The Taming – Play – Red Curtain Foundation for the Arts

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): The Taming play at Red Curtain Foundation for the Arts. A lesbian republican, Miss #America, and a liberal social justice warrior are trapped together in a hotel room to debate USA politics/history. Pleasantly surprised that Girl Scouts sold cookies in the lobby. How American! #theatre

Synopsis from the Theatre: In this hilarious, raucous, all-female “power-play,” Miss America contestant Katherine has political aspirations to match her beauty pageant ambitions. All she needs to revolutionize the American government is the help of one ultra-conservative senator’s aide on the cusp of a career breakthrough, and one bleeding-heart liberal blogger who will do anything for her cause. Well, that and a semi-historically-accurate ether trip. Here’s lookin’ at you, America.

Reviewed Performance: 3/3/23 Evening – Opening Night

Type: Play

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Few – Only 3

Defined Plot/Storyline: No

Recommendation: See it if either 1) you like supporting community theatre 2) you’re into American politics/history 3) you reveled in the educational parts of Hamilton 4) or if you enjoyed What the Constitution Means to Me

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

Rating Compared to Other Shows with the Same Production Value:
4 Stars (Out of 5 Stars)

Equity Actors: 0

Total Number of Actors: 3

Length (Including Any Intermission): 2 hours

Intermission: Yes

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned in Elevator Thoughts

  • Curtain Call: I liked that they let the stagehands take a bow. The stage crew is one of the many undercelebrated essential elements in live theatre.

Rant(s)

  • Lip Sync Segment: Needs to be removed or shortened. Lip synching on-stage is one of my pet peeves.
  • Scene Changes: The props and set furniture movement was distracting between scenes. However, I acknowledge the budget constraints of community theatre.

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

  • Comedic Props: The codpiece was a funny addition, but I was originally under the impression those were more popular in England during an earlier time period. I wonder if the codpiece and the shake weight were part of the script or if they were added by the theatre company.
  • Controlled Chaos: Props were falling and rolling everywhere! There were lots of over-the-top reactions and fight choreography.

Theatre Company: Red Curtain Foundation for the Arts

Venue: Red Curtain Foundation for the Arts

Venue Physical Address: 9315 State Ave #J, Marysville, WA 98270

Price: Cheap

Dates: March 3 to 19, 2023

Seating: General Admission

Parking: Free lot parking in the strip mall where this theatre is located.

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Other Video +/- Pictures: See pictures under video by Kenny Randall

Cast and Production Team: See after pictures and video below

@showsiveseen "The Taming" #play at @redcurtainarts by #LaurenGunderson. A lesbian ultra conservative, #MissAmerica, & a liberal social justice warrior are trapped together in a hotel room to debate #USA #politics/#history. How #American that Girl Scouts sold cookies in the lobby! Review: showsiveseen.com/4146. #theatre ♬ original sound – Shows I've Seen
Grace Helmcke as Bianca, Katie Wallace as Katherine, and Britta Grass as Patricia reluctantly agree to work together in “The Taming,” running March 3-19 at the Red Curtain Arts Center, 9315 State Ave. #J in Marysville.
Katherine (Katie Wallace) prepares for the Miss America pageant in “The Taming,” running March 3-19 at the Red Curtain Arts Center, 9315 State Ave. #J in Marysville.
RoleName
Katherine Katie Wallace
Patricia Britta Grass
Bianca Grace Helmcke
DirectorScott B. Randall
PlaywrightLauren Gunderson
Stage ManagerDavine Sholdez
Fight Choreographer Rowan Gallagher
DramaturgJeryn Pasha
Props & Set Dressing Courtney Calkins
Costumes/Dresser Laura Klein
Set Design Scott B Randall
Set Construction LeadWerner “Randy” Randall
Set Construction Scott Randall, Mike Pieckiel, Aiden Pieckiel, Spencer Greer
Lighting DesignScott Randall
Lighting Technician Layton Gaskins
Light Board OperatorAiden Pieckiel
Sound Design Daniel Hanlon
Sound Board Operator Mike Pieckiel
Spotlight OperatorsPaula Van Dalen, Sarah Tallman
Stage Crew Andy Wallington, Krista Patt, Layton Gaskins, Krishan Aggarwal, Paul Grass
Promotional PhotosKenny Randall
Marketing & Publicity Beckye Randall
Bar ManagerMichele Beito
Concessions ManagerKim Shumway

Free Ticket to “Into the Woods” at 5th Avenue Theatre

Leave a comment on my Instagram post (https://www.instagram.com/p/CpR285mOBZ1/) with your favorite musical & I’ll choose a winner 24 hours from now. Bonus points if you’re a student or if I love the musical you mention.

