Category: Seattle Theatre Group

Giveaway: I’m giving away a free ticket to this show. Enter the contest on Instagram! Update (3/11/23): Congrats to Matt!

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Dear Evan Hansen musical w/ Broadway at the Paramount Theatre and Seattle Theatre Group. Good visibility on depressed, lonely, awkward people who are obsessed w/ social media and who don’t fit in. #DearEvanHansen #suicide #depression

Synopsis from the Theatre: A letter that was never meant to be seen, a lie that was never meant to be told, a life he never dreamed he could have. Evan Hansen is about to get the one thing he’s always wanted: a chance to finally fit in. DEAR EVAN HANSEN is the deeply personal and profoundly contemporary musical about life and the way we live it. DEAR EVAN HANSEN has struck a remarkable chord with audiences and critics everywhere, including The Washington Post who says DEAR EVAN HANSEN is “one of the most remarkable shows in musical theatre history.” The New York Times calls it “a gut-punching, breathtaking knockout of a musical.” And NBC Nightly News declares the musical “an anthem resonating on Broadway and beyond.” DEAR EVAN HANSEN features a book by Tony Award winner Steven Levenson, a score by Grammy®, Tony® and Academy Award® winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land, The Greatest Showman), and direction by four-time Tony Award nominee Michael Greif (Rent, Next to Normal).

Reviewed Performance: 3/7/23 Evening – Opening Night

Type: Musical

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Several

Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes

Live Band/Orchestra: Yes

Recommendation: See it!

Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show: No, I previously saw this years ago at the Paramount Theatre. I actually listen to the soundtrack in my car every so often.

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now: I’d consider it, but I probably would only see a professional/equity production like this and not a community production.

Rating Compared to Other Shows with the Same Production Value:
4.5 Stars (Out of 5 Stars)

Equity Actors: All of them

Total Number of Actors: 8

Length (Including Any Intermission): 2.75 hours

Intermission: Yes

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned in Elevator Thoughts

• Projections and Lighting: I’m always a huge fan of modern design and clean lines. The spotlights and projections dramatically converged in “Waving Through a Window” and “You Will Be Found.” Most of the projections were inspired by social media and this production didn’t lazily use the projections as a crutch for the storyline. However, I wonder how long the projections will stay relevant. For example, today’s high schoolers don’t gravitate toward the social media platforms (like Facebook) mentioned throughout the show.
• Awkwardness: Anthony Norman portrayed Evan Hansen well as a weird loser who doesn’t fit it. There should be less snorts though. In my opinion, snorting on-stage or on-film is an overused crutch to portray awkward demeanor to the audience. I’ve never known someone to regularly snort in real life.
• Silence and Darkness: Similar to the recent Metamorphoses play at Seattle Rep, this show is uniquely lacks sound and color (in a good way), which is in contrast to most other musicals that usually more ostentatious. The silence was particularly fitting in the tense moments before Evan Hansen’s speech.
• “Waving Through a Window” Lyrics: I love how they allude to the smartphone social media experience in the chorus lyrics “cause I’m tap, tap, tapping on the glass. I’m waving through a window … is anybody waving back at me?”
• Favorite Line: “The only people that like high school are cheerleaders and football players.”

Rant(s)

• Pitch Issues: There were numerous moments someone sang slightly off key when attempting to reach high notes.
• “Sincerely, Me” Stiffness: The comedic relief song “Sincerely, Me” didn’t feel as playful as I remember from the first time I saw this musical. Move your arms and hands more please! Maybe it was the magic and wonder of seeing the show for the first time that made the song better for me back then.
• Paramount Theatre Seating: Like I mentioned in my previous Paramount Theatre show review, I’m thankful for the opportunity to review this show and my seats were great on paper but the Paramount Theatre is in desperate need of better seat staggering and a steeper slope. The people sitting in the two rows in front of me were clearly struggling with their view. And I could even hear the person behind me complaining that they couldn’t see. The seats are so terribly placed that the person two rows down from me was blocking my view. A part of me thinks that it isn’t worth shelling out upwards of $100 per ticket to only hear the show and not see it adequately. Make sure your seat is in the first row of a section!

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

• Fundraiser: The teens in the story were not fundraising for a worthy cause. Why not raise money for something that will actually prevent suicides and depression? What a waste!
• Alana Beck: Such an annoying character. She needs to mind her own business and stop using people. I also didn’t buy her explanation for her motives.

