My view from Seattle: theatre, life, soul and stuff.

Tonight is first rehearsal for “Over the River and Through the Woods” by Joe DiPietro. It’s a funny, very funny, comedy about a young man moving from the NYC to Seattle (to work with a high tech company, ya think?), but the scenario revolves around needing to inform, explain and justify it to his four, deeply Italian grandparents. Tengo famiglia! Some key elements of the production - other than the comedy and characters who deeply love each other - Food! Lots thereof! The scenic, props, stage management and costumers are already thinking: what’s prop-food looks like, how much is going to be eaten each show and, most importantly, will it stain?!

I’m looking forward to the show. Very light-weight on the brain, but the heart of the play, it’s affection for Family is tremendous. And its portrayal of the love that criss-crosses through the generations is quite grand! Makes me miss my grandparents who’ve all passed on, but I also place a renewed high-value on the relationship of my parents to our kids. I’ll let you know how funny the first-read-through goes!

Also. Heading east to see our son Peter in Milford CT, and his touring shows with National Theatre for Arts and Education. I’ll see them do “Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry” twice on Friday. And then down to NYC to see a couple of shows: RENT and August Osage County are our picks so far. We’ll see!