The Last Days of Judas Iscariot – Play – Tacoma Arts Live

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): The Last Days of Judas Iscariot play w/ Tacoma Arts Live at Tacoma Armory. Novel perspectives on Christianity. Best line was “I am erect!” Stunningly-designed experience from the lobby to the theatre. Modern angular courtroom stage/set was made to catwalk. Appreciated the ample seat legroom. #court #trial #purgatory

Type: Play

Recommendation: See it if you have some Christian background or education … regardless of if you’re a Christian today.

Rating (Out of 5 Stars): 4 stars

Other Rant(s)

  • The duration was too long. Including intermission, I think it was more than 3 hours.
  • The chairs were uncomfortable. I heard several attendees sitting around me say this as well.
  • The unique acoustics of the Tacoma Armory made it difficult to understand the dialogue occasionally. Maybe modify the speaker placement. It didn’t help that some lights or speakers contained noisy fans.
  • Understanding the play requires some Christianity knowledge (bonus points if you have Catholic background). People who didn’t attend church growing up or who didn’t study religion will find it difficult to enjoy this play.
  • While I appreciate representation of “my people,” did they really need to make the ultimate villian of all time (Satan) flamboyant?

Other Rave(s)

  • I LOVED their makeover on the Tacoma Armory. They could definitely reuse the design (from the lobby to the stage) in a fashion show. It actually reminded me of a major Seattle fashion show I attended years ago.
  • What a huge varied interesting cast for a local show!

Theatre Company : Tacoma Arts Live

Venue: Tacoma Armory – 1001 S Yakima Ave, Tacoma, WA 98405

Price: $$ (Medium)

Dates: October 14 – 23, 2022

Seating: General Admission (Two Tiers) – Get the more expensive tier A (aka GA1)! I was in the lower tier seats and saw a lot of actors’ backs. If you’re in the higher tier, you’ll sit on the side of the catwalk which is closer to the actors where you’ll see less backs.

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Other Media: Photos in the video and under the video are by Jesse Gardner.

@showsiveseen "The Last Days of #Judas Iscariot" #play w/ #Tacoma Arts Live at Tacoma Armory. Novel perspectives on #Christianity. Best line was "I am erect!" Stunningly-designed experience from the lobby to the #theatre. Modern angular #courtroom stage/set was made to catwalk. Appreciated the ample seat legroom. #court #trial #purgatory ♬ Judas – R3HAB Remix – Lady Gaga

A Night with the Russells: The Legacy of Us – Concert – Taproot Theatre

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): A Night with the Russells show at Taproot Theatre by one of Seattle theatre scene’s most prominent performer families today. Variety concert w/ Christian, Jamaican, pop culture, & Broadway music hits. Thrilled that they included a song from Aida. #showtunes #musicals #family

Type: Concert

Recommendation: See it if you’re familiar with the Russells and their work in the Seattle theatre scene.

Rating (Out of 5 Stars): 4 stars

Other Rant(s)

  • Stick with the forehead microphones. The switching between handheld and forehead microphones was distracting. Plus, the handheld microphones sounded like karaoke.
  • I loved that Sarah Russell sang something from the Aida musical. But please choose a more accessible/catchy/recognizable song than “Easy as Life!” Maybe “Written in the Stars,” “The Gods Love Nubia,” or “Elaborate Lives.”

Theatre Company : Taproot Theatre

Venue: Taproot Theatre – 204 N 85th St, Seattle, WA 98103

Price: $$ (Medium)

Dates: Sep 21 – Oct 29, 2022

Seating: Assigned

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@showsiveseen “A Night w/ the #Russells: The Legacy of Us” show at @taproottheatre by one of Seattle #theatre scene’s most prominent performer families today. #Variety #concert w/ Christian, #Jamaican, pop culture, & #broadway music hits. Thrilled that they included a song from Aida. #showtunes #musicals #family ♬ We Are Family (1995 Remaster) – Sister Sledge
L to R: Faith Bennett Russell, Be Russell, and Sarah Russell in A Night with the Russells: The Legacy of Us at Taproot Theatre. Photo by Robert Wade.
Faith Bennett Russell in A Night with the Russells: The Legacy of Us at Taproot Theatre. Photo by Robert Wade.
L to R: Sarah Russell, Be Russell, and Faith Bennett Russell in A Night with the Russells: The Legacy of Us at Taproot Theatre. Photo by Robert Wade.
Be Russell in A Night with the Russells: The Legacy of Us at Taproot Theatre. Photo by Robert Wade. 

