All and all, there’s not a piece of BPA’s production of The Tempest that doesn’t hit its mark. It captures all of the magic, humor, and love that Shakespeare intended and does so with a superlative cast and in a most iconic setting at the Bloedel Reserve. In its seventh year, the “Bard at Bloedel” has no signs of losing steam.

Cost of Living is a layered and complex look at the human condition as told through its depiction of two separate disabled individuals and their caregivers. It’s quite heavy at times, but through its poignancy and passion, this show tackles a number of important issues and begs its audience to contemplate their own relationships and preconceived attitudes and notions.

Jeeves Takes a Bow is a hilarious farce that is so easy to digest, you may want to come back and see it again, and again. Fronted by a superior ensemble cast, the Scott Nolte directed production transports audiences back to prohibition era New York in a true fish out of water tale that will have you laughing from curtain up to curtain down.

Nobody does Agatha Christie like Jeffrey Bassett, and if the Bremerton Community Theatre production of Murder on the Orient Express is any indication, he hasn’t lost his touch. A fantastic and funny group of actors led by Adrian DeGroot as Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, bring this classic to life in a production that marries acting, lighting, sound, and a wonderfully crafted set to tell a story that will satisfy even the most experienced fan of the “Queen of Crime”.

The Shawshank Redemption is a deep and dark show, one that is not easy to watch at times, but is so well presented, it’s right up there with the original novella and film version in terms of the quality of storytelling. Blake R. York has assembled a crack team of creatives to help present his vision of this classic tale, and a cast that captures each character with respect. If you’re a fan of the novella or film, Shawshank at TLT will be a wonderful addition to your collection. If not, you’ll be treated to a wonderfully crafted piece of theatre. Either way, Tacoma Little Theatre has closed out the season in the best way possible, with a winner.

Hello Dolly is a classic, and this alone would be enough of a reason to come to Village Theatre to see it during its run currently in Issaquah and next month in Everett. But what this group has done under the direction of Timothy McCuen Piggee is truly remarkable. This production of Hello Dolly has gone big and by doing so, it has hit one of the biggest home runs of this season. Bobbi Kotula is truly Dolly, and she is surrounded by a cast and creative team that is clearly and capably suited for this production. So, whether you wear your Sunday best, or decide to leave it at home for something more casual, it’s no matter as long as you take advantage of this wonderful opportunity we all have to see Hello Dolly at Village Theatre.

In short, Kitsap Forest Theatre’s production of The Sound of Music is simply wonderful. Trina Williamson has assembled a talented cast who performs this classic with skill and reverence for its place in history. Led by the incomparable Ila Faubion Dreessen as Maria, this ensemble of excellent performers hits on every note, bringing this classic to life in a setting that would make anyone feel like there’s at least a little bit of magic happening here.

Escape to Margaritaville is a jukebox musical that may be the closest some will get to attending an actual Jimmy Buffett concert, and the way this is performed, that’s ok. This talented cast handles some of Buffett’s best with humor and heart, and while the story itself isn’t something that is going to win a pulitzer, the show is successful in transporting its audience to the islands and takes some of the weight of the world off, if only just for a few hours.

Monty Python’s Spamalot at WWCA captures all of the magic and silliness of the Flying Circus, delivering on a show that could skew big, but doesn’t. It’s cast delivers the humor, the music, the dancing, and the joy that this show is intended to produce. It’s such a fun show and the perfect example that when a creative cast and crew love and appreciation of source material, the care they take in producing something wonderful is evident.

Lydia and the Troll is one of those shows that is so much more than expected. It’s a musical treat, a love letter to Seattle, and a whole lot of fun. This story of self-discovery, uniquely told through the lens of an aspiring songwriter who comes in contact with a troll, grabs the audience and doesn’t let go through all of its ups and downs, its catchy and wonderfully crafted songs, it’s superlative performances, and excellent storytelling. It’s so good, so entertaining, and so fun, and its run has been extended through June 11. Good thing, too, because this is one of those rare shows that I can see myself coming back to time and again.

