Randy Scholz

Everyone loves a good Romantic Comedy, and when people find a good one, they latch onto it. Such a RomCom was the 1937 play a?oeParfumeriea?? by Miklos Laszlo. Now, if you're not familiar with that one maybe you're more familiar with some of the films that were based on it. There was the 1940 James Stewart-Margaret Sullavan film a?oeThe Shop Around the Cornera??, or how about the 1949 Judy Garland-Van Johnson musical version a?oeIn the Good Old Summertimea??. No? Well I'm sure you remember the 1998 Tom Hanks-Meg Ryan feature a?oeYou've Got Maila??. And beyond those, the play also spawned one of the most underrated and underappreciated shows in American Musical Theatre, a?oeShe Loves Mea?? by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick with a book by Joe Masteroff, currently playing at Village Theatre. a?oeShe Loves Mea?? has been revived on Broadway since it's 1963 beginnings twice, plus a concert version in 1977, but still there are too many people who don't know the glory of this show. Well, Dear Readers, let's try and change that.

Called a?oethe most romantic of all Broadway musicalsa?? by The Wall Street Journal, Village Theatre is delighted to bring She Loves Me to the stage beginning this January. The charming musical, which inspired the hit film You've Got Mail, has been revered by critics and audiences alike since it first debuted on Broadway in 1963 a?' going on to be nominated for over 50 awards including the Tony, Drama Desk, and Olivier Awards. She Loves Me will run at the Francis J. Gaudette Theatre in Issaquah January 16 a?' February 23, 2020 before moving to the Everett Performing Arts Center February 28 a?' March 22, 2020. 

West of Lenin is mixing things up with an Out of the Box Cabaret that is full of surprises! Enjoy unexpected ingenues and barrier breaking ballads by fabulous Seattle performers in roles like you've never seen them before! Directed and hosted by Kate Jaeger, this One Night Only event offers two performances and Happy Hour at the WofL Bar.

Showtunes Theatre Company will return to the Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall at Benaroya Hall, March 23-25, 2018 with a concert production of The Boys from Syracuse, with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Lorenz Hart, and book by George Abbott. The show is produced by Showtunes in association with Village Theatre, directed by Steve Tomkins in his final year as Artistic Director of Village and is being presented as part of the city-wide "Seattle Celebrates Shakespeare" festival. With Kim Douglass music directing, the show will have four performances over one weekend. Performances are Friday, March 23 at 8:00 pm, Saturday March 24th at 2 pm and 8pm and Sunday, March 25th at 2 pm.

The 5th Avenue Theatre is a vibrant hive of musical theater activity as the projects of NextFest: A Festival of New Musicals have started rehearsals this week. A three-week musical theater intensive development cycle, NextFest has played a role in the creation of musicals ranging from Persuasion by Harold Taw and Chris Jeffries (Taproot Theatre, 2017) to  Come From Away by Irene Carl Sankoff and David Hein (Broadway). Nationally recognized for its contribution to the contemporary musical theater cannon, The 5th Avenue Theatre is a celebrated incubator for new musicals. Each year, the nationally renowned theater company connects writers at all stages of development with some of the region's most brilliant performers, giving life to the words on the page and allowing book writers, composers and lyricists to see their work in action. This year's various works are brought to life by Alexandria Henderson, Justin Huertas, Matthew Kacergis, Shaunyce Omar, Brandon O'Neill, Timothy Piggee, Hannah Schuerman, Billie Wildrick and many more.

I'm usually a sucker for a good sappy romance but I'll admit I missed the bandwagon where The Bridges of Madison County was concerned. I never saw the movie or read the book so any kind of name recognition or nostalgic feelings for a musical of this are lost on me and the show would have to exist solely on, does it tell a good story musically? . The answer to that would be, no. And while the current concert staging of it from Showtunes includes some outstanding voices, it still doesn't fix a flawed show.

There are certain things that spring to mind when thinking of a Jane Austen story. Blistering on again, off again romances. Sweeping emotions. And of course, Colin Firth emerging from a lake. Well the new musical adaptation of Jane Austen's "Persuasion", currently playing at Taproot Theatre, may not have Colin Firth but the romances and emotions are there in spades.

There's the old adage in any kind of entertainment that if you have a strong finish, the audience can forgive some pitfalls that may have come before. Unfortunately the new work currently playing at Village Theatre has many of those pitfalls (and some good moments too) but they're followed by one of the most egregiously bad, anti-climactic and lackluster endings I think I've ever seen.

Downton Abbey meets Gilligan's Island in this hysterical new musical titled A Proper Place by Broadway's Leslie Becker (Bonnie & Clyde, Amazing Grace) and Curtis Rhodes.

