SecondStory Rep performs an important musical

Cast of A Man of No Importance (courtesy SecondStory Rep)

 A Man of No Importance
(now closed – through 6/7/26)
SecondStory Repertory, www.secondstoryrep.org
 
Terrence McNally (book) Stephen Flaherty (music) and Lynn Ahrens (lyrics) are the acclaimed team that created what many believe is one of the best musicals of the late 20^th Century, Ragtime. The team also created, just shortly after the debut of Ragtime in 1998, another important, but infrequently produced musical.
 
A Man of No Importance is about “the love than cannot be named,” and the confusion and shame in society imposed upon people who are so scared of homosexuality that they can’t even allow themselves to apply it personally. Alfie Byrne is a bus conductor who recites poetry, particularly Oscar Wilde’s work, to his regular bus passengers, who look forward to that ritual every day.

Riveting Severo becomes Frida Kahlo at Union Arts Center

Vanessa Severo as Frida...a self portrait at UAC (Zach Rosing)

Frida…a self portrait
6/6-28/26
Union Arts Center, www.unionartsccenter.org
 
Solo artists are a special breed, I think. They are alone on stage the entire time, they must draw the audience toward themselves, and bravely expose their very being at every moment. Such is Vanessa Severo, who wrote and performs Frida, as in Frida Kahlo, the now famous, but ignored and discounted Mexican painter.
 
When Severo runs onto the stage to introduce her play, she immediately beguiles the audience with huge energy and enthusiasm, and proceeds to lead us into why she’s telling us this story and what it means to her. In that process, she also tells us without words that we can relax now, she knows what she’s doing and she’s ready for us.
 

June Theater – New Plays, Festivals, and Interactive Improv

Vanessa Severo as Frida Kahlo at UAC (Michael Henninger)

Get out yer calendars for some fresh festival offerings and fun musicals.

Disappearance at the Rocky Mountain Leatherdyke Snowpicnic at Annex Theatre (Sayed Alamy)

Disappearance at the Rocky Mountain Leatherdyke Snowpicnic (world premiere)
6/4-20/26
Annex Theatre, www.annextheatre.org
Neurotic newcomer Lois attends the legendary sapphic kink retreat known as the Rocky Mountain Leatherdyke Snowpicnic—where she is absolutely, definitely not supposed to sleuth around. But when a picnicker goes missing on the ski slopes, Lois can’t resist the call of mystery. A sexy, spooky, screwball comedy that would leave Nancy Drew asking, “Who hid the flashlight?”
 
Dream, Carl, Dream!
6/5-27/26 (at 12th Avenue Arts)
Dacha Theatre, www.dachatheatre.com
It's five minutes 'till Sleepytime and the latest set of rewrites are even worse than the last. The Director of Dreaming is considering pulling the plug and putting up another rerun of "Teeth Fall Out (School Assembly Version)" but the truth is, everyone knows that the stakes are too high for that. In their waking life, Carl seems to be holding it together, but in the depths of their subconscious, Carl knows they could be – want to be – so much more. In fact, Carl’s dreams might just be the only connection they still have to their deepest self. That's where you come in. In this immersive, interactive piece, you will assist the beleaguered neurons of the Dream Department in programming each night's dreams. Work alongside your mental colleagues during the day, and then sit back, relax, and watch the show once the dreams start to play.
 
Pony World Theatre’s New Play Roundup
6/6-7/26 (at West of Lenin)
www.ponyworldtheatre.org
Welcome to Betty’s Diner by Marcus Gorman 6/6 2PM
The Unshored by Maggie Lee 6/6 7:30PM
Untitled Play About Life and Death by Holly Arsenault 6/7 2PM
Flight of the Psychopomp by Lizzy Bennett 6/7 7PM

Elegant Slapstick from Tavares in ‘Barefoot in the Park’

Pande, Garcia, and Tavares (photo by Giao Nguyen)

Barefoot in the Park
Taproot Theatre
Through 6/20/26
 
Neil Simon’s plays seem to pass the test of time; his humor succeeds to make us laugh, decade after decade. Barefoot in the Park skates along as a fluffy, fun story that hints at topics like empty nest syndrome, self-liberation, surviving new marital spats, but beguiles the audience to relax and enjoy the fluff. It may even feel as if the 1963 movie or play is contemporary.
 
Paul Bratter (Arjun Pande) and his new wife, Corie (Ays Garcia), move into their first apartment. She picked it out and he discovers it's five flights up (if you don't count the stoop), drafty (there's a hole in the skylight), empty (the furniture didn't get delivered) and tiny (there's only enough room in the bedroom for the bed and there's no bathtub). Still, it's their first place.

Klezmer Starts Here

Benefit for Amara with Seattle Fiddlesticks and the Music of Herman S. Shapiro
5/17/26 at 7:30pm (at Royal Room, 5000 Rainier S www.theroyalroomseattle.com)
Klein Party, https://thestranger.boldtypetickets.com/events/183437520/klezmer-starts-here
 
The Klein Party has been providing Yiddish music concerts at the Royal Room for the past few years. This series is coming to a head with a special concert featuring the music of Herman S. Shapiro on Sunday May 17 at 7:30 pm.
 
A search for rarely played early 20th century music for The Klein Party led to three scores at the Library of Congress. Copyrighted between 1902 and 1906 in the United States, they were the compositions of one Herman S. Shapiro. All three, but particularly The European Jewish Wedding, were clearly derived from the music we call klezmer.

May Seattle-Area Theater Includes Fresh, New, and Classic!

Jesus Christ Superstar at 5th Avenue Theatre (Michael B. Maine)

Take a look at this spread of lovelies and get out yer calendars for some fresh and new world premieres and some classic tales.

Bark the Musical at Key City Public Theatre (Mel Carter) 

 
Bark! The Musical
Through 5/24/26
Key City Public Theatre, www.kcpt.co
This musical explores the world through the eyes of six dogs waiting in a neighborhood doggie daycare while their owners remain unseen. Through playful storytelling, the dogs reveal their hopes, fears, quirks, and longing for connection - creating a charming and deeply human theatrical experience.