlepublictheater.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Thrice</i>, <b>Pratidhwani</b>,
9/23/23-10/1/23 (at Taproot Theatre)<br />Three solo
performances by three women. <i>The Elephant in the Room</i> by <i>Priyanka
Shetty</i>:<br />Dark comedy about your
typical Indian metalhead and software-engineer-turned-actor who must navigate
life as an immigrant arriving in Trump's America. <i>Flow, Swim, Float?!</i> by
<b>Aarti Tiwari</b>: Fitting into the world of social media – How far is too
far and how much is too much!<br /> <i>A Labyrinth
& its Myriad Mirages</i> by <b>Divya Rajan</b>. (Prepare to have your
fourth wall broken.)<br /><a href="http://www.pratidhwani.org/" target="_blank">www.pratidhwani.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Cambodian Rock
Band</i>, <b>5<sup>th</sup> Avenue Theatre</b> and <b>ACT Theatre</b>,
9/29/23-11/5/23<br />Guitars tuned. Mic
checked. Get ready to rock! This darkly funny, electric new play with music
tells the story of a Khmer Rouge survivor returning to Cambodia for the first
time in thirty years, as his daughter prepares to prosecute one of Cambodia’s
most infamous war criminals. Backed by a live band playing contemporary <i>Dengue
Fever</i> hits and classic Cambodian oldies, this thrilling story toggles back
and forth in time as father and daughter face the music of the past. <b>Lauren
Yee</b> brings us an intimate rock epic about family secrets set against a dark
chapter of Cambodian history.<br /><a href="http://www.acttheatre.org/" target="_blank">www.acttheatre.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Pippin</i>, <b>Renton
Civic Theatre</b>, 9/29/23-10/14/23<br />Heir to the
Frankish throne, the young prince Pippin is in search of the secret to true
happiness and fulfillment. He seeks it in the glories of the battlefield, the
temptations of the flesh and the intrigues of political power (after disposing
of his father, King Charlemagne the Great). In the end, though, Pippin finds
that happiness lies not in extraordinary endeavors, but rather in the
unextraordinary moments that happen every day.<br /><a href="http://www.rentoncivictheatre.org/" target="_blank">www.rentoncivictheatre.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p>For more articles, please go to <a href="https://miryamstheatermusings.blogspot.com/">https://MiryamsTheaterMusings.blogspot.com</a>
and subscribe to get them in your in-box!</span></div>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Miryam Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333918939213536603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13577346.post-84591792717702376372023-09-03T13:44:00.000-07:002023-09-03T13:44:18.251-07:00Go See Bethany Seeing the Stars - Copious Love at WOL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7dFRbVadpF6e7MrswT9wTZ7nQmYPzXiVkpLaxPs_zWk3nyP2DnPHrEhKaMIfm8cwwO_jsbZHb7A7V7dFPum3137akcSDmkRP081gn1X9Bb277FedxvtTiajfdqBFA0i8FitIncViTYOazzJ04Zk-OwqmP_RhBiq3_eGyPjOpGa5TO8Y6AN_PbQ/s1640/Bethany+landing+page+graphic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1640" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7dFRbVadpF6e7MrswT9wTZ7nQmYPzXiVkpLaxPs_zWk3nyP2DnPHrEhKaMIfm8cwwO_jsbZHb7A7V7dFPum3137akcSDmkRP081gn1X9Bb277FedxvtTiajfdqBFA0i8FitIncViTYOazzJ04Zk-OwqmP_RhBiq3_eGyPjOpGa5TO8Y6AN_PbQ/w575-h323/Bethany+landing+page+graphic.jpg" width="575" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Bethany Sees the Stars</i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="http://www.copiouslove.com" target="_blank">Copious Love Productions</a></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Through September 9, 2023</span></div></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What if you got a letter telling you to apply to go to Mars, and then you get a letter saying you've won a spot, but you will have to leave Earth forever?