Theatre Company: National Tour Coordinated by Broadway Across America and Seattle Theatre Group

Venue: Paramount Theatre

Venue Physical Address: 911 Pine St, Seattle, WA 98101

Price: Medium to Expensive

Ticket Affordability Options: Seattle Theatre Group might partner with an organization you’re affiliated with for discount tickets. For example, I believe UW employees and students are eligible for an organization discount.

Dates: March 7 to 12, 2023

Seating: Assigned Seating

Parking: Paid street parking and paid garage parking. The best parking garage is under the convention center w/ the entrance on Pike around the Pike and Terry intersection. Last I checked, this is one of the cheapest, least busy, and closest garages. Alternatively, you can probably find street parking as you move closer to the West Precinct (810 Virginia St, Seattle, WA 98101). Do NOT park where the Paramount subscribers park. Last I checked, they usually park in the garage attached to the Cheesecake Factory. It’ll take you at least 30 minutes to exit that garage after the show.

Like/Comment/Share my Social Media Posts About this Performance:
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Buy a Ticket or Learn More:

• https://www.stgpresents.org/calendar/12860/dear-evan-hansen
• https://seattle.broadway.com/shows/dear-evan-hansen/
• https://dearevanhansen.com/
• Program

Other Video +/- Pictures: See pictures under video

Cast and Production Team: See after pictures and video below

@showsiveseen “Dear Evan Hansen” #musical at Paramount Theatre w/ @seattletheatregroup. Good visibility for depressed, lonely, awkward people who don’t fit in and who are obsessed w/ #socialMedia. Review: showsiveseen.com/4148 #DearEvanHansen #suicide #depression #theatre ♬ Waving Through A Window – Ben Platt & Original Broadway Cast of Dear Evan Hansen

Role	Name
Zoe Murphy	Alaina Anderson
Jared Kleinman	Reese Sebastian Diaz was the understudy for Pablo David Laucerica during the 3/7/23 performance
Connor Murphy	August Emerson
Alana Beck	Micaela Lamas
Larry Murphy	John Hemphill
Evan Hansen	Anthony Norman (Jeffrey Cornelius on Saturday Matinee and Sunday Evening)
Heidi Hansen	Coleen Sexton
Cynthia Murphy	Lili Thomas
—	—
Evan Hansen, Connor Murphy, Jared Kleinman Understudy	Reese Sebastian Diaz
Evan Hansen, Jared Kleinman Understudies	Jeffrey Cornelius, Pierce Wheeler
Jared Kleinman, Connor Murphy Understudies	Ian Coursey
Heidi Hansen, Cynthia Murphy Understudies	Isabel Santiago, Kelsey Venter
Alana Beck, Zoe Murphy Understudies	Valeria Ceballos, Gillian Jackson Han
Larry Murphy Understudy	Daniel Robert Sullivan
—	—
Music Director/Conductor/Keyboard	Garret Healey
Associate Conductor	Michael Uselmann
Guitar	Matt Brown, Eric Stockton
Drums	Ryan McCausland
Bass	Jack Helsley
Violin/Concertmaster	Eugene Kaler
Viola	Michi Aceret
Cello	Caitlin Thomas
Additional Orchestrations	Christopher Jahnke
Keyboard Programmer	Randy Cohen
Associate Keyboard Programmer	Jeremy King
Ableton Programmers	Enrico De Trizio, Scott Wasserman
Music Copying	Emily Grishman Music Preparation
—	—
Director	Michael Greif
Author	Steven Levenson
Composers and Lyricists	Benj Pasek & Justin Paul
Choreographer	Danny Mefford
Music Supervision, Orchestrations & Additional Arrangements	Alex Lacamoire
Scenic Designer	David Korins
Projection Designer	Peter Nigrini
Costume Designer	Emily Rebholz
Lighting Designer	Japhy Weideman
Sound Designer	Nevin Steinberg
Hair Designer	David Brian Brown
Associate Music Supervisor	Ben Cohn
Music Director	Garret Healey
Music Coordinators	Michael Keller and Michael Aarons
Vocal Arrangements, Additional Arrangements	Justin Paul
Production Supervisor	Judith Schoenfeld
Stage Manager	Jovon E. Shuck
Company Manager	Deann L. Boise
Senior Associate Director	Danny Sharron
Senior Associate Choreographer	Mark Myars
Executive Producers	Wendy Orshan and Jeffrey M. Wilson
Dance Captain	Kelsey Venter

