Puget Sound (Seattle/Tacoma/Olympia/Bellevue) – Page 16 – Shows I've Seen

Preview Post – Once More, Just for You – Play – Seattle Public Theater & Macha Theatre Works

Once More, Just for You play by Seattle Public Theatre and Macha Theatre. Performing until 2/25/24. Stay tuned for my full review! #asian

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

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A Case for the Existence of God – Play – Review – ACT Theatre

@showsiveseen Samuel D Hunter's "A Case for the Existence of God" beautiful #play at @ACT Theatre Seattle starring Nate Tenenbaum & Conner Neddersen. Surprising how little the show mentioned religion or God. In the spirit of the script's male vulnerability theme, I actually shed a tear during the last scene. Review: showsiveseen.com/7936 Director: John Langs Stage Manager: JR Welden or Bret Torbeck #friendship #friends #fatherhood #parenthood #parents #showsiveseen #theatre #adoption ♬ My Father – Melaner

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Samuel D Hunter’s A Case for the Existence of God beautiful play at ACT Theatre starring Nate Tenenbaum & Conner Neddersen. Surprising how little the show mentioned religion or God. In the spirit of the script’s male vulnerability theme, I actually shed a tear during the last scene.

Recommendation
See it if you’re okay with plays that are more dialoge and less action.

Synopsis from the Theatre: Inside a small loan brokerage in Idaho, two men — a study in opposites — struggle to make a place for their families in the American dream as they balance parenthood, financial security, desire, and empathy. This award-winning play, with a revelatory ending, leads audiences on a journey of intrigue and reckoning as the two fathers’ lives intertwine in a powerful narrative about what it means to be human.

Attended Performance Date: Opening Weekend 2/9/24 – Keep your eyes peeled for my preview posts if you want earlier notification of shows I’ve seen. Get your tickets now since the show ends this weekend!

Type: Play

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Several

Several or Few Settings/Locations: A couple

Static (Stationary) Set? Yes

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: No, but you’d probably appreciate this play more if you’re a parent …. bonus points if you know the pain of being a single parent or the painful process of adoption. That being said, I don’t have kids and I’m not even sure I want kids, but I still enjoyed the play.

Defined Plot/Storyline: Mostly yes, but the script was mostly dialogue and less action. While I typically don’t prefer dialogue plays, this one was actually not bad.

Equity Actors: 2

Total Number of Actors: 2

Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium Speed

Length (Including Any Intermission): 1.5 hours

Was there an intermission? No

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

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? No, but it was good.

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned Above

Favorite Line: Something like “I’m not a weepy gay man who needs to be held by a straight man.”
Nate Tenenbaum: Kudos to Nate Tenenbaum (who played Keith) for tearing up on-demand. His climactic chaotic tantrum scene was good too.
Awkward Moments: There were several deliciously uncomfortable awkward moments. In hindsight, they remind me of The Office TV show.
Male Vulnerability: This play uniquely portrayed vulnerable everyday men without appearing limp wristed (Relax, I’m gay!). It normalized the fact that men can also experience anxiety attacks and depression. It also showed that deep plutonic friendships between straight and gay men are possible.

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

Religion: The title led me to assume this play was about Christianity. Unless I missed the symbolism (which is very possible), there was nothing in it about religion. However, the actors described the mortgage processes in a way that could have touched on religion though. If you’ve seen this show, comment in my social media links below why you think “God” is in the title.

Theatre Company: ACT Theatre

Venue: The Falls Theatre at ACT Theatre

Venue Physical Address: 700 Union Street, Seattle, WA 98101

Price: Medium to Expensive

Tickets: https://acttheatre.org/2023-24-season/a-case-for/

Ticket Affordability Options: Check out the the theatre’s official discounts page or TodayTix/Goldstar.

Dates: February 2 to February 18, 2024 – Previews started the 2nd and opening press night was the 8th.

Seating: Assigned Seating

Parking: Paid lot or paid street parking. If I don’t walk to this theatre, I park in the Convention Center garage with the entrance between Seneca and Pike. There is indoor access from the garage to the theatre if you walk through the old convention center.

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Pictures: See pictures below by Dai Ross Art and Photography.

ACT Contemporary Theatre presents Samuel D. Hunter’s *The Case for the Existence of God* featuring Nathaniel Tenenbaum (Keith) and Conner Neddersen (Ryan), directed by John Langs. Photos by Rosemary Dai Ross. (2024).

