Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Potted Potter show w/ Seattle Theatre Group at Moore Theatre. Left the muggle world for a spell to see a British slapstick comedy retelling of all 7 Harry Potter books. Energetic actors & lots of pop culture references. Slytherin house FTW! #silly #corny
Synopsis from the Theatre: Playing to sold out houses all over the world, the Olivier Award nominated Potted Potter – The Unauthorized Harry Experience – A Parody by Dan and Jeff takes on the ultimate challenge of condensing all seven Harry Potter books into seventy hilarious minutes. Even if you don’t know the difference between a horcrux and a Hufflepuff, Potted Potter will make you roar with laughter. Created by two-time Olivier Award-nominated actors Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner, Potted Potter is perfect for ages six to Dumbledore (who is very old indeed).
Reviewed Performance: 12/28/22 Opening Night – The real opener 12/27/22 was delayed because of the weather.
Type: Play-ish Comedy Show
World Premiere: No
Awards: Nominated for an Olivier Award
Recommendation: See it if you’re into Harry Potter and British slapstick comedy
Was This the First Time I Saw a Production of this Show: Yes
Length: 70 mins
Intermission: No
Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned in Elevator Thoughts
Energy: Brendan Murphy was the jester half of the duo. He played opposite Scott Hoatson, who portrayed the sensible Harry Potter. Kudos to Brendan for maintaining his child-like energy throughout the show while portraying around 25 characters.
Pop Culture: I was surprised with how many pop culture references they included like when Brendan picked up a copy of 50 Shades of Grey instead of Harry Potter. Fun fact, Christian Grey’s condo in 50 Shades of Grey was at the Escala building, which is two blocks away from the Moore Theatre where this show is performing.
Favorite Lines:
Something like “Dumbledore was the greatest wizard who ever lived … so he went into teaching?”
When mentioning that that the original British title was Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone while the American release was re-titled Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, one of the actors said in a stereotypical uneducated American hick accent, “I’m an American and I don’t know what a philosopher is.”
Rant(s)
Video: As usual, I’m not a fan when live theatre includes a segment for the audience to watch a video. I’m here for live theatre, not something I can watch on YouTube! Fortunately, the segment was not that long.
Theatre Company: National Tour (in conjunction with Seattle Theatre Group)
Venue: Moore Theatre
Venue Physical Address: 1932 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
Price: Medium to Expensive
Dates: Only December 28, 2022 to January 1, 2023 – This is a limited Seattle run so buy your ticket today if you want to see this show. The good news there are 2-4 performances on each of the remaining days. Whew!
Seating: Assigned Seating
Parking: I usually walk or transit here. Street parking is typically difficult around here. There’s obviously paid garage parking since this venue is in downtown. I think the cheapest garage lot is the old Bed Bath and Beyond garage (1930 3rd Ave, Seattle, WA 98101) or the car rental garage (255 Stewart Street, Seattle, WA, 98101). Again, this is 3rd Ave area and it often feels dodgy on certain blocks. Stay safe!
Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Moulin Rouge! The Musical w/ Broadway at The Paramount & Seattle Theatre Group. Ostentatious dazzling scenic design. Fabulous costumes. Endless catchy modern pop culture song mashups not in the movie. Dances set to exciting heart-pounding beats. Truth, beauty, freedom, love! #bohemia #extravaganza #theatre #jukebox
Synopsis from the Theatre: Enter a world of splendor and romance, of eye-popping excess, of glitz, grandeur, and glory! A world where Bohemians and aristocrats rub elbows and revel in electrifying enchantment. Welcome to Moulin Rouge! The Musical! Baz Luhrmann’s revolutionary film comes to life onstage, remixed in a new musical mash-up extravaganza. Directed by Tony Award® winner Alex Timbers, Moulin Rouge! The Musical is a theatrical celebration of Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and — above all — Love. With a book by Tony Award® winner John Logan; music supervision, orchestrations, and arrangements by Tony Award® winner Justin Levine; and choreography by Tony Award® winner Sonya Tayeh, Moulin Rouge! is more than a musical — it is a state of mind.
Reviewed Performance: 12/16 Opening Press Night – There were major call outs that required the understudies. Denzel Tsopnang portrayed the Duke, which was usually David Harris. Andrew Brewer portrayed Christian, which was usually Conor Ryan. And Adéa Michelle Sessoms portrayed La Chocolat, which was usually Harper Miles.