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations jukebox musical w/ Broadway at the Paramount and Seattle Theatre Group. Imagine a mashup of the musicals Motown and Jersey Boys. Tight harmonies and smooth dance moves. Even the synchronized stage clapping sounded good! #theatre #retro

Synopsis from the Theatre: Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations is the electrifying, new smash-hit Broadway musical that follows The Temptations’ extraordinary journey from the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. With their signature dance moves and silky-smooth harmonies, they rose to the top of the charts creating an amazing 42 Top Ten Hits with 14 reaching number one. Nominated for 12 Tony® Awards and the winner of the 2019 Tony Award for Best Choreography, Ain’t Too Proud tells the thrilling story of brotherhood, family, loyalty, and betrayal, as the group’s personal and political conflicts threatened to tear them apart during a decade of civil unrest in America. Written by three-time Obie Award winner Dominique Morisseau, directed by two-time Tony Award winner Des McAnuff (Jersey Boys), and featuring the Tony-winning choreography of Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys, On Your Feet!), the unforgettable story of this legendary quintet is set to the beat of the group’s treasured hits, including “My Girl,” “Just My Imagination,” “Get Ready,” “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” and so many more.

Reviewed Performance: 1/24/23 – Opening Night

Type: Jukebox Musical

World Premiere: No

Awards: 2019 Tony Award for Best Choreography

Defined Plot/Storyline: Plot was semi-defined but not strong. But this is typical in a jukebox musical. It is also expected from shows written in biographical form (like this one). There is no strong plot in real life!

Live Band/Orchestra: Yes

Recommendation: See it especially if you’re a fan of the Temptations group. You don’t need to be a fan of their music to enjoy the show. I only knew 1/4 of the songs and my dad only knew 2 of the songs.

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

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now: Maybe

Rating Compared to Other Shows with the Same Production Value:
4.5 Stars (Out of 5 Stars)

Equity Actors: All of them

Number of Actors: 22

Length: 2.5 to 2.75 hours, which felt a little longer than what I’m used to

Intermission: Yes

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned in Elevator Thoughts

• Voices: Obviously, all the actors had amazing voices. But a special shoutout goes to Devin Price (Al Bryant) with his powerful tenor in “(You Make Me Want to) Shout.” Elijah Ahmad Lewis (David Ruffin) was a great replacement for Devin when the Temptations kicked Devin’s character out the group. The tenors don’t get all the glory in this show though. Harrell Holmes Jr showcased his incredible bass voice as Melvin Franklin. He “got bass lower than the devil!”
• Lighting Design: The stage haze elegantly highlighted the simple clean lines of the bright spotlights dramatically shining directly downward on each of the Temptations. The marquees on the set reminded me of ritzy classic showbiz. The large lightbulbs that suddenly shined directly behind the Temptations were elegant and glamourous. The designers even included details like “hot lights” on TV set video recorders in the American Bandstand scenes.
• Costumes: The costumes conveyed a vintage feel. I was strangely drawn to the funeral attire, which was very elegant, simple, and old money. The classic black umbrellas were also a nice addition to the funeral scene.
• Supremes: I was pleasantly surprised that they included some numbers sung by the Supremes like “Can’t Buy Me Love.”

Rant(s)

• Views in the Paramount Theatre: Warning, soapbox ahead! Let me just start out saying that I’m extremely thankful for the opportunity to review this show and my seat was well-placed. It was on the aisle at the center where I could theoretically see everything. It was also not too close or far from the stage. However, most patrons at the Paramount Theatre tend to significantly obstruct the view of the person directly behind them. I’ve been burned too many times by this. I’ve even sat in the third row of the center main floor orchestra and a head still annoyingly blocked my view, which was very disappointing especially after paying more than $100 on that ticket. Several regular Seattle theatre patrons have voiced the same concern with Paramount Theatre seats. It is ironic that the arguably most prestigious theatre in the city (which also hosts most touring Broadway shows) also has the highest possibility of an obstructed view. I’ve never experienced this at 5th Avenue Theatre, Village Theatre, or ACT Theatre. Unfortunately, at the Paramount Theatre, you’re only safe with a view in a section’s first row (whether orchestra or mezzanine) with a walkway buffer in front of you. You’d also be safe in the back row of a section propped up by two seat pillows. I wish the Paramount Theatre could change the elevation grade/slope to be steeper and I also wish they would stagger the seats better. Hopefully the “Save a Seat” program will prevent obstructed views that make it difficult to review/enjoy shows. First world problems, right? 😛

Other Thought(s)

• Historical Anecdotes: A couple interesting historical facts were mentioned throughout the show. For example, apparently there have been more than 25 Temptations members since the group’s inception. Also, one of the past members was known for sneaking on-stage to perform after the group fired him!

