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

Preview Post – The Skin of Our Teeth – Play – Seattle Rep

Happy opening night (last night) to Seattle Rep’s public works production of The Skin of Our Teeth play by Thornton Wilder. Performing till 10/20/24. Stay tuned for my full review! #civilization #humans

Tickets: https://www.seattlerep.org/plays/202425-season/the-skin-of-our-teeth/

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Funny Girl – Musical – Review – Paramount Theatre

@showsiveseen "Funny Girl" classic #musical from Broadway Seattle & @Seattle Theatre Group at Paramount Theatre. Starring @Hannah Shankman w/ her effortlessly powerful steady voice. Mister Arnstein understudied by Travis Ward-Osborne. What a spectacle of costumes, (tap) dance, & showstoppers! Closes tomorrow w/ only 4 more performances left! Review: showsiveseen.com/9850 Director: Michael Mayer Choreography: @✨Ellenore Scott✨ & @Ayodele Casel Conductor: Elaine Davidson Stage Manager: Jovon E. Shuck & Kyle Dannahey #funnyGirl #theatre #showsiveseen @FUNNY GIRL ♬ Don't Rain on My Parade (Glee Cast Version) – Glee Cast

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Funny Girl classic musical from Broadway Seattle and Seattle Theatre Group at Paramount Theatre. Starring Hannah Shankman with her effortlessly powerful steady voice. Mister Arnstein understudied by Travis Ward-Osborne. What a spectacle of costumes, (tap) dance, and showstoppers!

Recommendation:
See it!

My Synopsis (No Spoilers): An average-looking funny girl tries to make it in show biz and win the affections of a rich man. This story is based on the real-life Fanny Brice.

Synopsis from the Licensor or Theatre Company: Featuring one of the most iconic scores of all time by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill, an updated book from Harvey Fierstein based on the original classic by Isobel Lennart, tap choreography by Ayodele Casel, choreography by Ellenore Scott, and direction from Michael Mayer, this love letter to the theatre has the whole shebang! The sensational Broadway revival dazzles with celebrated classic songs, including “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” “I’m the Greatest Star,” and “People.” This bittersweet comedy is the story of the indomitable Fanny Brice, a girl from the Lower East Side who dreamed of a life on the stage. Everyone told her she’d never be a star, but then something funny happened—she became one of the most beloved performers in history, shining brighter than the brightest lights of Broadway.

Attended Performance Date: Opening Night 9/24/24 – Get your tickets now since this national tour leaves Seattle 9/29/24!

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, but you might appreciate the jokes more if you’re Jewish American.

Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes

Live Band/Orchestra: Yes

Equity Actors: All

Total Number of Actors: Too many to count

Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium speed

Was there an intermission? Yes

Length (Including Any Intermission): 2.5 hours

Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? No, I attended a community theatre production at the San Pedro Playhouse in San Antonio.

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? I think so

Mainstream Appeal: High

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned Above

Vocals: Hannah Shankman’s (who played the main character Fanny Brice) voice was an effortlessly steady powerhouse (if not a tad too nasal). I would love to hear her sing jazz standards. She really shined in “Cornet Man,” “Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat,” “I’m the Greatest Star,” and “The Music That Makes Me Dance.”
Showstopping (or “Show-pausing?”) Applause: There were several extended ovations throughout the show when the actors paused longer than normal till the crowd finished clapping like after “I’m the Greatest Star,” “The Music That Makes Me Dance,” and Eddie’s tap dance solo.
Stage Bulbs: The light bulbs surrounding the stage opening conveyed an old timey showbiz vibe that perfectly complemented the story’s subject matter.
Costumes: Costume designer Susan Hilferty curated an expansive, diverse, and visually captivating repertoire. Additionally, it was a wise artistic decision to showcase the costumes from each major song at the show bookends.

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

Casting: The Fanny Brice main character role is best suited for an actress who is more homely or at least awkward. Hannah Shankman fit neither of those requirements since she was prettier than average, and she portrayed her role with confidence like the quirky Zooey Deschanel. The character would have been more convincing if Hannah roughed up her face or sold the awkwardness to the audience more. She redeemed herself a bit during the standing ovations when she humbly accepted the audience’s applause.
“His Love Makes Me Beautiful” Song: Fanny’s extreme reluctance to perform this song was incredibly puzzling. She’d have to look like a disfigured dog to merit the extraordinary efforts taken to avoid performing the song. The assholes who sang “If a Girl Isn’t Pretty” gave her this complex!
Gender Commentary: The script is a wonderful commentary on binary gender roles. Society internalizes obsession with women’s appearances while men aren’t examined with the same scrutiny. (Even my previous two bullet points were about a woman’s appearance!) It was refreshing to see moments of Fanny’s resilience and positivity despite society’s expectations pulling her down. While the show ended on an empowering feminist note, the misogynistic pathway to get there was sometimes painful to watch. The first verse to “You Are Woman, I Am Man” embodied this pathway encouraging women to make themselves smaller so their insecure partners can feel like big men. Fanny was a strong independent woman who don’t need no man!