Type: Musical
World Premiere: No
Live Band/Orchestra: Yes
Recommendation: See it whether or not you watched the movie. I’m still in awe at how breathtaking and entertaining the show was.
Was This the First Time I Saw a Production of this Show: Yes but I’ve seen the movie
Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now: Yes!
Rating Compared to Other Shows with the Same Production Value: 5 Stars (Out of 5 Stars)
Equity Actors: The program doesn’t mention this but I assume all of them are Equity.
Length: 2.5 hours
Intermission: Yes
Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned in Elevator Thoughts
Song Mashups: I’m simply amazed at the number of pop culture songs they fit into this jukebox musical. They must pay through the nose in royalties! The original classic songs in the movie (like “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend”) were outnumbered by reimagined mashups of more modern songs written after the film was released. There were times I couldn’t determine if the heavy thump in my chest was from the orchestra’s strong driving beat or my excitement from hearing songs like Britney Spears’s “Toxic” and Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance.” The chorus in Katy Perry’s “Firework” was also particularly spectacular. A couple other favorites include Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep,” Regina Spektor’s “Fidelity,” Natalie Imbruglia’s “Torn,” & Sia’s “Chandelier.”
Scenic Designs: Gorgeous, stunning, gaudy, and glamorous! There were lots of diamonds, hearts, and saturated colors everywhere. At times, it felt like Valentines Day and Lisa Frank exploded on stage … in a good way! The sets of the Parisian scenes outside the Moulin Rouge establishment were starkly opposite and it definitely shows the range of talent from the scenic designers.
Male Lead Understudy: Andrew Brewer, the understudy for Christian, had such a nice voice.
Opening Scene: The performers effectively hooked the audience early on with the glitz and glamour of the Moulin Rouge establishment. This is in contrast to other musicals like Wicked and The Wiz that honestly start out a little boring.
Absinthe: Novel green-lit props showed absinthe’s eerie properties and the amount the characters consumed.
Breakup Scene: Maybe it’s the “Mean Girl” in me but the way Satine (Courtney Reed) cut Christian at the knees for his safety was particularly delicious.
Costumes: They were extravagant, interesting, and intricate. Two favorites were the tuxedo tutu dresses and the headpiece that looked like fallopian tubes.
Favorite Lines: A couple include “Gaga ooo la la? Hmmm … we might want to rethink that” and “I want to make desperate love to each and every one of you.” The double entendre scene where Satine was talking about sex while Christian was talking about singing was also particularly funny. When Baby Doll replied, “Tell me about it” to Satine saying, “This corset hurts like hell, I’m all tied down,” were they making a drag queen joke about tucking? Let me know in my social media links below!
Rant(s)
Trumpets: The actors playing the trumpets should make it look more realistic.
“Shut Up and Dance” Song: I was pleasantly surprised to hear them include this Walk the Moon song in the Moulin Rouge! The Musical repertoire since it’s often played in my car playlist. But I was a little disappointed with the weak execution. I think it’s an inherant problem with the composition since the original Broadway cast recording of this song sounds weak too.
Other Thought(s)
Tuberculosis: As a healthcare professional especially in the COVID era, I couldn’t stop thinking about how Satine was just spreading her consumption to all her friends. Mask up gurl!
Sword Trick: What stage magic allowed the actors to swallow swords in the beginning? Leave a comment in my social media links below if you have any ideas!
Theatre Company: Broadway Across America Tour and Seattle Theatre Group
Venue: Paramount Theatre
Venue Physical Address: 911 Pine St, Seattle, WA 98101
Price: Expensive
Dates: Dec 14, 2022 – Jan 1, 2023
Seating: Assigned Seating
Parking: Paid street parking and paid garage parking. The best parking garage is under the convention center w/ the entrance on Pike around the Pike and Terry intersection. Last I checked, this is one of the cheapest, least busy, and closest garages. Alternatively, you can probably find street parking as you get closer to the West Precinct (810 Virginia St, Seattle, WA 98101). Do NOT park where the Paramount subscribers park. Last I checked, the usually park in the garage attached to the Cheesecake Factory. It’ll take you at least 30 minutes to exit that garage after the show.
