Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): How I Learned What I Learned by August Wilson & Todd Kreidler performed by Steven Anthony Jones at Seattle Repertory Theatre. Random storytelling of black Pittsburgh. Like listening to a kindly grandfather ramble on “in my day.” Entertaining voices. Funny dig at Justin Bieber and Clarence Tomas. Well-designed stage. #play
Synopsis from the Theatre: Actor Steven Anthony Jones is here to tell you a story. Many stories, in fact. One of the greatest American playwrights, August Wilson, learned many lessons over his life, and “Wilsonian Warrior” Jones imparts them to you in one non-stop, spellbinding performance. From life-or-death moments to the deepest love, from comedic stand-up to bursts of pure joy, Wilson’s poetry and timeless stories radiate from the Bagley Wright stage, where he himself premiered this piece. Witness the 20th anniversary production of How I Learned What I Learned where it all started and follow one of the greats from his beginning as a young Black poet from Pittsburgh to the literary giant we honor today.
Reviewed Performance: 4/26/23 Opening Night
Type: Play
World Premiere: No
Several or Few Scenes: There weren’t any scenes, just lots of stories recounted
Several or Few Settings: There weren’t any settings, just lots of stories recounted
Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: You’d probably enjoy this show more if you’re familiar with August Wilson’s work
Defined Plot/Storyline: No, it was several random stories
Recommendation: See it if you like either one-person plays or listening to your grandparents tell stories about the past
Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show: Yes
Equity Actors: 1
Total Number of Actors: 1
Length (Including Any Intermission): 2 hours, which is too long for a one-person show
Intermission: No
Theatre Company: Seattle Repertory Theatre
Venue: Bagley Wright Theater at Seattle Repertory Theatre
Venue Physical Address: 155 Mercer St, Seattle, WA 98109
Parking: There are paid lots and paid street parking. I usually park on Mercer to the West of 1st Ave. There’s usually also a lot of 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.
Other Video +/- Pictures: See pictures by Jenny Graham under video
@showsiveseen "How I Learned What I Learned" by #AugustWilson & Todd Kreidler performed by Steven Anthony Jones at Seattle Rep. Random storytelling of black #Pittsburgh. Like listening to a kindly grandfather ramble on "in my day." Entertaining voices. Funny dig at Justin Bieber & Clarence Tomas. Well-designed stage. Review: showsiveseen.com/5060 #play#theatre♬ Head in the Clouds – Carly Pearl
Steven Anthony Jones in August Wilson’s How I Learned What I Learned at Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Photo by Jenny Graham. Steven Anthony Jones in August Wilson’s How I Learned What I Learned at Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Photo by Jenny Graham. Steven Anthony Jones in August Wilson’s How I Learned What I Learned at Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Photo by Jenny Graham. Steven Anthony Jones in August Wilson’s How I Learned What I Learned at Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Photo by Jenny Graham.
Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Significant Other play by Joshua Harmon at Tacoma Little Theatre. As a regular single gay man whose friends are getting married, this hits home. Romantic comedy that focuses less on love & more on girlfriends. #romcom #friends #friendship
Synopsis from the Theatre: Jordan Berman would love to be in love, but that’s easier said than done. So until he meets Mr. Right, he wards off lonely nights with his trio of close girlfriends. But as singles’ nights turn into bachelorette parties, Jordan discovers that the only thing harder than finding love is supporting the loved ones around you when they do. But, as they get married one by one, he is left to wonder why life won’t give him the same fairytale ending. Significant Other is an unorthodox romantic comedy that celebrates the highs and lows of twenty- something urban life, wedding after wedding after wedding.
Reviewed Performance: 4/21/23 Opening Weekend
Type: Play
World Premiere: No
Several or Few Scenes: Several
Several or Few Settings: Several
Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: None
Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes
Recommendation: See it especially if you’ve ever been a single gay man
Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show: Yes
Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now: Probably if it was a professional production
Rating Compared to Other Shows with the Same Production Value: 4.5 stars (Out of 5 Stars)
Equity Actors: 0
Total Number of Actors: 7
Length (Including Any Intermission): 2 hour
Intermission: Yes
Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned in Elevator Thoughts
Stage Background: As usual, Tacoma Little Theatre showcased vibrant projected backdrops on-stage. I particularly liked the simple white modern background displayed before the show, during intermission, and at the curtain call. The club scenes backgrounds were flashy too. See the video and pictures below.
