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

@showsiveseen @thesarabareilles' "#Waitress" #romanticComedy #musical by @The 5th Avenue Theatre & @Theatre Under The Stars on #PiDay! Starring Kerstin Anderson w/ beautifully clear vocals. Hilarious comic relief from @Kennedy. Quality rivaled the national tour production. Closes next weekend! #Review: showsiveseen.com/12157 Photos: Tracy Martin and Mark Kitaoka Director/Choreo: Lisa Shriver Stage Manager: JR Welden Music Director: @matthewantonioperri #romCom #theatre #showsiveseen #pie #baking ♬ Bad Idea (feat. Jason Mraz) – Sara Bareilles

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Sara Bareilles’ Waitress romantic comedy musical by The 5th Avenue Theatre & Theatre Under the Stars on Pi Day! Starring Kerstin Anderson w/ beautifully clear vocals. Hilarious comic relief from Kennedy Kanagawa. Quality rivaled the national tour production. #romCom

Recommendation:
See it!

Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? No, I previously saw the national tour production nearby at the Paramount Theatre

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? Yes, if another theatre company I respect produced it.

Mainstream Appeal: High

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

My Synopsis (No Spoilers): Inspired by the original film, this musical follows Jenna, a talented pie-making waitress trapped in an abusive marriage. When she unexpectedly becomes pregnant from her deadbeat husband, she finds solace in her kind married obstetrician. Determined to create a better future for herself and her child, Jenna searches for the courage to change her life.

Synopsis from the Licensor or Theatre Company: Sara Bareilles’s pop-rock musical is filled with scrumptious pie–so much pie–and is one of the most famous musicals from the past decade. It’s a story of friendship, chosen family, and embracing love from unexpected places. Jenna dreams of leaving behind a life she didn’t imagine for herself, and the announcement of a baking contest could be her ticket out. Supported by her best friends, Jenna chooses to open her heart to the messier parts of life, which certainly don’t come with a recipe.

Type: Musical

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Several

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Several

Static (Stationary) or Dynamic Set: Dynamic

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: You’d probably appreciate this show more if you’ve seen the movie, but I’ve never seen it myself.

Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes

Live Band/Orchestra: Yes

Union Actors: All

Total Actors: Too many to count

Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium speed

Was there an intermission? Yes

Length (Including Any Intermission): 2.5 hours

Other Rave(s)

Production Quality: During intermission, the audience member behind me remarked, “This is a really high-quality production.” I couldn’t agree more, especially when comparing it to the national tour. In fact, I hardly noticed any differences from the touring production scenic design. I was particularly impressed with scenic designer Julia Hayes Welch’s diner set and the vibrant neon restaurant signs, which added an authentic and visually striking touch to the atmosphere.
Abusive Husband: Dane Stokinger’s portrayal of Earl brought to life a deadbeat, abusive husband that the audience could easily loathe. Stokinger fully embodied Earl’s self-centered, manipulative nature. While the audience sometimes laughed at the absurdity of his gaslighting, it was a chilling reminder of how real-life victims can still succumb to such tactics. It reminded me of when the American Dad “Abusive Terrestrial” episode parodied melodramatic made-for-television Lifetime movies featuring abusive relationships. It leaves you asking the age-old question: “Why do they stay?!”
Voices: Kerstin Anderson brought both power and clarity to her performance as Jenna, delivering a strong, belt-like vocal that captivated the audience. The crowd erupted in cheers at the climax of “What Baking Can Do” in the middle of the song, and her moving rendition of “She Used to Be Mine” earned her an extended ovation. Meanwhile, Porscha Shaw (who played one of Jenna’s spirited sidekicks, Becky) commanded the stage with effortless skill and vocal prowress in her feature number, “I Didn’t Plan It.”
Kennedy Kanagawa: I’m usually not a fan of silly portrayals on stage, but I have to admit that Kenny Kanagawa as Odie (alongside Tori Gresham as his love interest, Dawn) delivered genuinely hilarious comic relief to the show. Kanagawa brought boundless energy to the role, playing an infatuated, slightly unhinged, elfish nerd. He was a tax auditor by day who dabbled in amateur magic, clog dancing, and spontaneous bursts of poetry. Truly a Renaissance man! I loved how he cleverly wielded his inhaler like a cool T-Bird from Grease puffing a cigarette. With the film’s 2007 release and the musical’s 2016 Broadway debut, it’s interesting to view Odie’s character through a post-#MeToo lens. I mean, technically, he was a persistent creepy guy who refused to take no for an answer from a woman. The optics aren’t great if you see it that way!

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

“Bad Idea” Song: As much as I love “Bad Idea” (which is my favorite song in this musical), the band and the actors’ clapping often overpowered the lyrics. I even overheard an audience member complaining about this during intermission. Fortunately, since I own the soundtrack and frequently listen to this song on my Broadway playlist, I was already familiar with the words.
Romantic Development: The first time I saw this show during the national tour, I didn’t notice just how abruptly the romance between the two main characters unfolded. But on a rewatch, it felt way too sudden, even by romantic comedy standards!

Theatre Company: The 5th Avenue Theatre and Theatre Under the Stars

Venue: The 5th Avenue Theatre

Venue Physical Address: 1308 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101

Price Range: $40 to $169

Ticket Affordability Options: The 5th Avenue Theatre often partners with organizations you’re affiliated with for discount tickets. For example, they sometimes offer a discount for my employer affiliation. Rush tickets are typically also available the day of the performance at the box office.

Seating: Assigned Seating

Parking: When I don’t walk to the theatre or park on the street, I park in the paid garage at the Motif Hotel northwest of the theatre. The entrance is on 5th Ave. Do NOT park in the APA Coast Seattle Downtown Hotel garage (entrance on 6th Ave). That’s where most of the audience (and I think the subscribers) parks, so it’s a nightmare to leave. However, the APA Coast Seattle Downtown Hotel garage is the closest garage to the theatre and you can access the theatre through a tunnel if you want to avoid the elements. But, in my opinion, this benefit is not worth the time wasted leaving the garage.

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Pictures: See production pictures below by Tracy Martin and Mark Kitaoka.

Cast and Production Team: See after pictures below.