Tacoma Musical Playhouse — Attraction in Tacoma

I don’t know why it has taken me so long to check out the Tacoma Musical Theater. We used to live near there and drove by it often, but I don’t know, it looked like it was closed. Never heard about it. Never saw anything about it. The Pantages, yes, but not this theater tucked away in a very non theater looking neighborhood. The other night, after being barraged with a rogue Supreme Court peeling away one long fought right after another, witnessing what might be the demise of our democracy, and now the threat of a nuclear war not experienced since the 60s when Kruschev was rattling the nuclear sabers in Cuba I thought, why not go and see a musical. And what do you know? Singin’ In The Rain was playing at the Tacoma Musical Theater. I bought tickets and off we went. My lord! What a show! The cast was brilliant! The leading man handsome. The leading lady lovely. Cosmo gifted with perfect timing. Lina, she never missed a beat and kept in character like a champ. The costumes beaded and minked and feathered, stunning! And the choreography AMAZING! Where on earth did you find all those tap dancers? The numbers between Don and Kathy and Cosmo were perfect. But then there were the ensemble numbers. Not a mis step. Just bam! Spot on! And the finale……Jesus wept! It kills me to walk or stand,. I am here to tell you, I was the first one out of my seat. It w as just joyous. I needed that so much. I still have the afterglow hours later. There must have been forty or more dancers out there on that stage just tapping their hearts out in perfect unison, and singin’ in the rain. I danced my way out to the street (well, in my heart I was dancing) vowing to never miss another production at this theater. I felt like I was on 42nd Street! Thank you for the most memorable night, for lifting my spirits, and for reminding me how much joy we can give to one another, if...

As we were staying in beautiful Gig Harbor to get to Tacoma, you cross the spectacular bridge across the Narrows, take the first exit onto Jackson Street in Tacoma and arrive at the Playhouse.

The theatre was packed! It was the next to the last performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat and attendance is excellent.  The show starts with Elise Campello, as one of the two narrators, bringing two loads of kids onto the stage, and the play begins. She enthralls the audience from the start, and expertly guides them to the ancient world where the play starts.

The play is an impressive display of not only theatrical skills but also athletic prowess, the actors do not disappoint. It is a fast-moving play, and the director has also introduced the angle of sneaking in nuanced homages to multiple Andrew Lloyd Webber plays – and the audience has been challenged to detect them! I pick up on “Evita” and “Jesus Christ Superstar.”

The dancing is also superbly choreographed, and I am particularly taken by Lisa Morata.  Later on, after the play is over, and we’re mingling with the actors, I find out that one of them is still a High Schooler!

In addition to a powerful performance by Carlos Barajas in the lead role, I was also impressed by Richard Cubi as one of the brothers, and by Steve Barnett’s skits as an Elvis Pharaoh! The wives were all spectacular, but I was especially impressed by tiny Liza Morado – later on I discovered that she’s still in High School! I see a bright future for this actor!

Tacoma is lucky to have this place, and clearly this Playhouse is one of the jewels in the art scene not only of this city, but of the Great Pacific...

We arrived last Saturday to find you had to provide a vaccine cards or negative Covid test. We were completely unaware. It did, apparently, say it on the website and atthe bottom of our tickets..it does say it after looking, I found it. It is not boldly at the top, but buried in other words at the bottom of the tickets. None of this was obvious..maybe we are blind or just irresponsible. The major problem was trying to get hold of someone for either a refund or other ticket dates. In chat they asked me to email. I emailed and no one responded. I finally called and was told they do not do refunds, only other dates..I said that was fine. The lady was very defensive the entire time. Maybe just sick of dealing with people who do not read their tickets. Anyway, she said since I ordered online, she would not honor different tickets, as it states this online. I tried to explain it was not placed clearly, she repeated herself and hung up on me. I thought I sounded patient, maybe I was rude? Feeling very put out. I will not be going back. Guess that is what I get for living in my own little bubble. Btw..one of had the card, the other has natural immunity and would have been happy to have...