Shows I've Seen | Theatre Reviews
Musicals, Plays, Concerts, Oh My! (and other Performing Arts)
The Book of Will play opening night at Taproot Theatre. Performing until 2/24/24. Stay tuned for my full review!
Final Full Review (Posted 2/19/24): showsiveseen.com/7994
Tickets: https://taproottheatre.org/shows/2024/the-book-of-will/
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Quixote Nuevo play-with-music opening night by Seattle Rep, Portland Center Stage, & South Coast Repertory. Performing until 2/11/24. Stay tuned for my full review! #showsiveseen #theatre #DonQuixote #Mexican #immigration #Chicano #puppetry #dementia #hallucinations #Tejano
Final Full Review (Posted 01/27/24): https://www.showsiveseen.com/7787
Tickets: https://www.seattlerep.org/plays/202324-season/quixote-nuevo/
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Becoming Dr. Ruth play opening night at Village Theatre. Performing until 2/18/24 in Issaquah then performing till 3/17/24 in Everett. Stay tuned for my full review! #Jew #Jewish #holocaust #showsiveseen #theatre #storytelling
Final Full Review (Posted 2/19/24): showsiveseen.com/7832
Tickets: https://villagetheatre.org/shows/dr-ruth/
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Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Fellow Passengers play by Strawberry Theatre Workshop. A play-within-a-play where the outer play was silent and the inner play was a spoken reenactment of A Christmas Carol. Solid, well-developed storytelling delivery. Realistically-designed basement set. Live sound effects from Ayako Okano.
Synopsis from the Theatre: In a fortuitous turn of events, Strawshop is proud to announce that Fellow Passengers—originally scheduled at Book-It Repertory Theatre—opens December 1 for a four-week revival at it’s original home: Strawberry Theatre Workshop. Told in the narrative style that Book-It made famous in Seattle, “Passengers” is every page of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol performed by just three actors, who bring over fifty characters to the stage.
Attended Performance Date: Opening Night 12/2/23 – See my previous preview posts here.
Type: Play
World Premiere: No
Several or Few Scenes: Several
Several or Few Settings/Locations: It was a play within a play. The outer play was just one location (a basement) and the inner play was several locations from A Christmas Carol.
Static (Stationary) Set?: Yes, the outer play set was “set in stone.” The inner play definitely required more imagination from the audiance than than most other shows.
Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: No, but if you’d probably appreciate the show more if you’re familiar with the original A Christmas Carol story.
Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes
Live Band/Orchestra: Ayako Okano generated live sound effects and some music. She used bells, chimes, chains, an electronic keyboard, and a milk crate of all things.
Equity Actors: 2
Total Number of Actors: 3
Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium Speed
Length (Including Any Intermission): 2 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, but it was good
Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned Above
Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)
Theatre Company: Strawberry Theatre Workshop
Venue: 12th Avenue Arts
Venue Physical Address: 1620 12th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
Price: Cheap to medium
Tickets: https://www.strawshop.org/fellow-passengers.html
Dates: December 1 – 23, 2023
Seating: Assigned Seating
Parking: Paid lot or paid street parking. Street parking is extremely limited since it’s Capitol Hill. Your best luck would be East of Cal Anderson Park on 11th or 12th Ave. The cheapest paid lot close by is at 1300 E Olive St with the entrance on 14th Ave. I highly suggest parking far away or taking the bus since parking lots and street parking are expensive in Capitol Hill.
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Cast and Production Team: See after pictures and/or video below
@showsiveseen Greg Carter's "Fellow Passengers" #play by Strawberry Theatre Workshop. A play-within-a-play where the outer play was silent and the inner play was a spoken reenactment of #CharlesDickens #AChristmasCarol." Solid, well-developed storytelling delivery. Realistically-designed basement set. Live sound effects from Ayako Okano. Photos: John Ulman. Review: showsiveseen.com/7640 #theatre #showsiveseen #xmas #humbug #dickens #ChristmasCarol #Scrooge #Christmas ♬ Merry Christmas Baby – Sture Zetterberg
| Role | Name |
| Performers | Shermona Mitchell Galen Joseph Osier^ Amy Thone^ Daniel Christensen (Understudy) |
| — | — |
| Playwright | Greg Carter adapting from from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol |
| Director | Rhonda J Soikowski |
| Musician | Ayako Okono |
| Stage Manager | P Alyda Sorm |
| Graphic Designer | Melanie Wang |
| Box Office Manager | Megan Carleton |
| Designers and Constructors | Adam Zopfi Hulse Reed Nakayama KD Schill Kyle Thompson Greg Carter Megan Carleton Forrest Leonard Rhonda J Soikowski Nona Schroeder |
| Lighting Designer | Reed Nakayama |
| Property Designer | Adam Zopfi Hulse |
| Scenic Designer | Greg Carter |
Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Georgiana & Kitty play at Taproot Theatre. Final chapter in Lauren Gunderson’s and Margot Melcon’s “Christmas at Pemberley” Pride and Prejudice trilogy. Filled with the hallmark themes of Jane Austen’s stories. Relatable to online dating.
