Urinetown, the musical that takes aim at capitalism, government corruption, socioeconomic disparity, and so much more, is something that is extremely relatable, and has a serious message to present, but does so in such a fun and funny way that you almost won’t realize what it’s trying to say until it’s already been said.  The Bainbridge Performing Arts production is as complete a show as it gets, and with this incredibly talented cast, under the direction of Jalyn Green, and with a design that is superb, Urinetown is one of the most irreverent, humorous, and enjoyable shows out there.

What is normal? How do we define that, and how do we react when we come across someone who doesn’t fit into our predefined box? That is what Harvey, a human story about a man and his rabbit, and the family to which he is a burden, endeavors to answer. The Centerstage production of Harvey is presented with an ensemble cast that delivers this farce-adjacent story with humor and heart, and a vision from Director Vince Brady that underpins the humanity of this timeless tale.

Caught in the Net is the sequel to Ray Cooney’s Run For Your Wife, and the BCT production most certainly feels like it, though told with a new cast and a different theatre space than its predecessor.  Set 18 years later, Caught in the Net seems to pick up right where Run For Your Wife left off, with respect to energy, humor, pace, and overall entertainment value, and while it doesn’t really break any new ground comedically, it’s still a well written and funny British farce.

The story of John Tornow may not be something I would have thought would make a good musical, it being laced with violence and bloodshed, but I’m happy to admit when I’m wrong, and I couldn’t have been more here.  Wild Man of the Wynoochee, the new musical from Jessica Welsh and Linda Dowdell, takes the tale of a troubled young man at odds with his family and makes it a human story of love family, and forgiveness.  With a musical soundtrack that is full of emotion and melodies that are sure to linger with audiences, and a talented cast led by Casey Raiha in a clear breakout role, Wild Man of the Wynoochee should be required viewing on your 2024-25 theatre schedule.

The Skin of Our Teeth is Thornton Wilder’s take on humanity, its past, present, and future. And much like our species, it isn’t our individuality that should be judged, but rather the whole of us and how we act as a society. In the same way, The Skin of Our Teeth may seem difficult to digest, or understand, at times, but it’s the kind of art that is best enjoyed by letting it wash over you. Doing that, and by appreciating how good the cast and creative team have done at Seattle Rep to produce a very good version of a challenging piece, you’ll come away appreciating both the messaging and the production value of this this Pulitzer Prize winning play.

The legend of King Arthur is something so familiar to us, that we sometimes lose the fact that it is just that, a legend, and that Arthur as we know him in relation to Camelot is not a true historical figure. The story has been told so many times, and musical versions of the tale of Arthur, Guenevere, Lancelot, and the round table have tended to be arduous, complex, long, and just not appetizing. Thankfully, the Village Theatre adaptation of Camelot is none of those things. By paring the story down, the audience gets to its heart, and by casting it with a trio of superb leads and an excellent supporting cast, not to mention a design team comprised of some of Seattle’s best designers, artisans, and craftspeople, Director Adam Immerwahr has produced a version of Camelot that is the most enjoyable that I’ve seen, and I’d be willing to bet a few gold shillings that you’ll feel the same.

You can tell everything you need to know about The Plot, Like Gravy, Thickens, by its name.  It sounds fun and a bit silly.  And if that’s what you think it is, the Jewel Box Theatre production of it should prove that you’ve hit the nail on the head.  In what I consider a perfect example of what community theatre is all about, Director Linda Jensen has produced a deconstructed murder mystery in the best way, with a thoroughly enjoyable cast and a creative vision that is more a satire of the genre than anything, but one that at the same time doesn’t give itself away.  You might not die laughing from The Plot, Like Gravy, Thickens, but you’ll surely come away from it with quite the stitch in your side.

My Lord, What a Night focuses on the unlikely friendship between renowned physicist Albert Einstein and the reluctant Civil Rights icon and famous contralto Marian Anderson, but it represents so much more.  This play shows that in times of crisis, in which social and political climates are charged and we as humans are at a crossroads, it’s only by banding together in love and friendship that we can develop the strength to overcome.  This was as true in 1937 as it is today, and My Lord, What a Night is both enlightening and entertaining, well designed and masterfully performed.   

The Lakewood Playhouse production of Godspell may not be the Godspell that you or your parents have grown up with, but the heart of the story is still here, the parables and their lessons are presented, they just may be a little harder to get to.  Presented by a cast that clearly has talent, with a little more volume and a little less chaos, I feel like this has the potential to shine, it just need to get there.

In Damn Yankees, Joe Boyd is the typical sports fan, willing to do just about anything to help his beloved Washington Senators win. When he has a taker in a devilish stranger, the two of them put into motion a race against time and for Joe’s soul. The Reboot Theatre production is a fun and entertaining twist on this classic, led by the magnificent Jessie Selleck in a performance that itself is worth the price of admission. And as we approach the end of this year’s baseball season, Damn Yankees is perhaps the best way to take your mind off the hometown Mariners woes.

