by Adam McKinney
By now, we’ve become used to the bounty of quality offerings that local theaters in South Puget Sound routinely churn out. No matter where you may find yourself, you’re constantly reminded of just how much talent is bound to be lurking in the woodwork. So, just as a taste from up north, here are some theatrical Spring gems to look out for in the Tacoma area.
Stepping Out
Here’s a role first played on film by Liza Minelli, and it’s somehow not Cabaret! In the case of Stepping Out, we’re dealing with a dancer whose disillusion with the entertainment industry is cured by her teaching a ragtag group of would-be dancers the fine art of tap dance. Frankly, we’re suckers for any entertainers who can tap dance their hearts out, which Stepping Out seems to promise. Plus, this is the kind of brassy underdog story that Tacoma Musical Playhouse tends to knock out of the park.
WHAT
Stepping Out
WHEN
Fridays & Saturdays Apil. 12 – Apr. 28
7:30 p.m., Matinees at 2 p.m. Sundays
WHERE
Tacoma Musical Playhouse, 7116 6th Ave, Tacoma
COST
$25-$35
LEARN MORE
https://tmp.org/
253-565-6867
Incorruptible
Michael Hollinger’s Incorruptible is a comedy that’s mired in the filth and absurdism of religion in the Dark Ages. Dealing, as it does, with monks who sell the bones of cadavers to others to use as props for religious grifts, Incorruptible promises a satirical edge nearly as cutting as its wit. Though originally staged in the ’90s, Incorruptible feels like the type of religious skewering that could still find vocal critics in these bizarre days we live in, and more power to Lakewood Playhouse for bringing it to us.
WHAT
Incorruptible
WHEN
7:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays, matinees 2 p.m. Sundays, April 5 –21
WHERE
5729 Lakewood Towne Center Blvd SW, Lakewood
COST
$23-$29
LEARN MORE
https://www.lakewoodplayhouse.org/
253-588-0042
Almost, Maine
Here’s an offbeat selection from Tacoma Little Theatre. Almost, Maine is a collection of nine short plays. Like Paris, je t’aime, Nine Lives, or Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould, Almost, Maine frames its short subjects around a unifying theme – in this case, the inhabitants of the mythical town of Almost, and the trials of love they endure. For those new to a compilation of shorts, know that they can sometimes be more than the sum of their parts.
WHAT
Almost, Maine
WHEN
Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30 p.m., matinees Sundays at 2 p.m., at 7:30 p.m., Apr. 26 – May 12
WHERE
Tacoma Little Theatre, 210 N I St., Tacoma
COST
$22-$29
LEARN MORE
https://www.tacomalittletheatre.com/
253-272-2281
The Prom
The Prom, though praised as a stage musical, was adapted into a limply received film in 2020. Perhaps something was lost in translation, as The Prom is absolutely steeped in the world of musical theatre, satirizing the vanity of aging Broadway stars as they adopt a “cause” to get themselves back in the good graces of the paying public — in this case, a pair of LGBT students who have been banned from attending prom together. For those who like their musical brightly-colored with a bit of bite, this one may be for you.
WHAT
The Prom
WHEN
7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays May 17 to June 9, matinees 2 p.m. Sundays
WHERE
Tacoma Musical Playhouse, 7116 6th Ave, Tacoma
COST
$25-$35
LEARN MORE
https://tmp.org/
253-565-6867
By the Way, Meet Vera Stark
In the ’30s, a Black maid finds her way into the film business, starting in the background and using her voice more as time goes on. That’s the premise of By the Way, Meet Vera Stark, a show that covers decades in the life of a woman who would otherwise go unnoticed. In the same vein as Hollywood Shuffle and the recent American Fiction, Vera Stark is a smart, perceptive comedy that mines humor out of the wobbly relationship the entertainment industry has to race.
WHAT
By the Way, Meet Vera Stark
WHEN
7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. matinees Sundays, May 31 to June 16
WHERE
5729 Lakewood Towne Center Blvd SW, Lakewood
COST
$23-$29
LEARN MORE
https://www.lakewoodplayhouse.org/
253-588-0042