This is a free single ticket worth about $120 to any of the remaining “Into the Woods” performances at 5th Avenue Theatre, which ends this wknd. Depending on the date you choose, you’ll be in Zone 3 (Blue) or 4 (Orange).

Read my review here: https://www.showsiveseen.com/into-the-woods-musical-5th-avenue-theatre/

Miss Step – Musical – Village Theatre

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Miss Step throwback musical at Village Theatre by Kit Yan and Melissa Li. Feel good love letter to the 80s that emphasized the “T” in LGBT! Bodacious dance ensemble. Totally tubular spandex aerobic-inspired choreography/costumes. Jane Fonda would be so proud.

Synopsis from the Theatre: Pam Carter is an unremarkable trans woman, working as a toll collector on the New Jersey turnpike. When a family tragedy uncovers her late father’s secret passion for competitive aerobics, Pam decides to step into her father’s sneakers and vault herself on a remarkable journey. This sweet, fun, 80’s throwback musical is a comedy for family members of all ages and genders. So slap on that spandex, throw on a headband, and get ready to clap your hands for MISS STEP!

Reviewed Performance: 2/16/23 Evening – Sorry for the late review. Since this wasn’t a press ticket and there were only two more shows left on this short run, I didn’t prioritize the review.

Type: Musical

World Premiere: “Pre-World Premiere” – It’s still in the development phase as part of the Village Originals Beta Series

Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes

Live Band/Orchestra: Yes – There was only a keyboardist and a drummer. I didn’t even notice there were so few musicians during the show. I was shocked there were only two band members listed in the playbill I read after the show.

Recommendation: See it!

Was This the First Time I Saw a Production of this Show: Yes

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now: Absolutely! I’d love to compare and contrast this developmental production with the final world premiere production.

Rating Compared to Other Shows with the Same Production Value:
4.5 Stars (Out of 5 Stars)

Equity Actors: 9

Total Number of Actors: 14

Length (Including Any Intermission): 2 hours but it felt like the perfect length

Intermission: No

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned in Elevator Thoughts

  • Transgender/Queer Representation: This musical normalized LGBT+ characters/actors especially those who are trans. I like how the song “Unremarkable” punctuated how commonplace it was to be trans in this world. However, it felt like the cast was missing a bisexual character and it wouldn’t hurt to add another trans man. I thought it was interesting when an audience member from the aftershow talkback pointed out the juxtaposition between an older trans woman character who subscribed to traditional gender binary roles while her child supported a more modern non-binary gender role.
  • Cassi Q Kohl: I didn’t know Cassi Q Kohl (who played Cindy) had such a powerful voice! I’ve only seen her in Village Theatre’s previous production Cinderella where she played the fairy godmother. I guess her previous role didn’t let her showcase her voice as much.
  • Ending Reveal: The revealing twist at the end with the father was pretty cleaver.
  • Emcee: I previously saw Joel Domenico on-stage in Verlaine and McCann’s Land of the Sweets – The Burlesque Nutcracker as the charismatic emcee. He reprised a similar role in Miss Step as the competition emcee and as part of the energetic dance ensemble.
  • 1980s Theme: As someone born in the 80s, it was fun being reminded of elements that were popular in my childhood like Michael Bolton, John Stamos, kazoos, Operation boardgame, ankle warmers, headbands, Madonna, leotards, New Kids on the Block, wrist slappers, corny humor, the ThighMaster, and effortless plot resolutions.
  • Second Act Ballad: Janet (played by Bobbi Kotula) sung a wonderful ballad with a lovely melody. The playbill said the song was called “He Was My Trophy” but I thought it was called “It Wasn’t Me.” Since this was a dynamically-changing beta musical still in development, they might have added/changed the ballad after the playbill went to press.

