Passengers – Cirque Show – Seattle Rep

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Passengers cirque show at Seattle Rep by The 7 Fingers. Directed, written, & choreographed by Shana Carroll. Effortless #acrobatics. Included some occasional singing. #showsiveseen #theatre #circus #acrobat

Synopsis from the Theatre: Your train is about to depart the station and a cirque spectacular awaits. Through contemporary dance, music, and extraordinary acrobatics, a breathtaking series of vignettes tells the unique stories of reunions and goodbyes from the strangers that surround you onboard. From contemporary physical theater troupe The 7 Fingers comes this jaw-dropping ride you must see to believe.

Attended Performance Date: 9/30/23 (Opening Weekend) – Preview Posts

Type: Cirque Show

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Several

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Several

Static (Stationary) Set: No

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: No

Defined Plot/Storyline: No

Live Band/Orchestra: Mostly no but Santiago Rivera Laugerud played the ukelele and sang during one segment. Of note, Kisha Kessalines-Wright also sang during one segment.

Equity Actors: Zero but I think it’s because 1) this not an American company 2) and this show was more cirque/acrobatics and less of a play/musical.

Total Number of Actors: 9

Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium Speed

Length (Including Any Intermission): 1.5 hours

Was there an intermission?: No

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

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now?: No

Recommendation: See it if 1) you appreciate shows from Cirque Du Soleil or Teatro Zinzanni 2) and you’re okay with no plot

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned in Elevator Thoughts

  • Effortless Feats: The performers effortlessly showcased their talents with the hula hoop, aerial acts (especially Eduardo De Azevedo Grillo and Kisha Kessalines-Wright), acrobatics, and the Chinese pole (Marco Ingaramo).

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

  • Dropped Props: The hula hoop and juggling balls dropped a couple of times. I couldn’t determine if this was intentionally part of the act or an actual mistake.
  • Concurrent Performances: Throughout the show, there were often two separate acts showcased at the same time, and it was a little difficult to appreciate both performances equally. Maybe it’s because I sat really close (with a great view BTW). First world problems, right?

Theatre Company: The 7 Fingers

Venue: Seattle Repertory Theatre

Venue Physical Address: 155 Mercer St, Seattle, WA 98109

Price: Cheap to Expensive

Ticket Affordability Options:

Dates: September 22 to October 15, 2023

Seating: Assigned Seating

Parking: There are paid lots and paid street parking. I usually park on Mercer to the West of 1st Ave. There’s usually also a lot of street parking around Safeway. If there’s an event in Seattle Center or Climate Pledge Arena, street parking is usually limited and much more expensive.

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Cast and Production Team: See after pictures and/or video below

@showsiveseen #Passengers #cirque #show at @seattlerep by @@les7doigts. Directed, written, & choreographed by Shana Carroll. Effortless #acrobatics. Included some occasional singing. Review: showsiveseen.com/6806 #showsiveseen #circus #acrobat #theatre ♬ Trip – Siine
Sereno Aguilar and the company of Passengers. Photo by Alexandre Galliez.
Sereno Aguilar, Sabine Van Rensburg, and the company of Passengers. Photo by Alexandre Galliez.
Méliejade Tremblay-Bouchard in Passengers. Photo by Martine Poulin.
Méliejade Tremblay-Bouchard, Marco Ingaramo, and Santiago Rivera Laugerud in Passengers. Photo by Martine Poulin.
Mandi Orozco in Passengers. Photo by Lucille Audoineau-Maire.
Andrew Sumner and the company of Passengers. Photo by Lucille Audoineau-Maire.
RoleName
Cast Eric Bates
Valérie Benoit-Charbonneau
Eduardo de Azevedo Grillo
Kaisha Dessalines-Wright
Marco Ingaramo
Nella Niva
Mandi Orozco
Santiago Rivera Laugerud
Méliejade Tremblay-Bouchard
Director, Writer & Choreographer Shana Carroll
Assistant to the Director Isabelle Chassé
ScenographerAna Cappelluto
Costume Designer Camille Thibault-Bedard
Musical Director Colin Gagné
Video Designer Johnny Ranger
Video Animation Yannick Doucet
Remi Borgeal
Head Coach Francisco Cruz
TextsShana Carroll
Text, Einstein’train Conor Wild
Project ManagerSabrina Gilbert
Production Coordinator Yagub Allahverdiyev
Technical Director Simon Lachance
Michel Bisson
Lighting DesignerEric Champoux
Stage Manager Charlotte Legault
Karine Perron
Assistant to the Technical DirectorMarie-Hélene Grisé
Video Coordinator Dominique Hawry
Video Programmation Laura-Rose R. Grenier
DOP – Shooting Mark O Fearghail
Harley Francis
Sound Engineer Jérome Guilleaume
Light Programmation Stéphane Lecavalier
Electric Chief Gabriel Fournier-El Ayachi
Trapeze Coach Véronique Thibault
Creation Rigger Stéphane Beauchet
Nicolas Lemieux
Set Design Assistant Dominique Coughlin
Costume Assistant Catherine Veri
Rigging Intern Joanie Audet
Music, Lyrics, Sound Design & Arrangements Colin Gagné
Contortion, Hula-Hoop & Trapeze Arrangements Jean-Sébastien Leblanc
Juggling Lyrics Boogat
Juggling Arrangements Jérome Guilleaume
Music Composer: Opening, Tight Wire & Epilogue Raphael Cruz
Tour ManagerGuillaume Biron
Tour Technical DirectorSimon Carriere-Legris
Tour RIggerMax Jouanneau
Tour Light OperatorLoriane Foisy
Tour Sound and Video OperatorMichael Amstadt

