12th Ave Arts – Page 3 – Shows I've Seen

Hotdish – Play – Pony World Theatre

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Brandon Healy’s Hotdish play by Pony World Theatre at 12th Ave Arts. Directed by Charlotte Peters. Midwest repression/escapism that felt universal. Funny caricatures from Jessica Robin’s. Good acting delivery from James Hyun Lee (returning from an 8-year hiatus). Novel live video component and nice stage.

Recommendation
See it if you enjoyed Dream Hou$e.

Synopsis from the Theatre: For this world premiere play, simply combine 3 “hotdishes” (casseroles for you non-Minnesotans), one dysfunctional family, one reality TV show, tater tots, black pepper, your grandmother’s rose water perfume, a few dashes of joy, and a pinch of heartache. Kayla Liggett has taken in her unemployed brother, Toby, while he looks for work. But Toby thinks the answer to all his troubles is winning his favorite reality TV cooking show, Champion Chef. As Toby falls deeper into this enticing fantasy, their mother Evelyn faces her own financial crisis. It falls to Kayla to save them both, but she can barely keep her own life together. Guided by a magical being who happens to be the glamorous host of Champion Chef, the family must face what fractured their lives in the first place. Hotdish tells a story about family, food, and fixing the cracks in all our hearts.

Attended Performance Date: 11/9/23 – See my previous preview posts here.

Type: Play

World Premiere: Yes

Several or Few Scenes: Several

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Several

Static (Stationary) Set: Yes

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: You’d probably appreciate the script more if you’re familiar with Midwest themes. For example, the hotdish concept is traditionally from the Midwest, which I didn’t know until after the play.

Defined Plot/Storyline: Mostly yes

Equity Actors: Zero

Total Number of Actors: 5

Perceived Pace of the Show: Slow to medium speed

Length (Including Any Intermission): 2.25 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? No

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned in Elevator Thoughts

Scenic Design: The home kitchen reminded me of Village Theatre’s Book Club stage. The fridge remarkably occasionally doubled as an entrance/exit and an actual fridge.
Novel Live Videography: Some scenes were portrayed like a reality TV cooking show competition where a stagehand recorded the actors and the video replayed on the audience like a TV show in real time. Occasionally they combined the live video with pre-recorded clips. They’re definitely working double time in A/V room during this production! The live video component reminded me of the basketball player in Village Theatre’s Songs for a New World. This novel videography was very effective for the non-speaking parts. However, there was a noticeable slight delay in the live video while the actor was speaking to the camera. I also observed this delay at Village Theatre. And if I’m not mistaken, I also noticed this delay at the Blue Man Group national tour. So, I’m not sure that there is any good solution. Maybe transmit the video via a cable instead wirelessly for better latency?
Reveal (Slight Spoiler): There was a reveal in the second act that reminded me of Gabe’s birthday scene in Next to Normal. I’m now second guessing the scenes I saw previous to this reveal!
Universal Themes: The script seemed to focus on Midwest repression and hopelessness, but it felt universal. The need for fantasy/escape was similar to the theme in She Kills Monsters. I empathized with Toby Ligget (played by James Hyun Lee) as he described his alienation, depression, and failure. And I felt Kayla Liggett’s (played by Sydney Kaser) yearning as she described the need for familiar safe physical company as she copes with being the strong one in the family. The white noise during Toby’s longing made the pressure in his mind all the more tangible.
Caricatures: Jessica Robins portrayed a plethora of caricatures like a rough tap-dancing Irish bartender, a phone operator, and a grisly seasoned tow-trucker. Her reality TV show host persona reminded me of Tessa from Dream Hou$e, which was also produced at 12th Ave Arts. My absolute favorite personality was the bank officer with a delightful Midwest accent especially during her funny mini monologues on doughnuts and coffee (pronounced “cawfee”). Kudos for the several the costume changes behind the bar/counter, which were probably uncomfortable!

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

Reality TV Exploitation: The reality TV cooking show theme of this play reminded me of a Matteo Lane comedy bit (see segment between 2:00 to 3:30) where he noted that American reality TV shows exploit contestants’ backstories while the British shows ignore them.

Theatre Company: Pony World Theatre

Venue: 12th Avenue Arts

Venue Physical Address: 1620 12th Ave #203, Seattle, WA 98122

Price: Cheap

Tickets: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/6146488

Dates: November 3 to December 2, 2023

Seating: General Admission

Parking: Paid lot or paid street parking. Street parking is extremely limited since it’s Capitol Hill. Your best luck would be East of Cal Anderson Park on 11th or 12th Ave. The cheapest paid lot close by is at 1300 E Olive St with the entrance on 14th Ave. I highly suggest parking far away or taking the bus since the lots are expensive in Capitol Hill.

