Preview Post – Dancing at Lughnasa – Play – SecondStory Repertory

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Packed closing weekend show to “Dancing at Lughnasa” play at SecondStory Repertory. One more show left tomorrow! Thanks Mary Guthrie for the suggestion/ticket! Stay tuned for my full review/video. #showsiveseen #theatre #ireland

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She Kills Monsters – Play – SecondStory Repertory

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): She Kills Monsters play by Qui Nguyen at SecondStory Repertory directed by Kate Swenson. Starring Rebecca Cauthorn and Erin Elkins. Nerd out with Dungeons and Dragons in live theatre! Lots of fight choreography and cosplay-worthy costumes/props. #theatre

Synopsis from the Theatre: She Kills Monsters tells the story of Agnes Evans as she leaves her childhood home in Ohio following the death of her teenage sister, Tilly. When Agnes finds Tilly’s Dungeons and Dragons notebook, however, she finds herself catapulted into a journey of discovery and action-packed adventure in the imaginary world that was her sister’s refuge. In this high-octane dramatic comedy laden with homicidal fairies, nasty ogres, and 90s pop culture, acclaimed playwright Qui Nguyen offers a heart-pounding homage to the geek and warrior within us all.

Reviewed Performance: 6/9/23 on opening night – Sorry for the late review!

Type: Play

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Several

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Several

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: You’d probably enjoy this more if you played Dungeons and Dragons or if you grew up in the 80-90s. I’ve actually never played Dungeons and Dragons, but I was born in the 80s. I only know how the game roughly works because I saw Steve and his friends play it on American Dad.

Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes

Recommendation: See it if either

  • You’re looking for a different kind of show
  • You play(ed) Dungeons and Dragons
  • You like to pretend
  • You like cosplay
  • or you liked the Starmites musical

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

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now: Probably not

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

Equity Actors: 0

Total Number of Actors: 10

Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium to fast

Length (Including Any Intermission): 1.75 hours

Intermission: No

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned in Elevator Thoughts

  • Double Entendre: There was a funny scene where one person was talking about Dungeons and Dragons while the other person thought they were talking about sex.
  • Character/Actor Highlights:
    • Stav Hinenzon (Orcas) projected his voice well
    • Jack Anderson was funny as a dorky high school teenager Chuck
    • Why do I love seeing mean cheerleaders on-stage and on-screen? It must be fun for Jillian Faulk (as Evil Gabbi) and Grace Madland (as Evil Tina) to play succubus cheerleaders. Very Glee and Mean Girls.
  • Moral of the Story: I like the message throughout the play (especially at the end) on why Dungeons and Dragons was important to Tilly in her friends.

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

Theatre Company: SecondStory Repertory

Venue: SecondStory Repertory

Venue Physical Address: 7325 166th Ave NE Ste F250, Redmond, WA 98052

Price: Cheap

Dates: June 9 to June25, 2023

Seating: General Admission

Parking: Free lot or free garage parking provided by the Redmond Town Square outdoor mall where the theatre company resides.

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Other Video +/- Pictures: See pictures in video and under video by Michael Brunk.

Cast and Production Team: See after pictures and video below

@showsiveseen "She Kills Monsters" #play by Qui Nguyen at SecondStory Rep directed by Kate Swenson. Starring Rebecca Cauthorn & Erin Elkins. Nerd out w/ "Dungeons & Dragons" in live #theatre ♬ House of Memories
NameRole
Rebecca CauthornAgnes Evans
Erin ElkinsTilly Evans
Miki MurrayKaliope/Kelly
Katie WallaceLilith/Lilly
Jillian FaulkVera/Evil Gabbi/The Beholder
Grace MadlandNarrator/Evil Tina/Farrah the Faurie
Tadd MorganMiles
Jack AndersonChuck
Alex OttoSteve
Stav HinenzonOrcus/Ronnie
Qui NguyenPlaywright
Kate SwensonDirector
Steven HochteilFight Choreographer
Elizabeth ShipmanCostume Designer
SueAnne Luchenta and Kasey ChristieCostume Assistant
Mark ChenovickSet/Light/Sound/Projection Design
Annie SimontonStage Manager
Weapons Ken Michels
PhotographyMichael Brunk

Sunday in the Park with George – Musical – SecondStory Rep

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Sunday in the Park with George musical by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine at a packed SecondStory Repertory. Directed by Harry Turpin & music directed by John Allman starring Brian Pucheu & Jacqueline Tardanico. Story centered around Georges Seurat’s famous painting.