Courtney Reed and Conor Ryan in the North American Tour of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMadeThe cast of the North American Tour of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMadeThe cast of the North American Tour of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMadeCourtney Reed and David Harris in the North American Tour of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMadeCourtney Reed and Conor Ryan in the North American Tour of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMadeThe cast of the North American Tour of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMadeAustin Durant and the cast of the North American Tour of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMadeConor Ryan in the North American Tour of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMadeCourtney Reed in the North American Tour of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMadeConor Ryan as Christian and Courtney Reed as Satine in the North American Tour of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMadeThe cast of the North American Tour of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMadeHarper Miles, Libby Lloyd, Nicci Claspell and Andres Quintero in the North American Tour of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMadeThe cast of the North American Tour of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMadeThe cast of the North American Tour of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMadeGabe MartÍnez as Santiago and Libby Lloyd as Nini in the North American Tour of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMadeThe cast of the North American Tour of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMadeConor Ryan as Christian, Gabe MartÍnez as Santiago, André Ward as Toulouse-Lautrec and Austin Durant as Harold Zidler in the North American Tour of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMadeDavid Harris as The Duke of Monroth in the North American Tour of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMadeAdéa Michelle Sessoms and Jennifer Wolfe in the North American Tour of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMadeCourtney Reed as Satine in the North American Tour of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMadeConor Ryan as Christian and Courtney Reed as Satine in the North American Tour of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade
Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Blue Man Group w/ Seattle Theatre Group at the Paramount Theatre. Mime-like wordless skits w/ catchy percussion & a spectacular visual feast. Similar to Cirque du Soleil w/o the acrobatics. Lots of audience participation. The alien-like blue man even walked through my leg room space to drag a “lucky” audience member on-stage! #drums #blueMan #blueManGroup
Synopsis from the Theatre: More than 35 million people around the world have experienced the smash hit phenomenon that is BLUE MAN GROUP and now it’s your turn! BLUE MAN GROUP returns to Seattle for a limited engagement on their new North American tour. It’s everything you know and love about BLUE MAN GROUP—signature drumming, colorful moments of creativity and quirky comedy—the men are still blue but the rest is all new! Featuring pulsing, original music, custom-made instruments, surprise audience interaction and hilarious absurdity, join the Blue Men in a joyful experience that unites audiences of all ages.
Reviewed Performance: 11/25 Evening – Opening Night
Type: Performance Art Show
World Premiere: No
Live Band/Orchestra: Yes
Recommendation: See it especially if you like percussion, visual special effects, performance art, or audience members dragged on stage. This show is also kid friendly. Throughout the performance, I could hear kids calling out things like “Pick me!”
Rating Compared to Other Shows with the Same Production Value: 4.75 Stars (Out of 5 Stars)
Equity Actors: The program didn’t specify any Equity information. Maybe they didn’t mention this because the show wasn’t a play or musical. However, the show’s caliber felt just like other touring Equity musical productions that perform at the Paramount Theatre.
Length: 75 minutes
Intermission: No
Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned in Elevator Thoughts
Instruments: They designed several unique looking/sounding instruments. My favorites were the adjustable-pitch PVC pipe drum and the giant dulcimer-looking xylophonic percussion instrument.
Gumball Trick: I was impressed how one of the blue men caught several gumballs in his mouth. I’m still wondering what stage magic allowed him to fit them all in there.
Rant(s)
VR Skit: There was a section where the Blue Men captured a live video feed around the stage and audience. Later, they took the camera offstage and performed a skit involving virtual reality headsets. I’m assuming the offstage portion was pre-recorded. I’m usually not impressed when live shows display pre-recorded video as a segment of the show. I attended to see a live performance, not something I could find on YouTube. If you think this segment was actually performed live offstage, please leave me a comment in my social media to explain.
Other Thought(s)
Gender Spin: With gender issues on the forefront of the theatre scene (and the political stage), it’s time for a “Blue Woman Group.” Or maybe switch out one of the three men with one woman. Or instead of women, maybe recruit transgender performers. Shake it up a bit!
