Tag: Katherine Karaus

This incisively poetic play follows Brodie, a 42-year-old linguistics professor who chooses to become a single parent. When genetic testing reveals a possible problem with her pregnancy, unexpected emotions complicate both her research of a dying language and her romantic relationship with Dre, a grad student with a mind of her own. Amid the noise, Brodie forms an unexpected connection with a “talking” gorilla at the local zoo. Precious Little features three actresses who navigate dozens of relationships in this beautiful exploration of the limits of language.

[Precious Little] intelligently poses some engaging philosophical questions… Director Katherine Karaus addresses these concerns in a spare staging that moves swiftly, cleanly from brief encounter to encounter. Pearce bites with relish into every little role she’s given, and is especially effective (and amusing) as Rhiannon, the eager young counselor who is clearly out of her depth. Murfin Bailey also makes deft work of her several personae. She’s remarkably restrained, and uncannily convincing, playing a zoo gorilla whose thought patterns are enviably basic… Smart and frank… it sure conjures a primal image (reminiscent of O’Neill’s “The Hairy Ape”) that sticks with you. — The Seattle Times

“Quick timing and skillful acting make it an absorbing production…. Papineau delivers a skillful performance, navigating her character arc with believability…. Precious Little is anything by precious. It is funny and sad and tough. But most of all it makes us think. In a world where we are inundated with language, words, and talk, what does it mean to communicate, and how can we find the most effective way? That may be an unanswerable question, but at least Precious Little is brave enough to ask.” — City Arts Online

“The three women on stage are likable and watchable and keep the evening enjoyable. …[Taryn] Pearce shows amazing vocal range as she morphs over and over into completely different small characters.” — Seattle Gay News

“The three actors played nine parts and brought a strong presence…making every scene as thought-provoking as the one before.” — Drama In The Hood

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Star Crossed, and other tales from a devious universe is an evening of tasty, bite-sized science fiction and fantasy from the playwright of Duel of the Linguist Mages and A Mouse Who Knows Me. The plays include:

STAR CROSSED
Directed by Scotto Moore
Featuring: LaChrista Borgers, Daniel Christensen, Melissa Fenwick, Erin Ison, Mark Rud, Gina Marie Russell, Stephen R. Scheide, Jake Ynzunza
A collection of four interlocking short plays about an immortal astronaut crossing time and space to reunite with the woman she loves.

SENDING A MESSAGE
Directed by Catherine Blake Smith
Featuring: Daniel Christensen, Sascha Streckel
A man builds a time machine to go back in time and murder Judy Garland before she can sing “Over The Rainbow.”

LEAVING THE NEST
Directed by Jen Moon
Featuring: Katie Driscoll, Gina Marie Russell, Stephen R. Scheide, Jake Ynzunza
When teenage demon Lilith falls in love with an angel, her parents Satan and Ashtaroth are faced with a parenting challenge.

THAT DOESN’T SOUND RIGHT AT ALL
Directed by Ian Johnston
Featuring: Daniel Christensen, Gina Marie Russell, Sascha Streckel
Elvis wins 15 minutes back on Earth in a poker game in Hell, and spends his limited time trying to connect with the love of his life.

COMING TO A CONCLUSION
Directed by Katherine Karaus
Featuring: Katie Driscoll, Melissa Fenwick, Mark Rud, Stephen R. Scheide, Jake Ynzunza
A group of neighbors is caught off guard when one of them orders a machine off the internet that produces instant and continuous orgasms.

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Two people meet. Two people connect. Ordinarily, this might be a night out on the town, perhaps going bowling—but if those two people are a playwright and a director, it’s a very different game. These directors and playwrights have never worked together before, but we’re going to see what their chemistry will create. Co-produced by Rain City Projects, each night of SECOND DATE will feature these three one-act plays, which are being created as you read this:

BLACK LIKE US
written by Rachel Atkins
directed by Tyrone Brown
Featuring: Caitlin Gilman, Laurel Ryan, Qadriyyah Shabazz, Sarah Winsor, and Amber Wolfe

SKETCH
written by Tracy Vicory-Rosenquest
directed by Katherine Karaus
Featuring: Asa Bass, Laurence Hughes, Jana Hutchison and Joan Jankowski

THE SIBYL AT COMMOTION STREET
written by Jaime Cruz
directed by L. Nicol Cabe
Featuring: Andy Buffelen, Justine Freese, and Keiko Green

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“Big, stupid fun done smartly and with tremendous intimacy… Anyone who loves theatre should see this show. Anyone who makes theatre should go learn something from it.” –The Sunbreak

“Cheeky and dark…delightfully self-conscious comedy.” –Seattle Times

“It’s definitely a night to enjoy, and you can puzzle out the deeper meanings later.” –Seattle Gay News

“The real treat of the evening was the main villain, ‘Chaos Theory’, superbly played with great comic timing by Rachel Jackson who also…enacts Chaos Theory’s Scottish Puppet Henchman/Lover ‘Randy’. Ms Jackson’s love scene between her own felt covered hand, and herself, was pretty damn brilliant.” –Seattle Gay Scene

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Gallery of Press Photos