Alex Matthews News

Mounting something as complex as a Chekov play is not an easy undertaking and should only be handled by professionals. Luckily, in Seattle, we have the Seagull Project who has been tackling these works the last few years including the absolutely incredible "Three Sisters" they put up a few years back. But as crystal clear the intent of the characters in their current production of "The Cherry Orchard" at ACT is, thanks to the stellar performances and direction, I wonder if the translation they chose isn't doing them any favors as I was never quite certain who many of these people were.

Some of Seattle's most talented actors will be hard at work in collaboration with writers from around the country in the rehearsal halls of The 5th Avenue Theatre this month as the company's NextFest: A Festival of New Musicals launches its three week intensive development cycle this weekend.

Back in 2013 the Seattle Rep gave us a lovely Christmas Present with R. Hamilton Wright and David Pichette's wonderful adaptation of "The Hound of the Baskervilles". So when they announced that they would be ending this season with more Holmes from Wright with "Sherlock Holmes and the American Problem", naturally there was a lot of excitement and anticipation for more from this team. And while the team is still on point and while it's still more Sherlock goodness, this original Holmes mystery from Wright doesn't quite have the elegance and grace of a Sir Arthur Conan Doyle piece.

Rebecca Gilman's play "Luna Gale" currently performing at the Seattle Rep has no good guys in it. But then it also has no bad guys in it. Instead of preaching morality or her own agenda what she's done is to present a raw and honest look at people. You may not agree with them, but are they wrong?

Seattle Repertory Theatre presents Rebecca Gilman's critically acclaimed new play, Luna Gale, a powerful and arresting drama that follows the story of a social worker - played by veteran film, television, and theatre actor Pamela Reed - grappling with decisions that will forever change the course of a foster child's life. Directed by Seattle Repertory Theatre's Artistic Director Braden Abraham, Luna Gale runs March 4-27, 2016 in the Bagley Wright Theatre. Tickets are available now through the Seattle Rep Box Office at (206) 443-2222 and online at seattlerep.org.

Dear Readers, I hope you've all fared well over the holidays and had a good time with your families. It's been a tumultuous year with lots of great theater for us to take in. And so I'm pleased to share with you some of the best things I saw this past year and the ones that I felt worthy of getting my Critic's Choice Awards for 2015. So settle in and allow me to expound on all the amazing I saw over the year. The envelope please.

Moliere's "Tartuffe" is already a classic drink from the comedy well from which many have drawn. But what director Makaela Pollock and the folks at Seattle Shakespeare Company have done with their current production is to take that comedy and reinvigorated it with a kind of screwball comedy style making the already funny downright giddy hilarity.

The Satori Group announces Returning to Albert Joseph, a new play by company member Spike Friedman, as the spring production at theLAB@Inscape. This two-person piece, in development with the Satori Group since 2010, explores how language colonizes our brains, the difficulty of resisting the dominant paradigm, the opportunities that love provides, and the dangers of loss. Returning to Albert Joseph will be co-directed by company members Alex Matthews and Caitlin Sullivan.

With recent airings on PBS via the BBC's 'Hollow Crown' series and a screening of the RSC production with David Tenant, the Puget Sound region has seen a mini-renaissance of Shakespeare's Richard II. Seattle Shakespeare Company starts the New Year with its own production of Richard II directed by Rosa Joshi. Artistic Director George Mount will play the title role in a cast that features 16 actors.

With recent airings on PBS via the BBC's "Hollow Crown" series and a screening of the RSC production with David Tenant, the Puget Sound region has seen a mini-renaissance of Shakespeare's Richard II. Seattle Shakespeare Company starts the New Year with its own production of Richard II directed by Rosa Joshi. Artistic Director George Mount will play the title role in a cast that features 16 actors.

The Satori Group in collaboration with The Bengsons, a New York City based musical duo, will be debuting work from their new piece The Land Is Always Known at On The Boards' Northwest New Works Festival tonight, June 15 and tomorrow, June 16.

The Satori Group in collaboration with The Bengsons, a New York City based musical duo, will be debuting work from their new piece The Land Is Always Known at On The Boards' Northwest New Works Festival June 15-16.

This is not a play. You are informed that as soon as you step into the oppressive world of New Century Theatre Company's current production of "Franz Kafka's The Trial" adapted by Kenneth Albers. And it's true; it's not so much a play as it is an existential experience as the bureaucracy of this world sorts even the audience as they enter (be sure to come in with the people you want to sit with). And what follows is a cool and finely crafted descent down the rabbit hole from one of Seattle's best theater companies.

The Satori Group presents the world premiere of Martyna Majok's reWilding as the inaugural production in Satori's new home: the LAB@INScape. The production opens Friday, March 1 and runs through Sunday, March 17. reWilding has been in collaborative development for 18 months, with design and music as central elements of the process from the start. As a result, the production design is a full installation into the LAB, and the audience experience is an immersive one. With limited seating (30-40 seats per performance), this production invites our audience to join us in the world of reWilding.

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA by William Shakespeare is directed by John Langs at the Intiman Playhouse, 201 Mercer Street, Seattle, Wash. The show opened last night, Friday, November 2, 2012 and will close on Sunday, November 18, 2012. Get a first look at the production in the photos below!

Seattle Shakespeare Company opens its new season at the Playhouse at Seattle Center with the epic romance Antony and Cleopatra. Director John Langs, who staged the company's block-buster production of Hamlet, helms the legendary and tragic affair of two charismatic world leaders caught between their own desires and the duty they owe their country.

Seattle Shakespeare Company opens its new season at the Playhouse at Seattle Center with the epic romance Antony and Cleopatra. Director John Langs, who staged the company's block-buster production of Hamlet, helms the legendary and tragic affair of two charismatic world leaders caught between their own desires and the duty they owe their country.