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Seattle Repertory Theatre
Rating Details »
Category: Performing Arts [Edit]
Neighborhood: Queen Anne155 Mercer St
(between N Warren Ave & N 2nd Ave)
Seattle, WA 98109
(206) 443-2210
- Good for Kids:
- No
16 reviews for Seattle Repertory Theatre
I love the Rep! I definitely don't make it here enough which is odd seeing as I live in the neighborhood. I went to see The 39 Steps last night and it was great. Their recent performance of the Pinter classic Betrayal was also great. Over the years I've seen quite a few really good shows here, including a combination of locally produced and nationally produced works.
They (along with some other theaters in town) offer $10 tickets to anyone 25 and under, making it cost the same as a trip to movies. That is a great deal! And I really like that it promotes youth involvement in the arts, one of the nice things about Seattle.
If you want an intimate theater experience, try The Rep. I enjoy going to different types of stage performances ranging from drama to dance to musicals and have seen literally hundreds of performances of all types all over the country. Depends on my mood and what type of experience I'm looking for. The intimacy of the Rep theaters promotes the feeling that you are almost a part of the play. A much different experience than seeing a performance at, say, the cavernous 5th Ave.
As far as seating is concerned, I have found that I have a better chance at the Rep of being able to see the stage from my seat than at most other venues in town. That is, if an average to small person sits in front of me. In other theaters, I can't even see around an average person. The curse of the vertically challenged! I hate nothing more than paying for an expensive theater ticket and only being able to see 10% of the performance. And no....I'm not going to sit on a booster chair!
I've seen some really fabulously acted and directed plays at the Rep over the years. I appreciate that I can count on their season to have several offerings that I will enjoy. I've been attending theater performances since I was very young and IMO the Rep is an asset to the Seattle theater scene. A theater can be relevant without pushing a hole in the envelope.
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I attended the first preview performance of Opus, on Oct 30, and was impressed. The play is a well-written look at the musical and social dynamics of a chamber music quartet. The set is exactly what I have seen in such work sites over the years--just a few chairs and music stands. Save for a wonderful back lit screen to profile the players as they move scenery, the lighting is never part of your awareness, and that is what, I am sure, is intended. The management of what must be daunting problems for the director and sound man, is masterful, with a sophisticated and totally seamless delivery of the musical pieces and theatrical business, protecting our suspension of disbelief as we watch these actors "perform" Beethoven, et al.
The acting is lively and committed. You can tell the players trust the script and each other. And in a delightful plus, the Rep has found a cast that manages to look like the characters they have been asked to be.
Sadly, I believe our cultural baggage may have restrained two of the actors as they worked through the trials of a pair of gay men, struggling with their relationship. It was the one time in the play in which I could sense the men in the roles as well as the men of the roles.
I highly recommend this piece to anyone who loves good theatre, and especially to those, who like myself, have always enjoyed watching the interaction of musicians, whatever the genre of their music.
You must check out the new production of The 39 Steps - it is a comedic thriller, that is well acted and overall just a good time at the theatre. This production is smooth and classy! Kudos to all involved.
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My boyfriend took me to see Breaking Hearts and Taking Names to celebrate our first-year-anniversary (dateiversary? we ain't married). The building was average size, with a coffee shop and a little gift shop. The gift shop had a weird array of things that bore no discernable relationship to the theater, but I got a good deal on some ramekins, and also bought my boyfriend an anniversary card there - after borrowing the two bucks off him. What a classy dame.
The theater locations itself could be better marked...we wandered into a totally empty theater and almost sat down before realizing it was the set for 'Wishful Drinking' and we were in the wrong place.
The inner theater itself is cozy and intimate. I think if I hadn't had an aisle seat I might have felt a bit squashed, but personally, I always feel that if a play is good enough, you stop noticing your surroundings anyway.
It was.
It was a funny, quirky, weird series of personal stories, stuck together with accordion music, poems and little songs. Toward the end I was surprised to find myself tearing up - it was very touching and human and lovely, and I found it moving and really enjoyable.
