Kat Ramsburg News

Out of more than 200 plays, five have been chosen to be a part of Performance Network's inaugural Northern Writers' Project, a week-­long playwriting intensive running tonight, September 1, through September 6, 2015.

Out of more than 200 plays, five have been chosen to be a part of Performance Network's inaugural Northern Writers' Project, a week-­long playwriting intensive running September 1-­6, 2015.

THE ROAD THEATRE COMPANY and Taylor Gilbert, Founder/Artistic Director together with Sam Anderson, Artistic Director, remain committed to their meaningful mission to produce and develop New Work for the Stage. They are thrilled to announce in this, their 24th season, the sixth annual SUMMER PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL (SPF6).

In its first-time festival of the works of women playwright's, The Bridge Initiative features the world premiere of Kat Ramsburg's Anatomy of a Hug, a gripping statement about the emotional miles that can divide the human heart. Allison Sell is the sharp knife of this play, delivering a riveting and stirring performance.

High school students from across Washington State packedThe 5th Avenue Theatre tonight for The 13th Annual 5th Avenue Awards Honoring High School Musical Theater, a high school version of the Tony Awards, proudly sponsored by Wells Fargo with additional support from Alaska Airlines. The house was packed with over 2,000 teenagers, many in costumes representing their schools' musical theater productions, who cheered for their peers as they performed musical excerpts and accepted awards honoring top student achievements in musical theater. The acclaimed event, directed this year by Kat Ramsburg, handed out awards in 21 categories ranging from Outstanding Overall Musical Production to Outstanding Lobby Display.

Theater lovers have a sizzling menu of choices for their viewing pleasure this Summer in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area ~ from delightful old chestnuts to spirited and timeless musicals. Here are the picks of the crop.

Primary Stages Einhorn School of Performing Arts has announced casting for its ESPA Drills Reading Series this August. ESPA Drills is an annual new play development program providing staged readings to four playwrights. The plays are workshopped under the guidance of the ESPA staff and will be presented before an audience of industry peers Off-Broadway at The Duke on 42nd Street.

Rising Sun Performance Company (Akia, Founding Artistic Director) announced in March that it is presenting a new short play reading series 'UNDER REHEARSED' and have partnered with The West Brooklyn as their venue. This exciting new series continues in its 5th month with a ongoing curation of new plays and fresh talent.

Rising Sun Performance Company (Akia, Founding Artistic Director) announced in March that it is presenting a new short play reading series 'UNDER REHEARSED' and have partnered with The West Brooklyn as their venue. This exciting new series continues in its 5th month with a ongoing curation of new plays and fresh talent.

The 5th Avenue Theatre presents 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). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production photos below!

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.

The 5th Avenue Theatre presents Hairspray in Concert, featuring some of Seattle's favorite musical theatre stars and the powerful voices of the 250-member Seattle Men's Chorus.

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.

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.

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.

Village Theatre has a tradition of bringing up new musicals (often ones showcased in their Village Originals Festival) onto the Mainstage. Sometimes it works ("Next To Normal" or "Iron Curtain") and sometimes it doesn't ("Take Me America" from earlier this season) and sometimes you have a really promising show that just needs a little more time to cook. Such is the case with "It Shoulda Been You" currently playing at Village. An incredibly strong cast in a show that doesn't always hit the mark or flow the way it could.

Village Theatre has a tradition of bringing up new musicals (often ones showcased in their Village Originals Festival) onto the Mainstage. Sometimes it works ("Next To Normal" or "Iron Curtain") and sometimes it doesn't ("Take Me America" from earlier this season) and sometimes you have a really promising show that just needs a little more time to cook. Such is the case with "It Shoulda Been You" currently playing at Village. An incredibly strong cast in a show that doesn't always hit the mark or flow the way it could.

Village Theatre today announced the opening of the new musical comedy, It Shoulda Been You, the second new musical production in its 2011-2012 Mainstage Season, written by Brian Hargrove and Barbara Anselmi. The musical previews on Wednesday, March 14; opening night (media night) is Thursday, March 15.

Village Theatre today announced the opening of the new musical comedy, It Shoulda Been You, the second new musical production in its 2011-2012 Mainstage Season, written by Brian Hargrove and Barbara Anselmi. The musical previews on Wednesday, March 14; opening night (media night) is Thursday, March 15.