Theatre Company: National Tour from Broadway Across America and Seattle Theatre Group

Venue: Paramount Theatre

Venue Physical Address: 911 Pine St, Seattle, WA 98101

Price Range: $40-150 plus the insane Ticketmaster fees. Buy your ticket at the box office to avoid the exorbitant fees. Down with the Ticketmaster Live Nation monopoly!

Ticket Affordability Options: Seattle Theatre Group might partner with an organization you’re affiliated with for discount tickets. For example, I believe UW employees/students are eligible for an organization discount.

Dates: September 24 to 29, 2024

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 move closer to the West Precinct (810 Virginia St, Seattle, WA 98101). Do NOT park where the Paramount subscribers park. Last I checked, they 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.

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Pictures: See pictures below by Matthew Murphy from MurphyMade.

Cast and Production Team: See after pictures below. In the 9/24/24 performance, Travis Ward-Osborne played the Nick Arnstein character, Vinny Andaloro played the Mr. Renaldi character, Emily Anne Nester played Alex Hartman’s track, and Sean Seamus Thompson played Mathew Fedorek’s track.

First national touring company of *Funny Girl*. Photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade.

Hannah Shankman and Izaiah Montaque Harris in the first national tour of *Funny Girl*. Photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade.

Hannah Shankman and Stephen Mark Lukas in the first national tour of *Funny Girl*. Photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade.

Melissa Manchester and Izaiah Montaque Harris in the first national tour of *Funny Girl*. Photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade.

Jackson Grove, Hannah Shankman, and Jack Bianch in the first national tour of *Funny Girl*. Photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade.

Melissa Manchester and Hannah Shankman in the national tour of *Funny Girl*. Photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade.

Preview Post – My Lord, What a Night – Play – Taproot Theatre

Happy opening night to Taproot Theatre’s My Lord, What a Night play production. Performing till 10/19. Stay tuned for my full review! #AlbertEinstein #Einstein #MarianAnderson #civilRights #racism

Tickets: https://taproottheatre.org/shows/2024/my-lord-what-a-night/

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Guards at the Taj – Play – Review – ArtsWest & Pratidhwani

@showsiveseen Rajiv Joseph's "Guards at the Taj" #play at ArtsWest w/ Pratidhwani. Starring @Kainkain & Sumant Gupta. Live music from Sampada Bhalerao (#sitar) & Jayant Bhopatkar (#tabla). Good horrifying brutal dilemmas. Review: showsiveseen.com/9807 Director: Samip Raval #showsiveseen #theatre #india #indian #TajMahal #southAsian #southAsia ♬ Taaza Hawa Lete Hain – Altaf Raja

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Rajiv Joseph’s Guards at the Taj play at ArtsWest w/ Pratidhwani. Starring Varun Kainth & Sumant Gupta. Live music from Sampada Bhalerao (sitar) & Jayant Bhopatkar (tabla). Good horrifying brutal dilemmas. #india #indian #TajMahal #southAsian #southAsia

Recommendation:
See it if you’re okay with 2-person shows with mostly dialogue.

My Synopsis (No Spoilers): Two guards at the Taj Mahal grapple with enforcing the barbaric oppressive edicts of their authoritarian autocratic regime. In the end, they face the ultimate dilemma.

Synopsis from the Licensor or Theatre Company: In 1648 India, two Imperial Guards watch from their post as the sun rises for the first time on the newly-completed Taj Mahal—an event that shakes their respective worlds. When they are ordered to perform an unthinkable task, the aftermath forces them to question the concepts of friendship, beauty, and duty, and changes them forever. GUARDS AT THE TAJ is one of Pulitzer Prize Finalist Rajiv Joseph’s seminal works.

Attended Performance Date: Opening Weekend 9/14/24 – Keep your eyes peeled for preview posts on my website and social media if you want earlier notification of shows I’ve seen. This show closes on 10/6/24!

Type: Play

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Few

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Few

Static (Stationary) Set? Yes

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: No, but you might appreciate this more if you’re familiar with Indian history. I was not and I kept wondering “Holy crap, did these historical events really happen?!”

Defined Plot/Storyline: It was more dialogue than story.

Equity Actors: 0

Total Number of Actors: 2

Perceived Pace of the Show: Slow to medium

Was there an intermission? No

Length (Including Any Intermission): Less than 90 minutes

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

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? No

Mainstream Appeal: Low to medium

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned Above

Traditional Live Music: Sampada Bhalerao played the sitar while Jayant Bhopatkar played the tabla before the show and during the show. They also added some mild sound effects as well during the play.

Theatre Company: ArtsWest and Pratidhwani

Venue: ArtsWest

Venue Physical Address: 4711 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116

Price Range: $46

Dates: September 12 to October 6, 2024

Seating: Assigned Seating

Parking: There are paid lots and free street parking. I usually park on 44th or 45th Ave behind the theatre.

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https://www.artswest.org/events/guards-at-the-taj/

Cast and Production Team: See after pictures below.