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">That's what happens to 15-year-old Bethany (<b>Jade Guillory-Kaub</b>), who dreams of escaping from her life and heading to the stars. She tells her momentous news to her best friend, Fay (<b>Lauren Megan McCarthy</b>), and eventually to a nerdy loaner, Atlas (<b>Lola Rei Fukushima</b>) who joins them to become the Heroic Trinity.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But how are the teens supposed to cope with their friend leaving them? </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is the premise of a sweet and thoughtful script, a world premiere by <b>Emily Golden</b>. It's fanciful (constellations come to life and speak to Bethany), and manages to tackle a number of real-life conundrums while helping us explore our own reactions about wanting to escape our own realities.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Well-directed by <b>Kathryn Stewart</b>, the tiniest of quibbles is that it could have a slightly faster pace, but she brings out a great level of emotions from the cast without overwhelming our own, allowing us to feel our own feelings. Set design by <b>Jordan Gerow</b> is spare and quick to change, keeping the pace up. Lighting by <b>Adem Hayyu</b> and sound by <b>Alison Kozar</b> bring the atmospheres needed to life.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The cast is cohesive and engaging. The young people are real and relatable. <b>Daniel Christensen</b> as the father brings a leavening presence that is also very relatable to those of us who are parents. Similarly, <b>Olivia Lee</b> is a warm and funny mother. Lee and McCarthy get to play the constellations Cassiopeia and Andromeda, and become very different characters, and show their range to good effect.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There's only one more weekend to see this moving play. It's well worth your time, if you're a teen or a parent or someone who also has looked to the stars to wonder or escape.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div>Miryam Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333918939213536603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13577346.post-85110997521212399092023-08-16T20:36:00.001-07:002023-08-16T21:00:31.511-07:00Super Musical at Taproot: The Hello Girls ends this weekend<div style="text-align: left;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5UX8G9JEpzJJUAZAaRT5tPDqlZhKgbdkMeW6oMg5sRPVe9HND_81sSqoDllecIaHMuHBpS2bPBZvzUiL7wuhtbQa-ZXedkM5Gd1bxhfS6bm4R250DbrAWUEegNNx7UdLX1sfFtWYTlsYGUQkljHPgsqfWwdlKQt6aVGUNnnJaJvGjLRgoCiUOdw/s2560/Taproot_Hello_Girls_Prod_Photos-167-1-scaled.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1707" data-original-width="2560" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5UX8G9JEpzJJUAZAaRT5tPDqlZhKgbdkMeW6oMg5sRPVe9HND_81sSqoDllecIaHMuHBpS2bPBZvzUiL7wuhtbQa-ZXedkM5Gd1bxhfS6bm4R250DbrAWUEegNNx7UdLX1sfFtWYTlsYGUQkljHPgsqfWwdlKQt6aVGUNnnJaJvGjLRgoCiUOdw/w586-h390/Taproot_Hello_Girls_Prod_Photos-167-1-scaled.jpg" width="586" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rebecca Cort, Miranda Antoinette, Cassi Q Kohl, <br />Lauren Engstrom, and Jessica Ziegelbauer <br />(Photo by John Ulman)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The Hello Girls<br /></i><b><a href="http://www.taproot.org" target="_blank">Taproot Theatre</a><br /></b>Composer/Lyricist Peter Mills, Book/Lyricist Cara Reichel<br />Through August 19, 2023<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>This musical is a treat from start to finish. It is also
such a pleasure to be able to experience full-blown musicals on stage again.
