110 in the Shade

I went to see 110 in the Shade Friday night at Seattle Musical Theatre (in Magnuson Park) and it was amazing. Seattle Musical Theater is not right in the neighborhood but it’s still very local. There are many Pinehurst and surrounding community members closely involved which is always fun.

It’s great to see a big classic show, like 110 In The Shade, that is not produced very often and that I have never seen before. There are lots of shows I have practically memorized and will always see again but there’s something refreshing about having more surprises. 110 In the Shade is a fun story with a great score and it’s interesting that it hasn’t been done more often given it’s success and history. Especially with a Burt Lancaster and Katherine Hepburn film…

Beyond the choice of show, the theater continues to improve the venue and the production quality was great as always. It is an intimate theater where every seat in the house feels close to the stage and a part of the show. Strong singing voices and live musicians fill the space. The strong portrayals of the characters made them engaging and fun. I loved the simple but beautiful sets complimented by the depth of a projected landscape backdrop. Within seconds the scenes transitions from a dusty town with the sun high to a starlit night with the moon bright on the horizon.

There’s more details on the show and a special offer for blog readers in my other post: http://www.pinehurstseattle.org/2010/04/27/seattle-musical-theatre-110-in-the-shade/

Oh, and in the interest of journalistic integrity and all that (though journalist is a bit of a stretch), I should point out that I received complimentary tickets, my girlfriend has worked on multiple shows at this theater, and I know multiple other people who work there. And now that that’s out of the way, I recommend everybody interested in theater take advantage of the offer and enjoy a nice night out.