Greenstage at Volunteer Park
August 14, 2010
Great fun performance! I'm amazed at what they can do in a park. Alex and Kate Kraay were fantastic as were everyone else in the production.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010
The Yellow Wood
Sunday August 1
Contemporary Classics
Great show about kid with ADD that decides not to take his Ritalin for a day. Amazing talent, some beautiful songs, the book could use a little tightening.
Contemporary Classics
Great show about kid with ADD that decides not to take his Ritalin for a day. Amazing talent, some beautiful songs, the book could use a little tightening.
Kindred Spirits - ReAct
Saturday July 31
Cute show. Writing was good, acting was ok, directing was ok. Interesting concept of us having Kindred Spirits that follow us around.
Cute show. Writing was good, acting was ok, directing was ok. Interesting concept of us having Kindred Spirits that follow us around.
Romeo and Juliet - Greenstage
Opening night - sometime in June
Loved the show. It's edited down to fit into two hours. Very well done.
Loved the show. It's edited down to fit into two hours. Very well done.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Candide
Fifth Avenue Theatre
Not being a fan of operetta, and not knowing a thing about the show, it must bode well that I really liked this show, probably one of my favorite, locally produced, shows at the 5th Avenue Theatre. (I'm not counting Sunday in the Park with George as I see that as the Menier Chocolate Factory production even though it had a local cast.) I especially liked the "less is more" approach to directing, which shows Mr. Armstrong directing can be focused on the acting when not distracted by huge sets and lavish costumes.
Not being a fan of operetta, and not knowing a thing about the show, it must bode well that I really liked this show, probably one of my favorite, locally produced, shows at the 5th Avenue Theatre. (I'm not counting Sunday in the Park with George as I see that as the Menier Chocolate Factory production even though it had a local cast.) I especially liked the "less is more" approach to directing, which shows Mr. Armstrong directing can be focused on the acting when not distracted by huge sets and lavish costumes.
Fiddler on the Roof
at the Paramount
Starring Harvey Fierstein
I really wanted to love this show. I choreographed and was in it years ago, and the only productions I have seen have been community theatre productions. I have always liked it, and had high hopes to finally get to see a professional production. Harvey was fantastic. He's the reason we forked over the money to see the show. I just felt the rest of the cast was not up to his level. Scenes that should have been enthralling were interesting at best. "To Life" lacked energy and excitement.
Starring Harvey Fierstein
I really wanted to love this show. I choreographed and was in it years ago, and the only productions I have seen have been community theatre productions. I have always liked it, and had high hopes to finally get to see a professional production. Harvey was fantastic. He's the reason we forked over the money to see the show. I just felt the rest of the cast was not up to his level. Scenes that should have been enthralling were interesting at best. "To Life" lacked energy and excitement.
Follies / Showtunes at the Moore
Sunday June 6
I had always wanted to see this show. This was a concert version, and it really made me want to see a full production. It was definitely a who's who of Seattle Theatre. Bobbi Kotula continues to blow my mind - her rendition of I'm Still Here was spectacular.
I had always wanted to see this show. This was a concert version, and it really made me want to see a full production. It was definitely a who's who of Seattle Theatre. Bobbi Kotula continues to blow my mind - her rendition of I'm Still Here was spectacular.
Natural Selection at SecondStory
Friday June 4, 2010 - Opening Night
Interesting show. The performances were great, the show was quite interesting. I don't know where exactly the show failed to completely grab my attention - if it was the direction or the writing. Part of me leans more toward the direction. I must confess that it stayed with me for many days after. As always, the set and lighting design were great.
Interesting show. The performances were great, the show was quite interesting. I don't know where exactly the show failed to completely grab my attention - if it was the direction or the writing. Part of me leans more toward the direction. I must confess that it stayed with me for many days after. As always, the set and lighting design were great.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
110 in the Shade
Seattle Musical Theatre
Saw the preview performance, and was thoroughly disappointed in the musical. I saw a production of The Rainmaker a couple of years ago, and really enjoyed it. The musical is boring. There is little conflict, the music is trite, the ensemble is there "just because," and truly I wanted to leave at intermission but had friends in the show and figured I should stay. Performances were fine, but the material was just not interesting.