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As a member of the Seattle Rep Crew, I've seen three or four shows here now. The first was spectacular: The Three Musketeers. Sword fighting, great use of set, amazing costumes, wonderful performances. This has been followed up with a couple others, including "You Can't Take It With You," which included moments of comedy that had me crying with laughter, and "The Road to Mecca," which I saw in preview and still needed some tightening, but nonetheless was still good.
The Rep is located in busy lower Queen Anne. Bring cash to park in one of the structures, otherwise find parking in one of the pay-for lots and don't stress over finding free parking. It will be next to impossible.
The building itself is a pretty neat. I've sat anywhere from the back row to a far side, and haven't felt like I'm missing anything. Of course super tall people sitting in front of you are going to ruin any view in any venue, but I've seen people be nice enough to swap seats or shuffle over into an unused seat to accommodate another person.
There is a wine and beer bar in the lobby, as well as an espresso and baked goods stand. I've stood chatting with the baristas about the shows a couple times, and they're always friendly. However, my favorite is the on-your-honor coffee table; drop a couple bucks in and grab a cup of coffee. I've not had enough change before, and still grabbed a cup of coffee, making sure that I evened up next time I was there. I appreciate that kind of flexibility. I'm also super honest, apparently.
Heading out of town and can't use your ticket? With enough notice, you can exchange the day. I've had to do this, and I like that I can still come and see the show, not get deprived for my last minute vacation plans.
All in all, the Rep puts on great shows in a great theater.
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I was reminded of how much live theatre means to me when Mark Z started taking me to performances with him. The caliber of actors, actresses, and musicians who perform at The Rep continuously amaze me as does the writing, direction, and stage settings. I sit in my chair, the lights go down, and in the intimate theatre spaces I'm fully transported into another life ... another experience. I laugh, I cry, I whistle, I holler, I cheer, I think, I appreciate. So happy to have this level of the arts in Seattle. At some point I'll become a season ticket subscriber. Bravo, man, Bravo!
"25 and under? Always pay $10".
I really don't want to be a condescending twit about this but I do want to inject a note of thoughtful dissent sometimes, when I read a love-fest about something with which I've had a different experience.
In my life, I've had three careers: chef, advertising copywriter and Creative Director, and professional actor. Of the three, among people who have known me a long time, I think the consensus would be that acting is my strong suit. I've acted with several of the country's best regional theaters and have attended performances of almost all of the nation's better companies. I think the Seattle Repertory Theatre is perfectly okay. OKAY; NOT the best theatre company in this end of the country and possibly not even in this city. As larger regional theatres go, it wouldn't even make my Top Ten.
Now, NONE of this is to say that I don't enjoy the occasional show there or that I think YOU should change your opinion of them AT ALL. If you are not someone who has a LOT of experience watching other theater companies, I'd suggest, in fact, that you totally disregard this review. This is really written as a "buyer beware" for actors and people with theatrical experience coming here from out of town. I've spoken with well over 100 (NO exaggeration) actors who have moved here from CA, the midwest, and the east, made the pilgrimage to the Rep, and told me later that the experience was nowhere near as good as they expected. Many, in fact, said they thought the Rep was not even as good as the regional theaters in their own hometowns. In fact, I think the same thing. In my opinion, Seattle Rep is just about on a quality and expertise par with The North Carolina Shakespeare Festival, MY hometown theater, for which I've worked.
I have seen an occasional show there that I thought was particularly well-directed and acted and, indeed, the actors and directors are the Rep's strong suit. Dan Sullivan's tenure there was their artistic high-water mark and the core of their local company is solid. But they sometimes show, IMHO, a really cursory attitude toward the supporting casting, sets, costumes, and, most of all, their lighting, which frequently verges on the bizzarre.
I've nearly stopped going to the Rep. I just find Theater Schmeater, Open Circle, Taproot, ACT, and Annex more consistently innovative and thoughtful. My favorite company was the late, much-lamented Empty Space, which would have been a great company ANYWHERE it had been based.