Audience Plants : Throughout the first half of the show, I assumed the audience members they involved in the show were audience plants. However, the reactions from someone who was dragged on-stage and their friends in my row made me think otherwise. I wonder how they plan for volatile audience members called on-stage who could derail the show’s planned narrative. Like what’s the contingency plan if someone says pro-Nazi rhetoric in the microphone during the telephone skit?
Earplugs and Ponchos: Before the performance, the theatre handed out free earplugs to everybody and ponchos to those on the front couple of rows, which worried me of what was to come. Fortunately, I never needed the earplugs, and it didn’t look like the Blue Men splashed the front row.
Blue Skin Magic: Since one of the blue men was literally in my personal leg room space to drag someone else on stage, I saw his “skin” up close. It made me wonder what stage magic made his skin blue. I’m pretty sure they wear blue gloves instead of painting their hands. Since he had no ears, I’m assuming part of his blue skin was not painted human skin but maybe some painted latex-like covering. However, I couldn’t determine where the latex-like covering and the human skin would have bordered. I was even more puzzled when I saw a shiny sweat-like sheen on him, which could mean there was no latex-like covering! Leave a comment in my social media posts below if you have any ideas what stage magic is involved.
Theatre Company : National Tour brought by Seattle Theatre Group and Broadway Across America
Venue: Paramount Theatre
Venue Physical Address: 911 Pine St, Seattle, WA 98101
Price: Medium to Expensive
Dates: November 25 – 27, 2022
Seating: Assigned
Parking: Paid street parking and paid garage parking. The best parking garage is under the convention center w/ the entrance on Pike around the Pike and Terry intersection. Last I checked, this is one of the cheapest, least busy, and closest garages. Alternatively, you can probably find street parking as you get closer to the West Precinct (810 Virginia St, Seattle, WA 98101).
Blue Man Group Paint Drumming, Photo by Lindsey BestBlue Man New Tour, photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMadeBlue Man New Tour, photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMadeBlue Man Group Portrait, Photo by Lindsey BestBlue Man New Tour, photo by Joan MarcusBlue Man New Tour, photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMadeBlue Man Group Toss and Catch, Courtesy of Blue Man ProductionsBlue Man New Tour, photo by Joan MarcusBlue Man New Tour, photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMadeBlue Man Group New Tour, photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMadeBlue Man New Tour, photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMadeBlue Man New Tour, photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMadeBlue Man Group New Tour, photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMadeBlue Man Group New Tour, photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMadeBlue Man New Tour, photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade
Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Alanis Morissette’s jagged little pill jukebox musical at the Paramount Theatre w/ Seattle Theatre Group. Love good implosions in the perfect suburbs. Wish there was a way to explore the addiction storyline more without diminishing the #meToo one. Costumes were deliciously 90s alternative grungy Seattle.
Synopsis from the Theatre: Joy, rage, love, heartache, strength, wisdom, catharsis, LIFE: everything we’ve been waiting to see on a Broadway stage is back, in this exhilarating, fearless new musical based on Alanis Morissette’s world-changing music. Nominated for 15 Tony Awards® (the most of any show), and a recent Grammy® winner for Best Musical Theater Album, this electrifying production about a perfectly imperfect American family “vaults the audience to its collective feet” (The Guardian). You live, you learn, you remember what it’s like to feel truly human… at JAGGED LITTLE PILL.
Reviewed Performance Date: 11/9/22 Evening. Sorry, I would have prioritized this review sooner if the theatre company gave me a press ticket.
Type: Musical
World Premiere: No
Live Band: Yes
Recommendation: See it whether or not you’re a fan of Alanis Morissette! I actually only remotely knew 3 songs in the musical.
Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now?: Yes!
Rating (Out of 5 Stars): 4.5 stars
Equity Actors: All of them!
Length: 2 hours and 40 minutes
Intermission?: Yes
Other Rave(s)
Enjoyed the witty quips from the lesbian girlfriend (Jo). My favorite line in the whole show was “She’s [your mother is] one salad away from a psychotic break.”
Loved how the cast performed “Smiling” while depicting MJ’s day in reverse. It reminded me of when the Hamilton cast performed “Satisfied.”
Lauren Chanel’s voice was so beautiful!
#meToo picket sign slogans were cleaver. Two of my favorites were “Don’t tell me how to dress, tell them not to rape!” and “Don’t Get Raped!”
