Ushering in the autumn breeze and its turning leaves, just like with school, theaters too have a rhythm that picks up in the fall. An odd congruence has two new-to-us plays by Keiko Green, an ex-local playwright and national up-and-comer: Hells Canyon and Exotic Deadly. You might want to catch them both!
In addition, here are some of the exciting offerings on local stages to consider attending, in order of premiere date:
Hells Canyon
Sept. 5–21 (at 12th Avenue Arts)
Washington Ensemble Theatre, www.washingtonensemble.org
Seven-months-pregnant Ariel arrives at a remote cabin with some old friends. Resentments surface and buried histories claw their way into the light when the group hears something outside, trying to get in… or out? In this horror-thriller, there are some decisions you cannot outrun.
Exotic Deadly: Or the MSG Play
Sept. 6–20 (at Theatre Off Jackson)
Porkfilled Productions and SiS Productions, www.porkfilled.com
Ami, an awkward Japanese American high school girl in 1999, wants to be invisible. But her world comes crashing down with a terrible discovery: her family is responsible for manufacturing MSG, the poison spice getting all the kids hooked. A mysterious new girl arrives from Japan, named Exotic Deadly. and she’s not playing by the rules. This whimsical, time-traveling adventure is a riotous romp through teenage crushes, family secrets, and female power.
Yaga
Sept. 11–27 (at 12th Avenue Arts)
Dacha Theatre, www.dachatheatre.com
A genre-bending, darkly comedic fairy tale meets thrilling whodunit, giving voice to an antihero of epic proportions whose story has historically been told by men. An in-over-his-head detective finds himself in an isolated college town asking what the disappearance of a young heir to a yogurt empire has to do with a random folktale about an old witch. Involving an apprehensive local sheriff, a university professor with a taste for younger men, and a whole cast of curious characters, the Slavic myth of Baba Yaga twists into a new labyrinth of secret lives, ancient magic, and multiple suspects.
Suffs (national tour)
Sept. 13–27
5th Avenue Theatre, www.5thavenue.org
The acclaimed, Tony Award–winning musical is about the brilliant, passionate, and funny American women who fought tirelessly for the right to vote. Created by Shaina Taub, this new musical boldly explores the triumphs and failures of a struggle for equality that’s far from over.
The Importance of Being Earnest
Sept. 17–Oct. 18
Taproot Theatre, www.taproot.org
Friends Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff adopt fictional identities to escape social obligations. Jack invents a brother named Ernest, while Algernon creates an invalid friend named Bunbury. The plot unfolds with mistaken identities, clever wordplay, and humorous social commentary. Classic Oscar Wilde with a fresh touch.
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom: The Musical (world premiere)
Sept. 18–Oct. 12
Seattle Children’s Theatre, www.sct.org
This joyful, vibrant stage adaptation of the beloved children’s book is packed with vibrant music, energetic dancing, and whimsical puppets. It follows the adventurous alphabet letters as they race up the coconut tree — only to come tumbling down in a riot of rhythm, color, and laughter.
Fancy Dancer (world premiere)
Sept. 18–Nov. 2
Seattle Rep with Seattle Children’s Theatre, www.seattlerep.org
Growing up half Lakota and half white, Lara lives as an outsider until she discovers the story of Osage prima ballerina Maria Tallchief and is compelled to become a dancer. But with a body that doesn’t quite conform, can she make her dream come true? This autobiographical coming-of-age play by renowned writer Larissa FastHorse (The Thanksgiving Play) celebrates the power of perseverance and finding your community.
An Enemy of the People
Sept. 20–Oct. 5
ACT Theatre www.acttheatre.org
Amy Herzog’s “smart, sharp, and relevant” adaptation of this Henrik Ibsen timeless classic entangles us in a web of truth, power, and complacency. Dr. Stockmann has it all, but when he uncovers a catastrophe that might threaten lives, he runs up against those in power. As tensions rise, Stockmann must choose: follow his conscience, and risk destruction? Or join the conspiracy?
The Roommate
Sept. 25–Oct. 19
ArtsWest, www.artswest.org
Sharon, an empty-nester who has lost who she is, and Robyn, a recent divorcee who may be trying to escape who she’s become, start off as strangers. They form an unlikely bond, and things begin to spiral out of control. Secrets are revealed. Risks are taken. Their lives are forever changed.
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
Sept. 27–Oct. 12 (at Broadway Performance Hall)
Book-It Repertory Theatre, www.book-it.org
A young man speaks only with the dogs his family breeds in a kennel in the rural Midwest in the early 1970s. The story explores the deep connection Edgar has with his beloved Sawtelle dogs, and weaves a plot of sacrifice, betrayal, and ultimately murder. Book-It has been on hiatus for a while. This unique company is newly revived by the originators!
Stage of Fools (world premiere)
Oct. 3–Nov. 2
Seattle Public Theater, www.seattlepublictheater.org
A scrappy feminist theater company is about to go under when it receives an offer it can't refuse: has-been ’80s action movie star Jake Stone will give it more money than ever dreamed of, if it will produce King Lear, with him in the titular role. Never mind that he's an entitled, egotistical blowhard. These women can survive anything for the sake of the theater they love...right?
The Little Foxes
Oct. 16–Nov. 2
The Feast and Intiman Theatre, www.the-feast.org or www.intiman.org
Regina Hubbard Giddens will stop at nothing to get hers. In 1900 Alabama, threatened with losing her inheritance because she’s a woman, Regina manipulates, blackmails, and steals from her family and loved ones. A gripping drama full of twists and turns, The Little Foxes pulls apart the greed at the root of American life, and how it damages the souls of all involved.
Shrew
Oct. 18–Nov. 2
Union Arts Center (formerly ACT Theatre), www.unionartscenter.org
Girl meets boy. Girl hates boy. Girl agrees to marry boy against her will so her sister can get married too. Got it? Shrew uses the classic Shakespearian (Taming of the Shew) text — but inverted, upended, and overturned — to offer a modern-day perspective on how far we’ve come when it comes to love — and how far we still have to go.
Chicago (tour)
Oct. 22-Nov. 2
5th Avenue Theatre, www.5thavenue.org
All that jazz, with one show-stopping song after another, and chock-full of dancing. In the whirlwind of Chicago’s Jazz Age, two of the Cook County Jail’s most notorious murderesses — vaudeville star Velma Kelly and chorus girl Roxie Hart — become fierce rivals as they compete for headlines amid a media frenzy.
The Humans
Oct. 30-Nov. 22 (at Center Theater in The Armory)
Sound Theatre Company, www.soundtheatrecompany.org
In Stephen Karam’s award-winning play, Thanksgiving with the Blake family means laughter, tension, and unspoken fears converge. As secrets are revealed and hopes collide, the Blakes wrestle with what it means to face uncertainty together. The Humans is a profound exploration of love, resilience, and the ties that bind us, and reflects on the beauty and fragility of being human.
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