I love theater and don't criticize a solid company lightly but I believe Seattle Rep has hit that dreaded mid-life crisis in which formerly-innovative, cutting-edge companies become "established", a kiss-of-death stage at which the watchword and primary goal becomes its own perpetuation. Great companies challenge themselves through these stretches, take chances, push their boundaries, and even produce the odd bomb. But growth is never without pain and the Rep feels very much like a theater that's fat, comfortable, and smugly complacent. I hope they get back to pushing, the way they did under Dan Sullivan. Like sharks, theaters which don't keep swimming soon wither and die.
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We went to see How How, Why Why Why here on the final night. Fantastic place to go to the theater. Small enough that the acoustics are great, but big enough to fit a good amount of people.
Get there early because they do have a bar, but you have to drink it in the lounge area. No bringing anything but water in with you to watch the show.
The CASH-ONLY bar served us well, with nice concoctions and top shelf booze. Please Seattle rep, get a credit card machine. Thankfully we were able to scrape together enough cash to get a round. Now adays I only carry plastic.
We were able to find parking right across the street for $10. I was happy with that considering the cluster fugg of people down there.
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Comment from Kiki A. of
Seattle Repertory Theatre
9/9/2009
Dan--thanks so much for your review. Seattle Rep has gone…
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The Seattle Rep is yet another great place in town to go check out a play or musical. The seats are comfortable, the sound is great and the shows are quality shows.
I recently saw the Gilbert & Sullivan Society's Princess Ida, I will admit the first Act didn't do much for me but the other two were great, yes it was a three Act musical and I didn't get sore sitting in my seat for the three Acts.
One of the things I really enjoy about the Rep is that after the show the cast is out in the lobby for you to meet and greet with and let them know what an amazing job they did. If you haven't been go check out the Rep and enjoy a show.
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The Rep provides a first-rate theatre experience in the Seattle area, at a reasonable price. They present an excellent variety of materials in both their theatres, and often provide Broadway-calibur entertainment.
A great experience for theatre enthusiasts as well as novices, an evening at the Rep will entertain and possibly even enlighten you! They've got all kinds of special deals, including a 'pay what you can' night and student discounts, so it's a perfect way to 'introduce' someone to the theatre arts.
I'd give the set design and casting of most plays 5 stars. 5-10 years ago, I'd have given everything in the Bagley Wright theater five stars (Especially their production of Jitney!), but starting in 2005, a few of the shows have felt off... (Starting with The King Stag, which was awful the night I saw it). Lately, though, I've been enjoying it more. Their production of The Imaginary Invalid last season was a lot of fun, and this season has been pretty good as well. I hope the trend continues!
Check out "You Can't Take It With You" at the Seattle Rep this month. It is one of the best plays I have seen there in a long time, the cast is incredible. It is worth the full ticket price, but I think there are discounts for students.
There are some great shows in town right now, but this one was a favorite.
Lots of great places to eat before you go on Mercer Street and also on 1st.
I just saw Charlayne Woodard latest one-woman show The Night Watcher. I've never missed one of this amazing actors shows. This one more than matches the standard she has set with shows like Pretty Fire, Neat and other shows that were also directed by Dan Sullivan. The staging is simple and elegant. The simplicity lets this amazing actor shine as she creates characters from her life and invites you to share the most intimate moments. The intimate setting in the Leo K jewel box theater added to the magic of the production. Should be appropriate for teenagers.
Season tickets are a must for this theater and I highly recommend asking about the great variety of season passes they have devised.
Sure, the Repertory Theatre doesn't offer the intricate walls and ceilings like the 5th Ave, but who cares at the Rep because there's not a bad seat in there. The Rep puts on high quality shows and tickets are reasonably priced ($50 gets you an awesome seat).
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Just got back from a play at the Rep. We bought the series this year and so far the plays have been 3 or 4 star. The audience tonight was on the older grayer side and as a group seemed too uptight for the language and sexiness of the play which was sassy and funny. I think the Rep offers some pretty good prices for under twenty fives, seniors and teachers and they have organized several events around each play. There is not much substantial food available - a coffee bar, packages of nuts, some cookies, wine and cold quiche - CASH ONLY!! The parking garage across the street ($10) with skybridge is a bit confusing..this is the second time we have "lost" our car after a play...and we noticed others wandering the garage feeling as stupid as we did - a gaggle of sophisticated theater lovers stumped by the parking garage.
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