Synopsis from the Theatre: Inspired by the painting, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat, Sunday in the Park with George, Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s stunning masterpiece, merges past and present into beautiful, poignant truths about life, love and the creation of art. One of the most acclaimed musicals of our time, this moving study of the enigmatic painter, Georges Seurat, won a Pulitzer Prize and was nominated for an astounding ten Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

Reviewed Performance: 5/12/23

Type: Musical

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Several

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Several

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: None

Defined Plot/Storyline: Not really. The lack of a strong storyline reminded me of Stephen Sondheim’s Assassins (which I also saw at SecondStory Repertory or Company musicals.

Live Band/Orchestra: Yes

Recommendation: See it if you like Stephen Sondheim’s signature style and if you’re okay with no extensive plot.

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

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

Equity Actors: 0

Total Number of Actors: 15

Length (Including Any Intermission): 2.5 hours

Intermission: Yes

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned in Elevator Thoughts

  • Leading Actors: Brian Pucheu (George) and Jacqueline Tardanico (Dot/Marie) were well-cast leads in this performance. Brian delivered his lines with a genteel speaking voice. Jacqueline singing voice was strongly projected yet controlled with a beautiful slight vibrato.
  • Semi-transparent Canvas: Brian “painted” while facing the audience without the canvas obscuring his face or body. This was possible because the canvas was a semi-transparent curtain. See one of the pictures at the end of this review.
  • Favorite Characters: The two Celeste characters (Savannah Lynn and Daire Byrne) were delightful especially in their interactions with the soldier (Graham Arthur Blair). Also, as an arguably unsophisticated American (my favorite food is McDonald’s french fries), I identified with the unsophsticated American tourists exploring France (played by Kristie “Kiki” Werner and James Webster).

Rant(s)

  • Stephen Sondheim: As I mentioned in my Into the Woods review, I’m not a huge a fan of Sondheim’s works, which is probably blasphemous to mention on a theatre website! What can I say? The emperor has no clothes!

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

  • Sondheim Elements: Naturally, this show reminded me of elements from Sondheim’s other musicals. When Brian Pucheu (George) scatted “bum bum bum” in a staccato manner while painting, it reminded me of the judge doing the same thing as Sweeney Todd shaved him. Also, act one’s ending was so conclusive that the audience might think the show has ended similarly to how the audience might feel that at the end of Into the Woods act one. Side note, it would have been better if Sunday in the Park with George act one ended at a cliffhanger during Dot’s reveal to George.

Theatre Company: SecondStory Repertory

Venue: SecondStory Repertory

Venue Physical Address: 7325 166th Ave NE Ste F250, Redmond, WA 98052

Price: Cheap

Dates: May 5 to 28, 2023

Seating: General Admission

Parking: Free lot or free garage parking provided by the Redmond Town Square outdoor mall where the theatre company rents.

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Other Video +/- Pictures: See pictures in video and under video by Michael Brunk

Cast and Production Team: See after pictures and video below

@showsiveseen "#Sunday in the Park with George" #musical by Stephen #Sondheim & James Lapine at a packed SecondStory Repertory. Directed by @Harry Turpin & music directed by John Allman starring Brian Pucheu & @Jacqueline Tardanico. Story centered around #GeorgesSeurat's famous #painting. Photos by Michael Brunk. Review: showsiveseen.com/5460 #StephenSondheim #theatre ♬ original sound – Shows I've Seen
NameRole
Brian PucheuGeorge
Jacqueline TardanicoDot/Marie
Max LopuszynskiFranz
Cece LeavittOld Lady/Blair
Graham Arthur BlairSoldier/Alex
Savannah Lynn Celeste 1/Waitress
Daire ByrneCeleste 2/Elaine
Kristie (Kiki) WernerMrs/Nurse/Harriett
Stacie HartYvonne/Naomi
Britt Boyd (called)Freida/Betty
Don ZhengLouis/Billy Webster
Doug FahlJules/Bob Greenberg
James WebsterMr/Lee Randolph
Miles WingettBoatman/Charles Redmond
Juliette HaroonLouise
James LapineWriter
Stephen SondheimComposer and Lyricist
Michael StarobinOrchestrator
Harry TurpinDirector
John AllmanMusical Director
Tatiana BoggsAssistant Music Director
Valerie ReidStage Management
Mark ChenovickProduction Design
Beth MoursundSponsor

