Dani Hobbs News

Dear Readers, it has been one crazy year with some amazing theater. You know it's true. We've had dead teens riding a roller coaster, demonic puppets, and an ageless guy with a picture of himself in his attic. And, of course, a hip-hop founding father sweeping through town. But let's not talk about the juggernaut when we have such amazing things right here that blew us all away. At least they blew me away. So, let's talk about what blew me away this past year and what I have chosen to give my BWW 2018 Seattle Critic's Choice Awards (Jay's Picks) to (not to mention all those honorable mentions since often I can't limit myself to just one).

Hedwig and the Angry Inch at Arts West is one of the least passive audience experiences I've ever had. The dialogue and lyrics are clever and full of plays on words and popular culture references. Keep your ears perked to catch all of it, and a few might still slip by. But more than just vocabulary practice, Hedwig challenges your perceptions of norms, your comfort zone, and the very size of your heart. It will move you, tear at you, sucker punch you, make you laugh, and hold you in rapture. The show will leave you exhausted but hopeful and infinitely better than when you entered the doors.

Dear Readers, we're about to enter the realm of my favorite show of all time, that of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken's musical masterpiece "Little Shop of Horrors". I tell you this in advance so you'll understand the gravitas of my critique of anyone attempting this particular show and I've seen many. I've seen touring productions, local productions both large and small, and even one production set in an actual skid row. I even managed to see a certain Encores production with a certain movie star and the original Audrey (sigh). And now comes Reboot Theatre Company with their affinity for non-traditional casting/staging/etc. Add into that the fact that they're performing this at the Slate theater where the stage is about the size of the full-grown plant and this could be a recipe for disaster. And while I may have had a technical qualm or two, what I also saw was a company that understands the show and a production that has more heart in one tentacle than some productions have in their whole plant.

When the ArtsWest 2017-18 I AM Season reaches its conclusion with Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, two powerful performers will take the stage to lead each production - respectively, Nicholas Japaul Bernard as Hedwig and renowned Seattle performer Felicia Loud as Billie Holiday. Presented together in rotating repertory under the title Practical Questions of Wholeness, these two plays will perform on alternating days from June 7 through July 8, 2018.  

Alan Menken and Howard Ashman's "Little Shop of Horrors" is one of those enduring classics of American Musical Theatre thanks, in no small part, to its quirky, twisted take on the worldview. Well it's about to get a whole new view as Reboot Theatre Company is taking this Sci-Fi thriller of a musical about a man-eating plant and shaking it up even further by giving it a genderqueer cast (something their company loves to do). I recently sat down with their Audrey, Seattle renowned drag queen Tipsy Rose Lee, to talk about her career and her upcoming dalliance with that carnivorous plant.

After spending six months fundraising, Reboot Theatre Company is celebrating spring by unleashing the hysterically campy and delightfully dark cult classic LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS on the unsuspecting public. Award-winning director Harry Turpin (The Who's Tommy at SMT, Fly By Night) helms this floral fantasy with music direction by Joel Kurzynski (Fly By Night), running May 4-19, 2018 at Slate Theater (815 Seattle Blvd S). Tickets ($15-$25) are now on sale at rebootlittleshop.brownpapertickets.com  For more information, visit www.reboottheatre.org

The Lakewood Playhouse is proud to present the THIRD SHOW of our 79th SEASON: The South Sound Premier of the Rock Opera AMERICAN IDIOT by Green Day

The Lakewood Playhouse is proud to present the THIRD SHOW of our 79th SEASON: The South Sound Premier of the Rock Opera AMERICAN IDIOT by Green Day

Showtunes Theatre Company has announced their highly anticipaeted holiday concert musical LEAP OF FAITH. The talented cast of local musical theatre professionals will 'rise up' gospel-style for two performances at Benaroya Hall on December 3 at 8pm and December 4 at 2pm. Louis Hobson, who performed in the original Broadway cast, will star as Jonas. Matt Giles directs with Nathan Young working as the music director.

Showtunes Theatre Company has announced their highly anticipaeted holiday concert musical LEAP OF FAITH. The talented cast of local musical theatre professionals will 'rise up' gospel-style for two performances at Benaroya Hall on December 3 at 8pm and December 4 at 2pm. Louis Hobson, who performed in the original Broadway cast, will star as Jonas. Matt Giles directs with Nathan Young working as the music director.