This Week in Arts: Weekly Roundup (2/23)
In addition to some lighter fare, shows among this week’s openings take a more serious turn. Plus, a long list of shows to catch before they close this weekend.
Ticketing links for most shows can be found on the Performance Calendar page here.
Openings & Short Runs
Seattle Opera: Blue
A new opera of Black joy and trauma
Opens 2/26, closing 3/12. At the Seattle Center (Mercer St. side).
The 2020 winner for Best New Opera (Music Critics Association) comes to McCaw Hall, beginning this weekend.
In Blue, librettist Tazewell Thompson and composer Jeanine Tesori set out to paint a portrait of contemporary African American life: of love and loss, church, sisterhood, and most importantly, family. A young couple celebrates the joy of family with the birth of their son. Later, they must lean on their close-knit community after a police officer kills him.
I have some trepidation about this show. On the one hand, I love new works, this one centers on a Black family (as too few do), and it has potential to be a really gorgeous performance. On the other hand, it’s yet another tale of a Black person’s life taken too soon. How many of the roles for Black performers need to center around Black pain? How much joy will these characters find before, or despite, that incalculable tragedy?
Tickets are $42-$206, here.
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Peter Antoniou: ‘Psychic’ Comedian – presented by ReAct Theatre @ Theatre Off Jackson (runs 2/23-3/15). In Seattle (International District).
Seattle Shakespeare Company: Drum and Colors – As You Like It (preview 2/24, opens 2/25, closing 3/12). At the Seattle Center.
Twelfth Night Productions: A Year with Frog and Toad @ Youngstown Cultural Art Center (opens 2/25, closing 3/13). In West Seattle (Delridge).
University of Puget Sound Theatre Arts: Indecent (opens 2/25, closing 3/5). In Tacoma.
Vashon Repertory Theatre: The Exonerated (opens 2/25, closing 2/27). On Vashon Island.
Closing Soon
Intiman Theatre: The Mystery of Irma Vep (closing 2/26). In Seattle (Capitol Hill). See NWT’s review here.
Renton Civic Theatre: Into the Woods (closing 2/26). In Renton.
Book-It Repertory Theatre: Beowulf (closing 2/27). Online viewing only.
Bremerton Community Theatre: Death of a Salesman (closing 2/27). In Bremerton.
Macha Theatre Works: The Fifth Wave (closing 2/27). In Seattle (Fremont). See NWT’s review here.
The Phoenix Theatre: 37 Postcards (closing 2/27). In Edmonds. See NWT’s review here.
18th & Union: David & Goliath (closing 2/28). Online viewing only.
Continuing Runs
Taproot Theatre: See How They Run (closing 3/5). In Seattle (Greenwood). See NWT’s Quick Takes review of ‘See How They Run’ here.
Valley Center Stage: Tiny Beautiful Things (closing 3/5). In North Bend.
Sara Porkalob @ Cafe Nordo: Dragon Lady (closing 3/6). See NWT’s review here.
Sara Porkalob @ Cafe Nordo: Dragon Mama (closing 3/6). See NWT’s Quick Takes review of ‘Dragon Mama’ here.
Seattle Children’s Theatre: Red Riding Hood (closing 3/6). At Seattle Center.
Tacoma Arts Live @ Theatre on the Square: Grounded (closing 3/6). In Tacoma.
Seattle Shakespeare Company: Drum and Colors – Hamlet (closing 3/13). At the Seattle Center.
Seattle Rep: Freestyle Love Supreme (closing 3/13). At Seattle Center (Mercer St. side).
Village Theatre: Songs for a New World (closing 3/13). In Everett. See NWT’s review here.
Can Can Culinary Cabaret: Ooh La La (closing 5/1). In Seattle (Pike Place).
The Roundup is a weekly (ish) feature. Want to plan your show schedule further out? See NWT’s 2022 Shows list, which aims to list just about every theatre show in town. For shows by day and ticketing info, see the Performance Calendar.
Chase D. Anderson is Editor & Producer of NWTheatre.org.