Review: BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE MUSICAL at The Paramount Theatre
by Jay Irwin - December 11, 2024
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”, “Waitress”...
Review: HAPPY CHRISTMAS, JEEVES at Taproot Theatre
by Shelley Dean - December 10, 2024
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...
Review: BLITHE SPIRIT at Seattle Rep
by Jay Irwin - December 05, 2024
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 while there ...
Review: MARY POPPINS at The 5th Avenue Theatre
by Jay Irwin - December 02, 2024
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 inherent feel o...
Review: A VERY DIE HARD CHRISTMAS at Seattle Public Theater
by Jay Irwin - November 23, 2024
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 that is “...
Review: MAHLER SYMPHONY NO. 1 at Benaroya Hall
by Erica Miner - November 17, 2024
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...
Review: LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL at Village Theatre
by Jay Irwin - November 16, 2024
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 my hea...
Review: WICKED at The Paramount Theatre
by Jay Irwin - November 08, 2024
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 even though it...
Review: PRIMARY TRUST at The Seattle Rep
by Jay Irwin - November 07, 2024
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....