Darragh Kennan News

Seattle Repertory Theatre's 2015-2016 season was announced today by Acting Artistic Director Braden Abraham. The season is headlined by the new musical Come from Away, Ayad Akhtar's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Disgraced and the world premiere of R. Hamilton Wright's Sherlock Holmes and the American Problem.

There are two main problems with doing a show about therapy, such as ACT's world premiere of "Seven Ways to Get There" currently playing. First, that someone else's therapy on stage can be good for the author but often times deadly for the audience. Luckily Bryan Willis and Dwayne J. Clark's new play avoids that trap. But the larger trap is that therapy doesn't really have a definite ending so you either portray an unrealistic look at the world of therapy or, as is the case here, the play just kind of ends as the people involved with the therapy continue onward working on their issues. And while the show definitely has engaging characters and performances, that lack of closure and finality for the audience doesn't work out so well theatrically.

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.

Two tramps waiting by a tree in the middle of nowhere does not sound like the most engaging evening of theater. But when it comes from the absurdist mind of Samuel Beckett, you have one of the most thought provoking plays of the 20th century with his brilliant, "Waiting for Godot". But it's still not always engaging unless you have the right team putting it up. Fortunately Director George Mount has assembled a superb cast with an excellent take on the show that keeps it completely riveting.

Seattle Shakespeare Company's WAITING FOR GODOT by Samuel Beckett will be directed by George Mount at the Falls Theatre at ACT Theatre, 700 Union Street, Seattle, WA. The show opens tonight, September 5, 2014, and plays through Sunday, September 21, 2014. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Performance and reality blend into an imaginative landscape in Seattle Shakespeare Company's production of Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett. Directed by George Mount, Waiting for Godot launches the company's 2014-2015 indoor season in September. Waiting for Godot is part of the city-wide Seattle Beckett Fest running August through November 2014.

There's a plot device that has annoyed me since I was a kid. Sitcoms use it a lot. It's where the main character keeps lying and/or making obviously poor decisions which keeps digging them deeper and deeper into a hole until you just want to scream at them, "Just tell the truth and do the right thing already!" In sitcoms it all gets resolved in a fun way in 22 minutes and everyone learns a valuable lesson. But when this plot device is combined with the nation's current economic woes as is the case with Laura Marks' play "Bethany", currently playing at ACT, that frustration with the characters never seems to end leading to a bleak evening which left me asking, "why?" Is this a journey we need to take or is it simply frustration for frustration's sake and shining a spotlight on the plight of some to make others without the plight feel better about their lives?

A world premiere play from one of Seattle's best, Stephanie Timm, directed by one of Seattle's best, Darragh Kennan and from one of Seattle's best theatre groups, New Century Theatre Company. Seems like a dead lock winner right? But while I still found "Tails of Wasps" currently playing at ACT thoroughly engaging and interesting I wasn't so blown away by it as I have been by others from this group. And yes, I may be holding them up to a higher standard, but that's what you get for consistently being on the top.

From squatting in a foreclosed home, to lying to the government, to taking desperate measures to make one last sale at work, Bethany takes on the economic crisis from the eyes of a middle class mom fighting to get her life back on track. This Helen Merrill Award-winning play tells the story of a young woman whose daughter has been taken away by State services when she loses her home. If she can just make one more sale before the car dealership closes for good, she might be able to salvage a life that's rapidly spiraling out of control.

A Contemporary Theatre single tickets go on sale to the public for all 2014 Mainstage shows February 12, 2014. ACT is offering 50% off of adult price tickets for previews of Bethany one-week only February 12-18.

Holy Crap! That's really the most emphatic sentiment I can use to describe the internal battles I had when trying to pick my top picks for this past year. There were so many amazing performances and achievements that to pick just one was almost an impossibility (and as you'll see, WAS an impossibility for one category). But the battle is over and it's my distinct pleasure to announce my picks for the 2013 Broadway World Seattle Critic's Choice Awards (or Jay's Picks, if you prefer).

I love it when a production manages to actually make me giddy with its technical aspects whether that be the gorgeous set, the intricate staging or the storytelling lights and sound. It appeals to the theater geek in me. So, Dear Readers, you can imagine how much I was in geek heaven at the Seattle Rep's current production of "The Hound of the Baskervilles" which managed all four of those elements. And when coupled with a fresh fun new script and equally fun cast, this new production makes for a chilling romp through the world of Sherlock Holmes.

New Century Theatre Company's track record for putting on stunning shows remains brilliantly intact as they present another absolute winner with Enda Walsh's "The Walworth Farce". It's actually getting a little scary how they keep consistently putting up the goods show after show. It's almost like they've discovered some theatrical genie or wishing stone that magically turns their shows into gold. Or it could be that they just have the cream of the crop of Seattle theatrical talent on their team who not only know how to pick the slightly obscure shows but also how to produce and perform them. And "The Walworth Farce" is no exception as this four member cast goes from the raucously funny to the sublimely terrifying at the drop of a hat and takes you on a ride you won't soon forget.

The critically acclaimed New Century Theatre Company (NCTC) enters a new era as their Board of Directors announces their plan to hire employee #1; Kayti Barnett, as NCTC's managing director. She takes over this role from founding member Jamie Herlich who has served as acting managing director since 2011.

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 critically acclaimed New Century Theatre Company (NCTC) enters their fifth season by producing the world premiere of Kenneth Albers (Oregon Shakespeare Festival) recent adaptation of Franz Kafka's THE TRIAL. NCTC will take this story to new heights by presenting this powerful play inside Seattle's historic INS Building.

The critically acclaimed New Century Theatre Company (NCTC) enters their fifth season by producing the world premiere of Kenneth Albers (Oregon Shakespeare Festival) recent adaptation of Franz Kafka's THE TRIAL. NCTC will take this story to new heights by presenting this powerful play inside Seattle's historic INS Building.

The 5th Avenue Theatre presents its new production of Meredith Willson's The Music Man, a loving valentine to musical theater, now playing through March 10. Check out the video below of 'Lida Rose.'

The 5th Avenue Theatre is thrilled to announce the cast for its glorious new production of Meredith Willson's The Music Man, a loving valentine to musical theater. The 5th's exuberant staging features a cast of 29 adults and 16 children, not to mention a full 20-piece orchestra, bringing this musical masterpiece to booming brassy life with the full force and excitement of a parade. Seattle native and seasoned Broadway pro Noah Racey returns home to star as Professor Harold Hill alongside Laura Griffith as Marian (the librarian) Paroo singing such celebrated songs as "Til There Was You," "Seventy Six Trombones," and "Ya Got Trouble." This all-star cast also features a host of Seattle's finest actors, including Anne Allgood, Jeff Steitzer, Laura Kenny, Richard Gray, Darragh Kennan, Joshua Feinsilber, and many others.