The ensemble’s alternative grungy costumes contrasted well with the perfect Stepford suburbia costumes.
Thrilled that they included my profession (pharmacy)!
Other Thought(s)
This show so woke. Liberal Seattle surely ate it it up. I hope they paid attention to the racial commentary though.
Theatre Company : National Tour Coordinated by Seattle Theatre Group
Venue: Paramount Theatre
Venue Physical Address: 911 Pine St, Seattle, WA 98101
Price: Expensive
Dates: November 8 – 13, 2022
Seating: Assigned Seating
Parking: Paid street parking and paid garage parking. The best parking garage is under the convention center w/ the entrance on Pike around the Pike and Terry intersection. Last I checked, this is one of the cheapest, least busy, and closest garages. Alternatively, you can probably find street parking as you get closer to the West Precinct (810 Virginia St, Seattle, WA 98101).
Lee H. Alexander Delaney Brown Jada Simone Clark Lani Corson Jason Goldston Rishi Golani Zach Hess Cydney Kutcipal Jordan Leigh Mccaskill Alana Pollard Daniel Thimm Kei Tsuruharatani Jena Vanelslander
Mary Jane Healy
Heidi Blickenstaff
Steve Healy
Chris Hoch
Nick Healy
Dillon Klena
Frankie Healy
Lauren Chanel
Jo
Jade Mcleod
Bella
Allison Sheppard
Andrew
Jason Goldston
Sean Doherty for this performance
Phoenix
Rishi Golani
Pharmacist/Therapist
Jordan Leigh Mccaskill
Maya J. Christian for this performance
Barista
Jada Simone Clark
Jill/Teacher
Lani Corson
Denise
Delaney Brown
Courtney
Jena Vanelslander
Drug Dealer
Daniel Thimm
Doctor
Lee H. Alexander
Swings
Maya J. Christian Claire Crause Sean Doherty Charles P. Way
Dance Captain
Claire Crause
Assistant Dance Captain
Charles P. Way
—
—
Conductor/Keyboard
Matt Doebler
Guitar 1
Will Yanez
Guitar 2
David Manning
Bass
Jennifer Giammanco
Drums And Percussion
Lucy Ritter
Concertmaster/Violin
Dwayne Beach
Viola
Carolina Diaz Chan
Cello
Calvin Chan
Assistant Conductor
David Manning
Music Coordinator
Michael Aarons
Music Preparation
Emily Grishman
Keyboard Programmer
Randy Cohen
—
—
Lyrics
Alanis Morissette
Music
Alanis Morissette Glen Ballard Michael Farrell Guy Sigsworth
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.
Melanie Moore (“Scout Finch”) and The Company of To Kill a Mockingbird. Photo by Julieta CervantesAnthony Natale (“Link Deas”), Melanie Moore (“Scout Finch”), Steven Lee Johnson (“Dill Harris”) and Justin Mark (“Jem Finch”). Photo by Julieta CervantesMelanie Moore (“Scout Finch”) and Jacqueline Williams (“Calpurnia”). Photo by Julieta CervantesYaegel T. Welch (“Tom Robinson”), Stephen Elrod, Jacqueline Williams (“Calpurnia”) and Richard Thomas (“Atticus Finch”). Photo by Julieta CervantesJustin Mark (“Jem Finch”), Richard Thomas (“Atticus Finch”), Melanie Moore (“Scout Finch”) and Steven Lee Johnson (“Dill Harris”). Photo by Julieta CervantesJacqueline Williams (“Calpurnia”). Photo by Julieta CervantesMelanie Moore (“Scout Finch”) and Richard Thomas (“Atticus Finch”). Photo by Julieta CervantesArianna 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 CervantesTravis Johns (“Boo Radley”), Melanie Moore (“Scout Finch”), Steven Lee Johnson (“Dill Harris”) and Justin Mark (“Jem Finch”). Photo by Julieta CervantesJacqueline Williams (“Calpurnia”). Photo by Julieta CervantesRichard Thomas (“Atticus Finch”), Yaegel T. Welch (“Tom Robinson”) and The Company of To Kill a Mockingbird. Photo by Julieta CervantesMelanie Moore (“Scout Finch”). Photo by Julieta CervantesMary Badham (“Mrs. Henry Dubose”). Photo by Julieta Cervantes
