Our local university is known for it’s historical music program, and they put on a production of the opera Alcina by Handel. It was sublime, and a treat to see a baroque opera performed in a smaller theater.
Do you ever go to see live theater? What was the last thing that you went to? Or, alternatively, what was your favorite?
Maybe Chicago. It’s been years: I used to like going once or twice a year and convinced my ex we had to do it for the kids
Edit: or maybe that Billy Joel show
About a year ago to go see “An Enemy of the People”. Great acting.
- I saw the turn of the screw at the opera.
What Haunting of Bly manor is technically based on
Pretty boring stuff. Wouldn’t recommend
this post made me realise i can’t remember
time to go to the theatre darlings!
Mine was Rocky Horror… Unless you want to count a Steve Martin + Martin Short comedy show. That’s kind of like theater, right?
If you twst the definition a bit: 2022, I saw Dream Theater live
Oh, that’s not what you meant? Color me shocked…
In that case, 2003, Les Miserables and Phantom of the Opera
Not counting a recent shadow cast Rocky Horror Picture Show, last would be the university production of Antigone my buddy was in like 12 years ago.
My mom was a huge Broadway fan, so I’ve seen Chicago and Les Mis on Broadway, and Les Mis and Wicked a couple of times locally. My wife and I are going to NYC this fall and we’re gonna do a Broadway show since she’s never been to one. Haven’t decided which one yet, leaning towards Book of Mormon but we’ll have to see what’s playing while we’re there.
It’s been a minute. The last showing of Hedwig and the Angry Inch with Neil Patrick Harris as the lead.
I’ve been doing volunteer usher work lately so last one I saw was Blithe Spirit done at the local community college.
Not sure if it counts, but I took my daughter to see Shen Yun last week. It’s a pretty show and all, but multiple acts had super heavy handed religious elements, which were pretty off putting. One song was about how you should keep to the traditional values and the worst things in the world are atheists and the theory of evolution. Big applause. Can’t really recommend, despite the nice costumes and dances.
2025 — watched Shakespeare in my community park
Spamalot. I heard some negative things and wasn’t that excited to see it. However, it was actually quite good and I had a lot of fun.
I saw a local college production of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson that resulted in some audience members walking out and was adjusted to act as a critique of right-wing populism and Trump.
I work in live theatre, so my perspective is a little skewed. The last one I went to see (instead of working) was The Drowsy Chaperone, a musical within a play.
The concept is that an old (slightly odd, but very welcoming) man is inviting the audience into his house, to listen to an old vinyl broadway recording in his living room. Sort of like a Mr. Rogers Neighborhood episode. As he (and the audience) listens to the record, his imagination blooms and his house transforms into the set for the musical. So the characters in the musical are dancing and singing around his house, while he sits in his armchair (or putters around his room, making tea, serving finger sandwiches, etc) and breaks the fourth wall to add commentary.
It’s a comedy wrapped around a tragedy. The musical is very bright and cheery, but the old man clearly has some eccentricities that begin to show through the cracks as the show progresses. It’s an interesting commentary on the “circus” part of bread and circus, as it explores things like escapism, agoraphobia, and OCD as the man’s happy facade slowly crumbles while the musical progresses (and gets interrupted a few times, which is extremely triggering for him). It becomes clear that he’s only able to maintain his happy public persona for a little while.
As for the last show I actually saw, it was a traditional Indian dance show. I work a lot of those, because traditional Indian dance has a sort of test for their dancers. It’s not a perfect comparison, but many people compare it to a black belt test in karate. Since every dancer has to go through it, there are a lot of them.
I was involved in more than 60 theatrical productions until my health no longer allowed almost a decade ago now. I miss it terribly. Mostly community theatre, but a few professional (i.e. paid) productions. Mostly sound design / running sound/mics, but on stage a dozen or so times, backstage a few times.
The last thing I saw was Come From Away. Kinda cheesy in some ways, but also pretty good show - I’d recommend it. About that Canadian airport that saw a ton of planes land on 9/11 when US airspace was shut down. The local community came together and took care of all the passengers and lifelong friendships were formed. It’s sweet. And a bit cheesy. But fun, and emotional moments.
I don’t really mind cheeseyness; it shows vulnerability in the author and performers.
Star Trek is undeniably cheesey, but there’s an earnestness that comes with it that makes it compelling.