Starmites Pro – Musical – SecondStory Repertory

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Starmites Pro musical at SecondStory Repertory. A sci-fi inter-dimensional fantasy comic book story comes to life! Unique subject matter for theatre. Deliciously 1980s corny humor. Villain had a great rich voice. Favorite line was “May we fluff them?” #comics #comic #nerdy

Synopsis from the Theatre: Shy teenager Eleanor has built a fantasy world around the sci-fi comic books she collects. To the distress of her mother, she has learned to avoid the pains of growing up by escaping into fantasy, imagining herself to be an unrecognized superhero. When she is mysteriously thrust into the Website World of her favorite comic book, Eleanor is drawn into the conflict between Shak Graa, Arch-Creep of Chaos, and the Starmites, guardian angels of Innerspace. She turns out to be the legendary Milady, teen superhero who must lead the Mites on their Quest to save the Galaxy.

Type: Musical

World Premiere: No

Live Band: Yes

Recommendation: See it if you like nerding out, community theatre, and/or 80s comedy!

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

Rating (Out of 5 Stars): 4.25 stars

Rant(s)

  • Individually, they were great singers. But collectively, there was less synergy than expected. I could actually hear someone going out of tune in some parts. I anticipate this will improve as they perform together more during this production’s run.

Other Rave(s)

  • I loved when they made the “arms above head pointing in the same direction diagonally while head was down” pose when they uttered “Aragala” or other revered names of lore. If anybody knows what that salute is called, tell me in my social media comments below! It’s been bothering me and Google hasn’t been helpful. I loved when they dabbed (or “made a dab pose?”) when they uttered “Aragala” or other revered names of lore. Thanks Buddy Todd and Jessica Robins for letting me know what this was called!

Theatre Company : SecondStory Repertory

Venue: SecondStory Repertory

Venue Physical Address: 7325 166th Ave NE f250, Redmond, WA 98052

Price: Cheap

Dates: October 28 – November 13, 2022

Seating: General Admission

Parking and Cost: Free lot or free garage parking provided by the Redmond Town Square outdoor mall where the theatre company rents.

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

Link(s):

Other Video/Pictures: Scroll under the table below.

Cast and Production Team Leadership:

Writer Barry Keating & Stuart Ross
Director Buddy Todd
Choreography Angela Snyder
Music Direction Tatiana Kruse
Stage Manager Annie Simonton
Mark Chenovick Set, Lighting, Costume, & Sound Design
Show Sponsor Beth Moursund
Eleanor Fairchild Taylor Davis
Diva Jessica Robins
Shak Graa/Trinkulus Shane Smith
Spacepunk Matt Langenhop
Diggety Razzledazzle Max Lopuszynski
Herbie Harrison Tristan Carruthers
Ack Ack Hackerman James B. Webster
Canibelle Marlena McHenry
Balbraka Jackie Alves
Shotzi Lee Iris Thomas
Hollaback Kaira Hensler
@showsiveseen#Starmites Pro” #musical at SecondStory Repertory. A #scifi interdimensional #fantasy #comicbook story comes to life! Unique subject matter for #theatre. Deliciously #1980s #corny #humor. Favorite line was “May we fluff them?” Villain had a great rich voice. Review: showsiveseen.com/1832 #comics #comic #nerdy #nerd #nerds ♬ original sound – Shows I’ve Seen

The Half-life of Marie Curie – Play – SecondStory Repertory

Type: Play

Theater Company: SecondStory Repertory Theatre

Venue: SecondStory Repertory Theatre

Price: $ (Low)

Dates: September 23, 2022 to October 9, 2022

Seating: General Admission

Linkhttps://www.secondstoryrep.org/product-page/half-life-of-marie-curie

Other Media:

@showsiveseen “Half-life of Marie Curie” #play opening night at SecondStory Repertory. Portrait of #MarieCurie‘s #friendship w/ fellow #scientist Hertha Ayrton. Independent #strongWomen (who don’t need no men) portrayed by expressive actresses. #feminist #feminism #girlPower #radium ♬ Thank You For Being A Friend – From “My Little Pony, The Movie” – Rachel Platten