Musicals – Page 16 – Shows I've Seen

Rocky Horror Show – Musical – Red Curtain Foundation for the Arts

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): The Rocky Horror Picture Show musical sold out night at Red Curtain Foundation for the Arts. Complete w/ audience props & heckling. Energetic audience & cast. Great talent from Magenta, Frank, & Columbia. Brad & Rocky definitely looked the part. Awesome community theatre production! #cultClassic #camp

Synopsis from the Theatre: Oh, Rocky! In this cult classic, wholesome sweethearts Brad and Janet take refuge from a storm in the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter. As their innocence is stripped away, Brad and Janet meet a houseful of wild characters, including Frank-N-Furter’s latest creation — a muscle man named Rocky. This deliberately kitschy rock ‘n roll sci-fi gothic musical by Richard O’Brien encourages audience participation.

Type: Musical

World Premiere: No

Recommendation: See it! Especially if you like supporting community theatre.

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now?: Of course!

Rating (Out of 5 Stars): 4.25 stars

Other Rant(s)

Sound balancing between the actors and the band needed improvement.
One of the main characters was a bit tone deaf.
The heckling wasn’t in-sync enough so it was a little hard to understand. I also suggest the actors on stage not do it. It’s better if there are audience plants so it seems more spontaneous for those who haven’t seen the movie or musical.

Other Rave(s)

Maybe I’m a little biased since it’s my favorite song in the show but Magenta (Lauren Hayes) did a great job on “Science Fiction, Double Feature.”

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: October 21 to November 6, 2022

Seating: General Admission

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

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

Link(s):

https://redcurtainfoundation.org/now-playing

Other Video/Pictures: Scroll under the table below. Photos in video and photos below video are by Kenny Randall.

Cast and Production Team Leadership:

Narrator	Ivan Hodder
Brad Majors	Layton Gaskins
Janet Weiss	Katie Wallace
Riff Raff	Kendall Collins
Magenta	Lauren Hayes
Columbia + Dance Captain	Krista Patt
Dr. Frank N Furter	Josiah C Miller
Eddie & Dr. Scott	Garrison Whaley-shartp
Phantoms (Ensemble)	Daniel Hanlon, Ely Skywater, Briar Scott, Andi Leach, Gayle D Staker
Director	Robert Bogue
Music Director	Stephanie Phillips
Stage Manager	Kate Wallington
Assistant Stage Manager	Andy Wallington
Choreographer	Gayle Staker

@showsiveseen “#RockyHorror Show” #musical sold out night at @redcurtainarts. Complete w/ audience props & heckling. #Energetic audience & cast. Great talent from Magenta, Frank, & Columbia. Brad & Rocky definitely looked the part. Awesome community #theatre production! Review & Photo Credit: tinyurl.com/5fw6c3dh #campy #cultclassic ♬ original sound – Shows I’ve Seen

Columbia (Krista Patt), Magenta (Lauren Hayes), Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Josiah C. Collins), and Riff Raff (Kendall Collins)

Handyman Riff Raff (Kendall Collins), mad scientist Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Josiah Miller) and crazed domestic Magenta (Lauren Hayes)

Frank-N-Furter (center, played by Josiah Miller) leads guests Janet Weiss (left, played by Katie Wallace), Brad Majors (right, played by Layton Gaskins), and creation Rocky (far right, played by Kennan Miller)

Black and Tan – Musical – Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Black & Tan musical at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute. BiPOC perspectives on Seattle’s history centered around a famous interracial jazz nightclub. Promising dancers w/ graceful silhouettes & moves. #black #POC

Type: Musical-ish Show

Other Rant(s)

Needs better lighting placement and timing.
Awkward scene transition pauses.
Vocals and music were recorded which is more drag show than musical.
Needs more backstage staff so the actors don’t move props and contribute to scene pauses.

Other Rave(s)

It was free to the public! 🙂

Theatre Company : Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute

Venue: Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute

Venue Physical Address: 104 17th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98144

Price: Free!