Ken Ludwig’s Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood – Play – Village Theatre

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Ken Ludwig’s Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood light play at Village Theatre starring Ricky Spaulding & directed by Adam Immerwahr. Lots of good fight choreography. Neat stage magic to make the arrows “fly.” #robinHood

Synopsis from the Theatre: Robbing from the rich has never been so fun! A greedy prince has taken control of England, and it is up to Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men—and women!—to fight for justice and champion for the underdog. From comic mastermind Ken Ludwig (Lend Me a Tenor, Crazy for You) comes this rollicking and inventive play, packed with delightful thrills, amorous exploits, contagious laughs, and great beloved heroes like Little John, Friar Tuck, and Maid Marian. So, get ready to dodge an arrow or two—you won’t want to miss a moment of this swashbuckling adventure!

Attended Performance Date: 9/16/23 (Opening Weekend)

Type: Play

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Several

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Several

Static Set: Yes, but there was a rotating component to the stage

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: No, but you would probably enjoy this more if you’re familiar with the major elements of the Robin Hood tales. All my knowledge comes from a Wishbone book and an MS-DOS game Conquests of the Longbow: The Legend of Robin Hood.

Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes

Equity Actors: 6 – Surprisingly, an Equity actor didn’t fill the lead role Robin Hood. That being said, Ricky Spaulding has always been great in the roles I’ve seen him play.

Total Number of Actors: 8

Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium Speed

Length (Including Any Intermission): 2.25 hours

Was there an intermission?: Yes

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

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now?: Probably not

Recommendation: See it, especially if you’re familiar with the Robin Hood tales or if you enjoy English-style slapstick-like comedy

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned in Elevator Thoughts

  • Fight Choreography: I was reviewing the b-roll video the theatre sent to me for my TikToks and I realized the actors really could have been injured if they mistimed the fight choreography!

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

  • Breaking Character: I think I missed an interaction between Nathaniel Tenenbaum (who I often see in flamboyant roles) and the other actors where he did something so funny that they were near breaking character. FOMO!

Theatre Company: Village Theatre

Venue: Village Theatre

Venue Physical Address:

  • Issaquah: 303 Front Street North, Issaquah, WA 98027
  • Everett: 2710 Wetmore Avenue, Everett, WA 98201

Price: Medium

Ticket Affordability Options: Check out their discount tickets page. TodayTix and Goldstar usually offer good options too, but I can’t seem to find any tickets for this show on their websites.

Dates:

  • Issaquah: September 12 to October 15, 2023
  • Everett: October 21 – November 12, 2023

Seating: Assigned Seating

Parking:

  • Issaquah: Free street parking and some free parking lot. Lot parking availablity is pretty difficult to find though. I’ve basically given up on that. I usually end up parking on Rainier Boulevard North. As a last resort, I think you can always find parking at the library 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.
  • Everett: Free street parking and some paid parking lots/garages.

