What makes Love/Sick resonate is not that it presents idealized romance, but that it acknowledges how messy, frustrating, and imperfect relationships often are. People say the wrong things, misunderstand each other, cling too tightly, or fail to communicate entirely, yet beneath all of that remains a desire for connection that feels deeply human. By the end of the evening, as the production draws its emotional threads together, the cumulative effect becomes clearer. Even the scenes that may not fully succeed theatrically still contribute to the larger emotional mosaic Cariani is building. Olympia Little Theatre’s production may fluctuate in consistency, but at its best it captures something honest about modern relationships, and that honesty is what lingers after the final scene.

With Jesus Christ Superstar, The Fifth has created a perfect show about someone perceived to be perfect while reminding us of his and our own humanity. Humanity that’s shown not only in subject matter, but the carefully crafted details, the diversity on stage to be seen and celebrated, for a timeless story to be reimagined and remind us that even our biggest enemies give us our biggest blessings. Whether that is in our art, career, religion, relationships or morals.  Politics absolutely belongs to/in the arts, and I can’t thank the Fifth Avenue Theatre enough for concocting one of the most meaningful and beautiful pieces of art I have ever borne witness to. May I and my peers continue to create art even remotely close to this professional level but most importantly art with a message to ensure, like Jesus of Nazareth, other minorities and religions don’t get washed away and erased. Don’t walk, don’t run, teleport to see “Jesus Christ Superstar” at The Fifth Avenue Theatre before it closes, I hope you feel as inspired by at is as I did!

Woodinville Repertory Theatre’s current production is an exploration of what we owe our loved ones, our neighbors, and ourselves. Their Native Gardens features direction that makes use of a unique performance space, actors unafraid to dive into the messier aspects of life, and high-caliber production design, all of which adds up to an in-depth interrogation of how what we owe one another changes based on historical context, socio-political realities, heritage, and the universal desire to belong.

Blue Hour Theatre Group’s Continuity is effective because it resists easy cynicism. The play clearly recognizes the contradictions embedded within Hollywood activism, environmental messaging, and performative allyship, but it also acknowledges the human desire to create stories that matter. Even when the characters fail each other, compromise themselves, or lose sight of the message they claim to champion, the production never entirely dismisses the value of trying. Blue Hour Theatre Group’s production captures that tension well, presenting a work that is thoughtful, funny, occasionally messy by design, and ultimately interested less in perfect answers than in the complicated process of asking difficult questions.

Pipeline doesn’t offer easy answers, and Lakewood’s staging doesn’t attempt to impose them. Instead, it creates space for the audience to engage with the questions at its core—about systemic inequities, about communication, about the limits of love and the structures that shape our lives. The result is a production that feels honest, immediate, and deeply relevant, one that offers a powerful and thought-provoking experience that speaks as much to the present moment as it does to the personal stories at its heart.

Where the Summit Meets the Stars proves how effective it is when a theatre fully commits to the emotional and cultural specificity of the story, as is the case with Harlequin. The production never feels interested in simplifying its themes or overexplaining its symbolism. Instead, it invites the audience into a reflective experience built around memory, heritage, grief, and connection to land and family. The result is a thoughtful and visually compelling piece of theatre, one carried by strong performances, confident direction, and a design team that understands how to support both the realism and the spirituality woven throughout the script.

Bark! The Musical understands that beneath all the jokes, barking, and absurd canine behavior, there’s nothing like the emotional connection people have with their pets. The production embraces the humor wholeheartedly, but it also recognizes the loyalty, comfort, heartbreak, and unconditional affection that make dogs such an important part of so many lives. At Key City Public Theatre, Denise and this talented ensemble have created a production that is funny, heartfelt, musically polished, and consistently engaging, resulting in an evening that feels both joyfully entertaining and genuinely meaningful for anyone who has ever loved a dog.

American Idiot understands the heart beneath the anger of the generation at the heart of its story.  Beneath the loud guitars, political frustration, addiction, rebellion, and chaos is a story about young people desperately trying to figure out who they are and whether there is still hope for something better.  The production is loud and energetic, and emotionally it remains locked in on that central idea.  In a world that often still feels fractured, angry, and uncertain, American Idiot continues to resonate, and this production captures that restless spirit with conviction.