Saw the preview performance, and was thoroughly disappointed in the musical. I saw a production of The Rainmaker a couple of years ago, and really enjoyed it. The musical is boring. There is little conflict, the music is trite, the ensemble is there "just because," and truly I wanted to leave at intermission but had friends in the show and figured I should stay. Performances were fine, but the material was just not interesting.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Here Lies Jeremy Troy
April 9, 2010
Directed by Diane Ziebert (sp)
at Valley Community Players
Enjoyed the show more than I thought I would. I had been told it was a pretty bad show from folks who had done it before, and I was pleasantly surprised. It was wonderful to see my friend Kelly play the ingenue - and totally pull it off.
Directed by Diane Ziebert (sp)
at Valley Community Players
Enjoyed the show more than I thought I would. I had been told it was a pretty bad show from folks who had done it before, and I was pleasantly surprised. It was wonderful to see my friend Kelly play the ingenue - and totally pull it off.
An Illyad
May 5, 2010
Seattle Rep
Night out with Nikki and a couple of her friends. I almost bailed on the show because I had little sleep before, and not sure how I would survive a one-man show about The Illyad after two chocolate martinis. The answer: not well. I was zoned out for the most part. The show failed to grab me and maintain my interest, and just when he was about to get to the juicy part of the story ... he stopped.
Seattle Rep
Night out with Nikki and a couple of her friends. I almost bailed on the show because I had little sleep before, and not sure how I would survive a one-man show about The Illyad after two chocolate martinis. The answer: not well. I was zoned out for the most part. The show failed to grab me and maintain my interest, and just when he was about to get to the juicy part of the story ... he stopped.
A ... My Name Will Always Be Alice
May 1, 2010
Directed by Art Anderson
Great fun. The show itself had one issue for me - no narrative or growth. Having a bunch of songs about womanhood without any other thread to follow felt a bit empty. That said, the show was pure joy. All the performers tackled their many roles with gusto, Art's direction was soft-handed and deliberate at the same time.
Directed by Art Anderson
Great fun. The show itself had one issue for me - no narrative or growth. Having a bunch of songs about womanhood without any other thread to follow felt a bit empty. That said, the show was pure joy. All the performers tackled their many roles with gusto, Art's direction was soft-handed and deliberate at the same time.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Love Sex and the IRS
Date: Thursday April 8, 2010
Went to the preview performance. I love this play as I have great memories of the production I was involved with years ago, so any production I see will be measured against my very own, very biased bar.
The show was fine. Timing was off, but it was preview and I figure by Sunday they will have the beats down. Overall the performances were good - Leslie was goofy and funny and Mr. Spinner was played right on by Keith Remon. It took me until act 2 to really warm up to Jon and Kate, and by the end I was sold. The mother and Connie were ok, and Mr. Jansen was creepily fun.
Went to the preview performance. I love this play as I have great memories of the production I was involved with years ago, so any production I see will be measured against my very own, very biased bar.
The show was fine. Timing was off, but it was preview and I figure by Sunday they will have the beats down. Overall the performances were good - Leslie was goofy and funny and Mr. Spinner was played right on by Keith Remon. It took me until act 2 to really warm up to Jon and Kate, and by the end I was sold. The mother and Connie were ok, and Mr. Jansen was creepily fun.
Brooklyn Boy at Taproot
Date: March 31, 2010
Saw the show thanks to my friend Gabe who works there, and was excited to see my friend Nikki in the show. Alas, the play didn't grab me. It was interesting and all, but the story was predictable, stereotypical. Tortured soul who never got along with his dad, puts life in front of everything to get away, only to realize after his father's death what it all meant. I would have been ok with the play had it not been for the über cliché finale with an alcohol-induced vision/conversation with the dead father where all is forgiven and an impulse to return to religion.
The individual performances, for the most part, were quite interesting. It was the writing that left me cold.