Storytelling: I enjoyed when the main character obsessively recounted/reenacted his love interest stolen moments, especially the wet naked body scene. What can I say, sex sells! Again, check out one of the pictures at the end of this article to see what I’m referring to!
Kiki: Tryphaena Singleton’s (who played Kiki) look and outfits were so chic. Great silhouette! You can tell she’s also a model in real life.
Cast Doubling: Paul Richter played 3 characters that I didn’t even know were the same person until I read the credits after the show! I wish we saw more of his fabulous “omigod, haaaaayyyy gurrrrrl!” gay coworker character though.
Anti-marriage Themes: As a cynical perpetually-single person, I definitely enjoyed the digs towards marriage like comparing marriage to a funeral and feeling like all your engaged friends are dying. There was a great tirade about how straight married couples sometimes lose their individuality and settle into mediocre heteronormativity.
Favorite Line: Something like “‘He’s a sweet guy’ is code for ugly!”
Rant(s)
Energy: Maybe it was the common show-after-opening-night lull but this production needed a little more energy. Maybe speed up some scenes or add more background/transition sounds.
Music: The very last scene contained a critical background song that awkwardly cut out in the middle. I was worried the actors would need to improvise! Fortunately, the music came back on after a minute and the play comfortably concluded. It must have been a long minute for the actors on-stage! Oh, the magical unpredictability of live theatre!
Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)
Suicide Theme: There were some mentions of suicidality that felt out of place in this romantic comedy script. The playwright could have left these out.
Theatre Company: Tacoma Little Theatre
Venue: Tacoma Little Theatre
Venue Physical Address: 210 N I St, Tacoma, WA 98403
Price: Low
Ticket Affordability Options: PWYC (pay-what-you-can) on 5/4/23 and GoldStar
Dates: April 21 to May 7, 2023
Seating: Assigned Seating
Parking: Mostly street parking. I usually like to park one block away on North Yakima Ave. Season ticket holders and donors can access a free parking lot.
Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): The Niceties #play by Eleanor Burgess at Intiman Theatre w/ Varinique “V” Davis & Amy Thone highlighting today’s generational/racial divide. It’s rare to find a 2-person play w/ intellectual dialogue as thrilling & delicious as this. Loved the twist at the end of the 1st act. Well-written and well-executed!
Synopsis from the Theatre: A pair of progressive women — a white baby boomer and a Black millennial — are pitted against each other at an elite university as a tenured history professor argues with her student about the effects of slavery on the American Revolution. What begins as a polite clash in perspectives explodes into a dramatic fight that will alter both their lives forever. The play forces us to choose a side as it asks: how much are you willing to sacrifice for the sake of progress?
Reviewed Performance: 4/20/23 Opening Night
Type: Play
World Premiere: No
Several or Few Scenes: Just 2 scenes
Several or Few Settings: Just 1 room
Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: You need to know a little about the history, politics, and higher education of the United States to appreciate this play. A USA college degree and high school diploma will definitely go far in understanding the nuances.
Defined Plot/Storyline: No, there’s only so much you can do with 2 scenes in 1 room!
Recommendation: See it if you like either
2-person Plays
Intellectual Debates
Leftist/Liberal Idealism
Black Lives Matter
Or Academia
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 really good
Rating Compared to Other Shows with the Same Production Value: 5 stars (Out of 5 Stars) – This is surprising since I usually don’t like shows with few actors!
Equity Actors: 2
Total Number of Actors: 2
Length (Including Any Intermission): 2 hour
Intermission: Yes
Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned in Elevator Thoughts
Intellectually Interesting: Honestly, I initially thought the premise was inherently boring. I was pleasantly proved wrong and I actually found the play well written/executed. It was both mentally stimulating and entertaining. Stuffy academics would love listening to Professor Janine (played by Amy Throne) drone on about university. Entertainment seekers (like myself) will want to bust out the popcorn when the uncomfortable conflicts unfold. The playwright (Eleanor Burgess) wrote a great debate with interesting, valid arguments from both sides sprinkled with funny smart quips and several “mini climactic” moments.
