Preview Post – Fat Ham – Play – Seattle Rep

Fat Ham play opening night at Seattle Rep. Performing until 5/12/24. Stay tuned for my full review! #bipoc #black #hamlet #Shakespeare #Queer #LGBT #poc

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

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Sanctuary City – Play – Review – Seattle Rep

@showsiveseen "Sanctuary City" #play at the @seattlerep starring Emilie Maureen Hanson, Junior Nyong’o, & Josh Kenji. You're damned if you do and damned if you don't. Ends this weekend! #immigration #SanctuaryCity #theatre #showsiveseen #immigrant #undocumented ♬ Fighters – John Doherty

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Sanctuary City play at the Seattle Rep starring Emilie Maureen Hanson, Junior Nyong’o, & Josh Kenji. You’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t. Ends this weekend! #immigration #SanctuaryCity #immigrant #undocumented

Recommendation
See it if either 1) you enjoyed Vanessa’s season 1 character in Gossip Girl 2) or you’re okay with minimalist plays.


Synopsis from the Theatre: Winter, 2001, Newark, NJ. Two DREAMers—pre-DACA—meet up on the fire escape, which happens most nights. Both undocumented teens, they grapple with life’s challenges, from family to their futures. When one becomes naturalized, she promises to marry the other so he can receive his papers and truly start his life. As time passes and their relationship shifts, both must confront what they are willing to sacrifice to live freely and belong. This searing and captivating new play by Pulitzer Prize-winning Martyna Majok asks what we’re willing to risk for those we love.

Attended Performance Date: Opening Night 3/6/24 – Keep your eyes peeled for my preview posts on my website and social media if you want earlier notification of shows I’ve seen. Get your tickets now since it closes this weekend on 3/31/24!

Type: Play

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Several

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Several

Static (Stationary) Set? Mostly yes. Two-thirds of the play was in a minimalist set, and the second third was in a true stationary set.

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: No

Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes, but it was more dialog than action.

Equity Actors: 1

Total Number of Actors: 3

Perceived Pace of the Show: Slow during the first two-thirds of the play and medium speed during the last third of the play.

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

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

  • Stark Energy Shift: The first two-thirds of the play were executed in a minimalist way on an empty set like an undocumented immigrant in limbo. The play became markedly more interesting after they introduced a true full set and a 3rd character. This delayed set and character introduction was way too late for my taste. I hope there was a deliberate symbolic reason for this late introduction … otherwise, I’d consider it bad writing.
  • Limbo: It was emotionally frustrating to observe the annoying vacillating between decision and indecision. Talk about whiplash! But I assume this was intentional to convey the limbo that undocumented immigrants feel.

Theatre Company: Seattle Repertory Theatre

Venue: Leo K. Theater at Seattle Repertory Theatre

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

Price: Medium to expensive

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

Ticket Affordability Options: See the theatre’s official pages about discounts and pay-what-you-can performances

Dates: March 1 to 31, 2024

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 plentiful 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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Pictures: See pictures below by Bronwen Houck.

Emilie Maureen Hanson and Junior Nyong’o in Sanctuary City (2024) at Seattle Rep. Photo by Bronwen Houck.
Emilie Maureen Hanson and Junior Nyong’o in Sanctuary City (2024) at Seattle Rep. Photo by Bronwen Houck.
Emilie Maureen Hanson and Junior Nyong’o in Sanctuary City (2024) at Seattle Rep. Photo by Bronwen Houck.
Emilie Maureen Hanson and Junior Nyong’o in Sanctuary City (2024) at Seattle Rep. Photo by Bronwen Houck.
Emilie Maureen Hanson and Junior Nyong’o in Sanctuary City (2024) at Seattle Rep. Photo by Bronwen Houck.
Emilie Maureen Hanson and Junior Nyong’o in Sanctuary City (2024) at Seattle Rep. Photo by Bronwen Houck.
Emilie Maureen Hanson and Junior Nyong’o in Sanctuary City (2024) at Seattle Rep. Photo by Bronwen Houck.

Preview Post – Sanctuary City – Play – Seattle Rep

Sanctuary City play opening night by Seattle Rep. Performing until 3/31/24. Stay tuned for my full review! #immigrant #immigration

Final Full Review (Posted 3/28/24): https://www.showsiveseen.com/sanctuary-city-play-review-seattle-rep/

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

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Quixote Nuevo – Play w/ Music – Review – Seattle Rep

@showsiveseen Octavio Solis's "#Quixote Nuevo" amusing #play-w/-music by @seattlerep, @Portland Center Stage, & @South Coast Repertory starring Herbert Siguenza as #DonQuixote. Alluring portrayal of #dementia #hallucinations from the patient's perspective. Ernie González Jr. stole the show with his Sancho Panza comedic relief. Review: showsiveseen.com/7787  Director: Lisa Portes Music Director: Jesse J Sanchez #showsiveseen #theatre #Mexican #Chicano #puppetry #dementia #tejano #immigration #border ♬ Tijuana Nights (feat. iLL Nicky) – Bad Royale

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Octavio Solis’s Quixote Nuevo amusing play-w/-music by Seattle Rep, Portland Center Stage, & South Coast Repertory starring Herbert Siguenza as Don Quixote. Alluring portrayal of dementia hallucinations from the patient’s perspective. Ernie González Jr stole the show with his Sancho Panza comedic relief. #Mexican #Chicano #puppetry #dementia #tejano #immigration #border

Recommendation
See it, especially if you enjoy Chicano, Tejano, or Mexican culture. This play would also be up your alley if you liked the amusing nature of Between Two Knees and Peter and the Starcatcher.


