April Theater Openings For Greater Seattle Include A New Trip To Oz and Sweeney Todd

Compiled from press releases by Miryam Gordon

The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz, Seattle Childrens Theater, 4/5/23-5/21/23

Growing tired of her life in Kansas, Dorothy and her little dog Toto discover a new adventure in the wonderful and magical Land of Oz after a cyclone swoops them “somewhere over the rainbow.” While following the yellow brick road to the Emerald City, Dorothy meets the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion, who quickly become her new friends. Together, they overcome their fears of witches, flying monkeys, and a haunted forest to learn if the Wizard can make their dreams come true. Approx. 60 minutes/Recommended for ages 5+

www.sct.org

Redd, Key City Public Theatre, 4/5/23 – 4/30/23 (world premiere)

Kat Agudo brings a Pilipino twist to the classic Little Red Riding Hood. Rue, a mysterious orphan with Babaylan royal ancestry is planning to leave for Spain with their caretaker, Don Hunter from the sheltered town of Intramuros, Manila. Accompanied by a spirit guide, Rin, they journey to Grandmother’s house. They engage in a fantastical battle fueled by the sacrifice of Rue’s ancestors and a chance for liberation of her people. KCPT commissioned this world premiere play.

www.keycitypublictheatre.org

I Hate Hamlet, The Phoenix Theatre, 4/7/23 -4/30/23

Andrew Rally seems to have it all: celebrity and acclaim from his starring role in a hit television series; a rich, beautiful girlfriend; a glamorous, devoted agent; the perfect New York apartment; and the chance to play Hamlet in Central Park. But there are couple of glitches in paradise – 

Andrew’s series has been canceled; his girlfriend is clinging to her virginity with unyielding conviction; and he has no desire to play Hamlet. In the midst of his confusion, he is visited by the ghost of legendary actor John Barrymore. Andrew wrestles with his conscience, Barrymore, his sword, and confronts the ultimate question: Who he wants to be, or not be?

www.tptedmonds.org

The Niceties, Intiman Theatre, 4/18/23 – 4/29/23 (at Erickson Theatre)

A pair of progressive women — a white baby boomer and a Black millennial — are pitted against each other at an elite university. A tenured history professor argues with her student about the effects of slavery on the American Revolution. A polite clash in perspectives explodes into a dramatic fight that will alter both their lives forever. Choose a side: how much are you willing to sacrifice for the sake of progress?

www.intiman.org

Bethany Sees The Stars, Copious Love Productions, 4/20/23-5/6/23 (at Theatre Off Jackson) (world premiere) 

When 15-year-old Bethany receives a letter inviting her to the first manned mission to Mars, she consults the stars about whether she should leave the Earth behind forever. A new play by Emily Golden delves into relationship that can help or heal.

www.copiouslove.com

Sweeney Todd, 5^th Avenue Theatre, 4/21/23-5/14/23

After 15 years in exile, Sweeney Todd, an unsettling man with a mysterious past, returns to a dark and gritty London, hungry for vengeance against the judge who destroyed his life. He meets an unscrupulous Mrs. Lovett, the unhinged proprietress of a failing pie shop, and together they develop a spinetingling plot to exact revenge. Sweeney Todd is a piercing investigation of a society tearing itself apart.

www.5thavenue.org

How I Learned What I Learned, Seattle Rep, 4/21/23-5/14/23 (opening 4/26)

Originally performed by playwright August Wilson himself, Steven Anthony Jones will perform this heartfelt theatrical memoir charting one man’s journey of self-discovery through adversity, and what it means to be a Black artist in America. Helmed by Tim Bond, this solo work brings Wilson’s necessary voice and poetry back to Seattle Rep. 

www.seattlerep.org

Significant Other, Tacoma Little Theatre, 4/21/23-5/7/23

Acerbic playwright Joshua Harmon introduces Jordan Berman who would love to be in love, but that’s easier said than done. Until he meets Mr. Right, he wards off lonely nights with his trio of close girlfriends. But as singles’ nights turn into bachelorette parties, Jordan discovers that the only thing harder than finding love is supporting the loved ones around you when they do. As the girlfriends get married one by one, he is left to wonder why life won’t give him the same fairytale ending. This unorthodox romantic comedy celebrates the highs and lows of twenty- something urban life, wedding after wedding after wedding.

www.tacomalittletheatre.com

Twelfth Night, Seattle Shakespeare Company, 4/25/23-5/21/23 (at Center Theater)

A musical adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night tells the story of a shipwrecked young woman, Viola, who washes up on the shores of Illyria. To survive, she disguises herself as a man, is sent to woo a countess, and falls hard for a Duke. As she navigates this strange and wonderful new land (as well as the gender confusion in all her roles), she finds her true self and true love in the process.

www.seattleshakespeare.org

The Squirrel Plays, Mirror Stage Company, 4/27/23-5/20/23 (at 12^th Avenue Arts) 

Award-winning playwright Mia McCullough writes a deeply dark comedy about choice(s) and consequences. A cycle of three short one-act plays: Infestation, Compensation, and Eradication tells the story of Tom and Sarah. They finally find the suburban house of their dreams with probably the nicest garden on the market. Everything is blissful, until an unwanted squirrel gets trapped in the attic, interrupting their lives and causing a rift in their marriage. Once an exterminator, the neighborhood association, and animal control all get involved, violence and turmoil unsettle the entire subdivision.

www.mirrorstage.org

Our Dear Dead Drug Lord, Washington Ensemble Theatre, 4/28/23-5/15/23 (at 12^th Avenue Arts)

Set in the face of the 2008 presidential election, a coven of teenage girls meets in an abandoned treehouse to summon the ghost of Pablo Escobar. Are they actually summoning the leader of the Medellín Cartel? Or are they just playing tricks on one another? This roller coaster ride through the trials and terrors of girlhood dabbles in dark magic and the uncertainty of growing up.

www.washingtonensemble.org

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