Arizona Theatre Company Presents XANADU at Herberger Theatre, Now thru 1/19
by BWW News Desk
- Dec 31, 2013
Arizona Theatre Company brings the tongue-in-cheek, award-winning hit Broadway musical Xanadu to the Temple of Music and Art, 330 S. Scott Ave., in Tucson from Nov. 30 - Dec. 31 and the Herberger Theater Center, 222 E. Monroe, in Phoenix from tonight, Dec. 31 - Jan. 19.
BWW 2013 Seattle Critic's Choice Awards (Jay's Picks)
by Jay Irwin
- Dec 30, 2013
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).
BWW Reviews: XANADU at Village Sparkles With 80's Kitsch
by Jay Irwin
- Sep 13, 2013
Sometimes goofy is all you really need. Sure, it's nice to have a deeply heartfelt and affecting show but sometimes you just want candy. Well look no further as Village has taken the candy coated no brainer that is "Xanadu" and amped the joy and humor up to 11. And while yes, the performances are all top notch, the real joy of the production comes from the obvious fun the cast is having with the material (and I don't just mean those skimpy togas).
BWW Reviews: 5th Avenue's HAIRSPRAY: IN CONCERT Has the Beat but Could Use More Camp
by Jay Irwin
- Jun 21, 2013
Let me start out, Dear Readers, by saying there is no way for me to not be biased about this show. I have loved it since I saw the original preview at the 5th way back when (twice) and all productions since then have never failed to make me happy. Hell, I've even done the show before (hence the bias). So please take that into account as I talk about the current concert version of "Hairspray" being presented at the 5th Avenue in conjunction with the Seattle Men's Chorus. While the talent and fun energy was definitely up there on the 5th Avenue stage, some keys roles seemed to be missing that spark of camp that is so crucial for the show.
Kat Ramsburg to Star in 5th Avenue Theatre's HAIRSPRAY; Full Cast Announced!
by BWW News Desk
- May 31, 2013
The 5th Avenue Theatre has announced complete casting for Hairspray in Concert, featuring some of Seattle's favorite musical theatre stars and the powerful voices of the 250-member Seattle Men's Chorus. Celebrating the 10th anniversary of Hairspray's 2002 Broadway debut, this unique concert event will play for six very special performances of glorious and irreverent John Waters-inspired wackiness (Friday-Sunday, June 20-23). In 2002, Hairspray was The 5th Avenue Theatre's first world premiere musical to head for Broadway where it won the 2003 Tony Award for Best Musical and launched The 5th's unprecedented track record for sending new works to New York. Now the smash hit musical comes home, as audiences have never seen it before.
Jinkx Monsoon Joins The 5th Avenue Theatre and Seattle Men's Chorus' HAIRSPRAY
by Kelsey Denette
- Apr 23, 2013
In 2002, Hairspray was the first world premiere musical to leave The 5th Avenue Theatre and head for Broadway. It won the Tony Award for Best Musical and launched the Theatre's unprecedented track record for sending new works to New York. Now 10 seasons later, The 5th collaborates with one of the world's largest and most respected choruses, the Seattle Men's Chorus. Together they will bring this special concert presentation of Hairspray, with all its glorious, irreverent, John Waters-inspired wackiness, back to the 5th Avenue stage for six very special performances.
BWW Reviews: GREY GARDENS at ACT Not Quite Up To Expectations
by Jay Irwin
- Mar 22, 2013
You know when you go on vacation and come across that amazing restaurant that serves one of the most surprising dishes you've ever had that you pine over for years and then you find a restaurant back home that makes the same recipe? And maybe they don't have all the best ingredients or maybe the chef isn't quite as good but it just doesn't live up to the original? Well, unfortunately that's the equivalent of what I witnessed last night at "Grey Gardens" currently at ACT. It's still the same amazing show by Doug Wright, Scott Frankel, and Michael Korie and definitely had some outstanding moments but the whole just didn't quite compare to when I saw it on Broadway with the incredible Christine Ebersole.
ACT Announces Season Casting: Patti Cohenour in GREY GARDENS, Pamela Reed in OTHER DESERT CITIES and More
by Kelsey Denette
- Feb 11, 2013
ACT has announced some of the casting for the first half of the upcoming Mainstage season. ACT's own Artistic Director Kurt Beattie gets back on the boards alongside Jeff Steitzer, Marianne Owen, Julie Briskman, and Laura Kenny in Assisted Living. In Other Desert Cities the critically acclaimed Marya Sea Kaminski makes her ACT debut going head to head with television actress Pamela Reed (Parks and Recreation, Kindergarten Cop) who is a UW Drama alumni and Washington resident. Many other notable local actors will be returning to ACT or making their debut including Jessica Skerritt, Matt Owen, Lori Larsen, Suzy Hunt, Aaron Blakely, and Kirsten Potter to name a few. See the current listing of committed artistic and production talent below.