Buy a Ticket or Learn More:

Other Video +/- Pictures: See pictures in video and under video

Cast and Production Team: See after pictures and/or video below

@showsiveseen "#Hotdish" #play by Pony World Theatre at 12th Ave Arts. Directed by @charlotte. #Midwest repression/escapism that felt universal. Funny caricatures from @jrobartist. Good acting delivery from @DogtorJames (returning from an 8-year hiatus). Nice stage & novel live video component. Photos: Tanya Izadora & Ken Holmes. Review: showsiveseen.com/7259 #theatre #showsiveseen #Minnesota #realityTV #cooking ♬ Keeping Everything Inside – Sophie Pecora

Cast of *Hotdish*. Photo by Tanya Izadora.

Rebecca as Evelyn, confronting Sydney as Kayla. Photo by Ken Holmes.

Jessica Robins and James Lee. Photo by Ken Holmes.

Miranda Interviews Toby. Photo by Ken Holmes.

The Final Family Showdown. Photo by Ken Holmes.

Jessica Robins as Miranda Pashant. Photo by Ken Holmes.

Miranda Tries Toby’s Cooking. Photo by Ken Holmes.

Jessica Robins and Sydney Kaser. Photo by Ken Holmes.

Sydney, Rebecca, and James as the Liggett Family. Photo by Ken Holmes.

Jessica Robins as Miranda with Van Lang Pham as Kevin. Photo by Ken Holmes.

Role	Name
Toby Liggett	James Hyun Lee
Kayla Liggett	Sydney Kaser
Evelyn Liggett	Rebecca Goldberg
Kevin	Van Lang Pham
Miranda	Jessica Robins
—	—
Director	Charlotte Peters
Playwright	Brendan Healy
Stage Manager	Kristin Brown
Assistant Stage Manager	Michael Latham
Scenic Designer	Sann Hall
Lighting Designer	Chih-Hung Shao
Props Designer	Andrea Spraycar
Sound Designer	Justin Johnson
Projections Designer	Brendan Mack
Costume Designer	Luna McMeen
Video And Additional Assets	Peter Antoniou & Charlotte Peters
Technical Director	Justin Duffiance
Scenic Charge Artist	Annie Duffiance
Production Manager	Ellie Hughes
Artist Liaison	Lisa Viertel

Preview Post – Hotdish – Play – Pony World Theatre

Hotdish play by Pony World Theatre at 12th Ave Arts. Performing until 12/2/23. Stay tuned for my full review!

Final Review (Posted 11/21/23): https://www.showsiveseen.com/hotdish-play-pony-world-theatre/

Tickets: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/6146488

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Miss You Like Hell – Musical – Strawberry Theatre Workshop

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Miss You Like Hell musical w/ Strawberry Theatre Workshop at 12th Ave Arts, starring Maggie Carrido & Stephanie Roman, directed by Nicholas Japaul Bernard. Best part was when an audience member loudly exclaimed, “Oh no!” Didn’t end like I expected. Pilar O’Connell rocked! Craved a tamale after the show.

Recommendation
See it if you were affected by American immigration laws.

Synopsis from the Theatre: A teenager and her estranged mother—an undocumented Mexican on the verge of deportation—embark on a road trip across the United States to mend their frayed relationship. Combined with the musical talent of Erin McKeown, Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Quiara Alegría Hudes artfully crafts a story of the barriers and the bonds of family, while also addressing the complexities of immigration in today’s America.

Attended Performance Date: 10/14/23 (Opening Night) – See my previous preview posts here.

Type: Musical

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Several

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Several

Static (Stationary) Set: No

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: No

Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes

Live Band/Orchestra: Yes

Equity Actors: 1

Total Number of Actors: 9

Perceived Pace of the Show: Slow to medium

Length (Including Any Intermission): 2 hours

Was there an intermission? No

Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? Yes and it was also my first time attending a musical by Strawberry Theatre Workshop. I’ve only previously attended their plays, which are typically good.

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? Maybe if it was a full-fledged professional production

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned in Elevator Thoughts

Pilar O’Connell: Pilar’s singing and acting stole the show as Mo, a gay dude in leather chaps.
Beatriz: I think this was my first time seeing Maggie Carrido on-stage. Her unique sultry voice served her well for a role (Beatriz) that was originally portrayed by Daphne Rubin-Vega in NYC. Honestly, I prefer Maggie’s voice!
Favorite Lines: This musical was filled with lines that were shocking and funny. Sorry if the following examples are not quoted 100% verbatim!
- “I was crying so much my mascara was down to my ankles”
- Olivia told her mom “You’re a MILF”
- “My boobs were like snow cones”
- “My parents weren’t married. So, technically I’m a bastard.”
- “I thought I was bleeding from my pussy”
Clerk Scene: The best part of the show was when an audience member loudly exclaimed “Oh no!” and passionately nearly stood up during a scene where a deliciously unlikable court clerk (played by Olivia Sutherland) rudely spoke to the main characters.