Taproot’s choice is a wonderful summer treat!<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>Likely, you won’t know the true history this musical is
based on. But boy! is it fun to find out about it!<br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p>During World War I, at a time when women were sorely
underemployed and shunted into very specific “pink” jobs, some women found
themselves employed as telephone operators. It was a newer profession, since
telephones themselves were pretty new. Operators used large banks of plug-in
boards where they had to learn which cords to specifically plug into which switch,
quickly and seamlessly. This was a good job across the country.<br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p>Logically, the need for seamless, fast telephone service
applied to the Armed Services, particularly in a war situation. As the war
heated up, the generals realized that telephone connections were crucial, and
that the reality was that the best operators were women. They were needed in
France and had to be bilingual. This is the story of how a bunch of pioneering,
brave women fought their way into the military and became unsung heroes of the military
communication network.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>The cast at Taproot is top-notch. It is mostly an ensemble
piece with one star turn from <b>Cassi Q Kohl</b> as Grace Banker. Kohl is
onstage almost every minute as the woman with natural leadership skills and an
innate sense of self-esteem. She is indefatigable, with a belting power that
lasts throughout the entire show – which is about two and a half hours. She is
riveting.<br /><o:p><span><a name='more'></a></span> <br /></o:p>The music can be challenging with some multi-part harmonies,
but is also accessible and fits extremely well into the telling of the story. The
well-written book is funny, poignant, sobering, and uplifting.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>The rest of the cast includes <b>Rebecca Cort</b>, <b>Lauren
Engstrom</b>, <b>Jessica Ziegelbauer</b> – though on the night I saw the
production, <b>Jacqueline Tardanico</b> took over and did a stellar job, <b>Miranda
Antoinette</b>, <b>Jeremy Steckler</b>, <b>Casey Raiha</b>, <b>Fune Tautala</b>,
<b>Jeff Church</b>, and <b>Rico Lastrapes</b>.<br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p>Music Director <b>Michael Nutting</b> keeps the musical engine
moving and the tempo never flags. The show doesn’t feel like its actual length.
Scenic design by <b>Mark Lund</b> is extremely spare and almost nonexistent,
with a few desks and benches, changing quickly, never slowing down.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p><b>Katy Tabb’s</b> choreography was particularly deft and
fun, and never upstaged the actors, just enhanced their abilities with cohesive,
collective and period-appropriate moves.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>Director <b>Karen Lund</b> created all the right emotions,
and by the end, you might find yourself tearing up (I know I did). Costumes
were tight, as usual, from veteran costumer, <b>Nanette Acosta</b>. And <b>Ahren
Buhmann</b> helped the moods with expert changes in lighting needs and
projections.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>The show has been so successful that they were able to
extend a week. You have a few more days to catch this delight and I hope you
will get out there.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>For more articles, please go to <a href="https://miryamstheatermusings.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">https://MiryamsTheaterMusings.blogspot.com</a>
and subscribe to get them in your in-box!</span></div>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Miryam Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333918939213536603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13577346.post-51360522602454922012023-08-08T20:01:00.002-07:002023-08-08T20:03:03.414-07:00August Theater In Seattle Includes Classics, Parodies And….Ms. Pak-Man!<p style="text-align: left;"> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEituaP1pB3Wevh3WIymAdNELFoyNbJcVb_Eswv1ZEodFUNMe32acwAWYmcfeFwjaMJ2tgkMme7el_8YLmTW9hXPy4SbWhMEP-SwYZ3mPOxBDMSZlcaVzZuuX_pxesMUpnlwbDDhRJBAKhEuGsIy6X56p_a_3lbXxW332zoZOyJRRT-rIMfkhRzpZQ/s1024/Ms.-Pak-Man_Vertical_Web-645x1024.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="645" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEituaP1pB3Wevh3WIymAdNELFoyNbJcVb_Eswv1ZEodFUNMe32acwAWYmcfeFwjaMJ2tgkMme7el_8YLmTW9hXPy4SbWhMEP-SwYZ3mPOxBDMSZlcaVzZuuX_pxesMUpnlwbDDhRJBAKhEuGsIy6X56p_a_3lbXxW332zoZOyJRRT-rIMfkhRzpZQ/w404-h640/Ms.-Pak-Man_Vertical_Web-645x1024.jpg" width="404" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ms. Pac-Man (courtesy Shoes and Pants Productions)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's your opportunity this summer to revisit classic works from Ibsen and Shakespeare plus new plays and campy comedies to amuse us between barbecues. Get outcher calendars!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><i>Hedda Gabler</i>, <b>General Gabler’s Theatre (GGT)</b>,
