A world premiere from Lauren Yee comes to Seattle
Learn what it takes to bring a world premiere to the stage in a new feature on “Mother Russia,” Seattle Opera opens a new production, and revel with Seattle Rep at their annual gala.
You might assume that Lauren Yee is a Seattle playwright. Since 2010, local theatre companies, small and large, have lined up to produce her work—from SIS Productions’ staging of Ching Chong Chinaman at the Richard Hugo House in 2010 to the world premiere of King of the Yees at ACT Theatre in 2017, to The Great Leap at Seattle Rep a year later, and Cambodian Rock Band at ACT Theatre in 2023, a co-production with The 5th Avenue Theatre.
“In a way, Seattle feels like an artistic home for me, even though I’ve never lived there,” said Yee during a phone interview from her home in New York City. “A lot of different Seattle theatre makers, past and present, have supported me and been a big part of my artistic life.”
Yee returns to town in March with Seattle Rep’s world premiere production of the quirky and provocative comedy Mother Russia. Euvgeny and Dmitri are two young men living in St. Petersburg, Russia, and looking forward to simple lives holding comfortable government jobs circa 1992. Instead, the pair navigate a new reality, thanks to the fall of Russia and the collapse of communism, that favors free market capitalism over government strongmen. Add to the mix Katya, an alluring former pop star with a secret agenda, and the result is a political farce involving a love triangle, mistaken identities, and slapdash espionage.
On the Stage
This week a magical opera takes the stage, a play about desire returns to Seattle after 20 years, an American classic closes, and more.
The Magic Flute
Opera | Seattle Opera
February 22 – March 9 | Tickets
Myth, magic, and Mozart. Enter the whimsical world of Mozart with this beloved audience favorite in a striking new-to-Seattle production featuring eye-popping hand-drawn animation.
More Events
- Blues for an Alabama Sky | Seattle Rep | Now – February 23 | View the Program
- Crave | Intiman Theatre | Now – March 2
- Lewis and Tolkien | Taproot Theatre Company | Now – March 8 | View the Program
- The Last Five Years | 5th Avenue Theatre & ACT Theatre | Now – March 16 | View the Program
Next Line
The future looks bright at Taproot Theatre and Seattle Rep invites you to celebrate with them at their annual gala.
- After facing one of its toughest financial years, Taproot Theatre has emerged debt-free (aside from its mortgage) and is launching its 2025 season with A Raisin in the Sun (March 19 – April 19, 2025). An emergency fundraising campaign in 2024 raised a record $1.78 million, helping the theatre bridge a severe budget gap caused by rising costs and a decline in philanthropic giving. Now, with renewed financial stability and a renovated Mainstage Theatre, Taproot is ready to move forward with a full slate of productions and a strong future.
- Seattle Rep’s annual gala, Revel + Raise, returns on March 22, 2025, with a Miami-inspired celebration featuring special guests and performances. Attendees will enjoy specialty cocktails, a gourmet meal on the Bagley Wright stage, and a lively backstage after-party—all in support of the theater’s mission-driven artistic programming. General registration is now open, with RSVPs requested by February 28.
