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?
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A college rendition of Ken Ludwig’s The Game’s Afoot. The first half was a little slow but the second half picked up considerably. Before that was A Lucky Stiff; it was quite silly but a fun watch.
“Oh, Mary!” on Broadway in NYC a couple weekends ago.
Coincidentally, I was taken as a plus-1 to a Broadway musical, “Ragtime”, this month. I normally don’t go out much for theater, but it was free so I went.
It wasn’t bad. The style of music isn’t my jam, but it had some fun parts.
Also interesting is the play’s message seems to be “the only way you’ll get something approaching justice is violence” and I’m not sure if that’s the author’s intent.
About a month ago, I went to a donation-driven community theater improv/Edgar Allen Poe thing.
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.
Oh, this looks really interesting! I bet that was well worth seeing.
The last opera I saw was Fellow Travelers by Spears, an 2016 opera based on a novel of the same title about two men who fall in love during the Lavender Scare. It was absolutely heart-rending, just the most tragic love story you could possibly imagine, and the sex scenes were so hot — I don’t think I’d ever seen a fully nude scene at an opera before, even if it was just from behind, and the tenor clearly had spent some time in the gym to prepare. Highly recommend you go see it if you have a chance.
I’ve never heard of this one before; it must be so hard to get a new opera out there! I’m glad people are doing it though. Every production seems like a minor miracle of logistics and ambition.
I see it’s based on a book, I might have to give that a read.
My local opera company does one new opera and two traditional operas every season, so I’ve seen quite a few over the years. The wildest one was definitely The ®evolution of Steve Jobs, a 2017 opera by Bates about the Apple founder.
I kind of want to hate watch that Jobs one!
I appreciate that they’re doing new stuff though! I love historical performance, but I absolutely understand that is a niche interest. If opera is going to survive as an art form (and I think it should), it needs to be a living medium.
The university is putting an a brand new, world premiere opera called That Hellbound Train here in a couple weeks, and I hope to attend.
Ooh, I found a production that a college uploaded to YouTube! I very much prefer to see an opera live, but I’d already accepted that I would never see this production since it’s probably pretty rare.
I’ll definitely give it a watch, thanks for the rec!
Oh that’s awesome! Thanks for sharing the link; I’m gonna rewatch it.
Ah, a fellow Seattleite. Saw that opening night and was blown away. Usually not a fan of modern operas, but those Gregs knew what they were doing.
I wish they’d go back to four full productions each season. The concert as the fourth performance is just not the same.
Agreed! We tried it out this season and it just wasn’t the same. Gonna be renewing just for the full operas this year.
Either Lion King or Starlight Express over 2 decades ago. My mum dragged me there. It was meh, I don’t think I’ll ever go back to one.
2025, The Book Of Mormon. I’d actually seen it before, but went with some people who hadn’t. Hit just as good as the first time I saw it.
Same! My girlfriend and I went to see it last year. Occasionally she’ll catch me singing, “Hello! My name is…” so goddamn catchy.
…Magots in my Scrotum!..
My wife and I still randomly say ORLANDO to each other.
The book of Mormon was so damn funny. It blow my mind it has been on Broadway for 15 years.
I don’t know if it is still there, but for the longest time the mormon church had a huge store front right beside the theater with signs that said, you have seen the play now hear the truth.
I’ve heard such mixed reviews. People love it or hate it, but no one says why- what’s good or bad about it. I’d like to see it but have been worried about spending the $ on something we wouldn’t enjoy.
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If watching a recorded theatre performance from the comfort of my own sofa counts, then The National Theatre’s presentation of The Importance of Being Earnest, which is wonderful.
In terms of seeing a live performance while in the actual theatre then it would be Rocky Horror back in 2019.
Edit: Just remembered that we saw Wicked in London in December 2025, before we saw the movie. That was fun.
Inside No. 9 at the Hammersmith Apollo. So glad I got to see it before they finished.
The laufey concert! Was amazing (2026)
Eddie/Suzy Izzard conducting a solo performance of the entire play of Hamlet.
I bet that was amazing!
It was good. I find the play pretty dry, but it was worth it for the solo performance experience.
The last live theater performance I saw was “Puss in boots” from Tieck, the last performance I played in. I watched it from the stage.
If you count high-school performances, I saw a cousin-in-law’s performance of West Side story.
If you don’t count that, it was a theater rendition of Evil Dead.
The people in the front 3 rows were provided ponchos and advised to wear washable clothes. I was in the back row and still got a bit of gore on me.
A local rendition of “Tratsch im Treppenhaus” in our local dialect in 2009.
I couldn’t really concentrate on the wider play though, everybody kept looking at me when I entered the stage and said my lines.
