From Miami to Seattle: Playwright Alexis Scheer Discusses the Journey of “Laughs in Spanish”
Dive into Seattle Rep’s upcoming play with an interview with the playwright, young performers take the stage at Village Theatre, and ACT Theatre and Seattle Shakespeare Company announce their first season together.
Seattle Rep: Both you and director Dámaso Rodríguez have roots in Miami. What makes that city a prime place to set this story? Where did your initial inspiration for this play begin?
Alexis Scheer: I was really inspired by the art-ification of the Wynwood neighborhood in Miami. Formerly the garment district, where my family had deep roots, Wynwood turned into a hotspot for art, food, and nightlife seemingly overnight. This play was a way for me to imagine who would populate the space that was once my parents’ button company or grandparents’ dress shop, and it’s a love letter to the city and community of artists who raised me.
And while the mother character in the play is nothing like my own mother, I do have to shout her out as a source of inspiration. My mom is a Colombian immigrant who I watched code switch between her personal and professional life every day, and is the kind of woman who models for me what it looks like to be successful both with work and family.
See Parade for $35! Riveting and gloriously hopeful, Parade reminds us that to love, we must truly see one another. Use promo code ACCESSPARADE to see this sweeping musical April 16–20 at The 5th Avenue Theatre.
On the Stage
This week its all about youth on a journey: a cast of talented kids bring to life a beloved book telling the tale of a young girl’s path to save humanity; a boy fights to live on a boat with a group of wild animals; four young men forge their own musical path to stardom; and more.
A Wrinkle in Time
Theatre | Village Theatre KIDSTAGE
Now – April 27 | Tickets
One of literature’s most enduring young heroines, Meg Murry, is back — braces, stubbornness and all. She’s joining forces with Mrs. Whatsit, Charles Wallace, Calvin O’Keefe and more to battle the forces of evil so she can rescue her father, save humanity and find herself.
More Events
- Life of Pi | Broadway at The Paramount | Now – April 20 | View the Program
- Jersey Boys | Village Theatre Issaquah | Now – April 27 | View the Program
- Parade | The 5th Avenue Theatre | Now – May 4 | View the Program
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to Thomas Adès | Seattle Symphony | April 22
Next Line
A profound new multi-disciplinary performance is announced by On the Boards, ACT and Seattle Shakespeare forge ahead in a new partnership with their upcoming season, and a chance to win tickets to a Seattle Symphony performance.
As a subscriber to Encore+, you are eligible to enter to win two tickets to an upcoming performance of 100 Years of Epic Film Scores at Seattle Symphony on May 31. Share this newsletter with your friends and family, ask them to subscribe, and they’ll be entered to win as well!
- On the Boards is teaming up with CF Forum, Velocity Dance Center, and Kubota Garden to present the world premiere of Elysium: Leviticus or Love and to walk amongst HUMANS ~ Book II, a powerful new work from dani tirrell & the Congregation. Taking place May 29–31 in the lush surroundings of Kubota Garden, this multidisciplinary performance is rooted in ritual, remembrance, and radical imagination. Conceived by tirrell and co-choreographed with Nia-Amina Minor, Quynn Johnson, Cyrah Ward, and keyes wiley, the piece brings together voices from Seattle, DC, San Francisco, and beyond. Expect something grounded, expansive, and deeply felt.
- ACT Contemporary Theatre and Seattle Shakespeare Company have announced their inaugural joint season. The 2025/26 season offers a dynamic blend of fresh perspectives and timeless stories. Audiences can look forward to a beloved classic reimagined for today, the Seattle premiere of a deeply personal new work, inventive reinterpretations of two Shakespeare staples, and an inspiring look at the path of a visionary artist. It’s a season designed to captivate and challenge—one that promises a compelling journey from start to finish.