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

Cast and Production Team: See after pictures and video below

@showsiveseen #KenLudwig's "#Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood" light #play at Village Theatre starring Ricky Spaulding & directed by @Adam Immerwahr. Lots of good fight choreography. Neat stage magic to make the arrows "fly." Videos: @Nyhuis Creative. Review: showsiveseen.com/6770 #robinHood #theatre #showsiveseen ♬ Oo De Lally (From "Robin Hood") – Geek Music
Mark Emerson, Billy Finn, and Nathaniel Tenenbaum in Ken Ludwig’s Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood at Village Theatre. Photo by Elise Bakketun (2023).
Alegra Batara and Ricky Spaulding in Ken Ludwig’s Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood at Village Theatre. Photo by Elise Bakketun (2023).
Brandon O’Neill in Ken Ludwig’s Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood at Village Theatre. Photo by Elise Bakketun (2023).
RoleName
Maid Marian and others Alegra Batara
Little John and others Quinlan Corbett*
Sheriff of Nottingham and others Mark Emerson*
Sir Guy of Gisbourne and others Billy Finn*
Deorwynn and others (Dance Captain) Arika Matoba*
Friar Tuck and others (Fight Captain) Brandon O’Neill*
Robin Hood Ricky Spaulding
Prince John and othersNathaniel Tenenbaum*
Understudy for Little John, Prince John, and others Kyle Henick
Understudy for Friar Tuck, Sheriff of Nottingham, and others Jason Marr
Understudy for Robin Hood, Sir Guy of Gisbourne, and others Michael Nevarez
Understudy for Maid Marian, Deorwynn, and others Chelsey Sheppard
Director Adam Immerwahr
Choreographer Cy Paolantonio
Fight Director J. Allen Suddeth
Stage Managers Ruth Eitemiller*
Susannah Butler*
Scenic Designer Misha Kachman
Sound Designer and Composer Nick Kourtides
Original Costume Designer Jess Goldstein
Costumes Reimagined ByChelsea Cook
Lighting Designer Nancy Schertler
Production AssistantNicola Krause
Assistant Stage Manager Brigid Ridge
Associate DirectorJasmine Joshua
Associate Fight DirectorGeoffrey Alm
Associate Scenic DesignerBrandon Riel
Associate Lighting DesignerCasey Price
Associate Sound DesignerAndrew Rovner
DramaturgEllen Peltz
Casting DirectorJes Spencer
Intimacy DirectorKathryn Van Meter
Dialect CoachGin Hammond
Head ElectricianPaul Arnold (Issaquah)
Brandon Cullinan (Everett)
Head Sound EngineerEvan Duckworth (Issaquah)
Steven Younkins (Everett)
Head Stage CarpenterWhitman Paylor (Issaquah)
Chris Mikolaizik (Everett)
Lead Deck, AutomationJustin Babbitt
Lead Deck, PropsOlof Sander (Issaquah)
Kyle Morgan (Everett)
ProgrammerZac Andersen (Issaquah)
Meghan McNeal (Everett)
Wardrobe HeadKate Simpson (Issaquah)
Lead WardrobeMalena Langlie
StitchersKali Pohle
Michelle Grimm
Katy Morrison
* Member of the Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of the Professional Actor and Stage Managers in the United States

Preview Post – Cambodian Rock Band – Musical – ACT Theatre and The 5th Avenue Theatre

Cambodian Rock Band Dengue Fever musical opening night at ACT Theatre w/ 5th Avenue Theatre. Performing until 11/5/23. Stay tuned for my full review! #showsiveseen #theatre #Cambodia #KhmerRouge #DengueFever #Cambodian

Tickets: https://acttheatre.org/2023-24-season/cambodian-rock-band/

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Dog Man: The Musical – Seattle Children’s Theatre & TheaterWorksUSA

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Dog Man: The Musical at Seattle Children’s Theatre by TheaterWorksUSA starring Brandon James Butorovich. Directed by Jen Wineman. Impressive pipes from Sadie Jayne Kennedy. Good way to introduce young kids to musicals. Corny humor like Disney Channel or ABC Family.

Synopsis from the Theatre: Dog Man: The Musical is based on the worldwide bestselling series from Dav Pilkey, the creator of Captain Underpants and Cat Kid Comic Club. Best buds George and Harold have been creating comics for years, but now that they’re in 5th grade, they figure it’s time to level up and write a musical based on their favorite character, Dog Man, the crime-biting sensation who is part dog, part man, and ALL HERO!! How hard could it be? With the head of a dog and the body of a policeman, Dog Man loves to fight crime and chew on the furniture. But while trying his best to be a good boy, can he save the city from Flippy the cyborg fish and his army of Beasty Buildings? Can he catch Petey, the world’s most evil cat, who has cloned himself to exact revenge on the doggy do-gooder? And will George and Harold finish their show before lunchtime?? Find out in this epic musical adventure featuring the hilarity and heart of Dav Pilkey’s beloved characters. The show is written by Kevin Del Aguila and Brad Alexander, who collaborated on the Emmy-winning series Peg + Cat on PBS, TheaterWorksUSA’s Click, Clack, Moo, and Clifford The Big Red Dog on PBS and Amazon. Jen Wineman directs and choreographs.