BWW 2012 Seattle Critic's Choice Awards (Jay's Picks)
by Jay Irwin
- Dec 26, 2012
It's been a helluva year for theater in the Seattle area. From the triumphant return of the Intiman with their summer festival to the hugely popular run of "Spring Awakening" from Balagan Theatre Seattle audiences were treated with some amazing shows and performances this past year. And so, allow me to shine the spotlight on some of my favorite outstanding moments from the past year with my 2012 BWW Seattle Critic's Choice Awards.
A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS CAROL Plays Balagan Theatre Tonight
by BWW News Desk
- Dec 10, 2012
In Seattle, Seattle Equity Actors, Mainstreet Musicals and the Balagan Theatre are presenting a concert performance of A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS CAROL tonight, December 10th, at 7:30 PM BALAGAN THEATRE 1524, Harvard Avenue, Seattle, Washington.
BWW Reviews: Adorable Joy at 5th Avenue's ELF Abounds
by Jay Irwin
- Dec 7, 2012
I'll admit I was one of the first to roll their eyes in disdain when I heard they made a musical of the Will Ferrell movie "Elf", back in 2010. "Oh Good," I thought, "another overly sweet yet bland movie adaptation designed to get families in the theater and sell merchandise (in this case, elf hats)." And so even more eye rolling occurred when the 5th Avenue Theatre announced they would be putting up a production of it this year. And while the show may be most of those things I mentioned (especially the elf hats) what it isn't is bland. More importantly what the production at the 5th Avenue manages is a super engaging and absolutely adorable evening of elfish fun.
A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS CAROL Plays Balagan Theatre, 12/10
by BWW News Desk
- Dec 3, 2012
In Seattle, Seattle Equity Actors, Mainstreet Musicals and the Balagan Theatre are presenting a concert performance of A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS CAROL on December 10th, at 7:30 PM BALAGAN THEATRE 1524, Harvard Avenue, Seattle, Washington.
Photo Flash: First Look at Kendra Kassebaum, Matt Owen and More in 5th Avenue Theatre's ELF!
by Kelsey Denette
- Nov 2, 2012
Buddy the Elf is bringing the North Pole to Seattle this holiday season when ELF - The Musical takes over The 5th Avenue Theatre. Under the direction of Seattle's theatrical superstar Eric Ankrim (in his 5th Avenue directorial debut), Elf will feature Seattle's singing and dancing wunderkind Matt Owen as Buddy, the iconic Christmas groupie, alongside Broadway's Kendra Kassebaum as his true love, Jovie. Owen and Kassebaum are joined by Broadway vet Kim Huber, and Seattle stars Sean G. Griffin, Allen Fitzpatrick, Cynthia Jones, Nick DeSantis, and Jessica Skerritt.
BWW Reviews: THE PRODUCERS at Village Theatre
by Jay Irwin
- May 11, 2012
It's difficult when you have an iconic show to work with such as "The Producers" currently playing at Village Theatre. The Mel Brooks classic movie turned Mel Brooks mega hit stage musical turned Mel Brooks movie musical is definitely a big piece of musical theater history. Add in huge stars like Gene Wilder, Zero Mostel, Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane to that history and the result of subsequent productions can vary from bland imitation to just plain not in the same league to the other end of the spectrum with spot on awesome, but you'll always kind of compare with the original. Well, luckily the Village production is on that latter end of the spectrum. With their couldn't-be-better-if-they-tried cast they manage an amazing show and even a few departures along the way that only made it stronger.
Kendra Kassebaum, Jennifer Paz to Lead 5th Avenue's CINDERELLA; Full Cast Announced!
by Kelsey Denette
- Oct 28, 2011
An all-star cast of Seattle celebrities will waltz onto the stage of The 5th Avenue Theatre in a holiday ball audiences will never forget: Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella. Under the direction of Seattle's own Brandon Ivie, this enchanting fairy tale features Jennifer Paz of Miss Saigon as Cinderella and Wicked star Kendra Kassebaum as the Fairy Godmother, as well as local luminaries Suzanne Bouchard, Nick Garrison, Sarah Rudinoff, Brandon O'Neill, Cynthia Jones, Allen Fitzpatrick, and Greg McCormick Allen.
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