Love, Loss, and What I Wore will resonate with some more than others. Men may not be able to take that brief sigh and think, “Ah, yes, that happened to me, too”, and the show may be written more from a woman’s perspective, but it’s no less enjoyable for anyone. These monologues not about clothing, but how clothing affects and accompanies life experiences are typical Nora Ephron, poignant and funny, heartfelt and real. The production at Lakewood Playhouse captures all of that, and then some. If Nora were still around today, I think she’d most definitely agree.

Wolf Play sets out to tackle some difficult subjects, from the American adoption system to the idea of what each of us individually and collectively have come to understand as the definition of family. It challenges us to take an empathetic view into the lives of individuals and groups that may not look and act like we do, and contemplate how we would act in these same situations they each find themselves in. If you expect Wolf Play to sort it all out for you, you’re howling up the wrong tree, but if you’re looking for an intellectual piece of art that will challenge you to take a reflective look at your own life in a uniquely designed and creatively executed way, then you’ve indeed found the right pack.

Titanic the Musical does in a little over two hours what James Cameron’s 1997 film couldn’t even do in over three. It tells the story of one of the greatest tragedies of the early 20th century, and does so from a human perspective, with a great deal of poignancy and a whole lot of heart. Musically, with its sweeping score and wonderfully orchestrated and performed musical numbers, it’s an extremely entertaining show, and when it’s designed and performed as well as the production currently onstage at Tacoma Musical Playhouse is, it’s definitely worth taking the time to come out and see.

When done right, Sweeney Todd isn’t just a musical, it’s an experience, and the 5th most certainly does it right. Directed by Jay Woods, Sweeney Todd represents a confluence of lighting and sound design, a uniquely creative set, and a phenomenal cast, led by Yusef Seevers in a passionate and emotional performance as the Demon Barber himself. It’s very well designed and excellently performed. Jay Woods has gone all in on the dark theming of Sweeney Todd and, like one of Mrs. Lovett’s mystery meat pies, it’s very well done and provides all of the justification anyone needs for why we should all ‘attend the tale of Sweeney Todd’.

Steven Anthony Jones is August Wilson. That’s not just the premise of the Seattle Rep’s production of Wilson’s autobiographical How I Learned What I Learned, it’s also what makes this show a success. August Wilson was a Mark Twain for our time, and this folksy recounting of his life through the lens of the 20th Century African American experience, as portrayed by Jones is the next best thing to having Wilson onstage himself. It’s a wonderfully designed and executed version of a piece of art that tackles issues that are both timely and unfortunately timeless, but does so with humor and heart, and with a poetic sensibility that is, in the end, both engaging and truly enlightening.

It’s not every day that a new show comes along and exists in that rarified air where entertainment and importance coexist. How to Break is there, though, a stunningly entertaining show, with excellent acting, music and dance, and at the same time tackling cultural divides and the American healthcare system. True, it doesn’t solve the problems it addresses, but How to Break does demand that we use the energy generated from it to go out and make some real change. I highly recommend How to Break, and though it only runs for one more weekend in Issaquah, it’s moving to Village Theatre’s Everett location for the month of May. Having an opportunity to see a premiere of a show so good is a privilege, and if you have the chance, I suggest you take advantage of that.

Each season, there are a few shows that stand out, special theatre experiences in which every component works well individually, but come together to provide a synergy, the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. Told with a great deal of humor, and just the right amount of levity, Significant Other is one of those shows. It’s perfectly paced, sized right for its space, nails all of its creative and technical components, and is filled top to bottom with excellent performances by a supremely talented cast. Significant Other is a show about friendship, and its evolution over time, but it also touches on the individual, and what happens when one’s life isn’t what he or she expects, or even hopes. Director Chris Serface has taken a story that is funny, heartfelt, and relatable, and created a piece of theatre that truly wonderful, definitely among the best of the season to date.

As It is in Heaven is one of those shows that doesn’t end when the curtain drops. It requires something of its audience, part introspection and part reconsideration of our ideas and beliefs, and how they impact both our lives as individuals and the society in which we live. It does this by holding a magnifying glass up to one sect of Christianity, the Shakers, and begs us all to ask what we are prepared to do when something comes along that disrupts the very core of our beliefs. It recognizes that nothing in humanity is crystal clear and that in order to move forward we need to be open minded and flexible. As It is in Heaven is well designed and beautifully performed, it’s a well written play that you’ll be talking about well after the drive home, and that’s a good thing.