It is because of shows like the one I saw last week in Seattle that I have stayed with this gig for so long. I love seeing actors mature and grow in the craft and watching theater groups blossom in short order.



Cayman Ilika is a well-known actor around these parts. She quickly stood out doing roles in the South Sound. She did Adia at Tacoma Little Theatre during the reign of terror under David Duvall as well as City of Angels at Capital Playhouse. Both gigs were amazing. She then did some gigs in and around the Emerald City, only to pop down to the South Sound to adequately announce her presence with authority by taking on the role of Patsy Cline in Always ... Patsy Cline at Federal Way‘s Centerstage awhile back.

It was the most successful show in the theater’s history. And Ilika was amazing.



Not to lose out on a good thing, the theater sought to expand its audience by staging it in Seattle. Centerstage’s Artistic Director Alan Bryce is brilliant. This show expanded the theater’s professional and audience net to well beyond the folks in the South Sound.



I saw the Seattle version last weekend. OMG. This is a wonderful show, not only because Ilika is gorgeous and amazing to watch bring the country legend back to life in this two-woman show, but because of the great music and the support of a great sidekick actress in Kate Jaeger. There is nothing bad to say about this show. It was fun, fun, fun.

The story is more than a tribute to the country singer, who died tragically at age 30 in a plane crash in 1963. The show is based on a true story about Cline’s friendship with a fan from Houston named Louise Seger. Seger befriended the star in a Texas honky-tonk in l961 and continued a correspondence with Cline until her death.



Centerstage saw the opportunity and partnered with Seattle’s ACT theater to stage the work in the Emerald City. This cabaret style theater added to the show and elevated it to a master work of theater.

Capitol Steps

For something just as fun and more local, give Olympia’s Washington Center for the Performing Arts a shot as it stages Capitol Steps for a one-night only show of comedy and music. The Capitol Steps is a group that mixes the music of Mark Russell with the wit of John Stewart’s Daily and takes a spin around the halls of Congress with a baritone tune.



[ACT’s Bullitt Cabaret, Always ... Patsy Cline, through March 8, 8 p.m. Thursday-Sunday, 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, $25-$35, 700 Union St., Seattle, acttheatre.org]



[Washington Center, Capitol Steps, Friday, Feb. 27, 7:30 p.m., $17.75-$39.50, 512 Washington St. S.E., Olympia, 360.753.8586]