Synopsis from the Theatre: Georgiana Darcy is an accomplished pianist but wary of romance. Kitty Bennet is a bright-eyed optimist and a perfect best friend. These two younger sisters are ready for their own adventures in life and love, starting with the arrival of an admirer and secret correspondent. Meddlesome families and outmoded expectations won’t stop these determined friends from forging their own way in a holiday tale filled with music, ambition, sisterhood, and forgiveness. The third and final play in the trilogy by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon.
Attended Performance Date: Opening Night 11/24/23 – See my previous preview posts here.
Type: Play
World Premiere: No
Several or Few Scenes: Several
Several or Few Settings/Locations: (Very?) Few
Static (Stationary) Set?: Yes
Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: Pride and Prejudice is required reading (or “watching” if you prefer a movie/play) to understand and appreciate this play. Don’t worry if you didn’t see the previous two chapters in the “Christmas at Pemberley” trilogy. I saw the 2nd and 3rd chapters sequentially without seeing the 1st chapter and I still enjoyed the shows. But if you’re like me and you’re not an ardent Pride and Prejudice aficionado, I highly recommend reviewing the helpful family tree in the program on page A-3.
Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes
Equity Actors: 2
Total Number of Actors: 9
Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium Speed
Length (Including Any Intermission): 2.5 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? No, but it was good. Since I saw the 2nd and 3rd chapters of this trilogy, I’m now curious to see the 1st chapter.
Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned Above
Rant(s)
Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)
Theatre Company: Taproot Theatre
Venue: Jewell Mainstage at Taproot Theatre
Venue Physical Address: 204 N 85th St, Seattle, WA 98103
Price: Medium
Tickets: https://taproottheatre.org/shows/2023/georgiana-kitty-christmas-at-pemberley/
Ticket Affordability Options: TodayTix
Dates: November 22 to December 30, 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.
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Other Video +/- Pictures: See pictures under video and in video by Robert Wade Photography.
Cast and Production Team: See after pictures and/or video below
@showsiveseen "Georgiana & Kitty" #play at @TaprootTheatre starring Claire Marx & @Ays Garcia. Directed by Karen Lund. Final chapter of Lauren Gunderson's and Margot Melcon's "#Christmas at #Pemberley" #JaneAusten trilogy. Filled with the #hallmark themes of #PrideAndPrejudice. Relatable to online dating. Photos: Robert Wade. Review: showsiveseen.com/7519 #theatre #showsiveseen #xmas ♬ Please Santa Please – Pentatonix
| ROLE | NAME |
| Kitty Bennet | Ays Garcia* |
| Elizabeth Darcy | Annie Yim |
| Fitzwilliam Darcy | Brian Pucheu |
| Henry Grey | William Eames |
| Georgiana Darcy | Claire Marx |
| Jane Bingley | Melame Hampton |
| Mary Bennet | Shanna Allman |
| Lydia Wickham | Kelly Karcher* |
| Thomas O’Brien | Jeremy Steckler |
| — | — |
| Georgiana, Lydia, & Jane U/S | Rebecca Gelzer |
| Darcy & Thomas U/S | Elijah Spreier |
| Kitty, Lizzy, & Mary U/S | Ariel Rose |
| Darcy & Henry U/S | David Breyman |
| — | — |
| PRODUCTION TEAM | |
| Director | Karen Lund** |
| Assistant Director | Bretteney Beverly |
| Playwrights | Lauren Gunderson, Margot Melcon |
| Original Compositions | Michael Nutting |
| Associate Artistic Director | Bretteney Beverly |
| Co-Scenic Designer | Amanda Sweger |
| Sound & Co-Scenic Designer | Mark Lund |
| Costume Designer | Pete Rush |
| Lighting Designer | Tim Wratten |
| Stage Manager | Nik Nolen* |
| Dialect Coach | Dimitri Woods |
| Property Master | Andrea Spraycar |
| Dramaturg Team | Kelly Flynt, Sonja Lowe, Dami Munroe |
| Assistant Stage Manager | Nicola Krause |
| Backstage Crew Swing | Ashley Burns |
| Casting Director | Bretteney Beverly |
| Casting Consultant | Jes Spencer |
| Dresser | Luna McMeen, Brooke Thomas |
| Draper | Martha Mitchell |
| Stitcher | Veronica Dimoff, Scian Hayes, Lucy Cavener |
| Wig Designer | Joyce Degenfelder |
| Wig Specialist | Jenn Hill |
| Master Electrician | Aiyana Stephens |
| Scenic Carpenter | Tim Samland ^ |
| Light Board Operator | Matthew Ray |
| Sound Board Operator | Andi Villegas |
| Electricians | Clint Bull, Morgan Poirer, Matthew Ray, Anna Van Vleet, Jacob Viramontes |
| Scenic Strike/Load-in | Elke Johnson ^, Kimmy Mar ^, M. Stephanie Watson^ |