Rant(s)

Book and Music: Since this musical’s score and book is inherently tepid, it won’t appeal to wide audiences, especially if the production isn’t from a full-fledged professional theatre company. I’m curious how audiences received the original NYC production because the original cast soundtrack didn’t sound too impressive.
Sound Balancing: Hopefully this was only an issue on opening night, but the non-ensemble characters were not equally mic’ed. For example, a major character wore a microphone but I’m not sure that it was even on. Like I recently mentioned in my last review of Seattle Public Theater’s Macbeth production, try to sit away from the band so it’s easier to hear the singers. Unfortunately, that means you’ll sacrifice a little on the view.

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

Stage Layout: I’m not a huge fan of the parallel-style seating arrangement in the image below. The audience ends up seeing too many actors’ backs. An okay alternative is when the seating is more U-shaped.
Sullen Teenager Trope: I’m also not a huge fan of the sullen “nobody understands me” teenager trope. It’s tired and annoying. I want to tell these characters, “Oh boo hoo! Grow up, get over yourself, and join the real world!”
Vocal Range: Again, like I recently mentioned about Seattle Public Theater’s Macbeth production, gender-inclusive casting (though well-intentioned) often needs transposition when an actor sings a part that was written for the opposite gender in mind. Without transposition, the performer either sounds like they’re singing too high or too low.

Theatre Company: Strawberry Theatre Workshop

Venue: 12th Avenue Arts

Venue Physical Address: 1620 12th Ave #203, Seattle, WA 98122

Price: Cheap

Tickets: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/strawberrytheatreworkshop/994759

Dates: October 12 to November 11, 2023

Seating: General Admission

Parking: Paid lot or paid street parking. Street parking is extremely limited since it’s Capitol Hill. Your best luck would be East of Cal Anderson Park on 11th or 12th Ave. Cheapest paid lots are on 11th Ave next to the park. I highly suggest parking far away or taking the bus since the lots are expensive in Capitol Hill.

Buy a Ticket or Learn More:

https://www.strawshop.org/miss-you.html

Other Video +/- Pictures: See pictures in video and under video

Cast and Production Team: See after pictures and/or video below

@showsiveseen Quiara Alegria Hudes & Erin Mckeown's "Miss You Like Hell" #musical w/ Strawberry Theatre Workshop at 12th Ave Arts, starring Maggie Carrido & Stephanie Roman, directed by @Nicholas Bernard. @Pilar O'Connell rocked! Best part was when an audience member loudly exclaimed, "Oh no!" Didn't end like I expected. Craved a tamale after the show. Review: showsiveseen.com/7127 #showsiveseen #theatre #immigration #Mexican #deportation #roadTrip ♬ Dance with Me – Daphne Rubin-Vega & Danny Bolero & Latoya Edwards & 'Miss You Like Hell' Original Cast Ensemble

Role	Name
Ensemble/Higgins	Antonieta Carpio
Ensemble/Pearl	Jade Guillory-Kaub
Beatriz	Maggie Carrido
Ensemble/Mo	Pilar O’Connell*
Ensemble/Officer	Andreya Pro
Olivia	Stephanie Roman
Ensemble/Clerk	Olivia Sutherland
Ensemble/Manuel	Carolynne Wilcox
Ensemble/Lawyer/Ramona	Beth Pollack
—	—
Director & Choreographer	Nicholas Japaul Bernard
Book & Lyrics	Quiara Alegria Hudes
Associate Choreographer	Lexi Warden
Music & Lyrics	Erin McKeown
Music Director	Olivia Pedroza
Property Manager	Adam Zopfi Hulse
Costume Designer	Pete Rush
Lighting Designer	Chih-Hung Shao
Stage Manager	Megan Kay Wright
Scenic Designer	Greg Carter
Assistant Stage Manager	Claudia Landau
Graphic Designer	Melanie Wang
Dramaturg	Ana Maria Campoy
Box Office Manager	Galen Joseph Osier
Construction Designers	Andy Swan, Aiyana Stephens, Megan Carleton, Forrest Leonard
Band	Simon Alpren, Sam Brown, Toby Bruce, Thomas Cripe, Phil Demaree, Charles Eliot

* Member Actors Equity Association

Dream Hou$e – Play – Washington Ensemble Theatre

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Dream Hou$e play by Eliana Pipes at 12th Ave Arts w/ Washington Ensemble Theatre starring Antonieta Carpio & Adriana Hillas. Commentary on gentrification, identity, & heritage in the frame of a reality TV game show. Loved Holly Vander Hyde’s TV host character! #Spanish #Latino #Hispanic

Synopsis from the Theatre: Set in a rapidly changing neighborhood, two sisters sign up for a reality tv show to sell their childhood home after the passing of the family matriarch. As Julia and Patricia perform for the camera, they confront their own desires, aspirations, and the sacrifices they are willing to make to achieve them. What is the cultural cost of progress in America? Is cashing in always selling out?

