July 2023 – Shows I've Seen

Contest Winner – Six the Musical – Paramount Theatre

Congrats Rylie for winning a ticket from Shows I’ve Seen to the Broadway at the Paramount’s and Seattle Theatre Group’s Six the Musical!

Free Ticket – Six the Musical – Paramount Theatre

Update (7/20/23): Congrats to Rylie!

Leave a comment mentioning your favorite female monarch and why. She doesn’t need to be a British #queen. I’ll chose a winner after 7/19 11:59 PM.

Post your comment submission on my Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Threads. This is a free SINGLE ticket in “price level F” (worth about $60) to any remaining “Six” performance at Broadway at the Paramount Theatre and Seattle Theatre Group. The production run ends 7/23. Read my review at showsiveseen.com/6075. #theatre #six #showsiveseen #musical

The Hello Girls – Musical – Taproot Theatre

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): The Hello Girls musical by Peter Mills and Cara Reichel at Taproot Theatre. Starring Cassi Q Kohl & Rico Lastrapes. Direction by Karen Lund and musical direction by Michael Nutting. Story about the unsung American female switchboard operators in WWI. #helloGirls #girlPower #war #theatre

Synopsis from the Theatre: “Imagine a time when the world was divided. … A world where freedom is under assault … A world where nationalism is on the rise… We’re talking about the year 1918, of course.” Helmet, check. Gas Mask, check… Lipstick, check. In this new musical, Grace Banker and her fellow switchboard operators are answering the call when the Bell Battalion Telephonic Ladies’ Switchboard Unit #1 makes history as America’s first female soldiers.

Reviewed Performance: 7/14/23 – Opening Night

Type: Musical

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Several

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Several

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: No, but you might appreciate this more if you’re a little familiar with World War I.

Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes

Live Band/Orchestra: Yes

Recommendation: See it if you enjoy the specific genre of shows Taproot Theatre tends to produce like A Civil War Christmas, Bright Star, and The Spitfire Grill. You might also enjoy this show if you like women’s choral music like Seattle Women’s Chorus since there was a lot of female harmonies.

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

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now: I’d consider another professional production

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

Equity Actors: 2

Total Number of Actors: 10

Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium speed

Length (Including Any Intermission): 2.75 hours

Intermission: Yes

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned in Elevator Thoughts

Cassi Q Kohl: I didn’t even recognize Cassi compared to her recent roles in Cinderella and Miss Step! It goes to show her versatility as an actress.

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

Actor Musicians: Some actors in the show also were part of the band. I saw Jeremy Steckler on the bass and Rebecca Cort on the guitar. But I didn’t see the other actor musicians listed in the program like Rico Lastrapes on the clarinet, Jeremy Steckler on the guitar, Lauren Engstrom on the keyboard, and Casey Raiha on the keyboard. I wish I could also see these additional actors play their instruments. They were probably hidden in the back due to Taproot Theatre’s stage space constraints.
Uniform Purchase Requirement: Did (does) the army really not pay for uniforms? If you’re putting yourself in harm’s way and contributing a specialized skill to the war effort, the least the government can do is pay for your uniform.
Switchboard: This production would have greatly benefitted from a switchboard prop.
Costume Legs: I’ve never seen such weird leggings on American military uniforms that resembled culottes or knee breeches. But I guess they’re historically accurate since they resembled the pictures Google showed for “World War I American Uniform.”
In background: Miranda Antoinette. Left to right: Fune Tautala, Jeremy Steckler, and Casey Raiha in The Hello Girls at Taproot Theatre. Photo by John Ulman.

Theatre Company: Taproot Theatre

Venue: Jewell Mainstage at Taproot Theatre

Venue Physical Address: 204 N 85th St, Seattle, WA 98103

Price: Medium

Ticket Affordability Options: Pay what you can days, GoldStar, and TodayTix.

Dates: July 12 – August 12, 2023

Seating: Assigned Seating

Parking: Paid lot or usually-free street parking. I always find free street parking on Greenwood Ave just South of the theatre.

Buy a Ticket or Learn More:

Other Video +/- Pictures: See pictures in video and under video by John Ulman.

Cast and Production Team: See after pictures and video below

@showsiveseen "The Hello Girls" #musical by Peter Mills and Cara Reichel at @TaprootTheatre. Starring @Cassi Q Kohl & Rico Lastrapes. Direction by Karen Lund & musical direction by Michael Nutting. Story about the unsung American #female #switchboard operators in #WWI. Photos by John Ulman. Review: showsiveseen.com/6133 #helloGirls #girlPower #war #theatre ♬ original sound – Shows I've Seen

Left to right: Rebecca Cort, Miranda Antoinette, Cassi Q Kohl, Lauren Engstrom, and Jessica Ziegelbauer in *The Hello Girls* at Taproot Theatre. Photo by John Ulman.

Cassi Q Kohl in *The Hello Girls* at Taproot Theatre. Photo by John Ulman.

Lauren Engstrom in *The Hello Girls* at Taproot Theatre. Photo by John Ulman.