Saw the show thanks to my friend Gabe who works there, and was excited to see my friend Nikki in the show. Alas, the play didn't grab me. It was interesting and all, but the story was predictable, stereotypical. Tortured soul who never got along with his dad, puts life in front of everything to get away, only to realize after his father's death what it all meant. I would have been ok with the play had it not been for the über cliché finale with an alcohol-induced vision/conversation with the dead father where all is forgiven and an impulse to return to religion.
The individual performances, for the most part, were quite interesting. It was the writing that left me cold.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Sister Cities by Emerald City Scene
Thursday March 18, 2010
Performed at Stone Soup Theatre
One-act. One of those shows I went to see on a whim - it was playing at Stone Soup, that is now in my radar. A friend was doing her first "straight" play. There were comps available for opening night. Also one of those shows that just blows your mind. Very well written, took some unexpected turns but never out of left field. The acting was superb all around. One of the best shows I've seen in a very long time.
Performed at Stone Soup Theatre
One-act. One of those shows I went to see on a whim - it was playing at Stone Soup, that is now in my radar. A friend was doing her first "straight" play. There were comps available for opening night. Also one of those shows that just blows your mind. Very well written, took some unexpected turns but never out of left field. The acting was superb all around. One of the best shows I've seen in a very long time.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Come Back to the Five and Dime Jimmy Dean Jimmy Dean by Woman Seeking ...
directed by Christine Mosere
I was reluctant going in to this show - I had heard how it was uneven, and the original had not been particularly successful.
I was quite surprised. A very fun evening - solid direction, solid performances, and the play is quite entertaining. It's a little soap-opera-y, the ending was pretty clear once the big secret is revealed ... but the journey was quite fun. Always a pleasure to watch Kate Szyperski (Mona), she has a way to take you with her and totally suck you in, and Eleanor Moseley played the part of the tart deliciously. I was also blown away by Alyssa Kay's performance as the younger Mona.
I was reluctant going in to this show - I had heard how it was uneven, and the original had not been particularly successful.
I was quite surprised. A very fun evening - solid direction, solid performances, and the play is quite entertaining. It's a little soap-opera-y, the ending was pretty clear once the big secret is revealed ... but the journey was quite fun. Always a pleasure to watch Kate Szyperski (Mona), she has a way to take you with her and totally suck you in, and Eleanor Moseley played the part of the tart deliciously. I was also blown away by Alyssa Kay's performance as the younger Mona.
Fool for Love at Stone Soup Theatre
by Sam Shepard
Directed by Charlotte Tiencken
Date: Thursday March 4, 2010
Cast: Anders Bolang, Annie Lareau, John Clark, Daniel Arreola
Interesting. Definitely not my cup of tea in general - not sure if it's Sam Shepard himself or just this particular play. However, the show was solid. The performances, especially Anders and Annie, were spellbinding. I could not take my eyes of them, they completely commanded the stage for the entire time. I loved the intimacy of the Downstage space - I'd not been to it, only to the smaller Upstage. It really wrapped you in and made you feel you were in the room with these people.
Directed by Charlotte Tiencken
Date: Thursday March 4, 2010
Cast: Anders Bolang, Annie Lareau, John Clark, Daniel Arreola
Interesting. Definitely not my cup of tea in general - not sure if it's Sam Shepard himself or just this particular play. However, the show was solid. The performances, especially Anders and Annie, were spellbinding. I could not take my eyes of them, they completely commanded the stage for the entire time. I loved the intimacy of the Downstage space - I'd not been to it, only to the smaller Upstage. It really wrapped you in and made you feel you were in the room with these people.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Self: The Cherry Orchard by Theatre 9/12 at ACT
I must have a little self-promotion here. I am having a great time stage managing The Cherry Orchard. It has been quite interesting to see the show pick-up steam and grown in the past two weeks. One of the biggest surprises is that unlike what most folks expect, Chekhov is quite funny. The show plays at a clip pace - we are currently running 2:05 including intermission.
Playing through Sunday, March 14 at ACT Theatre's Buster's Cabaret.
Here's the Seattle Times review: "The Cherry Orchard" is still in season.
Playing through Sunday, March 14 at ACT Theatre's Buster's Cabaret.
Here's the Seattle Times review: "The Cherry Orchard" is still in season.
