Musicals – Page 31 – Shows I've Seen

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

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

Hunter Foster as Clark Griswold and Livvy Marcus as Audrey Griswold. Photo Credit: Mark Kitaoka.

Jen Cody as Madame Sherie, Megan Reinking as Ellen Griswold, and Alan H. Green as the Naked Commando. Photo Credit: Tracy Martin.

Jay Klaitz as Cousin Eddie. Photo Credit: Tracy Martin.

Megan Reinking and Hunter Foster star as Ellen and Clark Griswold in the world premiere of The Griswolds’ Broadway Vacation. Photo Credit: Mark Kitaoka.

Alan H. Green (center) as the Naked Commando and the cast of The Griswolds’ Broadway Vacation. Photo Credit: Tracy Martin.

Choir Boy – Musical Play – ACT Theatre

“Choir Boy” musical play at ACT Theatre w/ the 5th Avenue Theatre. Tight accapella harmonies like TAKE 6 or Boyz II Men. The flamboyant gay student’s comebacks were so witty. Loved the shower set design. Wondering what the ending dramatic pause symbolized. #LGBT #boardingSchool #POC #prepSchool #black #theatre

Type: Play with Music

Recommendation: See it!

Rating (Out of 5 Stars): 4 stars

Theater Company: ACT Theatre and 5th Avenue Theatre

Venue: ACT Theatre

Price: $$ (Medium)

Dates: September 11, 2022 – October 23, 2022

Seating: Assigned

Link: https://order.acttheatre.org/choir-boy

@showsiveseen “#Choir Boy” #musical #play at #ACTTheatre w/ #5thAveTheatre. Tight #accapella harmonies like #Take6 or @boyziimenofficial. The flamboyant #gay student’s comebacks were so witty! Loved the shower set design. Wondering what the ending dramatic pause symbolized. #LGBT #boardingSchool #POC #prepSchool #black #ChoirBoy ♬ original sound – Shows I’ve Seen

Little Shop of Horrors – Musical – Village Theatre

“Little Shop of Horrors” musical opening night at Village Theatre w/ Midori. Funny sprinkles of campy gestures/quips. Well-chosen Seymour. Loved the inclusive casting choices. Incredible Audrey One voice especially in “Suddenly, Seymour.”

Type: Musical

Recommendation: See it!

Rating (Out of 5 Stars): 4.5 stars

Theater Company: Village Theatre

Venue: Village Theatre

Price: $$ (Medium)

Dates: ISSAQUAH SEP 14 – OCT 23, 2022 | EVERETT OCT 28 – NOV 20, 2022

Seating: Assigned

Link: https://villagetheatre.org/mainstage/little-shop-of-horrors/

@showsiveseen “Little Shop of Horrors” #musical opening night at #VillageTheatre w/ @midorilei. #Funny sprinkles of #campy gestures/quips. Well-chosen Seymour. Loved the inclusive casting choices. Incredible Audrey 1 voice especially in “Suddenly, Seymour.” #LittleShopOfHorrors #theatre ♬ Prologue / Little Shop Of Horrors – Soundtrack / Cast Album