Ending of Play (No Spoilers): The play ended abruptly on an emotionally charged note with a significant sentence and the lights suddenly off. I can’t think of many plays that do this and I feel like it’s more exciting this way. The final word of the script caught me off guard too. I had to look up the definition after the show and ponder what the playwright was trying to convey with that word. I’m still wondering! Maybe prompting the audience to ponder days after the performance is a sign of a good play though.
Ending of Each Act (No Spoilers): Both acts presented a different energy but they both also ended with their own unexpected similar juicy twist and sudden conclusion. I wish there was a word to describe this novel writing technique like the “bookends” technique. It’s like the bookends are at the end of each act instead of at the beginning/end of the play. Leave a comment in my social media if you have any ideas what this is called.
Rant(s)
“Line”: One of the actors asked for a line at the beginning of the second act. I’ve only ever seen this happen once or twice. Oh, the magical unpredictability of live theatre! In her defense, 1) it was opening night 2) she recovered well 3) and I’m always amazed at how much material on-stage actors memorize like the 1-2 gripping long-winded nervous breakdown-like tirades she delivered.
Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)
Moral of the Story: While both opposing sides made great points, the script didn’t offer much viable concluding solutions to the racial issues presented. There was no “moral of the story.” But I suppose these issues don’t have an easy solution that you can just tie up neatly with a pretty bow.
Liberal Wet Dream: With such a progressive script, Seattle was the perfect city to produce this show, what with our microaggression police, safe spaces, trigger warnings, land acknowledgements, PC-culture, pronoun-ing, and social justice warriors. Can you tell I’m not from here? 😛 Like I mentioned in my review of Between Two Knees, woke Seattleites with white guilt will be sure to eat this up. BLM protesters would love it too.
Theatre Company: Intiman Theatre
Venue: Erickson Theatre at Seattle Central College
Venue Physical Address: 1524 Harvard Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
Price: Medium
Ticket Affordability Options: The ticketing website offers honor code discount options for students, military, industry, … or anybody. There are also 20 free rush tickets 1 hour before each performance.
Dates: April 18-29, 2023
Seating: General Admission
Parking: It’s Capitol Hill … so good luck. Try to take the bus. The cheapest parking I could find was $14 on the street. Geeez!
Other Video +/- Pictures: See pictures in video and under video below by Joe Moore
Cast and Production Team: See after pictures and video below
@showsiveseen "The Niceties" #play by Eleanor Burgess at #Intiman Theatre w/ Varinique "V" Davis + Amy Thone highlighting today's generational/racial divide. It's rare to find a 2-person play w/ intellectual dialogue as thrilling & delicious as this. Loved the twist at the end of the 1st act. Well-written and well-executed! Photos by Joe Moore. Review: showsiveseen.com/4916 #theatre♬ leave me – Anees
Role
Name
Zoe Reed
Varinique ‘V’ Davis*
Janine Bosko
Amy Thone*
—
—
Playwright
Eleanor Burgess
Director
Sheila Daniels
Associate Director + Fight Choreographer
Jasmine Lomax
Scenic Designer and Intiman Artistic Director
Jennifer Zeyl†
Costume Designer
Isabella Price
Lighting Designer
Vada Briceño
Sound Designer
Matt Starritt†
Stage Manager
Hazel Rose Gibson*
Assistant Lighting Designer
Chih-Hung Shao
Intiman Managing Director
Wesley Frugé
*Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States †Member of United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829, IATSE
Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): The Play That Goes Wrong w/ Theatre33. Funny chaotic play-in-a-play w/ the slapstick hijinks of a murder comedy mystery.
Synopsis from the Theatre: From Mischief, Broadway masters of comedy, comes the smash hit farce. Welcome to opening night of the Cornley University Drama Society’s newest production, The Murder at Haversham Manor, where things are quickly going from bad to utterly disastrous. This 1920s whodunit has everything you never wanted in a show—an unconscious leading lady, a corpse that can’t play dead, and actors who trip over everything (including their lines). Nevertheless, the accident-prone thespians battle against all odds to make it through to their final curtain call, with hilarious consequences! Part Monty Python, part Sherlock Holmes, this Olivier Award–winning comedy is a global phenomenon that’s guaranteed to leave you aching with laughter!
Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show: Yes and it was my first time at Theatre33
Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now: Yes, if it was a professional production
Equity Actors: 0
Total Number of Actors: 8
Length (Including Any Intermission): 1.5 hour
Intermission: Yes
Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)
Perfect Scheme: I imagine this script is an actor’s dream. You could easily mess up or ask for lines without the audience knowing it wasn’t intentional and still garner some laughs with some improvisation.