Dates: October 15 – 16, 2022

Seating: General admission

Parking and Cost: Free on either the Langston Hughes Performing Arts parking lot or the street

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

Link(s):

https://www.langstonseattle.org/event/the-black-tan-musical/

Other Media:

@showsiveseen "Black & Tan" #musical at #Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute. #BiPOC perspectives on #Seattle's history centered around a famous interracial jazz nightclub. Promising dancers w/ graceful silhouettes & moves. #black #theatre #POC #langstonhughes ♬ Coming Back Home – WEARETHEGOOD & Scootie Wop

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

Avenue Q – Musical – Renton Civic Theatre

Elevator Pitch/Thoughts/Tweet: “Avenue Q” musical at Renton Civic Theatre. Puppets in “adult Sesame Street” teaching so many important life lessons. Compared to the professional tour, this production was actually pretty good. Best show out of the 3 I’ve seen at this theatre. Great band. #puppet #puppetry #AvenueQ

Type: Musical

Recommendation: See it especially if you like community theatre.

Rating (Out of 5 Stars): 4 stars

Other Rants

While the Christmas Eve actress was great, a more Asian-looking person should play this part or else it looks like “yellow face.”
Need to work on better sound balancing. That being said, the balance significantly improved from the previous “Hair” and “Jekyll & Hyde” I saw at this theatre.

Other Raves

The audience money collection segment was a cute touch. I don’t remember that from the professional tour. Maybe I was too high up in the balcony then!
Brittany Todd (Lucy the Slut), Alyssa Hope Maas (Kate Monster), and Graham Arthur Blair (Princeton) are outstanding! Peter McCarthy King (Brian) has an amazing rich voice!

Theater Company: Renton Civic Theatre

Venue: Renton Civic Theatre – 507 S 3rd St, Renton, WA 98057

Price: $ (Cheap)

Dates: September 23 – October 8, 2022

Seating: Assigned Seating

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

Link: https://ci.ovationtix.com/35408/production/1123382

Other Media: Photos in video and below video are by Kelsey Graham Photography

@showsiveseen #AvenueQ at Renton Civic Theatre. #Puppets in adult @sesamestreet teaching so many important life lessons. Compared to the professional tour, this production was actually pretty good. Best show out of the 3 I’ve seen at this #theatre. Great band. Pix by @kelsygram. #puppet #puppetry ♬ original sound – Shows I’ve Seen

The Griswold’s Broadway Vacation – Musical – 5th Avenue Theatre

Megan Reinking (Ellen Griswold), Hunter Foster (Clark Griswold), Livvy Marcus (Audrey Griswold), and Nathan Levy (Rusty Griswold). Photo Credit: Tracy Martin.

Elevator Pitch/Thoughts/Tweet: “The Griswold’s Broadway Vacation” mmusical at the 5th Avenue Theatre. Pleasantly surprised it featured Hunter Foster. Fantastic bright sets, props, & costumes. New York tourist trap haven. Easy 1980s sitcom-like conflict resolutions. Basic all-American themes, heart, & family. Loved the hick chic fashion montage. #theatre #NYC #Manhattan

Type: Musical

Recommendation: See it! Even if you didn’t see the movies (I didn’t).

Rating (Out of 5 Stars): 4.5 stars

Other Rants

Did a the teacher go on dates with the student back in the day? Weird.
A little too all-American. Despite the inclusive casting, the perspective isn’t very accessible to ethnicities. But I guess that’s not the fault of the musical but more the fault of the movie series.
Have they not heard of Stub Hub? Major plot hole here!

Other Raves

Loved Rusty Griswold’s side quests

Theater Company: The 5th Avenue Theatre

Venue: The 5th Avenue Theatre – 1308 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101

Price: $$$$ (Expensive)

Dates: September 13 – October 2, 2022

Seating: Assigned Seating

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

Link: https://www.5thavenue.org/shows/2022-23/the-griswolds-broadway-vacation/

Other Media:

@showsiveseen “The #Griswold‘s #Broadway #Vacation” #musical at the 5th Avenue Theatre. Pleasantly surprised it featured #HunterFoster. Fantastic bright sets, props, & costumes. #NewYork #tourist trap haven. Easy 1980s sitcom-like conflict resolutions. Basic all-american themes, heart, & family. Loved the hick chic fashion montage. #theatre #NYC #Manhattan ♬ Welcome To New York – Taylor Swift