Jet City’s Lease : Seattle’s Own Rock Opera pleasantly surprises

Audience members watching the premiere of Lease: Seattle’s Own Rock Opera might see some seemingly familiar faces.

The eight-person cast mirrors Emerald City stereotypes in the May 1 premier of the improvised live musical brought to you by Wing-It Productions, known for being the group behind Jet City Improv.

There is no script and no set plot, and no one, including the actors, knows quite what’s going to happen.

Things get exciting when cast member Douglas Willott appears with plaid Chuck Taylor-clad feet just a yard away from front-row viewers.

“This show is completely improvised except for the opening number, which is totally choreographed, scripted,” Willott said, partly for emphasis and partly to remind his audience that Lease is rated R, a contrast to the all-ages nature of Jet City Improv.

After fielding thematic suggestions from the crowd—for example, one night Pike Place Market was chosen as a Seattle icon and narcolepsy was the featured affliction—the full cast busts out in song and dance to a Broadway-style tune referencing flavored coffee drinks and rainy weather. It’s hard to believe performer Jana Healy when she says the group has only been practicing for about two months.

Happily, the cohesion doesn’t end when this lone pre-planned sequence does. Soon the audience meets a misfit raver, gorgeous goth, blogging hipster, starving artist, cutting emo, preppy frat boy, barista barfly and tattooed metro bus driver. Whether in solo performances, duets or whole-group arrangements, these pigeonholed Seattleites spout lyrics and pitches as interwoven as tapestry.

This brings up the live music, which is also improvised. Pianist-guitarist Chris Lundgren said he tries to match the onstage emotion. It’s hard enough for the acting singers to come up with wild lyrics, so he tries to build blocks.

So if it’s all improvised, what can viewers expect in the upcoming shows?

Character names and costumes remain the same, though their backgrounds and behaviors will vary dynamically. The actors designed costumes mostly on their own and from their real-life wardrobes.

“I think the costumes give you a certain kind of attitude, but your attitude can vary,” raver Kate Jaeger said.

The general setting is an apartment complex in Seattle, but the set is simple, with only two balconies, half a dozen chairs and some potted plants.

“You can always expect to see something that’s funny, something that’s heartwarming and also great music,” cast member Nick Edwards said.

Expect surprises and great things from Lease.