Cast Age: As I mentioned previously, this was the first production from Theatre33 that I attended. I didn’t expect all of the cast members to be youth or young adults! I wonder how often adults perform.
Theatre Company: Theatre33
Venue: Carlson Theatre at Bellevue Collage
Venue Physical Address: Officially, the address is “3000 Landerholm Cir SE, Bellevue, WA 98007,” which doesn’t lead to the theatre. It’s better to use the GPS coordinates 47.58320939616845, -122.14925423992935.
Price: Cheap
Dates: Sorry, there were only 4 performances April 15-16, 2023
Seating: General Admission
Parking: $2 parking at the non-student parking lot #10 or #12 (GPS coordinates 47.582914377229656, -122.14761699020893)
Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): The Wonderful Wizard of Oz play at Seattle Children’s Theatre. Vibrant scenic design and costumes. Fabulous scarecrow portrayal from Nicolas Japaul Bernard.
Synopsis from the Theatre: Growing tired of her life in Kansas, Dorothy and her little dog Toto discover a new adventure in the wonderful and magical Land of Oz after a cyclone swoops them “somewhere over the rainbow.” While following the yellow brick road to the Emerald City, Dorothy meets the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion, who quickly become her new friends. Together, they overcome their fears of witches, flying monkeys, and a haunted forest to learn if the Wizard can make their dreams come true.
Reviewed Performance: 4/7/23 Opening Night – Sorry for the late review! I was busy obtaining pictures and clarifying guidelines with the theatre. Fortunately, you still have more than a month to see this production.
Type: Play
World Premiere: No
Several or Few Scenes: Several
Several or Few Settings: Several
Prior Exposure Required: None but it wouldn’t hurt to have seen the classic movie
Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes
Recommendation: See it if you want to treat your kids to live theatre. This show targeted audiences younger than teenagers. In contrast, most other Seattle Children’s Theatre shows I’ve chosen to attend like The Boy Who Kissed the Sky and The Diary of Anne Frank could be enjoyed by adults without kids.
Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show: Yes
Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now: Yes, if I had kids and it was another professional production
Rating Compared to Other Shows with the Same Production Value: 4.25 Stars (Out of 5 Stars)
Equity Actors: 2
Total Number of Actors: 12
Length (Including Any Intermission): 1 hour
Intermission: No
Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned in Elevator Thoughts
Design: The set and costumes were gorgeous. What a treat that children can experience the same level of production value as other professional theatres! See the pictures at the end of this review.
Scarecrow: Nicholas Japaul Bernard was delightful as the fabulous flamboyant scarecrow providing comic relief with Pippi Longstocking hair. His portrayal reminded me of his previous role as Pharus in Choir Boy at ACT Theatre.
Mask: One of the performers was wearing a mask. While I acknowledge a person’s right to continue wearing one in the workplace, this is probably the second or third time I’ve ever seen an actor wear a mask on-stage even when theatres reopened Fall 2021 … and I’ve seen almost 200 shows since COVID started! Masks on-stage are visually distracting and they muffle actors’ lines. For the record, I’m not a staunch anti-masker. I actually still occasionally wear an N95 when I’m in the theatre to ensure my packed show schedule (of about 3 shows per week) is uninterrupted.
Stage Crew Visibility: It was a little distracting seeing the stage crew moving set pieces.
Tornado: I would have personally preferred the tornado scene to be more violent and treacherous … but I guess we don’t want the young audience members to have nightmares!
Auditory Stimulation: The show felt a little too silent for kids, who are already accustomed to sensory overstimulation from the media. Plus, the colorful vibrant set begged to be accompanied with more sound. Maybe add more background audio.
Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)
Slippers: I didn’t know the original book described the magic slippers as silver instead of the classic ruby red. Today I learned that the classic film’s studio wanted to show off the new technicolor technology with more vibrant props.
Youth Actors: This production incorporated two sets of alternating youth actor casts. I’m sure the young people in the audience got a kick out of seeing their peers on stage.
Theatre Company: Seattle Children’s Theatre
Venue: Seattle Children’s Theatre
Venue Physical Address: 201 W Thomas St, Seattle, WA 98109
Price: Cheap to Medium
Ticket Affordability Options: Each performance has a value option available online. Also check out the theatre’s discount page.
