Shows I've Seen | Theatre Reviews – Musicals, Plays, Concerts, Oh My! (and other Performing Arts)

Preview Post – The Color Purple – Musical – Village Theatre

The Color Purple musical at Village Theatre. At Issaquah till 6/29/25 and Everett till 7/27/25. Stay tuned for my full review! #gospelmusic #thecolorpurple #colorpurple #intersectionality

Tickets: https://villagetheatre.org/see-a-show/purple/

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Jersey Boys – Musical – Review – Village Theatre

@showsiveseen "Jersey Boys" #musical closing weekend at Village Theatre. Starring @Lorenzo Pugliese as #FrankieValli from the #FourSeasons. Great voices! #Review: showsiveseen.com/12868 Production Video: Nyhuis Creative Director/Choreo: Michael Berresse Stage Mgr: Laurel Nichols Music Director: RJ Tancioco #TheFourSeasons #JerseyBoys #Jersey #newJersey #musicaltheatre #theatre #showsiveseen #4Seasons ♬ December, 1963 (Oh What a Night!) – The Four Seasons

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Jersey Boys musical at Village Theatre. The Story of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons. Great voices. Get your tickets before it closes this weekend!

Recommendation:
See it.

Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? No, I’ve seen the national tour twice.

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? Three times already might be enough for me!

Mainstream Appeal: Medium to high

If A Random Stranger Asked What Show They Should See This Weekend, Would I Mention This Production? Yes

My Synopsis (No Spoilers): Based on a true story, this jukebox musical charts the rise of Frankie Valli and Tommy DeVito as they navigate ambition, loyalty, and fame to create the legendary sound of The Four Seasons band.

Synopsis from the Licensor or Theatre Company: They were just four guys from Jersey until they sang their very first note. They had a sound nobody had ever heard… and the radio just couldn’t get enough of. But while their harmonies were perfect on stage, off stage it was a very different story — a story that has made them an international sensation all over again. Go behind the music and inside the world of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons in the Tony Award-winning true-life musical phenomenon, Jersey Boys.This scintillating new production is full of electrifying performances of chart-topping hits including: “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” “Dawn,” “My Eyes Adore You,” and so many more!

Type: Jukebox Musical

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Several

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Several

Static (Stationary) or Dynamic Set: Mostly dynamic

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: Obviously, you’ll appreciate this show more if you’re remotely familiar with the music from The Four Seasons.

Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes

Live Band/Orchestra: Yes

Union Actors: 11

Total Actors: 13

Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium speed

Was there an intermission? Yes

Length (Including Any Intermission): 2.75 hours

Other Rave(s)

Voices: In a jukebox musical centered around a legendary vocal group, stellar singing is essential. Thankfully, the cast more than delivered. Special shoutouts go to Robbie Serrano (whose voice was crisp and clear), Ethan Carpenter (a familiar face on Seattle stages whom I rarely get the pleasure of hearing sing), and Ben Dow. Lorenzo Pugliese (portraying Frankie Valli) was a standout. His performance of “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” earned him an extended ovation with some audience members standing up with enthusiasm. Finding someone who can not only hit those iconic high notes but also channel Valli’s distinctive look and presence is no small feat. Pugliese nailed it.

