Skip to content

Spring Arts Preview: Theater

Stages across the region are hosting everything from intimate productions to beloved Broadway favorites.

By Rachel Gallaher March 11, 2026

A group of men in period costumes sit and stand around a table on a dimly lit stage, with one man in a red vest standing and speaking.
“Red and Black,” Christian Mark Gibbs as Enjolras and company in Les Misérables.
Photo by Matthew Murphy

This article originally appeared in the March/April 2026 issue of Seattle magazine.

This spring’s theater lineup runs the gamut—from a Tony-winning drama at Seattle Rep to a velvet-roped cabaret in Capitol Hill and the return of one of Broadway’s biggest musicals. These productions offer a look at the range of work happening on local stages right now.

Hurricane Diane

Written by Pulitzer Prize finalist Madeleine George, Hurricane Diane is a sharp criticism of the willful ignorance we often adopt when it comes to the climate crisis. The titular character, Diane, is a permaculture gardener with supernatural abilities thanks to her true identity—the Greek god Dionysus—who returns to modern-day Earth to help heal the planet. Her first encounter? A group of housewives…what could go wrong? Directed by Annie Lareau for Seattle Public Theater, “Hurricane Diane is a delicious, layered comedy that pokes at suburban women in New Jersey while dealing with some harsh global truths about ourselves, and our environment,” says Seattle Public Theater’s producing artistic director Amy Poisson.

Hurricane Diane runs March 18 – April 12 at Seattle Public Theater.

I Will Miss You When You’re Gone

The shattered glass project—a local theater company with the mission to amplify the voices of artists who have been marginalized on the basis of their gender or sex—is bringing the production I will miss you when you’re gone to Theatre Off Jackson. Written by Toronto-based Jessica Moss, this award-winning play tells the story of Celeste, who tries to contact her dead mother, Theresa, but instead is haunted by Evelyn. Evelyn died after jumping off an office building run by Robin, who just wants to button things up and move forward—until Theresa shows up. Directed by Adrian Prendergast, I will miss you when you’re gone is a tender, sad, and funny look at what it’s like to live in the isolating folds of contemporary society.

I Will Miss You When You’re Gone runs through March 21 at Theatre Off Jackson.

Hotel Gatsby Masquerade

Intiman Theatre’s cabaret artist-in-residence BeautyBoiz is transforming Capitol Hill’s Erickson Theater into an intimate lounge for the Hotel Gatsby Masquerade. Starring local performing group Purple Lemonade collective, this mysterious evening will feature a mix of one-person plays, drag and performance art, musical acts, and more. “Hotel Gatsby is pure after-hours alchemy—sweaty, glamorous, and gloriously unruly,” says Jose Abaoag, communications and development manager at Intiman. “BeautyBoiz, in collaboration with Purple Lemonade, turns Intiman into a velvet-roped fantasy where virtuosic movement, queer decadence, and nightlife collide. The Gregory Award–winning ensemble doesn’t just perform; they seduce the room.”

Hotel Gatsby Masquerade runs at Erickson Theater April 9–12.

Les Misérables

One of the most popular stage productions of all time, Les Misérables returns to Seattle as part of Seattle Theatre Group’s Broadway at the Paramount program. Here, British producer Cameron Mackintosh will present the acclaimed production of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg’s Tony Award-winning musical. Based on Victor Hugo’s novel of the same name and set against the political unrest of 19th century France, Les Misérables tells the story of redemption, love, sacrifice, and the transformative power of human connection.

Les Misérables runs April 7–19 at the Paramount Theatre.

Appropriate

One of the most talked-about plays of the past 20 years, Appropriate is making its local debut at Seattle Rep this spring. Directed by Seattle artist Timothy McCuen Piggee, the show introduces audiences to the Lafayette family, who, after their father’s death, arrive at his decrepit former plantation home to prepare for an estate sale. As they dig through cluttered piles and crowded rooms, the children uncover some uncomfortable secrets about their family’s racist past that force them to contend with the kind of legacy they want to leave behind. The winner of three Tony Awards, this piece of theater is smart, dark, and relevant. As Piggee puts it: “Do you like comedy? Do you like a thriller? Do you like spectacle? Do you like provocation? Then this is the play for you.”

Appropriate runs April 9 – May 10 at Seattle Rep.

Jesus Christ Superstar

The ultimate rock opera is hitting the 5th Avenue Theatre stage with a group of local performers at the helm. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar tells the story of the final week of Jesus’ life—from the perspective of Judas. The titular character will be played by 5th Avenue veteran Alexander Kilian, with Molly Sides, vocalist for Thunderpussy, as Mary Magdalene and Cameron Lavi-Jones, vocalist and guitarist for King Youngblood, as Judas. With its humanization of Jesus, this production debuted to criticism and praise alike, but its popularity has only increased over the years, with audiences connecting to universal themes such as sacrifice, love, and power.

Jesus Christ Superstar runs May 2–17 at the 5th Avenue Theatre.


This story is part of Seattle magazine’s Spring Arts series, which highlights theater, dance, film, and visual arts across the city.

Follow Us

Rearview Mirror: Icelandic Art, Airport Views, and Trailhead Direct

Rearview Mirror: Icelandic Art, Airport Views, and Trailhead Direct

Things I did, saw, ate, learned, or read in the past week (or so).

Art Is Everywhere Last week, I was in Iceland for Reykjavík Arts Festival, the biennial celebration of the arts, and I was blown away by how much it seemed to touch every corner of the city. Seattle and Reykjavík have been sister cities for 40 years, and this trip was about looking at what that…

A Global Approach to Bonsai  

A Global Approach to Bonsai  

A new exhibition at the Pacific Bonsai Museum looks at the evolution of the ancient horticulture tradition around the world.

Explore the global evolution of an ancient art at the Pacific Bonsai Museum’s new “Bonsai United” exhibition. Discover how world cultures shape bonsai.

The Clouded Surf: Warren Dunes Makes Beach Music for Seattle

The Clouded Surf: Warren Dunes Makes Beach Music for Seattle

The local band is the unlikely mascot we need.

Contrary to what you might think, the best mascots are born, not manufactured. Yes, a lovable socialist monster like Gritty might emerge to provide a face for the soul of a city, but sometimes, there are artists who rise up to define the character of that city. One of the enduring memories I have of…

Best in Show: Schack Art Center’s Annual Juried Exhibition Opens in Everett

Best in Show: Schack Art Center’s Annual Juried Exhibition Opens in Everett

This spring, Everett’s Schack Art Center opened Present Tense: 24th Annual Juried Exhibition. A longstanding tradition, the show will feature pieces from artists working in a range of mediums, including painting, sculpture, glass, ceramics, printmaking, photography, and mixed media. “We select emerging artists and those with well-established practices,” says Schack’s marketing and communications manager, Aaron…