8/4-12/23 (at West of Lenin)<br />Hedda, a 19<sup>th</sup> Century woman with plenty of will
but no room to exact it, thought she made a wise deal with the man she just
married. She would be his wife, and he would provide her with the safe and
respectable means to occupy her active mind. When it becomes clear that her
husband can’t fulfill his end of the bargain, her mind quickly turns dangerous.<br /><a href="http://www.generaltheatre.org/hedda" target="_blank">www.generaltheatre.org/hedda<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Ballabhpur Ki Roopkatha</i>, <b>Pratidhwani</b>, 8/4-13/23
(at Ethnic Cultural Theatre)<br />Once (upon a time) there was a King. His name was Bhoopati
Rai. He had a Quee... Nope! He had no queen. That doesn't work! What kind of a
fairytale has a king with no queen? To tell you the truth, this isn't a very
good tale at all. In fact, it is quite weak in some spots. But if you come to
listen to our tale, we will be glad to tell it to you! A Hindi translation of
Badal Sircar's original Bengali play.<br /><a href="https://www.pratidhwani.org/bkr" target="_blank">https://www.pratidhwani.org/bkr<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Titanish</i>, <b>Marxiano Productions</b> with <b>Seattle
Public Theater</b>, 8/10/23-9/17/23<br />Crashing onto the shores of Green Lake this August, this
musical parody (that lampoons the epic film) will showcase the wit and
creativity that The Habit Comedy writers are acclaimed for. If you missed it
last summer, here’s your chance to see and hear all the silliness, and enjoy a
giant ship recreated in a tiny theater.<br /><a href="http://www.seattlepublictheater.org/" target="_blank">www.seattlepublictheater.org<br /></a><o:p><br /><div><i>Dancing at Lughnasa</i>, <b>SecondStory Repertory</b>, 8/11-27/23</div><div>This intimate portrait of a country and a family at a crossroads, set in rural Ireland in 1936, tells the tale of five unmarried sisters -- the proud Mundy sisters -- staving off the hardships of daily life through talk, laughter and dance. But after they welcome their frail missionary brother home from Uganda, several intersecting events threaten to irreparably burst the Mundy women's fragile bubble of happiness.</div><div><a href="http://www.secondstoryrep.org" target="_blank">www.secondstoryrep.org</a></div><div><br /></div></o:p><i>Festival of New Musicals</i>, <b>Village Theatre</b>, 8/12-13/23<br />The premiere developmental workshops for new musicals has
again drawn major musical theater-writing talent to Issaquah for a weeklong
process with professional actors, directors and music directors. The culmination
of the work will be presented over two days. “Festival” is a fun-filled and
exciting annual summer event, and this weekend is a significant marker in the
post-Covid theater landscape!<br /><a href="http://www.villagetheatre.org/" target="_blank">www.villagetheatre.org<br /></a><span><a name='more'></a></span><o:p><br /></o:p><i>Ms. Pak-Man: Unplugged</i>, <b>Shoes and Pants
Productions</b>, 8/17-26/23 (at Theatre Off Jackson)<br />The all-new installment of the critically acclaimed Ms.
Pak-Man series is here! This year, the 8-Bit Diva will get up close and way too
personal with her first ever <i>Unplugged</i> show! This world-renowned
power-pill popping, martini sipping superstar will strip down to her bare code
as she shares never-before heard songs and scandalous (mostly) true stories
about her lives and loves, glitches and all. It’s a hilarious night of comedy,
confessions, and camp that is definitely worth the quarters!<br /><a href="https://www.strangertickets.com/events/139489481/ms-pak-man-unplugged">https://www.strangertickets.com/events/139489481/ms-pak-man-unplugged<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Bethany Sees the Stars</i>, <b>Copious Love Productions</b>,
8/24/23-9/9/23 (at West of Lenin) <b>(world premiere)<br /></b>15-year-old Bethany spends her days in an eternal funk. When
a letter arrives inviting her to be a crew member on the first manned mission
to Mars, she decides to leave it all behind. With her journey fast approaching,