Dates: April 4 to May 21, 2023
Seating: Assigned Seating
Parking: Paid street parking or various paid parking lots/garages. Street parking is sparse when there’s a major Seattle Center or Climate Pledge Arena event. I usually have good luck finding street parking around Lenny Wilkins Way next to the theatre on non-event days. I try to take the bus on event days since even the event street parking costs more than $12.
Avery Clary and Marena Kleinpeter in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Photo by Truman Buffett.Audrey Conner, Jerik Fernandez, Marena Kleinpeter, Chad Kelderman, and Dedra D. Woods in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Photo by Truman Buffett.Chad Kelderman, Marena Kleinpeter, Dedra D. Woods, and Avery Clark in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Photo by Truman Buffett.Avery Clark, Chad Kelderman, Marena Kleinpeter, Roz Cornejo, and Jerik Fernandez in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Photo by Truman Buffett.Fiona Hurley, Emberly Hoke, Jerik Fernandez, Marena Kleinpeter, Dedra D. Woods, Avery Clark, Chad Kelderman, Audrey Conner, Penelope Tobin, and Tabitha Murphy Madden in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Photo by Truman Buffett.Chad Kelderman, Marena Kleinpeter, Jerik Fernandez, and Avery Clark in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Photo by Truman Buffett.Chad Kelderman, Marena Kleinpeter, Jerik Fernandez, and Avery Clark in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Photo by Truman Buffett.Chad Kelderman, Marena Kleinpeter, Jerik Fernandez, and Avery Clark in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Photo by Truman Buffett.Chad Kelderman, Marena Kleinpeter, Jerik Fernandez, and Avery Clark in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Photo by Truman Buffett.Marena Kleinpeter, Chad Kelderman, and Jerik Fernandez in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Photo by Truman Buffett.Roz Cornejo in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Photo by Truman Buffett.Dedra D. Woods, Emberly Hoke, and Roz Cornejo in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Photo by Truman Buffett.Marena Kleinpeter in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Photo by Truman Buffett.Annelih Hamilton and Marena Kleinpeter in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Photo by Truman Buffett.Marena Kleinpeter in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Photo by Truman Buffett.Marena Kleinpeter in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Photo by Truman Buffett.Roz Cornejo in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Photo by Truman Buffett.
Role
Name
Scarecrow
Nicholas Japaul Bernard
Wizard of Oz/Wicked Witch Of The West
Roz Cornejo
Uncle Henry /
Cowardly Lion
Jerik Fernandez
Aunt Em / Locasta, Good Witch of the North
Annelih Hamilton
Tin Woodman
Chad Kelderman*
Dorothy
Marena Kleinpeter
King of the Winged Monkeys / Glinda, Good Witch of the South / Hungry Wildcat
Dedra D. Woods*
—
—
Munchkin /
Flying Monkey
Ian Bartlett, Ariadne Taw, Penelope Tobin, Emberly Hoke, Fiona Hurley, or Lillian Morris
Munchkin /
Hungry Wildkitten / Flying Monkey
Zella Davidson or Tabitha Murphy Madden
Guardian of the Gates / Flying Monkey
Reagan Nino or Audrey Conner
Understudies
Gloria Alcalå Avery Clark* Bethanie Willis
—
—
Director
Jéhan Òsanyin**
Playwright
Adapted by Jacqueline E. Lawton from the novel by L. Frank Baum
Choreographer
Alice Gosti**
Scenic Designer
Julia Hayes Welch^
Costume Designer
Taya Pyne
Lighting Designer
Adem Hayyu^
Sound Designer
Erin Bednarz
Fight Director
Geoffrey Alm**
Wig & Hair Designers
Kafi Masika Modest Roberts
Costume Design Assistant
Natalie Shih
Makeup Artist
Meredith Keister
Stage Manager
Jamie J. Kranz*
Assistant Stage Manager
Quinn Chase*
Production Assistant
P. Alyda Sorm
Youth Cast Supervisor
Amy Jurkiewicz
Swing Youth Cast Supervisor
Lillia Nelson
* Actors Equity Association ^ United Scene Artists Member, Local 829 ** Stage Directors and Choreographers Society Member