Theatre Company: National Tour from Broadway Across America and Seattle Theatre Group

Venue: Paramount Theatre

Venue Physical Address: 911 Pine Street, Seattle, WA 98101

Price: Medium to Expensive

Ticket Affordability Options: Seattle Theatre Group might partner with an organization you’re affiliated with for discount tickets. For example, I believe UW employees and students are eligible for an organization discount.

Dates: January 24 – February 5, 2023

Seating: Assigned Seating

Parking: Paid street parking and paid garage parking. The best parking garage is under the convention center w/ the entrance on Pike around the Pike and Terry intersection. Last I checked, this is one of the cheapest, least busy, and closest garages. Alternatively, you can probably find street parking as you move closer to the West Precinct (810 Virginia St, Seattle, WA 98101). Do NOT park where the Paramount subscribers park. Last I checked, they usually park in the garage attached to the Cheesecake Factory. It’ll take you at least 30 minutes to exit that garage after the show.

Like/Comment/Share my Social Media Posts About this Performance:
Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

Buy a Ticket or Learn More:

• https://www.stgpresents.org/calendar/12854/ain-t-too-proud-the-life-and-times-of-the-temptations
• https://ainttooproudmusical.com/
• Program

Other Video +/- Pictures: See pictures under video

@showsiveseen “Ain’t Too Proud: The Life & Times of the #Temptations” #jukebox #musical w/ @seattletheatregroup at Paramount #Theatre. Imagine a mashup of the musicals #Motown & Jersey Boys. Tight harmonies & smooth dance moves. Even the synchronized stage clapping sounded good! Review: showsiveseen.com/3482 @motownrecords #retro @officialtemptations ♬ My Girl (from “My Girl”) – Hollywood Session Singers

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Moulin Rouge! The Musical w/ Broadway at The Paramount & Seattle Theatre Group. Ostentatious dazzling scenic design. Fabulous costumes. Endless catchy modern pop culture song mashups not in the movie. Dances set to exciting heart-pounding beats. Truth, beauty, freedom, love! #bohemia #extravaganza #theatre #jukebox

Synopsis from the Theatre: Enter a world of splendor and romance, of eye-popping excess, of glitz, grandeur, and glory! A world where Bohemians and aristocrats rub elbows and revel in electrifying enchantment. Welcome to Moulin Rouge! The Musical! Baz Luhrmann’s revolutionary film comes to life onstage, remixed in a new musical mash-up extravaganza. Directed by Tony Award® winner Alex Timbers, Moulin Rouge! The Musical is a theatrical celebration of Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and — above all — Love. With a book by Tony Award® winner John Logan; music supervision, orchestrations, and arrangements by Tony Award® winner Justin Levine; and choreography by Tony Award® winner Sonya Tayeh, Moulin Rouge! is more than a musical — it is a state of mind.

Reviewed Performance: 12/16 Opening Press Night – There were major call outs that required the understudies. Denzel Tsopnang portrayed the Duke, which was usually David Harris. Andrew Brewer portrayed Christian, which was usually Conor Ryan. And Adéa Michelle Sessoms portrayed La Chocolat, which was usually Harper Miles.

Type: Musical

World Premiere: No

Live Band/Orchestra: Yes

Recommendation: See it whether or not you watched the movie. I’m still in awe at how breathtaking and entertaining the show was.

Was This the First Time I Saw a Production of this Show: Yes but I’ve seen the movie

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now: Yes!

Rating Compared to Other Shows with the Same Production Value:
5 Stars (Out of 5 Stars)

Equity Actors: The program doesn’t mention this but I assume all of them are Equity.

