I was first introduced to the Broadway musical Waitress while watching the television airing of the Tony Awards. I had turned on the show to see how well Hamilton was doing when I stumbled upon a musical medley that transitioned to Sara Bareilles at a grand piano singing the opening to an achingly sorrowful song […]
Before I review the 5th Avenue Theatre’s Production of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins: The Broadway Musical (ain’t that a mouthful), I need to make a slight disclaimer. I think reviewers should admit to any issues, biases, or conflicts of interest that might sway the objectivity of their reviews. With this in mind, I need […]
As a child, I frequently played the murder mystery board game Clue with my siblings and friends. I remember playing the game consistently poorly. Not having the patience to carefully examine the necessary clues, I would quickly make a guess as soon as I had the slightest inkling of a possible murder scenario. Having a […]
If a play has “Trilogy” in the title, it’s going to be long. With a run time of 3 hours and 20 minutes, The Act Contemporary Theatre’s presentation of The Lehman Trilogy feels like a Ken Burns aficionado attempted to turn a ten-hour documentary into a three-act fictionalized play. The result is a densely packed, […]
Last night I had the pleasure of attending another energized opening night at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre. The 5th’s opening night crowds exude warmth and welcome. Many of the theater goers come to not only enjoy, but thoroughly root for Seattle musical theater. Sure, there are some less enthusiastic plus ones who’ve been dragged along with […]
Critics occasionally use the word “indescribable” to describe experiences that can only truly be understood through a first-hand encounter. Some plays have such a thoroughly realized uniquely original voice, that audiences find it challenging to communicate their experience to people who have not yet participated in the theatrical event. Such is the case with playwright […]
I don’t know if déjà vu increases with age or if reality starts repeating itself as I grow older. I don’t know if déjà vu increases with age or if reality starts repeating itself as I grow older, but last night while watching The 5thAvenue Theatre’s production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, I found myself […]
I believe Seattle musical theater aficionados will look back upon this season as a profound turning point in the trajectory of 5th Avenue Theatre productions. Two names will be spoken of when discussing this season: Sweeney Todd and Jay Woods. Jay Woods’ directorial excellence is on full display with her envisioning of Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd: […]
Unless you lived near Broadway most of your life and had a fair amount of disposable income, you’ve probably been introduced to most great American musicals through the form of a movie. Later, if fortunate, you were able to see a live theatrical production to determine how well the movie honored its source. Regardless of […]
In 1978, as a six-year-old kid, I watched the movie The Wiz, in a mostly empty mall theater with my older brother and sister. The movie enthralled, traumatized, excited, and bored me. As a somewhat sheltered white kid from the Pacific Northwest, I had a very limited understanding of black artists, black entertainment, and black […]