Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): 1776 musical at the 5th Avenue Theatre starring Gisela Adisa. Directed by Jeffrey L Page & Diane Paulus. An inclusive female, trans, & nonbinary cast of diverse races & ethnicities portraying our cis white American forefathers as they commenced the “Great American Experiment” and signed the Declaration of Independence. Genteel, silky smooth Southern drawl accents like molasses spilling out of their mouths. Good debate scenes.
Synopsis from the Theatre: What will it take to get two dozen powerfully passionate, exceedingly complicated, and all-too-human individuals to settle their differences, while they hold the very future of a nation in their hands? American Repertory Theater at Harvard University/Roundabout Theatre Company’s new production of the Tony Award®-winning Best Musical, 1776, is a tuneful, witty, “bold and exuberant” (Variety) reexamination of a pivotal moment in American history from directors Jeffrey L. Page (Violet) and Diane Paulus (Waitress). 1776 comes to Seattle with a cast that reflects multiple representations of race, gender, and ethnicity. You may never think about our country—who we are and why—the same way again.
Reviewed Performance: 8/2/23 (Opening Night)
Type: Musical
World Premiere: No
Several or Few Scenes: Several
Several or Few Settings/Locations: A couple
Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: You’d probably understand this show more if you studied American history in school.
Defined Plot/Storyline: It was more debate and history than story/plot.
Live Band/Orchestra: Yes
Recommendation: See it if you enjoyed either
- The historical flashback scene in The Taming
- The historical parts of Hamiliton
- Musicals that are more play than music (there were only 13 songs)
- Or shows that are less story, more debate, and more (dry?) history.
Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show: Yes
Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now: Probably not but it was well-performed
Rating Compared to Other Shows with the Same Production Value:
4 stars (Out of 5 Stars)
Equity Actors: 22
Total Number of Actors: 22
Perceived Pace of the Show: Slow to medium speed
Length (Including Any Intermission): 2.75 hours
Intermission: Yes
Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned in Elevator Thoughts
- Favorite Line: John Dickinson of Pennsylvania (played by Joanna Glushak) said “Don’t forget that most men with nothing would rather protect the possibility of becoming rich than face the reality of being poor.” What a poignant commentary of today’s political climate!
- Slideshow: Nice background video during “The Egg” song.
Rant(s)
- Stage Curtain: Stage curtains that resemble shower curtains or actual window curtains don’t work well for a huge professional stage. It makes the top half of the stage look empty and the bottom half of the stage look cheap.
Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)
- Intermission Placement: The intermission was inserted in a weird place. Usually it’s right after a cliffhanger or showstopper. I suggest the 1st act end a little earlier since it was a little too long anyway.
- First Independant Colony: I didn’t know that the USA was the first colony in world history to successfully gain independence.
Theatre Company: The 5th Avenue Theatre
Venue: The 5th Avenue Theatre
Venue Physical Address: 1308 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
Price: Expensive
Ticket Affordability Options: $30 day-of-show rush tickets at the box office are available for in Zones 3, 4, and 5. Contact the theatre directly for organizational discount affiliation possibilities like from your job. Goldstar or TodayTix usually offer good options too.
Dates: August 2 to 6, 2023 – Sorry for the late review! I didn’t realize the show closed this weekend.
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 NW of the theatre. The entrance is on 5th Ave. Do NOT park in the Hilton garage (entrance on 6th ave). That’s where most of the audience parks, so it’s a nightmare to leave. However, the Hilton garage is the closest garage to the theatre and you can access the theatre underground if you want to avoid the elements. But this benefit is not worth the time wasted leaving in my opinion.
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Other Video +/- Pictures: See pictures in video and under video by Joan Marcus.
@showsiveseen #1776 #musical at @The 5th Avenue Theatre starring @giselaadisa. #Inclusive #female, #trans, & #nonbinary cast of #diverse races & ethnicities portraying cis white forefathers as they commenced the “Great #American Experiment” & signed the Declaration of Independence. Genteel, silky smooth Southern drawl accents like molasses. Good debate scenes. Photos: Joan Marcus. Review: showsiveseen.com/6204 #theatre #showsiveseen ♬ He Plays the Violin (From “1776”) – Betty Buckley
