Laughs in Spanish @ Seattle Rep

It’ll be a few more months until Seattle hits its sunny season, so Seattle Rep is giving you the opportunity to head to Miami in its newest production, Laughs in Spanish. This outrageous comedy, which blends lively humor with welcome tenderness, comes from playwright Alexis Scheer and is directed by Seattle Rep Artistic Director Dámaso Rodríguez, who both hail from the Magic City.

Laughs in Spanish centers on Mari, a Latina gallery owner who is about to launch her biggest show yet. But over the course of one uncontrollably wild day, everything can and does go completely off the rails. From stolen paintings to misplaced catering orders to the reemergence of two people she’d rather not see—her movie star mother and her high school crush—it’s a live telenovela freed from the confines of your flatscreen.

Scheer, whose work was last seen locally with Our Dear Dead Drug Lord (Washington Ensemble Theatre, 2023), has concocted a delectable, heartfelt, music and dance-fueled ode to her hometown and its vibrant art scene. And not only is it an emotionally resonant story about cultural identities and the choices people make on their path to success, it’s also at its core a joyous blast of energy.

“Audiences need joy,” Scheer says, “but not simply for escapism. I personally believe joy is the most sustainable resource we have when it comes to resistance … I’m very proud to be sharing this story nationwide, celebrating the heart and humor of the Latiné community.”

This spring, experience the heartwarming “Laughs in Spanish” and the Shakespeare-inspired cirque extravaganza “Duel Reality” at Seattle Rep.

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