Seattle Rep’s ‘Bruce’ offers tale of making of ‘Jaws’

Braden Abraham, artistic director of Seattle Rep, is excited to finally bring ‘Bruce’ to the main stage through June 26. It’s the world premiere of the musical by Richard Oberacker and Robert Taylor that tells the tale of the making of the movie “Jaws,” starring Tony-nominated Jarrod Spector as Steven Spielberg and “Bruce” as the animatronic shark that was malfunctioning for most of the film. As Spielberg struggles to make the shark and the film work, the musical alternates between dramatic and amusing ‘and somehow manages to create a thriller onstage,’ Abraham said. He first read the play three years ago and loved it. It was workshopped during the pandemic and originally scheduled to run in 2020. Abraham said, just like the movie, ‘Bruce’ is a terrific story. ‘Even though you think you know the story, you don’t quite know how it turns out, and it feels like the shark is everywhere.’ Show runs at 7:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays at Bagley Wright Theater. Tickets can be purchased at www.seattleRep.org.