Trout Stanley at Balagan Theatre
Tonight was industry night - how happy am I for theatres that have these additional performances for folks like me that can't see the show otherwise because we're busy being in shows.
One of my favorite things about Balagan is their ability to reconfigure the space for each production. I really liked the way the show was staged.
The show itself was quite uneven. There were great moments when I was laughing or completely absorbed, and times when I was pondering where we should go afterwards. What made the show completely worthwhile was watching Ryan Higgins, Angela DiMarco and Sarah Budge on stage under the careful direction of David Gassner. I truly think the problem with the show lies in the writing more than anything else.
Overall I liked the show - we talked about it for a while afterwards, which is always a good sign.
One of my favorite things about Balagan is their ability to reconfigure the space for each production. I really liked the way the show was staged.
The show itself was quite uneven. There were great moments when I was laughing or completely absorbed, and times when I was pondering where we should go afterwards. What made the show completely worthwhile was watching Ryan Higgins, Angela DiMarco and Sarah Budge on stage under the careful direction of David Gassner. I truly think the problem with the show lies in the writing more than anything else.
Overall I liked the show - we talked about it for a while afterwards, which is always a good sign.
Company at Seattle Musical Theatre
went Thursday February 25, 2010
I must say, I really, really enjoyed this production. I was a huge fan of the production at the 5th Avenue a couple of years ago, and there are always the unfair comparisons to be made between community and Equity theatre.
SMT found some great talent to be in this production. Most memorable: Ryan Demerick sung Bobby beautifully, I was at the edge of my seat during his Being Alive; Dawn Brazel made Joanne her own; Kat Schroeder pulled off Amy with flying colors; the entire cast was quite fun to watch.
My only issue lied with the staging and some direction - having actors stand center stage and sing out their song is just not that interesting in a play.
Overall really loved this production, wish I had the time to see it again.
I must say, I really, really enjoyed this production. I was a huge fan of the production at the 5th Avenue a couple of years ago, and there are always the unfair comparisons to be made between community and Equity theatre.
SMT found some great talent to be in this production. Most memorable: Ryan Demerick sung Bobby beautifully, I was at the edge of my seat during his Being Alive; Dawn Brazel made Joanne her own; Kat Schroeder pulled off Amy with flying colors; the entire cast was quite fun to watch.
My only issue lied with the staging and some direction - having actors stand center stage and sing out their song is just not that interesting in a play.
Overall really loved this production, wish I had the time to see it again.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Love Song at ArtsWest
Saturday, February 13 With John, ran into a couple of friends.
The show features four people I know well: Nick DeSantis, Heather Hawkins, Cindy Bradder, and Christopher Zinovitch, directed by Kate Witt, whom I also know and have worked with before.
Fun show - all the performances were quite good, even if they were all playing a somewhat stylized version of themselves. I found myself laughing, cringing, and even felt lifted at the end - hell's yeah!
I would definitely recommend the show.
The show features four people I know well: Nick DeSantis, Heather Hawkins, Cindy Bradder, and Christopher Zinovitch, directed by Kate Witt, whom I also know and have worked with before.
Fun show - all the performances were quite good, even if they were all playing a somewhat stylized version of themselves. I found myself laughing, cringing, and even felt lifted at the end - hell's yeah!
I would definitely recommend the show.
Friday, February 12, 2010
of Butlers and Love Songs
I realize I didn't follow up on The Butler Did It" last week. I was SO happy with the way it held up after a week - the show was tight and the audience reaction was so much fun. I love sitting in the audience when no one knows who I am and watching them watch the show - art vs soup. Though truly for me both are art. Seeing the folks on stage commit to the characters, their words, is exhilarating; watching the audience react to things I had no idea they would is a fun trip. Looking forward to seeing the show again tonight.
Tomorrow I see the first show of the year that I'm not involved in, Love Song at ArtsWest. I've been looking forward to the show since it was announced, being that I know the entire cast and director.
There are so many shows I would like to see, but stage managing The Cherry Orchard limits those opportunities to shows that play on days other than weekends. Two shows that I will unfortunately miss are The Seven Year Itch at Redwood Theatre and She Loves Me at Second Story Repertory. The schedules just don't allow.