Bethany must turn to the all-knowing constellations for the answer to an
impossible choice. Funny and tender, this world premiere play by Emily Golden
is a cosmic meditation on hope, loss, and the ability of relationships to hurt
us or heal us in our most vulnerable seasons of life.<br /><a href="http://www.copiouslove.org/" target="_blank">www.copiouslove.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>The Tempest</i>, <b>Seattle Rep’s</b> Public Works,
8/25-27/23<br />An updated <i>musical version</i> of Shakespeare’s sorta
famous show is the next choice for the Rep’s community-engagement project. 60+ community
and professional actors take on the tale of Prospero, banished to a magical
island by a conniving sibling, who bewitches a storm to bring them back
together for a final showdown. Sprites abound, young lovers meet, and mischief
is made as two very different worlds collide.<br /> <a href="http://www.seattlerep.org/" target="_blank">www.seattlerep.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p>For more articles, please go to <a href="https://miryamstheatermusings.blogspot.com/">https://MiryamsTheaterMusings.blogspot.com</a>
and subscribe to get them in your in-box</span>!</div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p>
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Best Book of a Musical and set in the early years of the AIDS epidemic, <i>Falsettos</i>
revolves around the life of a charming, intelligent, neurotic gay man named
Marvin, his wife, lover, his about- to-be-Bar-Mitzvahed son, their
psychiatrist, and the lesbians next door. It’s a poignant look at the infinite
possibilities that make up a modern family.<br /><a href="http://www.harlequinproductions.org/" target="_blank">www.harlequinproductions.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>The Tempest</i>, <b>Seattle Shakespeare Company/Wooden</b>
<b>O</b>, 7/6/23-8/6/23 (various parks)<br />When you’re stranded on an enchanted island for twelve long
years with only your daughter and magical spirits for company, it turns out you
have plenty of time for plotting revenge. Enter Prospero, the erstwhile Duke of
Milan who was usurped by his brother Antonio. Prospero’s ire at his brother is
given glorious life when Antonio and his crew sail too close to the island, and
with the aid of his magical spirit Ariel, he conjures a supernatural storm to
shipwreck the passengers. But his plot goes awry as the island becomes a
wondrous playground for romance, trickery, and spectacle, ultimately leading to
forgiveness and reconciliation.<br /><a href="http://www.seattleshakespeare.org/" target="_blank">www.seattleshakespeare.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>The Fairy’s Bottom: A Midsummer Burlesque</i>, <b>Marxiano
Productions</b>, 7/6-16/23 (at The Triple Door)<br />From the creators of the absinthe infused hit <i>Bohemia</i>
and <i>Seattle Vice</i> comes a new show that undresses the Shakespearean
classic <i>A Midsummer Night's Dream</i>, and reveals a clever and sexy new
cabaret. Original music by hosts Mark Siano and Opal Peachey will invite
audiences into the fairy's bower where some of the Northwest's hottest dancing
nymphs and dryads will entertain adventurous human guests. <a href="https://tickets.thetripledoor.net/eventperformances.asp?evt=1955" target="_blank">https://tickets.thetripledoor.net/eventperformances.asp?evt=1955<br /></a><u><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-themecolor: hyperlink;"><o:p><span><a name='more'></a></span><span style="text-decoration: none;"><br /></span></o:p></span></u><i>The Shot</i>, <b>Whidbey Island Center for the Arts</b>,
7/7-9/23<br />Sharon Lawrence, star of stage and screen, appears as The
Washington Post’s former publisher Katharine Graham. The fictional work looks
at Graham’s life, including her experiences of domestic abuse at the hands of
her husband, who inherited the newspaper from Graham’s father. Katherine Graham
went on to become a political force, winning a Pulitzer Prize for revealing the
Pentagon Papers, uncovering Nixon’s abuse of power and crimes in the Watergate
scandal, as well as becoming the first female CEO of a Fortune 500 company.<br /><a href="https://www.wicaonline.org/" target="_blank">https://www.wicaonline.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Seattle Outdoor Theatre Festival,</i> 7/8-9/23 (at
Volunteer Park – check link for times)<br />Multiple stages, multiple times of day. Bring ground cover,
food, and prepare for fun!<br /><b>GreenStage</b>: <i>Romeo and Juliet</i>, <i>Henry VI: Part
