Heather Hawkins

Seattle Public Theater currently has a musical on their boards, "Vanishing Point", highlighting the stories of three remarkable women, evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson (Heather Hawkins), aviatrix Amelia Earhart (Cristin J. Hubbard), and mystery writer Agatha Christie (Rebecca M. Davis). Each of these women, very different from each other, have one thing in common, that they each disappeared under mysterious circumstances. And while the premise may sound fascinating and they may boast an impressive cast, the musical itself is weighed down by repetitive lyrics that fail to move anything along and few melodies you can latch onto.

Seattle Public Theater rings in the new year with the fourth production of its 2017-18 Season with the musical comedy-fantasy Vanishing Point. Aviatrix Amelia Earhart, evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson, and author Agatha Christie all have one thing in common: they were women who vanished mysteriously. Christie walked out of her life in 1926 and was discovered at a hotel 11 days later with no recollection of what happened.

Seattle Public Theater (SPT) is proud to present Amadeus, Peter Shaffer's magnificent story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, directed by Shana Bestock at the historic Green Lake Bathhouse Theater from January 29 through February 21, 2016. Tickets are $34 for adults, $32 for seniors, $17 for youth under 25, and $5 for youth under 12. Tickets are available by calling the SPT Box Office at 206-524-1300 or visiting www.seattlepublictheater.org.

ArtsWest has announced an extension of Angry Housewives, the longest-running musical in Seattle theater history. Premiering in 1983, Angry Housewives went on to play for nearly seven years in Pioneer Square Theatre spaces, burning its songs and cut-loose attitude into Seattle's history. With an Off-Broadway stint in 1986, the production has had a healthy run in regional theatre, including most major cities in America.

It's been quite some time since everyone's favorite Mom-laden punk band has graced a Seattle stage, but those "Angry Housewives" are back at ArtsWest. And while appearing to need a little more rehearsal and settling in time and still with a script that feels a bit hackneyed at times, the show with its ridiculous and infectious personalities still makes for a very fun night. Set the way back machine to the mid 80's as we find four suburban women looking to break free from their hum drum lives. Bev (Heather Hawkins) is newly widowed and broke. Carol (Ann Cornelius) is divorced, almost just as broke and desperate for love. Jetta (Chelsea LeValley) is a new Mom with an uptight and controlling husband (Mark Tyler Miller). And Wendi (Janet McWilliams) is a bit of a dreamer who's just looking for her next big thing. So when Bev's money problems become too much, the four band together to do the only thing they can do to make some money, enter a contest for the best punk rock band at a local club, of course. The show with book by A.M. Collins and music and lyrics by Chad Henry has a few script problems. The dialog can get a bit cliche and the story is about as predictable as a sit-com. And the production itself looked to need a bit more rehearsal time as its musical numbers were killer but its scene work and transitions were rocky at best. But I'm sure that will settle in time. But beyond all its problems the show is still fun and it's clear to see why it continued to run for so long back in the 80's and 90's. The ensemble is terrific and obviously having a blast up there. The four male counterparts to the ladies are superb. Miller is delightfully out of touch and chauvinistic. So much so that I felt the audience turning on him at one point but he managed to get them back during his song of redemption. Jeff Orton as Wendi's sailboat obsessed boyfriend and Brian Lange as the club owner Lewd Fingers each nailed their characters and their duet reminiscing on their past love was a real crowd pleaser. And Trent Moury as Bev's teenage son and his lamenting doo wop number about his too cool Mom practically stopped the show. But it's the ladies who completely kill in the show with their hilarious Mom-centric punk style. Especially LeValley's amazing lead vocals and dimwitted character and Cornelius' sultry ode to her lacking love life. Sure, the show wasn't rock solid the night I saw it but I have faith it'll get better with time and it still managed to be a sublimely silly rockin' good time. And so with my three letter rating system I'm giving "Angry housewives" a YAY on credit (which I'm sure they will live up to with all that potential). So go "eat your f***ing Cornflakes" and get out to catch the Angry Housewives before we lose them for another decade. "Angry Housewives" performs at ArtsWest through May 24th. For tickets or information contact the ArtsWest box office at 206-938-0339 or visit them online at www.artswest.org.

ArtsWest has announced the return of the longest running production in Seattle theatre history, as four angry housewives take the stage tonight, April 23rd.