Attended Performance Date: 9/23/23 (Opening Weekend)

Type: Musical

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Several

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Several

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: No, but kids would probably enjoy this more if they’re familiar with the graphic book series.

Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes

Live Band/Orchestra: No

Equity Actors: All

Total Number of Actors: 6

Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium to fast

Length (Including Any Intermission): 65 minutes

Was there an intermission?: No

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

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now: No

Recommendation: See it if you want to take kids to the theatre especially if they’re familiar with the series

Rant(s)

  • “Why?” Scenes: As I’ve mentioned in a previous review, I loathe on-stage or on-screen scenes where a kid inscenantly asks “why?” to an adult. Young audience members probably like it though.
Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

  • Vocals: It felt less like a musical when they sang in unison. The score should include more harmony to feel more like a musical.
  • Cultural References: There were many references from (pop) culture like Hamilton, A Tale of Two Cities, and Annie that only adults would understand. It’s a shame these references fly over the young audience members’ heads.

Theatre Company: TheaterWorksUSA

Venue: Seattle Children’s Theatre

Venue Physical Address: 201 W Thomas St, Seattle, WA 98109

Price: Cheap to Medium

Ticket Affordability Options: Each performance has a value option available online. Also check out the theatre’s discount page.

Dates: September 21 to October 22, 2023

Seating: Assigned Seating

Parking: Paid street parking or various paid parking lots/garages. Street parking is sparse when there’s a major Seattle Center or Climate Pledge Arena event. I usually have good luck finding street parking around Lenny Wilkins Way next to the theatre on non-event days. I try to take the bus on event days since even the event street parking costs more than $12.

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Other Video +/- Pictures: See pictures in video and under video by Jeremy Daniel.

Cast and Production Team: See after pictures and video below

@showsiveseen "Dog Man: The Musical" at Seattle Children's Theatre + @TheaterWorksUSA starring @Hey it’s Brandon by Kevin Del Aguila & @Brad Alexander. Based on Dav Pilkey's books. Directed by Jen Wineman. Impressive pipes from @sadie jayne. Good way to introduce young kids to musicals. Corny humor like Disney Channel or ABC Family. Photos: Jeremy Daniel. Review: showsiveseen.com/6741 #theatre #showsiveseen #dogman #musical ♬ The Perfect Mashup – Forest Van Dyke & Dan Rosales & Jamie Laverdiere & Brian Owen & Crystal Sha'nae & L.R. Davidson & Kadrea Dawkins & Milo J. Marami
TheaterWorksUSA’s Dog Man: The Musical. Photo by Jeremy Daniel. L-R: L.R. Davidson, Crystal Sha’nae, Brian Owen, Forest VanDyke, Jamie LaVerdiere, Dan Rosales. 2019
TheaterWorksUSA’s Dog Man: The Musical. Photo by Jeremy Daniel. L-R: L.R. Davidson, Brian Owen, Dan Rosales, Forest VanDyke 2019
TheaterWorksUSA’s Dog Man: The Musical. Photo by Jeremy Daniel. L-R: Forest VanDyke, Brian Owen 2019
RoleName
Dog Man & Others Brandon James Butorovich
Flippy & Others Glory Yepassis-Zembrou
George & Others Chase Pittman
Li’l Petey & Others Sadie Jayne Kennedy
Harold & OthersGage Thomas
Petey & Others Jake Wernecke
Director & Choreographer Jen Wineman
ComposerBrad Alexander
Playwright & Lyricist Kevin Del Aguila
Author of the Book SeriesDav Pilkey
Tour Music Director Matt Castle
MusicBrad Alexander
Set Designer Timothy R. Mackabee
Costume Designer Heidi Leigh Hanson
Orchestrations Lloyd Kikoler
Sound Designer Emma Wilk
Stage Manager Roe Manzo

Preview Post – Passengers – Seattle Rep

Passengers cirque show opening weekend at Seattle Rep with The 7 Fingers. Performing until 10/15/23. Stay tuned for my full review! #showsiveseen #theatre #circus #acrobat #acrobatics

Tickets: https://www.seattlerep.org/plays/202324-season/passengers/

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