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

Real Life Foreshadowing: The line “Frankie, you’ll be on the road ’til you’re 90” felt painfully prophetic. It’s even become a trend on TikTok to point out how eerily lifeless Frankie Valli now appears on stage with the obvious lip-syncing support. What kind of mob deal is forcing him on stage?
Bromance: This production leaned into the bromance between Frankie Valli and Bob Gaudio. I didn’t notice this in the national tour performances.
Orchestra Placement: It was weird to only see the drummer visible on stage without the rest of the band. Showcasing the full orchestra would have added to the visual experience. Curiously, the musicians weren’t in the orchestra pit, but were instead hidden behind the curtain. Perhaps this decision was driven by space constraints.
Visual Vibe: For a jukebox musical, the scenic design was oddly dark and almost brutalist, with concrete-style backdrops and faded billboard advertisements evoking a has-been urban atmosphere. The production truly came alive during the American Bandstand scenes when the four leads, sharply suited up and lit under individual spotlights, delivered “choralography” and smooth harmonies to vintage microphones. Those moments captured the script’s energy and charm.
Energy: The performance lacked the pep I felt from the national tour. It might have been the curse of post–opening performance lull or the unusually dim visual aesthetic. Afternoon matinees also often struggle with energy. Additionally, the audience skewed older than usual and didn’t help with the vibe either. Then again, having seen this show three times now, it’s possible that some of the freshness has naturally worn off for me.

Theatre Company: Village Theatre

Venue: Village Theatre

Venue Physical Address:

Village Theatre’s Francis J. Gaudette Theatre: 303 Front Street North, Issaquah, WA 98027
Everett Performing Arts Center: 2710 Wetmore Avenue, Everett, WA 98201

Ticket Affordability Options: See the theatre’s official page about discounts and pay-what-you-can performances

Dates:

Issaquah: 3/18/25 to 4/27/25
Everett: 5/3/25 to 5/25/25

Seating: Assigned Seating

Parking:

Issaquah: Free street parking and certain free parking lots. Lot parking availability is very difficult to find though. I’ve basically given up on that. I usually end up parking on Rainier Boulevard North. As a last resort, you can always find parking at the library but it’s a little far. Remember, there’s a bottom floor parking lot under the library’s main parking lot that mostly only locals know about.
Everett: Free street parking and some paid parking lots/garages.

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Pictures: See production pictures below by Auston James.

Cast and Production Team: See after pictures below.

Ben Dow, Matthew Posner, Lorenzo Pugliese, and Robbie Serrano in *Jersey Boys* at Village Theatre. Photo by Auston James (2025).

Lorenzo Pugliese and Robbie Serrano in *Jersey Boys* at Village Theatre. Photo by Auston James (2025).

Preview Post – House of Joy – Play – Prathidhwani & Seattle Public Theater

Congrats to Prathidhwani and Seattle Public Theater on the opening weekend of their House of Joy play. Performing till 6/8/25. Watch for my full review! #india #indian #southAsian #lesbian #LGBT #dance

Tickets: https://www.seattlepublictheater.org/houseofjoy

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Preview Post – Always … Patsy Cline – Musical – Taproot Theatre

Congrats to Taproot Theatre on the opening night of their Always … Patsy Cline country jukebox musical. Performing till 6/14/25. Keep your eyes peeled for my full review! #HonkyTonk #countryMusic

Tickets: https://taproottheatre.org/shows/2025/always-patsy-cline-2/

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Laughs in Spanish – Play – Review – Seattle Rep

@showsiveseen Alexis Scheer's "Laughs in #Spanish " #comedy #play by @Seattle Rep. Starring Beth Pollack & @Diana Burbano. Loved @Gabriell Salgado's charismatic frat boy-like appeal. Scene transitions pop with fun dance breaks. Perfect for #mothersDay . Extended thru 5/17/25. #Review : showsiveseen.com/12751 Director: Dámaso Rodríguez #showsiveseen #theatre #jaja #jajaja #hispanic #latin #mothers #mother #mom ♬ Dejando Huellas – Código

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Alexis Scheer’s Laughs in Spanish comedy play by Seattle Rep. Starring Beth Pollack & Diana Burbano. Loved Gabriell Salgado’s charismatic frat boy-like appeal. Scene transitions pop with fun dance breaks. Perfect for Mother’s Day. Extended thru 5/17/25. #jaja #jajaja #hispanic #latin

Recommendation:
See it.

Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? Yes

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? Maybe

Mainstream Appeal: Medium

If A Random Stranger Asked What Show They Should See This Weekend, Would I Mention This Production? Yes

My Synopsis (No Spoilers): Mariana’s art exhibit is ruined when someone steals all the paintings overnight. As pressure mounts, her glamorous unpredictable celebrity mother Estella swoops in offering to help. Can Mariana trust her, or is this just another performance?

Synopsis from the Licensor or Theatre Company: Mari is about to open a career-defining show in her Miami art gallery, but when the paintings are stolen the day of the event, all hell breaks loose. Her movie star mother sweeps into town under suspicious pretenses, the intern picks up the wrong catering order, and her high school crush arrives in a most unexpected manner… Cue the wildest day ever! Part telenovela, part whodunnit, and all heart, Alexis Scheer’s outrageous new comedy will have you laughing one minute and wanting to hug your mom the next.

Type: Play

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: A couple

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Few

Static (Stationary) or Dynamic Set: Mostly static, but one of the walls occasionally lifted to show a patio. There was also a sweet cop car that occasionally made an appearance.

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: You need to know Spanish or some common Spanish references like “chankla” (slipper store was the gun store!), “ja ja ja,” “no me digas,” and “bruha.”

Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes

Union Actors: 3

Total Actors: 5

Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium speed

Was there an intermission? No

Length (Including Any Intermission): 80 minutes

Other Rave(s)

Dance Breaks: Charming dance break transitions (choreographed by Vanessa Villalobos) set to Latin music separated major scenes. A standout moment was celebrity mom Estella’s glamorous entrance, which was dazzlingly portrayed by Diana Burbano.
Motherly Advice: One of the funniest moments was when Estella frankly advised her daughter to masturbate in the museum bathroom to take the edge off. The moment had the same irreverent, female-forward boldness as Sex and the City’s Samantha absurdly telling Charlotte to borrow a compact makeup mirror and look at her vagina in the restaurant ladies room.
Police Car: The police car set piece was cleverly designed and vaguely reminded me of the DeLorean set piece from the Back to the Future musical. The scene that unfolded inside it was a highlight packed with revelations and surprises that had me audibly gasping and reacting throughout.
Juan: Gabriell Salgado brought a magnetic, “Latin frat-boy” charm to the role of Juan, a goofy, simple-minded cop with a penchant for weed who lived with “mami” and had a home gym. There was something entertainingly attractive about his playful confidence. He radiated a kind of naive bravado that made him both ridiculous and weirdly likable. One of the funniest moments was when told his girlfriend with complete, clueless sincerity, “You’re a feminist. You’re all about abortion.”
Scenic Design: I have a soft spot for clean-line, minimalist set designs. So, the simple modern museum setting by Sara C Walsh easily appealed to me. One of the walls even rose revealing an outdoor patio to add some visual variety. However, it struck me as odd that the patio wall was the only dynamic element the otherwise static set. Typically, I would expect dynamic transformation in the rest of the set when one of the walls rise like this. Additionally, the scenes staged on the patio didn’t necessarily require an outdoor setting. They could have just as easily taken place in another room within the museum.

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

Last-minute Introduction: Estella’s bizarre overly-theatrical monologue at the end of the play felt like a Hispanic echo of Maureen’s “Over the Moon” from Rent.

Theatre Company: Seattle Rep

Venue: Bagley Wright Theater at Seattle Rep

Venue Physical Address: 155 Mercer St, Seattle, WA 98109

Price Range: $29-110

Ticket Affordability Options: See the theatre’s official pages about discounts and pay-what-you-can performances.

Dates: 4/17/25 to 5/17/25

Seating: Assigned Seating

Parking: There are paid lots and paid street parking. I usually park on Mercer to the West of 1st Ave. There’s usually also plentiful street parking around Safeway. If there’s an event in Seattle Center or Climate Pledge Arena, street parking is usually limited and much more expensive.

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Pictures: See production pictures below by Bronwen Houck.

Cast and Production Team: See after pictures below.