Length: 2.5 hours

Intermission: Yes

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned in Elevator Thoughts

• Song Mashups: I’m simply amazed at the number of pop culture songs they fit into this jukebox musical. They must pay through the nose in royalties! The original classic songs in the movie (like “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend”) were outnumbered by reimagined mashups of more modern songs written after the film was released. There were times I couldn’t determine if the heavy thump in my chest was from the orchestra’s strong driving beat or my excitement from hearing songs like Britney Spears’s “Toxic” and Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance.” The chorus in Katy Perry’s “Firework” was also particularly spectacular. A couple other favorites include Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep,” Regina Spektor’s “Fidelity,” Natalie Imbruglia’s “Torn,” & Sia’s “Chandelier.”
• Scenic Designs: Gorgeous, stunning, gaudy, and glamorous! There were lots of diamonds, hearts, and saturated colors everywhere. At times, it felt like Valentines Day and Lisa Frank exploded on stage … in a good way! The sets of the Parisian scenes outside the Moulin Rouge establishment were starkly opposite and it definitely shows the range of talent from the scenic designers.
• Male Lead Understudy: Andrew Brewer, the understudy for Christian, had such a nice voice.
• Opening Scene: The performers effectively hooked the audience early on with the glitz and glamour of the Moulin Rouge establishment. This is in contrast to other musicals like Wicked and The Wiz that honestly start out a little boring.
• Absinthe: Novel green-lit props showed absinthe’s eerie properties and the amount the characters consumed.
• Breakup Scene: Maybe it’s the “Mean Girl” in me but the way Satine (Courtney Reed) cut Christian at the knees for his safety was particularly delicious.
• Costumes: They were extravagant, interesting, and intricate. Two favorites were the tuxedo tutu dresses and the headpiece that looked like fallopian tubes.
• Favorite Lines: A couple include “Gaga ooo la la? Hmmm … we might want to rethink that” and “I want to make desperate love to each and every one of you.” The double entendre scene where Satine was talking about sex while Christian was talking about singing was also particularly funny. When Baby Doll replied, “Tell me about it” to Satine saying, “This corset hurts like hell, I’m all tied down,” were they making a drag queen joke about tucking? Let me know in my social media links below!

Rant(s)

• Trumpets: The actors playing the trumpets should make it look more realistic.
• “Shut Up and Dance” Song: I was pleasantly surprised to hear them include this Walk the Moon song in the Moulin Rouge! The Musical repertoire since it’s often played in my car playlist. But I was a little disappointed with the weak execution. I think it’s an inherant problem with the composition since the original Broadway cast recording of this song sounds weak too.

Other Thought(s)

• Tuberculosis: As a healthcare professional especially in the COVID era, I couldn’t stop thinking about how Satine was just spreading her consumption to all her friends. Mask up gurl!
• Sword Trick: What stage magic allowed the actors to swallow swords in the beginning? Leave a comment in my social media links below if you have any ideas!

Theatre Company: Broadway Across America Tour and Seattle Theatre Group

Venue: Paramount Theatre

Venue Physical Address: 911 Pine St, Seattle, WA 98101

Price: Expensive

Dates: Dec 14, 2022 – Jan 1, 2023

Seating: Assigned Seating

Parking: Paid street parking and paid garage parking. The best parking garage is under the convention center w/ the entrance on Pike around the Pike and Terry intersection. Last I checked, this is one of the cheapest, least busy, and closest garages. Alternatively, you can probably find street parking as you get closer to the West Precinct (810 Virginia St, Seattle, WA 98101). Do NOT park where the Paramount subscribers park. Last I checked, the usually park in the garage attached to the Cheesecake Factory. It’ll take you at least 30 minutes to exit that garage after the show.

Like/Comment/Share my Social Media Posts About this Performance:
Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

Buy a Ticket or Learn More:

• https://www.stgpresents.org/calendar/12876/moulin-rouge-the-musical
• https://seattle.broadway.com/shows/moulin-rouge
• https://moulinrougemusical.com/us-tour/home/
• Program

Other Video +/- Pictures: There are additional picture under below video below.

@showsiveseen @moulinrougebway #jukebox #musical at the Paramount Theatre w/ @seattletheatregroup. #Ostentatious dazzling scenic design. #Fabulous costumes. Endless catchy modern pop culture song #mashups not in the movie. Dances set to exciting heart-pounding beats. Truth, beauty, freedom, love! Review: showsiveseen.com/2828 #bohemia #extravaganza #theatre #MoulinRouge ♬ original sound – Shows I’ve Seen