From the impressive stages of Tacoma to the stately theater in Olympia and all the suburban playhouses nearby, the South Sound gives theater enthusiasts a great deal to look forward to this season: comedies, mysteries, remakes and musicals, adult performances, family entertainment, and more. Take a look at what’s coming up.
In a twist on Shakespeare’s original canon, Tacoma Little Theatre presents A Midsummer Night’s Dream set in the present. That’s followed by the crime thriller Dial “M” for Murder.
If you like being close to the actors, Lakewood Playhouse is configured in the round so performers are never far from the audience. This fall you can see how strangers trapped on an island resort are eliminated one by one in Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. Or take the kiddos to A Year with Frog and Toad and see whimsical characters hop from the page to the stage.
Tacoma Musical Playhouse caters to the little folks this season. See everyone’s favorite ogre in Shrek the Musical, and Little Princess, about a girl with a very robust imagination.
The grande dame of theater in Tacoma, Broadway Center for the Performing Arts, offers three venues to choose from: the Rialto, Pantages and Theatre on the Square. In September Jars of Clay comes to the Rialto on its 20th anniversary tour. Caspar Babypants & Recess Monkey presents a kids’ concert that parents will love. And local celebrity Vicci Martinez from TV’s The Voice takes the stage with Passenger String Quartet and The Fame Riot.
Later in the season Broadway Center presents An Evening with Danny Glover, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and Fiesta, Familia, Folklore featuring some of the best dance and music from Mexico.
In Federal Way, Centerstage Theatre shines with its dramatic and musical shows. Expect to tap your feet and sway to the sounds of the Total Experience Gospel Choir. When the kids have time off in December, take them to Jack and the Beanstalk, a musical with terrible jokes, fabulous songs and a brilliant cast.
The Washington Center for the Performing Arts in Olympia will see the return of The von Trapps after they were a big hit last April with Pink Martini. This time they’re on tap for a solo show. If you’re in the mood for mocking politics, then you’ll want to see The Capitol Steps. In late fall, performing pets and a talented juggler grace the stage when The World Famous Popovich Comedy Pet Theater comes to town.
HEATHER LARSON
For Additional Information:
broadwaycenter.org
centerstagetheatre.com
lakewoodplayhouse.org
tacomalittletheatre.com
tmp.org
washingtoncenter.org