ArtsWest has announced the return of the longest running production in Seattle theatre history, as four angry housewives take the stage on April 23rd. Premiering in 1983, this musical went on to play for nearly seven years in Pioneer Square Theatre spaces, burning it's songs and cut-loose attitude into Seattle's history. With an Off-Broadway stint in 1986, the production has had a healthy run in regional theatre, including most major cities in America.

Joshua Carter, currently working the national musical tour of Once, wins Performance in a Musical as a Lead Actor (Male) for his work in Little Shop of Horrors, along with his co-lead, Jessica Skerritt. Bill Berry wins as well as director of the co-production of ACT Theatre and The 5th Avenue Theater (housed at ACT).

Seattle Theater Writers critics' circle just announced the nomination slate of the fourth annual Gypsy Rose Lee Awards,theater awards devoted to recognizing excellence across the economic spectrum of professional Seattle theaters in the prior calendar year.

Seattle Shakespeare Company's free Wooden O productions of The Two Gentlemen of Verona and Julius Caesar start performances tonight, July 10.

Casting is announced for Seattle Shakespeare Company's free Wooden O productions of The Two Gentlemen of Verona and Julius Caesar which start performances on Thursday, July 10. Both productions will perform in park venues throughout King County (please see attached schedule) and then transfer to Walla Walla, WA as part of Shakespeare Walla Walla.

Seattle Public Theater (SPT) presents the Pacific Northwest premiere of Johnna Adams' explosive new drama, Gidion's Knot, directed by Shana Bestock.

Beloved Broadway producer Roy Miller passed away suddenly early Sunday morning, April 28, 2013 following a brief illness. Roy produced the multiple Tony Award nominated Broadway productions of The Drowsy Chaperone and this season's A Christmas Story: The Musical. His other Broadway producing credits include West Side Story, Ragtime, [title of show] and The Pee-Wee Herman Show among others. He recently served as Producing Artistic Director of Surflight Theatre from 2010 to 2012 and also served as Associate Producer of Paper Mill Playhouse from 1991 to 2004.

Shirley Valentine is a witty and insightful story of a middle-aged working class Liverpool housewife who is transformed by a surprise holiday in the Greek islands. A Laurence Olivier Award winner for Best New Comedy in 1988 and Tony Award nominee for Best Play, the one-woman play stars Footlight Award winner Heather Hawkins. Shirley Valentine runs from January 23 - February 16, 2013 at ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery in West Seattle.

For the ArtsWest 2012-2013 season, Artistic Director Christopher Zinovitch has announced a selection of plays, beginning in September with a fast-paced irreverent rock musical about the country we live in - a Broadway blockbuster, that received Tony Award© nominations, an Outer Critics Circle Award, and two Drama Desk nominations. The holiday season will include a mix of rockin' holiday hits in a fond salute to 1960's girl groups. Audiences will then travel from Liverpool to Greece with a middle-aged, working class housewife in a classic comic masterpiece. The season's fourth play, another recent Broadway blockbuster, exposes the fundamental truths that result when opposing views of family and friends collide. The season will close with a genius at work as Beethoven and a musicologist examine the creative process against a background of passion and parenthood.

When tackling a play such as "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead", as is currently being tackled by Seattle Public Theater, you need to make sure you have two powerhouse actors in the titular roles, especially when putting in the twist of casting women rather than the traditional men in the roles. Check! Mission accomplished there. And as amazing as these women are, I have to say the production could have used a little more variation in pace as it rarely wavered from the breakneck speed with which it began.

Beginning with the February 2012 Feed Your Mind presentation of What We're Up Against by Theresa Rebeck, Mirror Stage is pleased to offer ten Pay-What-You-Can rush tickets ($1 minimum) at the door of every performance. Available day of performance only, the onsite box office will have ten tickets available for a minimum payment of one dollar each-first come, first served to those who request it-starting an hour before curtain.

When tackling a play such as "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead", as is currently being tackled by Seattle Public Theater, you need to make sure you have two powerhouse actors in the titular roles, especially when putting in the twist of casting women rather than the traditional men in the roles. Check! Mission accomplished there. And as amazing as these women are, I have to say the production could have used a little more variation in pace as it rarely wavered from the breakneck speed with which it began.

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.

Greenstage presented Seattle's Outdoor Theater Festival in Capitol Hill's Volunteer Park over the weekend of July 10th and 11th to kick off the many Summer park shows around the Puget Sound area. The festival encompassed 11 shows from eight different companies and while they mostly followed a Shakespearean bent there were also a few decidedly non-Shakespearean shows but all good fun for all ages and it's all FREE.