I'm also a little restless that after The Cherry Orchard I have no plans until next December. Hm ...
Tomorrow I see the first show of the year that I'm not involved in, Love Song at ArtsWest. I've been looking forward to the show since it was announced, being that I know the entire cast and director.
There are so many shows I would like to see, but stage managing The Cherry Orchard limits those opportunities to shows that play on days other than weekends. Two shows that I will unfortunately miss are The Seven Year Itch at Redwood Theatre and She Loves Me at Second Story Repertory. The schedules just don't allow.
I'm also a little restless that after The Cherry Orchard I have no plans until next December. Hm ...
Friday, February 5, 2010
The Butler Did It - Valley Community Players
Ok, so my first show to see is my own show. What can I say - the months of January and so far February have been so busy directing Butler and preparing to stage manage The Cherry Orchard, now in rehearsals.
Directing Butler was one of the most fulfilling experiences so far when it comes to theater and/or dance. The process was smooth, the cast incredibly talented and willing to "play" with me, the script a little challenging, but a challenge I was willing to step up to, supported by a great crew over at Valley Community Players, and got to work closely with my mentor and teacher. I can only hope all my future projects will run this smoothly.
Opening night was fantastic. We were so ready for an audience at that point - we had been running the show for a week by then and really needed the audience input. Everyone was "on" and the audience laughed, my mentor was there and was quite impressed.
I missed the last two performances, so tonight's show should be quite interesting - to see how the show has evolved. I'll keep you posted.
Directing Butler was one of the most fulfilling experiences so far when it comes to theater and/or dance. The process was smooth, the cast incredibly talented and willing to "play" with me, the script a little challenging, but a challenge I was willing to step up to, supported by a great crew over at Valley Community Players, and got to work closely with my mentor and teacher. I can only hope all my future projects will run this smoothly.
Opening night was fantastic. We were so ready for an audience at that point - we had been running the show for a week by then and really needed the audience input. Everyone was "on" and the audience laughed, my mentor was there and was quite impressed.
I missed the last two performances, so tonight's show should be quite interesting - to see how the show has evolved. I'll keep you posted.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Why this? Why now?
I love theater. It's my church. A good theatrical experience will move me to tears—just listening to the opening chords of "I Hope I Get It" gets me started. I see a lot of shows, always looking for the good parts 0f what I saw in the context of where I saw it: high school/teen productions have so much heart, community theater shows the amazing work of folks that usually have day jobs and many other obligations, and regional/professional theater is just that: professional. I have seen some amazing community theater productions that I have enjoyed as much as a Broadway show, and just as many "professional" productions that were so amateurish I wish I could get my money back.
My intent is not to review shows. I am not knowledgeable enough to do that. I simply love theater, I love going and I love being involved in it. This is for me to keep track of what I see, what shows I'm involved in, and to share that with you.
I recently saw a post on the TPS boards (Theatre Puget Sound) where someone had seen one show per week. I tried to recall every show I'd seen, and came up with 34, not counting the four I was involved in. Living in Seattle we are blessed with so much theater - excellent, good, bad, and horrible. Seeing a show per week should not be that difficult, starting on my birthday. The question is what to see? What better way to keep track of it than on a blog. In addition to what I see, I will post my thoughts of productions I'm involved in.
So that's that. I look forward to posting something at least once a week.
My intent is not to review shows. I am not knowledgeable enough to do that. I simply love theater, I love going and I love being involved in it. This is for me to keep track of what I see, what shows I'm involved in, and to share that with you.
I recently saw a post on the TPS boards (Theatre Puget Sound) where someone had seen one show per week. I tried to recall every show I'd seen, and came up with 34, not counting the four I was involved in. Living in Seattle we are blessed with so much theater - excellent, good, bad, and horrible. Seeing a show per week should not be that difficult, starting on my birthday. The question is what to see? What better way to keep track of it than on a blog. In addition to what I see, I will post my thoughts of productions I'm involved in.
So that's that. I look forward to posting something at least once a week.
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