Shows I've Seen | Theatre Reviews – Page 56 – Musicals, Plays, Concerts, Oh My! (and other Performing Arts)

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

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

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

Link(s):

https://centerstagetheatre.com/ghost-train/

Other Media:

@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

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

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

Link(s):

https://asiftheatre.com/the-foreigner/

Other Media:

@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

SHe Said – Musical – Broadway Performance Hall

Elevator Pitch/Thoughts/Tweet: “SHe Said” world premiere show by Jen Ayers at Broadway Performance Hall. Mashup between a concert & “one-ish” person musical. Reminiscent of a gentler “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” show. Very Seattle. Fascinating wife’s perspective as her husband transitions to a trans woman. Cool background videos. Packed audience! Lots of love & support. #transgender

Type: Musical/Concert

Recommendation: See it if you like “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” or one-person shows or Seattle music.

Rating (Out of 5 Stars): 4 stars

Other Rant(s)

Background vocal volume needs to be increased. I could tell there was good harmony but I could barely hear it.

Other Rave(s)

Pretty nifty how the program included the lyrics. Reminds me of compact disk case inserts from back in the day.

Venue: Broadway Performance Hall (Seattle Community College) – 1625 Broadway, Seattle, WA 98122

Price: $$ (Medium)

Dates: October 6 to October 9, 2022

Seating: General Admission

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

Link(s):

Other Media:

@showsiveseen “SHe Said” world premiere show by #JenAyers at Broadway Performance Hall. Mashup between a #concert & “one-ish” person #musical. Reminiscent of a gentler Hedwig show. Very #Seattle. Fascinating wife’s perspective as her husband transitions to a #trans ♬ Forever Love – Jen Ayers