SEATTLE THEATER REVIEWS

Rejoice Dear Readers, as the Carnival is in town. But not your average carnival. No. This is the Can Can and to celebrate their 20th anniversary (yes, they’ve been titillating for 20 years) they’ve brought us a sultry, steamy, magical extravaganza with “Carnival of Curiosities”....

Dear Readers, when the rights for local theaters to produce hit shows become available, or start to become available, you know every theater will be vying to be the first. One such show currently in this situation is Sara Bareilles and Jessie Nelson’s huge hit “Waitress”. And once those rights...

If you’re at all familiar with the plays of Lauren Yee, Dear Readers, then you know of her delightfully odd situations, rich characters and scintillating dialog. People are still talking about last season’s “Cambodian Rock Band” but my favorite was her “King of the Yees”. Her work brings...

Time Stands Still (by Thalia’s Umbrella), draws you into a carefully crafted, intimate world where the line between audience and observer feels blurred. With a thoughtfully detailed set and a standout performance from its lead actress, this production demonstrates the impact of small-scale storyte...

Dear Readers, I love a good play that can make me feel something. Not just tell me a story but immerse me in the subject. One such play is Sarah Ruhl’s “Letters From Max” currently playing at Seattle Public Theater. And while it certainly got to me, the play itself has some accessibility issue...

CRAVE, Sarah Kane’s stylistic one-act play, is an uncompromising plunge into the raw, chaotic landscape of human emotion. Now performing at Intiman Theater, this is a 55-minute concept piece that seems to revel in its own disarray. In true avant‐garde fashion, the play introduces us to four enig...

Dear Readers, if you’re not familiar with the Jason Robert Brown love story, “The Last Five Years” currently being offered from ACT and The 5th Avenue Theatre, you could get a bit confused watching it. So be sure to read on to avoid confusion. But for myself, I’ve seen it a few different tim...

Dear Readers, I’m all for a slice of life play showing the inequities in class, race, gender, etc. in the past and spotlighting how far we have not come. Such a play is Pearl Cleage’s “Blues for an Alabama Sky”, currently playing at the Seattle Rep. It’s not a new play; in fact it’s abou...

The legacy of Hamilton needs no rehashing – record sales, Tony wins and nominations, career launches, and undeniable songs. But is that legacy still preserved in the productions that continue to bear its name, or does any further attempt at putting on an official Hamilton show pale in comparison t...

For two men who built grand worlds of myth and magic, LEWIS AND TOLKIEN is a strikingly intimate and deeply human story—not of great battles or epic journeys, but of friendship, regret, and the quiet ache of unspoken words. Now playing at the Taproot Theater, this play, adapted from Colin Duriez�...

What did BroadwayWorld's critic think of Dial M for Murder at The Village Theater? Read the review here and learn more about The Village Theater's production....

Seattle Public Theater’s Where is Here? takes audiences to an unexpected setting—a bleak airport baggage claim—only to eventually veer into the surreal. With performances in English and Persian, this one-woman show written and directed by Naghmeh Samini blends observational comedy, existential...

Dear Readers, first off let me wish you a Happy New Year and here’s hoping we’re in for some outstanding theater in 2025. But for now let’s set the not so way back machine to 2021 where I managed to see a new musical in previews Off-Broadway, “Kimberly Akimbo”. And let me say, Readers, it ...

Ending on a a fervent note, spurring the audience to go forth and enjoy their holidays in the best way possible: with music in their hearts and minds...

Dear Readers, buckle up! Not because we’re about to go 88 mph but because I’m about to be a musical theater snob. The trend of turning popular (or even not so popular) movies into big splashy Broadway musicals is not a new one. And when it works such as with the likes of “Legally Blonde”, �...

With every new year, theatergoers feel the excitement of the holiday-themed work produced around Seattle. They anxiously await retellings of their favorite sentimental stories and new works each year. Every once in a while, a new, fresh take on the holiday season debuts, evoking feelings deep inside...

Dear Readers, I do love a good farce. That rollicking romp with oodles of physical comedy and improbable situations. Combine that with a good comedy of manners and it’s gold. What that spells is Noël Coward’s classic “Blithe Spirit” and lucky for us, it’s playing at the Seattle rep. And w...

Dear Readers, the magical stage musical of the beloved “Mary Poppins”, currently playing at the 5th Avenue Theatre, may not have been referring to live theater as a whole with their song “Anything Can Happen”, but that sentiment certainly applied to why we love live theater. With its inheren...

Dear Readers, let’s set the way back machine to 2018 when Jeff Schell, The Habit Comedy Troupe, and Mark Siano in conjunction with Seattle Public Theater gifted us that holiday season with “A Very Die Hard Christmas”. Since then we’ve endured political turmoil and a pandemic, but the glory t...

Both monumental works were perfectly matched in their brashness and sensitivity, helmed and rendered with great panache by two outstanding young artists: a program to delight all tastes...

Dear Readers, if you know my reviews then you know how picky I can be, especially with shows I love. One such show is certainly “Legally Blonde: The Musical”, currently playing at Village Theatre. I managed to see the original cast down in San Francisco and it’s always held a special place in ...

Dear Readers, something struck me last night while watching the juggernaut musical “Wicked”, currently playing at the Paramount Theatre. No, it wasn’t a flying monkey. It’s just how incredible this show is. It’s withstood the test of time ever since it’s Broadway premiere back in 2003 ev...

Dear Readers, really good storytelling doesn’t need flash and glitz. Sometimes, it just needs a touching story with solid performances. Such is Eboni Booth’s Pulitzer Prize winning play “Primary Trust” currently playing at the Seattle Rep. A sweet little unassuming story with a lovely arc....

Successful immersive theater is a difficult-to-achieve, yet, extremely sought-after experience. There’s a classic elegance to a completely seated, stationery work of art, and there’s modern excitement that comes with an interactive show. ...

Dear Readers, like many, I love a good rollicking backstage comedy. One of those plays within a play where we get to peek behind the stage and check out the antics happening beyond. The classic “Noises Off” for example has always been one of my favorites. Now, along comes this new work from Kati...