Jay Irwin - Page 50

Village Theatre breaks out its magnifying glass with a change of pace from the usual musical fare with the Tony award winning "Sleuth" by Anthony Shaffer. And what can I tell you about this production? Well, not a lot so as not to give it away. But I can say that it's a viciously fun game from beginning to end.

Seattle Repertory Theatre is currently presenting John Steinbeck's depression era classic "Of Mice and Men". While not the most amazing play I've seen this season, the Rep continues to demonstrate that they know how to put up good, strong solid theater and this production is no exception.

Seattle's STAGEright Theatre is currently presenting the peculiar morality play, "The Firebugs" at Odd Duck Studio on Capitol Hill. A gritty little play about trying to outwit evil, the show is a quirky and fun game of cat and mouse that leaves you no wiser but wary.

Every now and again a show comes along that wins all the awards, sells out the houses and gets all the praise and I simply look at it and ask, "Why?" Well, the Paramount is currently presenting one of those shows. The national tour of the Best Musical Tony Award winning "Billy Elliot The Musical" has come to town and now after having seen the production I still ask, "Why?" Why is this so popular?

Seattle Public Theater is presenting the Northwest premiere of Julie Marie Myatt's drama "The Happy Ones". And while I appreciated the performances in the production I didn't really feel the play went anywhere.

Theater Schmeater is currently presenting their latest installment of their wildly popular stage adaptations of the classic TV series with "The Twilight Zone: Live!" And while I've seen some of the Zones before and even some of these episodes done previously, I don't believe I've seen them done better.

Village Theatre is currently asking the very unlikely question, "What happens when two American songwriters get kidnapped by cold war era KGB agents to write the quintessential Russian musical?" The answer is, "You get "Iron Curtain", the latest show to get a main stage production out of the Village Originals Festival, which amounts to two and a half hours of absolute bliss!"

Seattle's STAGEright Theatre is currently presenting the peculiar morality play, "The Firebugs" at Odd Duck Studio on Capitol Hill. A gritty little play about trying to outwit evil, the show is a quirky and fun game of cat and mouse that leaves you no wiser but wary.

ArtsWest continues their streak of Seattle Premieres with "Distracted" by Lisa Loomer. Unfortunately as topical and fresh as the subject matter is, the production itself seemed to take the title, "Distracted" and use it as a watchword for the tone of the show.

The La Jolla Playhouse is presenting a world premiere musical based on the 2006 Academy Award winning film "Little Miss Sunshine". And while the show had its shining moments and a cast that matched the subtlety and charm of the original sleeper hit, on the whole it needs a bit of a jump start if it's going to make it down the road to Broadway.

Seattle Shakespeare Company is currently presenting their first ever foray into musical theater with "The Threepenny Opera". A show that seasoned musical theater companies would have difficulty with; this typically Shakespearean company in their 20th year handles it with vision, humor and heart.

Seattle Musical Theatre is presenting the hilarious send up of old style musical theater with "The Drowsy Chaperone". And while the show was enjoyable and one of the better things I've seen with SMT, it left me a little wanting.

Village Theatre breaks out its magnifying glass with a change of pace from the usual musical fare with the Tony award winning "Sleuth" by Anthony Shaffer. And what can I tell you about this production? Well, not a lot so as not to give it away. But I can say that it's a viciously fun game from beginning to end.

The 5th Avenue Theatre is presenting the touring production of the Tony and Pulitzer Prize winning musical "Next To Normal" which began part of its life in a workshop locally at Village Theatre. This odd musical theater show about dealing with mental illness proves that the art form is alive and well and need not be the cookie cutter formula.

ArtsWest is presenting the Seattle premiere of fresh new playwright Lauren Gunderson's, "Emilie: La Marquise Du Chatelet Defends Her Life Tonight". Initially having a little trouble finding its way, this Stoppard-esque exploration of life and love ultimately turns in an evening of humor and heartbreak with a powerhouse ending.

Seattle Repertory Theatre presents Laura Schellhardt's haunting fairy tale, "The K of D, an urban legend". Effortlessly filled with melancholy and wonder, this one woman show is all at once creepy, funny, poignant and moving.

Seattle Shakespeare Company is currently presenting their first ever foray into musical theater with "The Threepenny Opera". A show that seasoned musical theater companies would have difficulty with; this typically Shakespearean company in their 20th year handles it with vision, humor and heart.

ACT in conjunction with the 5th Avenue Theatre is presenting the Northwest Premiere of "Vanities: A New Musical". Featuring three gorgeous and talented Seattle women, I found it difficult to find anything more to make this show stand out.

Seattle Musical Theatre is presenting the hilarious send up of old style musical theater with "The Drowsy Chaperone". And while the show was enjoyable and one of the better things I've seen with SMT, it left me a little wanting.

Big hair and dreams have come to the Paramount. No, it's not "Hairspray" or even "Hair" (since we just had that one). No, fast forward about 20 years from that one and you have the 80's rock musical "Rock of Ages". And while no one could accuse the show of being deep or important, it's certainly loud, goofy and fun!