Theaters, Performance Spaces, and Production Companies – Page 58 – Shows I've Seen

To Kill a Mockingbird – Play – Paramount Theatre

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): To Kill a Mockingbird on Broadway play at Paramount Theatre & Seattle Theatre Group. Delightful accents. Loved the 3 precocious young narrators esp Dill. Powerful commentary on racism especially when naive Atticus broke the 4th wall. Reminds me that there are far worse areas than woke PNW.

Type: Play

Recommendation: See it!

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now?: Yes if it was done professionally again.

Rating (Out of 5 Stars): 4.5 stars

Other Thought(s) – Full disclosure, I didn’t read the book. Gasp!

Who was the killer? Did the author leave it open-ended on purpose or did I just miss that detail?
Who was the crazy guy? They needed to give him or or his background more airtime for those who didn’t read the book.

Theatre Company : Seattle Theatre Group and Broadway at the Parmount

Venue: Paramount Theatre – 911 Pine St, Seattle, WA 98101

Price: $$$$ (Expensive)

Dates: October 11 – 16, 2022

Seating: Assigned Seating

Parking: Street or Garage. I like the old convention center garage w/ the entrance on Pike and 9th.

Social Media Posts: Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

Link(s):

Other Media: Clips of performance in the video are provided by the touring company and Seattle Theatre Group.

@showsiveseen "To Kill a Mockingbird" #play at Paramount Theatre & Seattle #Theatre Group. Delightful accents. Loved the 3 precocious young narrators esp Dill. #Powerful commentary on #racism especially when naive #Atticus broke the 4th wall. Reminds me that there are far worse areas than woke PNW. #South #mockingbird ♬ original sound – Shows I've Seen

Melanie Moore (“Scout Finch”) and The Company of *To Kill a Mockingbird*. Photo by Julieta Cervantes

Anthony Natale (“Link Deas”), Melanie Moore (“Scout Finch”), Steven Lee Johnson (“Dill Harris”) and Justin Mark (“Jem Finch”). Photo by Julieta Cervantes

Melanie Moore (“Scout Finch”) and Jacqueline Williams (“Calpurnia”). Photo by Julieta Cervantes

Yaegel T. Welch (“Tom Robinson”), Stephen Elrod, Jacqueline Williams (“Calpurnia”) and Richard Thomas (“Atticus Finch”). Photo by Julieta Cervantes

Justin Mark (“Jem Finch”), Richard Thomas (“Atticus Finch”), Melanie Moore (“Scout Finch”) and Steven Lee Johnson (“Dill Harris”). Photo by Julieta Cervantes

Jacqueline Williams (“Calpurnia”). Photo by Julieta Cervantes

Melanie Moore (“Scout Finch”) and Richard Thomas (“Atticus Finch”). Photo by Julieta Cervantes

Arianna Gayle Stucki (“Mayella Ewell”), Richard Thomas (“Atticus Finch”), Stephen Elrod (“Bailiff”), Richard Poe (“Judge Taylor”), Greg Wood (“Mr. Roscoe”) and Joey Collins (“Bob Ewell”). Photo by Julieta Cervantes

Travis Johns (“Boo Radley”), Melanie Moore (“Scout Finch”), Steven Lee Johnson (“Dill Harris”) and Justin Mark (“Jem Finch”). Photo by Julieta Cervantes

Jacqueline Williams (“Calpurnia”). Photo by Julieta Cervantes

Richard Thomas (“Atticus Finch”), Yaegel T. Welch (“Tom Robinson”) and The Company of To Kill a Mockingbird. Photo by Julieta Cervantes

Melanie Moore (“Scout Finch”). Photo by Julieta Cervantes

Mary Badham (“Mrs. Henry Dubose”). Photo by Julieta Cervantes

Clue: On Stage – Play – The Phoenix Theatre

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Clue: On Stage comedy murder mystery play at The Phoenix Theatre. Based on the boardgame & film. Fast-paced energetic rhythm. Complex set impressively built on a tiny stage. Butler, call girl, & colonel were a delight. Packed audience. Playbill was a nice touch. #blackmail #slapstick #whodunit

Type: Play

Recommendation: See it if you like wacky whodunit plays

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now?: Yes if it was done professionally.

Rating (Out of 5 Stars): 4 stars

Theatre Company : The Phoenix Theatre

Venue: The Phoenix Theatre – 9673 Firdale Ave, Edmonds, WA 98020

Price: $ (Cheap)

Dates: October 7 – 30, 2022

Seating: Assigned Seating

Social Media Posts: Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

Link(s):

https://www.tptedmonds.org/

Other Media:

@showsiveseen "#Clue: On Stage" #comedy #murder #mystery #play at the Phoenix #Theatre. Based on the #boardgame & film. Fast-paced energetic rhythm. Complex set impressively built on a tiny stage. Butler, call girl, & colonel were a delight. Packed audience. Playbill was a nice touch. #blackmail #slapstick #whodunit ♬ Get A Clue – Album Version – Simon and Milo

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.

Social Media Posts: Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

Link(s):

https://www.tacomaartslive.org/eventscrawl/eventdetail/2009/8%7C9/the-last-days-of-judas-iscariot

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

Social Media Posts: Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

Link(s):

https://www.taproottheatre.org/shows/2022/a-night-with-the-russells/

Other Media:

@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

Social Media Posts: Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

Link(s):

Other Media:

@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