Seattle Gay News
Issue 14, Volume 46, April 6, 2018
Arts & Entertainment
Macha Theatre Works’ Sprint right over to see Smoke & Dust is a must-see The Great Leap
Smoke & Dust – Photo by Joe Iano Photography
by Paul Torres SGN Contributing Writer SMOKE & DUST MACHA THEATRE WORKS (AT THEATRE OFF JACKSON) Through April 14 There are two parallel stories in Macha Theatre Works’ world premiere production of Smoke & Dust. In one story, a small theatre company is putting on a play set in 17th century Italy about a talented young com-
poser and opera singer, Barbara, (portrayed by a brilliant Bianca Raso) who is trapped in her lower-class life but has dreams of using her talents to make her own way in life despite the repression of the men in her life and her “given-up-on-life” mother. In the other story, in the real world of 2018, the actress, Liv, who plays Barbara in the small theatre company production (also, of course, Bianco Raso), is an independent woman in a relationship with the play’s
see SMOKE & DUST page 5
Alexandra Tavares is riveting in Ironbound
Alexandra Tavares in Ironbound – Photo by Marcia Davis
by Miryam Gordon SGN A&E Writer IRONBOUND SEATTLE PUBLIC THEATER Through April 15 A bravura performance by Alexandra Tavares anchors a short, intense one-location dramedy about a woman at a New Jersey bus stop. Ironbound, directed by Kelly Kitchens, traps Darja (Tavares) at the only
location she can go anywhere from. Darja is usually without a car and this bus stop becomes the symbol of both her way out and her lack of ability to go anywhere. Darja is a Polish woman who has lived in the States a long time. We meet her at age 42 when she is possibly breaking up with her third major male relationship (she says she’s twice divorced). Tommy (a despicable but weirdly heartbreaking Roy Stanton)
see IRONBOUND page 6
Bob Ari as Saul and Linden Tailor in The Great Leap – Photo by AdamsVisCom
by Miryam Gordon SGN A&E Writer THE GREAT LEAP SEATTLE REPERTORY THEATRE Through April 22 If we were to attempt to publicly analyze talented, nationally acknowledged playwright Lauren Yee, we might start by suggesting that she’s been working out aspects of her relationship with her father,
also pretty publicly, for a few years. Their relationship was explored in King of the Yees, performed here recently at ACT Theatre, where Larry Yee and Lauren are both characters in the play. In her latest play, The Great Leap, a world premiere at Seattle Repertory Theatre and at Denver Center for the Performing Arts Theatre Company, Yee says she mining her father’s love for basketball and his history of youthful play to explore
see THE GREAT LEAP page 5
Taproot’s Crowns a gospel celebration of African American culture
Be Russell, Bretteney Beverly, Vincent “VJ” Orduña, Bethanie Willis, Marlette Buchanan, Tracy Michelle Hughes and Kristen Natalia in Crowns – Photo by Erik Stuhaug
by Paul Torres SGN Contributing Writer CROWNS TAPROOT THEATRE Through April 28 Crowns, a musical directed by Faith Bennett Russell, is inspired by a book of photographs of African American women adorned in hats. In this book, Crowns:
Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats, are stories and essays about the symbolism behind these hats. This stage version is written by Regina Taylor. Taylor’s work here is deceivingly simple and straightforward, but is packed full of powerful writing that takes you to another emotional hemisphere. Presented on the Taproot Theatre Company stage, it is a show full of lively celebration and delight.
see CROWNS page 6