a white haunting – Play – MAP Theatre

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): a white haunting play w/ MAP Theatre at 18th & Union. A white axe-wielding psychopath interrupts an interracial date. High energy actors. Experimental theatre. Thought-provoking poignant commentary on race. Wondering what veiled symbolism I didn’t grasp. Like did the phallus mean anything? #horror #theatre

Type: Play

Recommendation: See it if you like experimental theatre, art symbolism, race commentary, plays with only one scene, and/or community theatre

Rating (Out of 5 Stars): 3.5 stars

Other Rant(s)

  • The jumpy neurotic/manic nature of the Asian character was A LOT. But kudos to the actor who was able to tap into that persona.
  • There was a bit too much randomness. It would have been fine if the randomness was actually symbolism … in that case, it went over my head.
  • Turn down the A/C! This is coming from someone who loves A/C’ed rooms and turns it on in the fall. Maybe I was sitting in the vent’s direct line of fire.

Other Rave(s)

  • Really good symbolism on racial themes. I’m so curious of what I gathered that was unintentional from the playwright and what went over my head.

Theatre Company : MAP Theatre

Venue: 18th and Union Arts Space – 1406 18th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122

Price: $ (Cheap)

Dates: October 7-22, 2022

Seating: General Admission

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@showsiveseen "a #white #haunting" #play w/ MAP #Theatre at @18thandunion. A white axe-wielding psychopath interrupts an #interracial #date. High energy actors. #Experimental #theatre. Poignant thought-provoking commentary on #race. Wondering what veiled #symbolism I didn't grasp. Like did the phallus mean anything? #horror ♬ The Monster (Made Popular By Eminem ft. Rihanna) [Vocal Version] – Party Tyme Karaoke
Photographer Marcia Davis (General Mayhem Creative). Actors Rhys Daly and Patrick Tolden.
Photographer Marcia Davis (General Mayhem Creative). Actors Rhys Daly and Patrick Tolden.
Photographer Marcia Davis (General Mayhem Creative). Actors Rhys Daly and Brandon Ryan.

Ghost Train – Play – Centerstage Theatre

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Ghost Train play at Centerstage Theatre. Great scary show for Halloween. So much chilling anticipation. Wished the dreadful crabby ole spinster had more lines. Unexpected ending reminiscent of Scooby Doo. #spooky #theatre

Type: Play

Recommendation: See it if you like scary theatre with limited number of scenes.

Rating (Out of 5 Stars): 4 stars

Theatre Company : Centerstage Theatre

Venue: Dumas Bay Centre – 3200 SW Dash Point Rd, Federal Way, WA 98023

Price: $$ (Medium)

Dates: October 7-30, 2022

Seating: Assigned Seating

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@showsiveseen "#Ghost #Train" #play at Centerstage #Theatre. Great #scary show for Halloween. So much #chilling anticipation. Wished the dreadful crabby ole spinster had more lines. Unexpected ending reminiscent of #ScoobyDoo. #spooky ♬ Ghosts – Alexis Lynn
Photographer Michelle Smith-Lewis
Photographer Michelle Smith-Lewis
Photographer Michelle Smith-Lewis
Photographer Michelle Smith-Lewis

The Foreigner – Play – As If Theatre Company

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): “The Foreigner” play w/ As If Theatre Company at Kenmore Community Club. Intriguing accents. The backwoods American caricatures made me thankful I left the South. But the cute innocent simpleton & the Southern old woman were so endearing. #reinvention #theatre

Type: Play

Recommendation: See it if you like community theatre.

Rating (Out of 5 Stars): 4.25 stars

Other Rant(s)

  • What a strange second half of the second act!

Other Thought(s)

  • Pretty uncomfortably shocking decision to wear KKK costumes on the stage but I guess it was integral to the conflict resolution. Similar to how the “Sound of Music” displays the Nazi flag.

Theatre Company : As-if Theatre Company

Venue: Kenmore Community Club – 7304 NE 175th St, Kenmore, WA 98028

Price: $ (Cheap)

Dates: October 6-23, 2022

Seating: General Admission

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@showsiveseen “The #Foreigner#play w/ #AsIf #Theatre Company at #Kenmore Community Club. The #backwoods American caricatures made me thankful I left the #South. But the cute innocent simpleton & the #Southern old woman were so endearing. Intriguing accents! #reinvention ♬ Country Roads / Dixieland Delight (Ao Vivo) – André e Luiz Otávio