Attended Performance Date: 9/8/23 (Opening Night)

Type: Play

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Several

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Just a house

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: You should be familiar with reality TV and TV game shows

Defined Plot/Storyline: Mostly yes but there’s only so much that can occur in a house

Equity Actors: 0

Total Number of Actors: 6

Perceived Pace of the Show: Slow to medium

Length (Including Any Intermission): 1.75 hours

Intermission Included: No

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

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now: I’m not sure … *maybe* if it was produced by an Equity theatre

Recommendation: See it especially if you enjoy reality TV or TV game shows

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned in Elevator Thoughts

TV Host: Holly Vander Hyde’s TV host Tessa character was a delight to watch. There’s something alluring about a squeaky-clean personality on the outside despite what’s on the inside. When I heard/saw her TV anchor laugh at the beginning of the play, I knew I’d like this character.
Powerful Scenes:
- One of the last scenes when Tessa asked Patricia (played by Adriana Hillas) to sell various belongings
- One of the middle scenes when Patricia showed Julia (played by Antonieta Carpio) their mother’s feeding tube
Favorite Quotes:
- Something like “I want to be so rich that I can send my steak back to the chef”
- Something like “White people are the only people who say ‘latinX'”

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

Scenic Design: The set was more austere than what I’m used to seeing with Washington Ensemble Theatre.
Weird Factor: This play felt more mainstream than the typical edgy weirdness I associate with Washington Ensemble Theatre shows like Our Dear Dead Drug Lord, Arlington, or Tin Cat Shoes. Don’t get me wrong though … I actually prefer mainstream!
Sentimentality vs Pragmatism: I definitely identified more with Patricia’s pragmatism. I was a little annoyed with Julia’s sentimentality. Gurl, sell out and take the money!
Crew: I felt bad for the camera crew actors since they didn’t have any speaking parts.

Theatre Company: Washington Ensemble Theatre

Venue: 12th Avenue Arts

Venue Physical Address: 1620 12th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122

Price: Cheap

Dates: September 8 to 25, 2023

Seating: General Admission

Buy a Ticket or Learn More:

https://washingtonensemble.org/dream-house/

Other Video +/- Pictures: See pictures in video and under video by Marcia Davis.

Cast and Production Team: See after pictures and video below

@showsiveseen "Dream Hou$e" #play by Eliana Pipes at 12th Ave Arts w/ @Washington Ensemble Theatre starring Antonieta Carpio & Adriana Hillas. Directed by Suz Pontillo. Commentary on #gentrification, identity, & #heritage in the frame of a #realityTV #gameShow. Loved @Holly Vander Hyde's #TV host character! Review: showsiveseen.com/6602 #Spanish #Latino #Hispanic #theatre #showsiveseen ♬ Let's Play House – Beachcrimes & Tia Tia

Role	Name
Julia	Antonieta Carpio
Patricia	Adriana Hillas
Tessa	Holly Vander Hyde
Crew	Ayla Wallace
Crew	Cassidy Mitchell
Crew	William Johnson
Tessa Understudy	Emily Huntingford
Julia Understudy	Ariana Polanco
Patricia Understudy	Yolanda Suarez
—	—
Director	Suz Pontillo
Assistant Director	Rylie Latham
Playwright	Eliana Pipes
Stage Manager	Emily Doorenbos
Scenic Designer	Bella Rivera
Lighting & Projections Designer	Hannah Gibbs
Props Designer	Elana Lessing
Sound Designer	Andi Villegas
Costume Designer	Fantasia Rose
Choreographer	Zara Martina Lopez
Intimacy Coach	Jasmine Lomax
Stage Management Sub	Bella Marziello
Run Crew	Mischa Gregory
Production Manager	Ellie Hughes
Technical Director	Ryan Dunn
Shop Supervisor	Justin Duffiance
Resident Scenic Charge	Annie Duffiance
Master Electrician	Robert Mitchell
Mental Health Coach	Zoe Tsiotis Shields

Preview Post – Dream Hou$e – Play – Washington Ensemble Theatre

Dream Hou$e play by Washington Ensemble Theatre. Packed opening night at 12th Ave Arts. Performing until 9/25. Stay tuned for my full review!

Tickets: washingtonensemble.org/dream-house

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