Rant(s)

  • Microphone Queuing: There were numerous instances when the microphone turned on late. I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt that it was because of the dynamically-changing nature of a beta musical in development.
  • Accompaniment Key: There were 1-3 songs in the beginning that felt like the accompaniment key didn’t match well with the transgender performers’ best vocal range. The song(s) need(s) to be transposed.
  • Deadbeat Reasons: The show didn’t explained well why the dad left his family. The few potential reasons I gathered during the second act didn’t seem like compelling enough reasons to leave a family.
  • First Act Ballad: There was a slower song that Pam (played by MJ Rawls) sang in the beginning that either started too abruptly from a more energetic scene or ended too abruptly to a more energetic scene. I don’t remember.

Theatre Company: Village Theatre

Venue: Village Theatre – Hunt Family Theatre First Stage

Venue Physical Address: 120 Front St N, Issaquah, WA 98027

Price: Cheap

Ticket Affordability Options: Pay-what-you-will on 2/16/23

Dates: February 11 to 19, 2023

Seating: Assigned Seating

Parking: Free street parking and free lot parking. If you park in the lot, make sure the spot is not reserved for a business. As a last resort, you can always find parking at the library (10 W Sunset Way, Issaquah, WA 98027) but it’s a little far. Remember, there’s a bottom floor parking lot under the library’s main parking lot that most non-locals don’t know about.

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Other Video +/- Pictures: See pictures in video and under video

Cast and Production Team: See after pictures and video below

@showsiveseen "Miss Step" throwback #musical at Village Theatre by @kityanpoet & Melissa Li. Feel good love letter to the #80s that emphasized the "T" in #LGBT! Bodacious dance ensemble. Totally tubular #spandex #aerobic-inspired choreography/costumes. Jane Fonda would be so proud. Review: showsiveseen.com/4076. Photos by @nikkilong_. #theatre #aerobics #1980s ♬ Jump (Originally Performed by Van Halen) [Instrumental] – Backing Track Central
The cast of MISS STEP. Photo by Nikki Womac.
Kathryn Van Meter and the cast of MISS STEP. Photo by Nikki Womac.
Irene Rising, Vincent Milay, Cassi Q Kohl, MJ Rawls, Leah Sainz-Jones, and Tom Avery in MISS STEP. Photo by Nikki Womac.
MJ Rawls and Ethan Carpenter in MISS STEP. Photo by Nikki Womac.
Tori Gresham, Joel Domenico, Bridgid Abrams, Nehemiah Hooks, and Mackenzie Malhotra in MISS STEP. Photo by Nikki Womac.
RoleName
GailKathryn Van Meter *
Pam Carter MJ Rawls *
Janet Bobbi Kotula *
Cameron Carter Sr Ethan Carpenter *
CindyCassi Q Kohl *
Rachel Weissman Bridgid Abrams *
EliVincent Milay
PaulineIrene Rising *
TopazLeah Sainz-Jones
JayTom Avery
EnsembleJoel Domenico
Mackenzie Mathotra
Nehemiah Hooks *
Tori Gresham *
Keyboard/ConductorElisa Money
DrumsScot Sexton
Director & Co-ChoreographerConnor Gallagher
Co-Choreographer Jay Jackson “Laganja Estranja”
Writer/ComposerKit Yan and Melissa Li
Scenic Designer Jason Sherwood
Costume Designer Chelsea Cook
Lighting Designer Chih-Hung Shao
Sound DesignerErin Bednarz
Projection Designer Ahren Buhmann
Stage Manager Jessamyn Bateman-Iino
Gender Consultant Josephine Kearns
Dance Arrangements David Dabbon
New York Casting Judy Bowman
Music Director Elisa Money
Assistant DirectorCharlie Johnson
Assistant Stage ManagerKallen Pishue
Assistant Scenic Designer Jeremy Hollis
Production AssistantsLiam Nellis, Lainie Schwartz
Vocal CoachDanny Kam
Head Stage Carpenter Andrew Long
Head Lighting Engineer Zac Andersen
Head Sound EngineerAlex Wren
Wardrobe LeadMalena Langlie
Projection Technician Ahren Buhmann
* Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in USA