Broadway powerhouse and Pacific Northwest native Shoshana Bean returned to familiar territory on Wednesday, October 21, bringing her Only Smoke Tour to the intimate Kirkland Performance Center. And if anyone thought this would be a typical Broadway diva concert, Bean had other plans. Running onto the stage barefoot in a fabulous fringed dress that allowed her to dance and move freely, she immediately made it clear that this was going to be a night of music, memories, laughter, and a little hometown love.
For those unfamiliar with Bean, where have you been? Raised in Olympia, Washington, and Beaverton, Oregon, Bean has become one of Broadway’s most celebrated vocalists. She famously stepped into the role of Elphaba in Wicked, replacing Idina Menzel, and has since built an impressive Broadway career, including Hairspray, Waitress, Mr. Saturday Night, and Hell’s Kitchen. Now appearing in The Lost Boys, Bean has added a Tony Award to her impressive résumé. But this evening wasn’t about Broadway. It was about the music she wanted to share on her own terms.
Bean launched the Only Smoke Tour in fall 2026 to support her November 2025 album of the same name. The Americana-inspired collection showcases a different side of the singer, blending soul, country, blues, and heartfelt storytelling. It also marks her first dedicated tour promoting a studio album, giving audiences an opportunity to experience Shoshana Bean the recording artist rather than simply the Broadway star.
Following her opening numbers, including “Quite Like Me” and “Forward,” Bean wasted little time addressing the elephant—or perhaps the green witch—in the room. She jokingly announced that “Defying Gravity” would NOT be on the evening’s set list. In fact, if anyone had come expecting a night of Broadway showstoppers, she wouldn’t mind if they headed for the exits while she grabbed her guitar. The audience laughed, and nobody appeared interested in leaving. After all, when you have a voice like Bean’s, she could probably sing the Kirkland phone book and make it sound like a Grammy-winning album.
The evening featured selections from Only Smoke, including “Left Over Love,” “What If I Don’t,” “Man of His Word,” “Strangers Again,” “The Other Side,” and “All to Me.” Each song allowed Bean to explore a more personal musical landscape, combining emotional lyrics with the powerhouse vocals that have made her a Broadway favorite. Her signature vibrato was unmistakable, and her remarkable range allowed her to move effortlessly from intimate, almost whispered moments to those soaring notes that seemed capable of lifting the roof right off the Kirkland Performance Center.
My personal favorite was “What If I Don’t,” a song that beautifully captures the vulnerability and strength of Bean’s songwriting. There is something refreshing about hearing an artist with such an extraordinary instrument resist the temptation to show off at every opportunity. Bean knows when to unleash that voice and, perhaps more importantly, when to let a lyric speak for itself.
Of course, you can’t have Shoshana Bean onstage without a few vocal fireworks. The evening also included “She Used to Be Mine” from Waitress, a song that feels practically tailor-made for her emotional delivery, along with Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep.” And when Bean offered a snippet of Sia’s “Chandelier” during the audience-request portion of the evening, it was another reminder that there are very few songs this woman can’t tackle.
But what truly made the evening special wasn’t simply the music. It was the feeling that Bean had come home.
With fewer than 400 seats, the Kirkland Performance Center offered an intimacy that larger concert halls simply cannot duplicate. Bean could see the faces in the audience, hear their reactions, and interact with them as though everyone had gathered in her living room. Well, perhaps a living room with better acoustics and a much more talented hostess.
Throughout the evening, it became apparent that many audience members were people Bean personally knew. Watching her recognize familiar faces was genuinely touching. Her expressions shifted from surprise to delight, and at times, there was visible emotion. These weren’t just fans buying tickets to see a Broadway star. They were friends, family, and people connected to the journey that brought her to this stage.
The audience-request segment was particularly delightful. Rather than treating it as a predictable concert gimmick, Bean made everyone feel included. Audience members called out their favorite songs, and when she selected a request, it felt personal, almost like receiving a little musical gift. There was laughter, spontaneity, and the occasional moment of anticipation as everyone wondered what she might sing next. It was one of those rare concert experiences where the audience became part of the show rather than simply watching it.
For the encore, Bean delivered “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” the heartbreaking Bonnie Raitt classic, followed by “Montana.” The emotional weight of those final songs was a fitting conclusion to an evening that had moved between humor, vulnerability, and pure vocal brilliance. Bean doesn’t just sing a song; she inhabits it, drawing listeners into every word.
And just when you thought the evening couldn’t become more personal, Bean took a moment to acknowledge someone very special in the audience: her mother.
Thanking and introducing the woman who has been one of her greatest inspirations and supporters, Bean brought the evening full circle. The audience responded with warm applause, recognizing that behind every successful performer is often someone who believed in them long before the rest of the world knew their name. It was a beautiful reminder of the impact a parent’s love and encouragement can have on a child’s dreams.
I’ve seen plenty of Broadway performers over the years, but there’s something especially moving about watching an artist return to the region where their story began. Bean may have conquered Broadway, performed on some of the world’s biggest stages, and earned the industry’s highest recognition, but on this Wednesday evening in Kirkland, she was also a hometown girl sharing her music with people who genuinely cared about her.
And barefoot, no less. Who needs ruby slippers when you’ve already found your way home?
Only Smoke is available on Spotify and other streaming platforms. If you’re looking for a place to start, I highly recommend “What If I Don’t.” It’s my personal favorite from the album and a wonderful introduction to this chapter of Shoshana Bean’s remarkable career.
Shoshana Bean’s Only Smoke Tour proved that while Broadway may have made her a star, her own music allows us to discover the woman behind that extraordinary voice. And what a voice it is.