Synopsis from the Theatre: Aging Cervantes professor Jose Quijano isn’t going down without a fight. When his family tries to move him to an assisted living facility, Jose escapes on his valiant tricycle steed in search of his long-lost love. Reality and fantasy blur in the Texas desert, as Jose dubs himself Don Quixote and embarks on a fantastic, death-defying journey to discover the truth of his past. Underscored by vibrant Tejano music, Quixote Nuevo is a humorous and heartfelt quest towards becoming the hero of your own story.

Attended Performance Date: Opening Night 1/24/24 – Keep your eyes peeled for my preview posts if you want earlier notification of shows I’ve seen.

Type: Musical-like Play

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Several

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Several

Static (Stationary) Set? Mostly yes

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: You’d probably understand this play more if you’re already familiar with Chicano, Tejano, or Mexican expressions, language, and culture. It would have been harder for me to grasp if I didn’t grow up in San Antonio. There was a surprising amount of untranslated Spanish that the common Seattleite would have not understood. Additionally, it obviously helps if you’re also familiar with the classic Don Quixote story.

Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes

Live Band/Orchestra: Mostly no, but this wasn’t a true musical. Occasionally, the performers played a guitar.

Equity Actors: 9

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? Maybe

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned Above

  • Elements of a Musical: This play occasionally exhibited elements of a musical similar to Peter and the Starcatcher. Raul Cardona even performed a minute of boot tap dancing! The few harmonies (especially the theme song) reminded me of national Broadway touring shows.
  • Puppetry: Even though I don’t typically enjoy stage puppetry, I could appreciate its effectiveness in this production. Just like in Wolf Play, life-sized puppets portrayed the child characters.
  • Death: For some reason, I’m drawn to death personifications in art like the movie Meet Joe Black or the musical Hadestown. Raul Cardona was well-cast as Papa Calaca (translated as “Father Skull”) who was a narrator-like guide (with a fit torso!) in this play.
  • Dementia Hallucinations: I was drawn to Don Quixote’s breaks of full-on hallucination throughout the show especially when the sound effects transformed the actors’ voices to the demonic. During these scenes, the actors danced in interesting costumes inspired by Día de Muertos, which isn’t something you see often on stage.
  • “I’m Telling You” Meme: I’m 75% sure they intentionally included a line referencing the “I’m Telling You” meme. If I’m correct, I’m so disappointed that the audience didn’t get it.
@bad_2the_bone_paranormal He’s not real 😱 #paranormal #flightattendant #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealthawareness #airplane #pilot #passenger #passengerprincess #losingit #hesnotreal #flying #flyin #firstclass #firstclassflight #breakingnews ♬ original sound – Bad To The Bone Paranormal

Theatre Company: Seattle Rep in association with Portland Center Stage and South Coast Repertory

Venue: Bagley Wright Theater at Seattle Repertory Theatre

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

Price: Medium to Expensive

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

Ticket Affordability Options:

Dates: January 19 to February 11, 2024

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 plentiful 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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Other Video +/- Pictures: See pictures below by Nate Watters or by Jenny Graham.

Viviana Garza, Alexis B. Santiago, Lakin Valdez, Laura Crotte and Herbert Siguenza in South Coast Repertory’s 2023 production of Quixote Nuevo by Octavio Solis. Photo by Jenny Graham.
Ernie González, Jr., and Herbert Siguenza in South Coast Repertory’s 2023 production of Quixote Nuevo by Octavio Solis. Photo by Jenny Graham.
Maya Malan-Gonzalez, Alexis B. Santiago, Lakin Valdez, Laura Crotte and Sol Castillo in in South Coast Repertory’s 2023 production of Quixote Nuevo by Octavio Solis. Photo by Jenny Graham.
Ernie González, Jr., Herbert Siguenza and Raúl Cardona in South Coast Repertory’s 2023 production of Quixote Nuevo by Octavio Solis. Photo by Jenny Graham.
Lakin Valdez, Raúl Cardona, Maya Malan-Gonzalez and Herbert Siguenza in South Coast Repertory’s 2023 production of Quixote Nuevo by Octavio Solis. Photo by Jenny Graham.
Laura Crotte, Maya Malan-Gonzalez, Viviana Garza, Sol Castiloo and Herbert Siguenza and Raúl Cardona in South Coast Repertory’s 2023 production of Quixote Nuevo by Octavio Solis. Photo by Jenny Graham.
The cast of South Coast Repertory’s 2023 production of Quixote Nuevo by Octavio Solis. Photo by Jenny Graham.
The cast of Quixote Nuevo (2024) at Seattle Rep. Photo by Nate Watters.
The cast of Quixote Nuevo (2024) at Seattle Rep. Photo by Nate Watters.
Maya Malan-Gonzalez and Herbert Siguenza in Quixote Nuevo (2024) at Seattle Rep. Photo by Nate Watters.
Raúl Cardona and Herbert Siguenza in Quixote Nuevo (2024) at Seattle Rep. Photo by Nate Watters.
Herbert Siguenza in Quixote Nuevo (2024) at Seattle Rep. Photo by Nate Watters.

Preview Post – Quixote Nuevo – Play with Music – Seattle Rep

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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