Role	Name
Suzanne Prevot	Rebecca Cort
Helen Hill	Lauren Engstrom
Bertha Hunt	Jessica Ziegelbauer
Louise Lebreton	Miranda Antoinette
Grace Banker	Cassi Q Kohl *
Man 2/PVT Eugen Matterson	Jeremy Steckler
Man 3/Dempsey/Morris/German Soldier	Casey Raiha
Man 1/Wessen/Ackerman/Beaumont	Fune Tautala
Gen. John Pershing	Jeff Church
Cpt. Joseph Riser	Rico Lastrapes *
—	—
Bertha Hunt / Suzanne Prevot (u/s)	Jacqueline Tardanico
Grace Banker / Louise Lebreton (u/s)	Keola Kapulani Holt
Helen Hill (u/s)	Abigail Brittle
Riser / Pershing (u/s)	Brandon Riel
—	—
Plano Conductor	Michael Nutting, David Taylor Gomes
Violin	Jeremy Lynch
Cello	Matthew Tevenan
Drums	Scot Sexton
Bass	Jeremy Steckler
Clarinet	Rico Lastrapes *
Additional Guitar	Rebecca Cort, Jeremy Steckler
Additional Keyboard	Lauren Engstrom, Casey Raiha
—	—
Director	Karen Lund **
Composer and Lyricist	Peter Mills
Playwright	Peter Mills, Cara Reichel
Music Director	Michael Nutting
Associate Director	Bretteney Beverly
Assistant Director	Nik Nolan
Scenic/Sound Designer	Mark Lund
Costume Designer	Nanette Acosta
Lighting Designer	Ahren Buhmann
Choreographer	Katy Tabb **
Stage Manager	Rachel Victoria Miller *
Dramaturg	Rowan Gallagher
Dialect Coach	Marianna de Fazio

*Appearing through on agreement between Taproot Theatre and Actors’ Equity Association.
**Members of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society

Six The Musical – Paramount Theatre

Giveaway: I’m giving away a free ticket to this show. See details here. (Update 7/20/23: Congrats to Rylie!)

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Amazing seats to Six The Musical by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss at Seattle Theatre Group and Broadway at the Paramount Theatre. All-female cast/band portray the stories of King Henry VIII’s #six queen wives and find individual significance independent of a man. Packed energetic audience. Shoutout to the incredible Khaila Wilcoxon and Storm Lever! #musical #girlPower #Tudor

Synopsis from the Theatre: Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. From Tudor Queens to Pop Icons, the SIX wives of Henry VIII take the microphone to remix five hundred years of historical heartbreak into a Euphoric Celebration of 21st century girl power! This new original musical is the global sensation that everyone is losing their head over!

Reviewed Performance: 7/12/23 – Opening Night

Type: Concert-like Storytelling Musical

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Storytelling several scenes

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Storytelling several locations

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: You might appreciate this more if you’re familiar with King Henry VIII’s wives. I personally only knew a little about Anne Boleyn.

Defined Plot/Storyline: Not really, it was 6 queens singing/telling their own separate stories

Live Band/Orchestra: Yes

Recommendation: See it if either you enjoy

Pop diva or girl group concerts
Or concert-like musicals similar to Striking 12, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and Pump Boys and Dinettes where the actors address the audience and tell stories (as opposed to acting out the stories)

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

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

Equity Actors: The program didn’t mention this, but I’d be surprised if all the actors in a national tour show like this weren’t Equity.

Total Number of Actors: 6

Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium to fast

Length (Including Any Intermission): 1.5 hours

Intermission: No

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned in Elevator Thoughts

Favorite Queen Divas: My favorite actress was Khaila Wilcoxon (Catherine of Aragon) for her animated expressions and attitude. For some reason, she also reminded me of Patina Miller. A close second was Storm Lever (Anne Boleyn), who wouldn’t stop mentioning her beheading. I recognized her voice from Summer The Donna Summer Musical as Duckling Donna. It’s good to see her back in Seattle!
Tinder: I loved how they incorporated catfishing and swiping in Anne of Cleves (Oliva Donalson) story.
Costumes: The metal-looking costumes were shiny, glittery, and brilliant. They sort of reminded me of samurai suits.
Quips: The biting repartee between the queens was delightful. I especially enjoyed when the witty remarks were cutting. Clap back!

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

Hype: As one of the most popular shows on-stage today, the excitement around Six The Musical show was palpable. The audience was enthusiastic and even a guy on the front row stood up and danced in the middle of a song. But like Hamilton, I feel like Six The Musical is overhyped. Both shows were obviously well-written and well-executed masterpieces, but the overhyped worldwide buzz around the two musicals made me expect more. That being said, if you ever have the opportunity, you should definitely see Six The Musical … it’s just no The Wiz, The Prom, or The Book of Mormon.

Theatre Company: National Tour with Broadway Across America

Venue: Paramount Theatre

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

Price: Medium to Expensive

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

Dates: July 12 – 23, 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 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.

Buy a Ticket or Learn More:

Other Video +/- Pictures: See pictures in video and under video by Joan Marcus and Patrick Gray.

@showsiveseen Amazing seats to @SIX 👑 by Toby Marlow & Lucy Moss at @Seattle Theatre Group & Broadway at the Paramount Theatre. All-female cast/band portray the stories of King Henry VIII's #six #queen wives & find individual significance independent of a man. Packed energetic audience. Shoutout to the incredible @Khaila Anye Wilcoxon & @Storm Lever. Photos by Joan Marcus & Patrick Gray. Review: showsiveseen.com/6075 #musical #girlPower #theatre #Tudor ♬ Ex-Wives – SIX