Some of the best local art in our area takes place in grange community buildings (such as theirs), church gymnasiums, cafeterias, underneath the space needle and even strip malls. “The important of Being Earnest” is a fun story from an older time in which the materials still relate to our world today. Valley Center Stage’s production from the inside out, from start to finish, would have made Oscar Wilde proud and I cannot wait to attend my next performance with them.

You Will Get Sick doesn’t offer easy answers, but it does invite reflection—on illness, on connection, and on the ways we construct meaning in uncertain circumstances. In a theatrical landscape that often favors clarity, this production stands out for its willingness to sit in ambiguity, asking its audience not just to watch, but to engage, interpret, and question what they’re seeing.

A small-town photographer. A community of quiet yearnings. Love in every stage of its life cycle. Kodachrome is a beautifully restrained meditation on love, loss and the ordinary moments that only reveal their weight after the shutter clicks for the last time.

This production of The Mountaintop does very well in presenting the play’s central question—what does it mean to carry forward the work of someone like Dr. King?—even as it wrestles with how that question is framed. The performances and design create a compelling theatrical experience, one that invites reflection and conversation. While the script’s perspective may feel at odds with a modern audience in places, the production itself remains engaging, asking us not just to consider the legacy of one man, but what responsibility we each bear in continuing it.

The Aves does not offer easy answers, nor does it try to. Instead, it presents forgiveness as something complicated, something that requires time, reflection, and a willingness to confront the past. In doing so, it creates a theatrical experience that feels both intimate and universal. At Union Arts Center, this production brings together thoughtful direction, cohesive design, and a cast fully invested in the material. The result is a piece that resonates, not because of any grand gestures, but because of its honesty and its understanding of what it means to share a life with another person.

Tacoma Musical Playhouse’s production of “Sweet Chairty” teaches us to be careful and not trust that easily, but to never harden yourself due to  what others or the world may do to you. Whether you are a fan of the 1960’s, Bob Fosse and his choreography, great dancing, catchy music or a good chuckle, “Sweet Charity” has it all. You’ll be sitting in the audience thinking, “If my friends could see me now” they would definitely wish they had seen this show too. Get your tickets now and enjoy their themed and cleverly named cocktails in the lobby! 

All My Sons at Anacortes Community Theatre is a thoughtfully executed production, supported by strong performances, cohesive design, and a clear directorial vision. More than that, it’s another reminder that some of the most compelling theatre in the region is happening just beyond the immediate Seattle area—and that it is absolutely worth the drive to experience it.

Appropriate is a play that is not always easy to watch, nor is it meant to be. It is sharp, at times confrontational, and unflinching in its examination of legacy and ownership—of land, of history, and of narrative. But in the hands of this cast and creative team, it is also deeply compelling, anchored by strong performances, a cohesive directorial vision, and design elements that work in concert to create a world that feels both specific and resonant. It understands the power of the word at its center—and all that comes with it—and ensures that by the time the final moments unfold, that word carries a weight that lingers well beyond the stage.

For audiences who have ever found themselves wondering what their pets might be thinking—or who have felt the profound impact those relationships can have—there’s something here to connect with. Ludlow Village Players offers a heartfelt take on a unique concept, one that invites reflection even as it entertains.

The cast, the crew, the design and the volunteers encompass all these themes and then some, leaving you wanting to be part of the fun. In fact, the night I attended, there was an audience member in the front row who couldn’t stop moving in her seat and when the audience was able to stand up at curtain call and sing along, this patron stood up with pure glee, and it brought joy to all of us around her. No matter the age, the relationship, whether it is your first time seeing the show or your one hundredth, “Mamma Mia” never fails to bring a smile to your heart.

Steel Magnolias is an ode to women, to friendship, to love, to life and loss and community. As our Dear Shelby says, “I’d rather have 30 minutes of wonderful than a lifetime of nothing special”. “Steel Magnolias” cast, crew and story, you made me feel two hours of wonderful, congratulations on a beautiful job to all.

The Cake is a thoughtful and engaging piece, one that uses its central metaphor of baking as a kind of religion—where following directions can feel like following a sermon—to explore deeper questions of belief, love, and identity. SecondStory Repertory’s production embraces those ideas with sincerity, supported by strong performances and a clear sense of purpose, offering a story that resonates in both its warmth and its willingness to wrestle with difficult truths.