Sunset Boulevard – Concert Musical – Review – Showtunes Theatre Company

@showsiveseen @Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Sunset Boulevard" concert musical at Cornish Playhouse by Showtunes Theatre Company. Powerful excentric #diva portrayal from @billieville. Rich tenor from @Matthew Kacergis. #Epic songs followed by long applauses. #Glorious string section/score. Tragically beautiful story. I'm downloading the soundtrack! Review: showsiveseen.com/7875 Director: @kitchenskelly Music Director: Nathan Young Stage Manager: Aaron Alonso #sunsetBoulevard #showsiveseen #theatre #NormaDesmond #hollywood #AndrewLloydWebber ♬ original sound – The Kennedy Center

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Sunset Boulevard concert musical at Cornish Playhouse by Showtunes Theatre Company. Powerful excentric diva portrayal from Billie Wildrick. Rich tenor from Matthew Kacergis. Epic songs followed by long applauses. Glorious string section/score. Tragically beautiful story. I’m downloading the soundtrack!

Recommendation
See it, especially if you enjoy musicals performed as concerts.

Synopsis from the Theatre: The plot revolves around Norma Desmond, a faded star of the silent screen era, living in the past in her decaying mansion on the fabled Los Angeles street. When young screenwriter Joe Gillis accidentally crosses her path, she sees in him an opportunity to make her return to the big screen, with romance and tragedy to follow.

Attended Performance Date: Opening Night 2/3/24 – Keep your eyes peeled for my preview posts if you want earlier notification of shows I’ve seen. Get your tickets now since this show’s entire run is only 4 performances!

Type: Musical performed as a concert

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Several

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Several

Static (Stationary) Set? N/A – There was no set since this was a musical performed as a concert.

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: No, but you’d probably enjoy this more if you’ve either seen original the film or seen the full non-concert production of the original musical. However, I haven’t seen either and I still enjoyed this production. It just required a little more imagination than usual.

Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes

Live Band/Orchestra: Yes, a 25-person orchestra

Equity Actors: 5

Total Number of Actors: 23

Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium Speed

Length (Including Any Intermission): 2.5 hours

Was there an intermission? Yes

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

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? Absolutely!

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned Above

Favorite Lines:
- Something like “If I lose my car, it’s like having my legs cut off.” What a poignant testament to American life especially in LA!
- “There’s nothing tragic about being 50, not unless you try to be 25.”
Epic Songs: This musical was filled with epically-performed songs. I’m definitely downloading the soundtrack! The audience went wild with long applause and some standing ovation after the following memorable songs.
- “New Ways to Dream”
- “With One Look” – What a hook!
- “Sunset Boulevard”
- “As If We Never Said Goodbye”
Score and Strings: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s score allowed the orchestra string section to shine. The glorious overture reminded me of the high-quality orchestras that 5th Avenue Theatre is known for.
Norma Desmond: It was a joy to watch Billie Wildrick dramatically portray the excentric melancholic diva Norma Desmond, clinging to sanity and delusional fantasy.
Costumes: Despite this show being a concert version of a musical, Norma Desmond was still decked in glamourous statement pieces.
Universal Themes: This beautifully tragic story was filled with several relatable themes. Norma Desmond painfully, desperately grasped for her youth and the glory of her past life. In an effort to preserve her sanity, she desperately clung to lies from others or lies from herself. Joe Gillis (played by Matthew Kacergis) struggled with the allure of riches and selling out. This show was a painfully alluring depiction of the human experience.

Rant(s)

Microphones: Sometimes, the microphones turned on a couple milliseconds too late. Additionally, I think some of the cast was also not mic’ed. I’m not sure if it was because of sound board operation or because they didn’t have the budget for more microphones.

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

Career Continuity: Let this show be a cautionary tale to those temporarily taking a career sabbatical! When you come back, the workforce won’t welcome you with open arms.
Memory Play: Norma Desmond’s introduction scene exhibited a fantastical element that reminded me of the memory play genre.
Andrew Lloyd Webber: I try to attend shows with a blank slate knowing as little about the premise as possible. In fact, I typically only read the synopsis immediately before publishing my review. Throughout this musical, I kept thinking how it reminded me of The Phantom of the Opera like with the vibrato. Everything clicked when I discovered Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote Sunset Boulevard. Speaking of The Phantom of the Opera, I definitely prefer Sunset Boulevard more. It doesn’t help that Phantom strikes me pumpkin-spiced basic.
Showtunes Theatre Company Production Runs: It’s such a shame that Showtunes Theatre Company performances are typically only 1-2 weekends. But I it makes sense since musicals in concert format aren’t very mainstream.

Theatre Company: Showtunes Theatre Company

Venue: Cornish Playhouse

Venue Physical Address: 201 Mercer St, Seattle, WA 98109

Price: Cheap to Medium

Tickets: https://www.showtunestheatre.org/sunsetboulevard

Dates: February 3 to February 11, 2024

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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Preview Post – A Case for the Existence of God – Play – ACT Theatre

A Case for the Existence of God play opening weekend at ACT Theatre. Don’t wait for my full review if you want to buy tickets since they’re performing until 2/18/24!

Final Full Review (Posted 2/14/24): https://showsiveseen.com/7936

Tickets: https://acttheatre.org/2023-24-season/a-case-for/

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