1</i>, <i>Backyard Bard: Cymbeline</i> and <i>Comedy of Errors<br /></i><b>Seattle Shakespeare Company/Wooden O</b>: <i>The Tempest<br /><o:p></o:p></i><b>Last Leaf Productions</b>: <i>The Taming of the Shrew<br /></i><b>CSZ Seattle</b>: <i>An Improvised Shakespeariance<br /></i><b>Shakespeare Northwest</b>: <i>Tales from Billy the Bard<br /></i><b>Penguin Productions</b>: <i>Bonfire<br /></i><a href="http://www.greenstage.org/sotf" target="_blank">www.greenstage.org/sotf<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>The Hello Girls,</i> <b>Taproot Theatre</b>,
7/12/23-8/12/23<br />Helmet, check. Gas Mask, check... Lipstick, check. In this
new musical about World War I and 1918, Grace Banker and her fellow switchboard
operators are answering the call when the Bell Battalion Telephonic Ladies’
Switchboard Unit #1 makes history as America’s first female soldiers.<br /><a href="http://www.taproottheatre.org/" target="_blank">www.taproottheatre.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Sometimes the Rain, Sometimes the Sea</i>, <b>Dacha Theatre</b>,
7/21/23-8/6/23 (outdoors of Glenn Hughes Penthouse, UW)<br />Julia Izumi pens a new fairytale for adults with a
bittersweet twist! <i>The Little Mermaid</i> is Hans Christian Andersen’s most
beloved and well-known fairy tale, which is why it’s NOT the story our friend
Dolan is going to tell you today. No, he’s going to tell you a story about a
Little Rain Cloud who falls in love with a human. They are not the same story
at ALL, he swears.</span></div><div style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://dachatheatre.com/sometimestherain" target="_blank">http://dachatheatre.com/sometimestherain<br /></a></span><div style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p> <div style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><i>Romeo and Juliet</i> and <i>A Bold Stroke for a Husband</i>, <b>Island Shakespeare Festival</b>, 7/21/23-9/10/23 (outdoors at 5476 Maxwelton Rd. Langley) </div><div style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">Explore teenage angst and intense love with this non-traditional look at Shakespeare's enduring "tale of woe," <i>Romeo and Juliet</i>. Also, Hannah Cowley's 1783 play <i>A Bold Stroke for a Husband</i>, directed by Hedgepig Ensemble's Artistic Director Emily Lyon (she/her) and opening Saturday, July 29. The feminist romp featuring five bold women with strength and agency. <i>A Bold Stroke for a Husband</i> has the levity and hijinks of a Shakespearean comedy with the feminist attitudes of a much more modern piece in a tight, funny, uplifting narrative. </div><div style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><a href="https://islandshakespearefest.org" target="_blank">https://islandshakespearefest.org</a></div><div style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><i>Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde/The
Importance of Being Earnest</i>, <b>The Williams Project</b>, 7/28-8/5/23 (at
Experimental Arts, 6520 5<sup>th</sup> Ave S) </div><div style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">In a new immersive theatrical event, you’ll move from the
decadent drawing room to the reactionary courtroom with a champagne flute still
in your hand. Pairing <i>The Importance of Being Earnest</i> with Wilde’s
persecution by the state as told by Moisés Kaufman’s docu-play <i>Gross
Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde</i>, The Williams Project presents
an evening-length, genre-defying performance exploring how our culture is
obsessed with queer art but terrified of the queers that make it. (Note: this is
a “workshop production” that the company is intending to refine and continue in
subsequent iterations.)</div></o:p></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.thewilliamsproject.org/" target="_blank">www.thewilliamsproject.org<br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>14/48 World’s Quickest Theater Festival</i>, 7/28/23-8/5/23
(at Raisbeck Performance Hall)<br />Our first cohort of artists will be gathering around the
ceremonial keg for their Thursday Night Meeting to begin their <i>14/48: The
World’s Quickest Theater Festival</i> journey! The Keg will be tapped, artists
will be celebrated, and Friday Night’s theme will be drawn from a giant ice
cream cone! Performances of all new creations each night at the Raisbeck
Performance Hall, Friday, July 28th & Saturday, July 29th AND again the
following week, Friday, August 4th & Saturday, August 5th. 8PM & 10:30PM.<br />
<a href="http://www.click4tix.com/1448" target="_blank">www.click4tix.com/1448</a></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Miryam Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333918939213536603noreply@blogger.com0