POTUS – Play – Review – ACT Theatre

@showsiveseen Selina Fillinger's "#POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are 7 #Women Trying to Keep Him Alive" #comedy #play at @acttheatre. Smartly written, engaging, and sharp dialogue. Absolutely likeable characters. Lots of laughs & reactions from the audience. I'd like to imagine the 45th #president's staff was like this. Review: showsiveseen.com/9746 Director: Jillian Armenante Stage Manager: Jamie J. Kranz #showsiveseen #theatre #presidency ♬ Vote or Die – Anthony Kapfer

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Selina Fillinger’s POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are 7 Women Trying to Keep Him Alive comedy play at ACT Theatre. Engaging, smartly written, sharp, vulgar dialogue. Absolutely likeable characters. Lots of laughs & reactions from the audience. I’d like to imagine the 45th president’s staff was like this.

Recommendation: See it, especially if you enjoy political presidential TV shows like Veep, Scandal, or Commander in Chief.

My Synopsis (No Spoilers): Hijinks ensue as 7 women struggle to prevent presidential scandals.

Synopsis from the Licensor or Theatre Company: The comedic sensation comes to Seattle and delivers a riotous punch as it unveils the story of seven extraordinary women tasked with managing the antics of the most powerful man in the world. From PR nightmares to global crises, these brilliant and VERY different women navigate a maze of chaos, risking everything to uphold sanity and stability in the White House. Fueled by Selina Fillinger’s sharp wit and biting satire, this Tony-nominated play offers an unforgettable tribute to the unsung heroes behind the political curtain.

Attended Performance Date: Opening Night 9/12/24 – Keep your eyes peeled for preview posts on my website and social media if you want earlier notification of shows I’ve seen. Show closes on 9/29/24!

Type: Play

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Several

Several or Few Settings/Locations: A couple locations around the White House

Static (Stationary) Set? Mostly yes

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: You should be remotely familiar with USA politics

Defined Plot/Storyline: Mostly yes with slightly heavier emphasis on dialogue

Equity Actors: 6

Total Number of Actors: 7

Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium to fast speed

Was there an intermission? Yes

Length (Including Any Intermission): 2 hours

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

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? Probably not, but it was good

Mainstream Appeal: Medium to high

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned Above

Good Hook: The play started with Harriet (played by Anne Allgood) exclaiming “Cunt!” That sure grabbed the audience’s attention! Strangely, “cunt” and “cunty” have become more mainstream curse words in the past decade’s zeitgeist. Ironically, I feel like this is due to more female empowerment. Maybe it’s like how the LGBT community reclaimed the word “queer.” Pretty soon, “cunt” will be as popular as “dick.” Now that’s shattering the glass ceiling! 😛
Dusty: Dusty (played by Carly Corey) reminded me of the endearing Elle Woods sorority president from Legally Blonde.
Technical Difficulty Diversion: Towards the end of the play, the stage rising mechanism failed. Oh, the magic of live theatre! Usually, the audience just sits there quietly, but people started yelling out things like “How’ve y’all been?” “How about that debate?” and “They’re eating dogs and cats!” Eventually, the director (Jillian Armenante) walked on-stage and lead an impromptu Q&A like JoJo Siwa. I actually thought it was part of the show at first! In the end, the technical crew finally fixed the malfunction and Jillian jumped around the fixed stage then purposely magnificently collapsed at the center to make sure the platform would support the actors adequately. I enjoyed her impromptu diversion more than the the alternative of sitting around doing nothing while waiting for the fix. However, repeatedly asking the technical crew, “Have you fixed it yet?” was like a kid asking, “Are we there yet?” It won’t speed things up!

Rant(s)

Off-stage Character: There was an odd moment in the play when Chris, the reporter and working mother played by Ayo Tushinde, delivered a lengthy tirade directed at a younger upstart male coworker who was off-stage. This interaction felt out of place because it was the only instance when a character spoke to someone in front of them who wasn’t physically present on stage. Additionally, the script expected the audience to fill in the blanks for the man’s response. The fact that he wasn’t even a significant character made the scene weirder. The dialogue would have been better as a phone call and not a face-to-face (or “face-to-nothing?”) confrontation.

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

Secretary: At first, Stephanie (the presidential secretary played by Annette Toutonghi) was my favorite character. Her overtly timid demeanor valiantly trying to become more assertive was amusing. However, her character’s development descended into a gratuitous spectacle for cheap slapstick laughs.
Script Progression: Similarly, the script initially featured incisive, engaging dialogue that captivated the audience with its crude wit. However, the play devolved into chaotic scenes aimed at eliciting cheap laughs. While the first act maintained a sense of plausibility and vibrant comedy, the second act became implausible cacophony. Where was the Secret Service and video surveillance?!

Theatre Company: ACT Theatre

Venue: The Gregory A. Falls Theatre at ACT Theatre

Venue Physical Address: 700 Union St, Seattle, WA 98101

Price Range: $73-104

Ticket Affordability Options: Check out the theatre’s official discounts page.

Dates: September 7 to 29, 2024

Seating: Assigned Seating

Parking: Paid lot or paid street parking. If I don’t walk to this theatre, I park in the old convention center garage with the entrance between Seneca and Pike. There is indoor access from the garage to the theatre if you walk through the old convention center.

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Pictures: See pictures below by Rosemary Dai Ross.

Cast and Production Team: See after pictures below.