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.