Lerner and Loewe's "My Fair Lady" is one of those enduring classics that when done correctly can amount to a magical evening. But to do it correctly there's a shopping list of elements you must have such as a terrific and upbeat pace, lively and fun choreography, breathtaking costumes and of course a superb cast especially a sweet, strong, and loveable Eliza with the voice that can hit those impossible Julie Andrews notes. Without those elements, really, why bother? Well lucky for us director Brian Yorkey and the folks at Village Theatre seem to have gotten ahold of my shopping list and confidently checked off each item as their current production of the classic amounts in some ways to one of the best I've seen.

Village Theatre's Artistic Director Steve Tomkins 'dreamed a dream' many years ago when he first saw actor Greg Stone perform in Les Miserables. After directing Stone in Jesus Christ Superstar in 1993 Tomkins wondered, "Could I put together my 'dream cast,' that included Stone, and present this monstrous legendary mega-hit musical Les Miserables at Village Theatre?" Scheduling conflicts, rights issues and budget constraints stood in his way, but much like the character Jean Valjean, Tomkins persisted. Over a decade later the stage production rights became available for a short window of time (that window closes when the Broadway revival of Les Miserables opens in March of 2014) and Tomkins got to work putting the many pieces together for a Village Theatre production.

ISSAQUAH, WA –Village Theatre's Artistic Director Steve Tomkins 'dreamed a dream' many years ago when he first saw actor Greg Stone perform in Les Misérables. After directing Stone in Jesus Christ Superstar in 1993 Tomkins wondered, “Could I put together my 'dream cast,' that included Stone, and present this monstrous legendary mega-hit musical Les Misérables at Village Theatre?” Scheduling conflicts, rights issues and budget constraints stood in his way, but much like the character Jean Valjean, Tomkins persisted. Over a decade later the stage production rights became available for a short window of time (that window closes when the Broadway revival of Les Misérables opens in March of 2014) and Tomkins got to work putting the many pieces together for a Village Theatre production.

Due to popular demand, Illyria at Taproot Theatre is extending through August 17, giving people an additional week to catch the show that critics and audiences are raving about.

Shakespeare is available in Seattle outdoors this summer, but for those wary of a sunburn or being caught outside in rain, there's an indoor opportunity as Taproot Theatre presents Illyria. This musical adaptation of Twelfth Night has all the hilarious hijinks and unrequited love of Shakespeare's famous comedy. A mistaken identity sets off a chain of events that has everything topsy-turvy. As these classic characters sing of romance and shenanigans, you'll be transported to a mythical land of love. Associate Artistic Director Karen Lund directs Illyria, which runs through August 10. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Shakespeare is available in Seattle outdoors this summer, but for those wary of a sunburn or being caught outside in rain, there's an indoor opportunity as Taproot Theatre presents Illyria. This musical adaptation of Twelfth Night has all the hilarious hijinks and unrequited love of Shakespeare's famous comedy. A mistaken identity sets off a chain of events that has everything topsy-turvy. As these classic characters sing of romance and shenanigans, you'll be transported to a mythical land of love. Associate Artistic Director Karen Lund directs Illyria, which runs through August 10, with previews on July 10 and 11. There is a Pay What You Can performance on July 17. Scroll down for a first look at the cast!

Shakespeare is available in Seattle outdoors this summer, but for those wary of a sunburn or being caught outside in rain, there's an indoor opportunity as Taproot Theatre presents Illyria. This musical adaptation of Twelfth Night has all the hilarious hijinks and unrequited love of Shakespeare's famous comedy. A mistaken identity sets off a chain of events that has everything topsy-turvy. As these classic characters sing of romance and shenanigans, you'll be transported to a mythical land of love. Associate Artistic Director Karen Lund directs Illyria, which runs through August 10, with previews on July 10 and 11. There is a Pay What You Can performance on July 17.

Laugh away the winter blues with P.G. Wodehouse's classic characters in Jeeves in Bloom, opening at Taproot Theatre tonight, February 1. Peace. Tranquility. The English countryside. Then Bertie Wooster pays a visit. While ducking romance, fleeing a cleaver-wielding chef and burgling his uncle, Bertie's trail of mischief and mayhem is set right by his unflappable valet, Jeeves. Based on characters created by author P.G. Wodehouse, this confectionary treat is a delightful respite from the daily grind. Associate Artistic Director Karen Lund directs Margaret Raether's adaptation of P.G. Wodehouse's stories. Jeeves in Bloom opens tonight, February 1 and runs through March 2, 2013. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the show below!

Laugh away the winter blues with P.G. Wodehouse's classic characters in Jeeves in Bloom, opening at Taproot Theatre on February 1. Peace. Tranquility. The English countryside. Then Bertie Wooster pays a visit. While ducking romance, fleeing a cleaver-wielding chef and burgling his uncle, Bertie's trail of mischief and mayhem is set right by his unflappable valet, Jeeves. Based on characters created by author P.G. Wodehouse, this confectionary treat is a delightful respite from the daily grind. Associate Artistic Director Karen Lund directs Margaret Raether's adaptation of P.G. Wodehouse's stories. Jeeves in Bloom opens February 1 and runs through March 2, with previews on January 30 and 31.