For those unfamiliar with Pride and Prejudice, the Harlequin Productions adaptation is an entertaining introduction to a classic story. For those more familiar with the book, or the multitudes of films or stage adaptations, this is a unique and humorous twist, almost an inside joke that is at the same time a tribute, or even a love letter, to the original source material. Moreover, it’s a showcase for the amazing talent the region has in its acting corps, from individuals portraying multiple and distinct characters, to masterful delivery of dialects and nuance.

There’s so much to enjoy about POTUS. It’s a winner from top to bottom, with so much humor delivered by a cast of actors who understand satire and how to deliver a political farce in a way that drives home its points while invigorating the audience through laughter. Our social and political climate is rife with stress, and what a joy it is to have the ability to escape that if only for a few hours, and that’s the true beauty of POTUS, and it’s just one more chapter in the increasing legacy of former Artistic Director John Langs’ tenure at ACT Contemporary Theatre.

Guards at the Taj is, at its heart, a story of friendship and its perseverance through difficult choices and shared trauma.  When two friends are called upon to commit an act so intensely cruel and inhuman, they must come to terms with what they have done, together and on their own.  The co-production from Pratidhwani and ArtsWest presents this emotionally charged piece anchored by extremely strong performances from its two actors and a with a design that is sewn together by threads of both hope and despair, coming together to make a work of art that is easily the high water mark to date for a local production of a Rajiv Joseph play.

Farces seem to be the order of the day in both Pierce and Kitsap counties right now, with One Man, Two Guvnors on stage at Tacoma Little Theatre and Run For Your Wife at Bremerton Community Theatre. One Man, Two Guvnors is a farce in the classic sense and with a cast led by a perfectly entertaining performance from Blake R. York as the “One Man”, it’s a laugh-a-minute experience that shouldn’t be missed. And in Run For Your Wife, Director Dan Estes seems to have dialed in the trick to making a farce work, with a cast that clearly understands what they are portraying here, and one that has mastered the art of comedic timing.

New and original works aren’t exactly a dime-a-dozen in Seattle.  Coming out of Covid especially, few theaters are willing to risk putting up a new show, opting instead for known entities, with their own drawing power.  So, kudos to producer Outrage Onstage and SecondStory Rep for coming together to present Come On, Get Tappy!  The new production from Harry Turpin and Stacie Hart is a fun and funny musical with catchy songs, a good story, and excellent singing, dancing, and acting that come together with a well executed design to present a show that most definitely has a future, once it gets tightened up a bit.  And while it runs a bit long in its current incarnation, the foundation is there, and given how entertaining it is now, I can’t wait to see what it becomes as it matures.

Miss Holmes isn’t your average Sherlock Holmes mystery. It has all of the ingredients found in the standard detective fare, but it’s layered with a message of female empowerment that makes it an important piece, while still being an entertaining and funny whodunit. It’s great to see Latitude Theatre as one of the new residents at TPS’ Center Theatre and Miss Holmes is a great choice to open at their new home.

There aren’t many shows that I come out of and think, “Wow, everyone NEEDS to see this”, but Justin Huertas’ new musical Lizard Boy is right up there near the top of that very short list. This story of friendship, love, and that elusive moving target of hope is pure gold, and he tells it all the while redefining what it is to be a hero. In all aspects, musically and theatrically, Lizard Boy is a winner. I wish I had seen it in Seattle before it moved to OSF, but I’m genuinely happy I’ve gotten to see any version of it at all, much less this fantastic one currently on stage at Ashland. And if you can’t make it to OSF this year, let’s all work together to make sure that the show builds a life of its own, and it comes back to Seattle, and beyond.

Cinderella is one of those classic stories that we’re all very familiar with, and we’ve all probably seen multiple versions of the tale. Kitsap Forest Theater, in choosing to present the Broadway version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, gives us a more layered and more human story than perhaps we’re used to. And having someone as talented as Carin Young in the lead role surrounded by a cast under the direction of Trina Williamson, who clearly is familiar with designing shows in this unique space, most definitely makes for a wonderful telling of this unique version of the familiar story we’ve all come to love. Cinderella is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon outdoors, and something suitable for the entire family.

Jane Eyre has been engaging readers, viewers, and theatre goers for almost 200 years. Its themes of female independence and empowerment, socioeconomic disparity, and class are in some ways even more impactful today than they were when Charlotte Brontë first published the story. The OSF production brings this classic to life in all its gothic splendor, adapted by Elizabeth Williamson, directed by Dawn Monique Williams, and featuring a cast that is skillful and engaging. Brontë’s story lives on in this adaptation and it feels like its place in OSF’s Allen Elizabethan Theatre is exactly where it is meant to be.

I’ve heard a lot of good things about Urinetown through the years, though I’ve never seen it until last week’s opening night performance presented by Ballyhoo Theatre. Performed by a cast that is talented, confident, and strong, and under the direction of Shileah Corey, this production on one hand makes me wish I hadn’t waited so long to see Urinetown, but on the other hand I’m glad that this was my introduction to it. A funny, irreverent, and tragically topical comedy, Urinetown is a show that will entertains from start to finish.